Statement from Mayor Kerry Thomson on the City’s Fiber Project, the Dissolution of AEG, and GigaBitNow Installation

Today, Mayor Kerry Thomson issued the following statement regarding the City of Bloomington’s fiber project:

“When our administration came into office last year, we knew expanding access to high-speed internet across Bloomington was a priority for the community and a critical step toward digital equity for residents and businesses. What we found was a project that, while launched with good intentions, had become problematic behind the scenes.

The City’s fiber network project began in 2022 as a public-private partnership with Meridiam. The City itself did not fund the construction but supported the effort with non-monetary contributions—such as a tax abatement, permitting coordination, access to right-of-ways, and staff support. Meridiam created Hoosier Fiber Networks (HFN) to manage the buildout and they hired Atlantic Engineering Group (also known as AEG and later known as Trueline) to handle construction.

Over the course of three years, a revolving door of executives and project managers followed, causing delayed repairs, damage to public infrastructure, and repeated violations of basic permitting and safety standards. Despite the City’s constant efforts to coach, correct, and enforce compliance, given the constant turnover at nearly every level within AEG, the company failed to meet expectations. We issued fines, stop work orders, and tracked reported concerns.

The subcontractor failed—plain and simple.

AEG’s bankruptcy in early 2025 only confirmed they were not up to the task. Their sudden exit and collapse weren’t isolated incidents. Other communities across Indiana and the country have experienced similar delays and disruptions due to Trueline’s abrupt dissolution and the broader instability of the national subcontractor market for fiber deployment.

While significant setbacks have delayed the rollout, Hoosier Fiber Network has brought in a short-term partner to assess and repair existing construction. We anticipate new installation will be paused for the next couple of months while this work is underway. Our current focus is remediation for safety and quality concerns, not continued construction and installation.

We’ve logged and tracked issues brought to our attention and we’re using that information to hold our partners accountable and to restore what was mishandled or overlooked.

To date, about 50% of the network is complete, reaching over 4,000 homes. While that represents progress, it doesn’t change the fact that much of the work must now be corrected to meet our standards. Now, alongside Hoosier Fiber Network, we’re trying to tap into AEG’s bond funds to help pay for the repairs and keep the project moving forward.

We’ve made our expectations clear: this project must be completed with care and quality. We expect Hoosier Fiber Networks to secure a reliable and accountable long-term construction partner.

This broadband initiative was always about expanding access, improving digital equity, and giving every resident a chance to connect. When we say we’re building something for everyone, we mean it, and we will get it right.”

For more information, please contact the Office of the Mayor at 812-349-3406 or mayor@bloomington.in.gov.

Note: Updated April 16, 2025: Since the publication of this statement, the City has updated pieces of information to ensure clarity for residents. First, fiber service provided by GigabitNow remains active and uninterrupted in areas where it is currently available—the construction pause impacts network buildout, not service. Second, fiber service is currently available to approximately 20,000 premises. The City stands by the substance of the Mayor’s statement and remains focused on holding construction partners accountable, advancing digital equity, and ensuring the project is completed to the standard Bloomington residents deserve.