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Broadband competition booms in Silverton

By James Day

Silverton-area residents are being wooed by companies promising to upgrade the power of their internet.

Ziply Fiber took the plunge first, announcing in early March that its high-speed fiber optic network was ready for service for Silverton-area residences and businesses.

New and existing Ziply customers who wish to check their address for fiber availability, or who would like to sign-up to be alerted when fiber internet is available at their home or business, can register at https://ziplyfiber.com/Silverton. When fiber is shown as available at their address, Ziply’s existing DSL customers can upgrade by calling 1-866-699-4759.

The work in Silverton is part of Ziply’s commitment to invest more than $500 million over the next two to three years to build an advanced, 100 percent fiber network to both suburban and rural communities across the Northwest that have been underserved when it comes to internet access, the company said in a March 4 press release.

Comcast, meanwhile, has joined the fray. In a March 21 press release, the company’s Pacific Northwest office announced plans to spend $10.6 million on high-speed broadband in the Silverton area.

Construction is slated to begin in the early spring with “building the fiber backbone.” Some customers will be able to connect to services in late 2022, with completion of the network throughout Silverton in 2023.

Comcast also reached out to Silverton Mayor Kyle Palmer, who expressed some frustration at internet service in town.

“As a mayor, I  want to have more choices, and I want residents to have better choices, and I want to have fewer people bugging me all the time saying they’re upset at their service,” Palmer told Comcast.

“Yesterday would be good,” Palmer added regarding how soon he hoped Silverton would get hooked up.