Local C Spire Work Is Part Of State Contract

Water Valley Street and Sewer department Superintendent David Floyd marks a water line as crews with Texas-based Cochos Construction install fiber-optic lines along Main Street for C Spire. The job is part of work across the state as C Spire will provide fiber-internet to state agencies, schools, libraries and other entities.
– Photo by David Howell

WATER VALLEY – Construction work along Main Street in Water Valley has been underway for several weeks as contractors employed by C Spire install fiber-optic cable as part of a contract with the State of Mississippi.
C Spire Media Relations Senior Manager Dave Miller reported that the work in Water Valley is part of the larger comprehensive voice and data contract with the State of Mississippi that C Spire successfully bid on as part of a competitive bidding process back in 2017. Miller explained that the voice and data contact, which was the largest segment of the agreement with the state, was held up in the courts on appeal by the old provider, AT&T, until the case was resolved earlier this year by the Mississippi Supreme Court.
“As part of that fiber infrastructure build, we pulled in the dates to make sure we could serve Base Camp Coding Academy,” Miller explained about the earlier work by his company to extend fiber to the coding academy’s Central Street location in Water Valley before classes started last month. The fiber route currently under construction extends from the Base Camp building on Central Street to Main Street and continues south down County Road 436 as part of a new infrastructure for the state contract.
Miller said fiber internet will first be available to businesses that require high speed and high bandwidth, adding that there are no current plans for small business internet in the area. Miller also explained C Spire currently has no plans for FTTH (fiber to the home), but the ongoing work does make both fiber access to homes and small businesses future possibilities if there is sufficient demand.
Miller said that any residents interested in FTTH or small business owners interested in SBI (small business internet) can fill out an interest form on C Spire’s website.
According to C Spire’s website, the company has an eight-year advanced voice and data contract with the Mississippi Department of Information Technology that will vastly improve internet services for state agencies, schools, libraries and other entities.