Video Update: Hoosier Networks Fiber-Network with Meridiam CEO Nicolas Rubio

Each week, Mayor Hamilton and Deputy Mayor Griffin provide video updates on recent news and key initiatives. In today's video, Mayor Hamilton discusses the Hoosier Networks Fiber-Network with Meridiam USA CEO Nicolas Rubio.

 

Join Mayor John Hamilton and Meridiam North America CEO Nicolas Rubio as they discuss the upcoming transformational $50-million-plus network bringing high-speed internet access to all of Bloomington. 

Hoosier Networks, the fiber network utility provider established by Meridiam, and the City continue to collaborate on a groundbreaking digital equity program, one of the most innovative broadband public-private collaborations in the country, to help low-income and digitally-disadvantaged households access top-quality internet services. 

GigabitNow will deliver fiber-based broadband services when construction is completed to the first residents at the end of January 2023. GigabitNow will offer service of at least 1 gigabit per second symmetrical speed (equal upload and download) everywhere the Hoosier Network network reaches. The cost-of-service rates with the initial ISP will be competitive locally and regionally. 

Eligible low-income residents may qualify for the Affordable Connectivity Plan (ACP) to get a symmetrical 250 megabits per second (Mbps) plan at reduced or no cost to them. The City and Hoosier Networks will together provide the “drop” connection to qualifying households.

All residents can learn more and pre-register at no cost or obligation at gigabitnow.com/bloomington. Learn more about this project at: https://bton.in/QL0n0

 

Transcript

 

John Hamilton:
Hi, it's Mayor John Hamilton, and I'm up here on a roof with my partner Nicolas Rubio of Meridiam. I just wanted to explain a little bit, Nicolas, and talk a little bit about what brought you to town. We're talking about the new fiber in the city, and Nicolas is the CEO of North America from Meridiam.

Nicolas Rubio:
Yes.

John Hamilton:
Tell us what brought you to Bloomington. What's interesting here about this?

Nicolas Rubio:
Let me thank you first and congratulate you for everything you have been doing and pushing forward. I know you've been working hard over the years to get this fiber to the homes of Bloomingtonians, and I'm sure that's going to be a game-changer.

John Hamilton:
Thank you. Thank you.

Nicolas Rubio:
Meridiam is an infrastructure fund. We've been around for 15 years.

John Hamilton:
Based in France? Originally based in... 

Nicolas Rubio:
We're originally based in Paris out of Paris, France.

John Hamilton:
International.

Nicolas Rubio:
We've been in the U.S. for 15 years now. We are all across... We have 20 different assets in the United States and Canada and in Chile.

John Hamilton:
21, this is 21 or...

Nicolas Rubio:
This is 20.

John Hamilton:
Oh, this is 20. All right. Okay, good.

Nicolas Rubio:
Our main focus is to invest in projects that have an impact. We are very much governed by trying to improve the sustainable goals, the UN sustainable goals. These are 17 different goals to improve ESG, the environment, governance, and society. That's our main goal. That's what we do on a daily basis. We try to invest the funds of our limited partners in a way that is going to create an impact.

John Hamilton:
And you're doing, I think, about $50 million here, $90 million in Indiana. There are two other cities.

Nicolas Rubio:
Yes.

John Hamilton:
For us, this is so big because you think about it as infrastructure. Most of our providers don't think about it as infrastructure. That is part of the public asset that other people can use. I know there's a period when it's exclusive, but why do you think about it that way? Or, how do you think about it as infrastructure?

Nicolas Rubio:
Yes. Well, we believe that it's not necessarily good to mix the infrastructure itself with the content of the infrastructure. It may be necessary to develop a market, and that's what we're doing. But in the long term, we believe in open access.

John Hamilton:
So, you're not even really using it when you build it; other entities use it.

Nicolas Rubio:
Yes. That's it.

John Hamilton:
And you build the infrastructure, and then the internet service provider is not you.

Nicolas Rubio:
That's it. We still need a good internet service provider, and I think we have the best to develop that market to show to the citizens that this is something that works. That we are giving good service, and that's what we're going to be focused on in the coming months and years. But in the long term, we believe in open access, in net neutrality.

John Hamilton:
Great.

Nicolas Rubio:
That's what we're trying to implement.

John Hamilton:
Well, we're very proud. I thank you so much for the work together because some of the characteristics that are special to us and important are the ubiquitous, the whole city, and not leaving anybody out. The digital equity program, which is fantastic, which we're both investing in to help make sure low-income households get essentially net free, excellent internet. It's just a game changer, as you said, and we so appreciate your partnership and investment here.

Nicolas Rubio:
Thank you. I would say not only a game changer but ahead of the curve. I don't think there are other cities like Bloomington with that kind of program. It's going to be regarded by the nation as someone to look after.

John Hamilton:
Thank you very much. You can get more information on the screen. We'll share that. Nicholas Rubio, thank you so much for coming.

Nicolas Rubio:
Thank you.

John Hamilton:
For coming to Bloomington and being here and part of this project. We appreciate it.

Nicolas Rubio:
It's a pleasure.

John Hamilton:
Thank you.

Nicolas Rubio:
Thank you very much.

 

Learn more about the Hoosier Networks Fiber-Network Launch at bloomington.in.gov/news/2022/10/05/5330