A Thriving
Future
Needs Great
Internet
…Moving Forward
On August 2, 2022, the people of Holland voted to make a community-investment in a high-speed fiber optic broadband network that will be available to every address in the city. Holland BPW will build and manage the broadband infrastructure, adding onto the backbone fiber network that the utility began creating 30 years ago.
Customers will be notified well in advance about when their neighborhood will be lit with Holland BPW Fiber. Holland BPW is planning to have an advance reservation form for customers who want to express interest in Holland BPW Fiber.
The first service node is expected to go live during the summer of 2024. Final phases should be completed in 2026 or 2027.
Timeline
- August 2022 – Referendum
- Winter 2022 – RFP for Design and Construction Services
- Spring 2023 – Vendor Selection, network design
- Summer 2023 – Detailed design
- Fall 2023 – Construction begins. Construction will take place in phases, with services activated upon completion of each phase.
- Early 2024 – Advance Sign-up for joining the community-owned fiber network opens.
- Summer 2024 – First customers go live.
- Summer 2024 Tax Bill – The first millage will be due as part of the Summer 2024 tax bill for City of Holland property owners.
- Construction Schedule – Construction is estimated to take about 3 years and the final phases are anticipated to be completed in 2026 or 2027.
More Choices
For Faster Internet
With multiple family members at home using internet connection for work, virtual healthcare, entertainment and school, high-speed internet has become a 21st century necessity. 4K streaming, virtual reality and other future technologies all rely on a world with reliable connection and increasingly powerful internet speeds. Holland’s millage will install city-wide fiber optic infrastructure to connect Holland to a vibrant future.
Faster and Affordable.
Holland BPW is a nonprofit entity, and as such we pass along our savings to our customers. We expect the total out-of-pocket cost for residents will be competitive with what other providers charge today, but with much faster speeds and greater reliability. With speeds up to 10 gigabits, this infrastructure will provide for the needs of today and for our community’s future.
Holland BPW will serve as one of many available ISPs, and we expect to provide internet service for about $45/month* with no additional cost for installation.
*Estimate based on 2021 CTC cost study and assumed take rate of 51%.
BPW General Manager Dave Koster, Superintendent of Broadband Services Pete Hoffswell and City Manager Keith Van Beek discuss what the fiber millage means for Holland.
Open Access.
Shared Infrastructure.
Open Access means one, superfast network that any internet service provider can use to give residents faster internet. Just like city roads, this will be shared infrastructure, which will allow more providers to offer services, driving competition and better prices.
August 2 Millage:
Listening to our Community
On August 2, Holland residents voted on a millage for Holland City Fiber to install city-wide fiber optic infrastructure for the City of Holland. The passed millage will levy up to 1.2 mills the first year and an estimated 1.12 mills each year after for the life of the bond.
The millage commitment by the residents of Holland will spread the cost over up to 25 years to minimize the individual annual cost while providing more choices for internet providers as well as potential faster speeds and higher reliability.
By commiting to a community investment, Holland has the opportunity to build fiber infrastructure in an equitable way, reaching every neighborhood in the City of Holland.
Tax/Cost
Calculator
Individual tax costs for the millage depend on your taxable property value.* Use the tool below to search for your address and find your property’s taxable value.
*Please note that taxable value is NOT the same as the market value that you paid for your home. It’s usually about half (e.g. a market value of $200,000 on a principal residence is usually taxable at about $100,000).
Learn More about the Project