Bringing fiber to rural America: Fidium’s community-first approach

Fiber is more than a technology—it can be a pathway to opportunity in rural communities.

On this episode of Connected Nation, Fidium’s Sarah Davis shares how the company is taking a fiber-first approach to connecting rural communities across 21 states. The conversation explores Fidium’s community-first strategy, public-private partnerships, BEAD-funded projects, and the different approaches needed to build resilient fiber networks in places ranging from rural Maine to Florida and Texas. Davis also explains why listening to communities first—and meeting them where they are—has been key to Fidium’s success.

Related links:
Fidium's website

Fidium's LinkedIn

Sarah Davis' LinkedIn

Transcript

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Jessica Denson (00:08):

This is Connected Nation, an award-winning podcast focused on all things broadband. From closing the digital divide to improving your internet speeds, we talk technology topics that impact all of us, our families, and our neighborhoods. On this episode of Connected Nation, I talk to leadership from Fidium about their unique approach to connecting rural areas across 21 states. Learn how they're taking a fiber first approach in even the most hard to reach places. I'm Jessica Denson, and this is Connected Nation.

I am at the Broadband Community Summit taking place in Houston, Texas, August 25th through the 27th. And I am joined by Sarah Davis with Fidium. I really appreciate you joining me today. You were kind enough to wait till I was done setting up to come over. Um, it's a long walk down that hall to this conference, isn't it? <laugh>

Sarah Davis (01:02):

Yes, it's a total long walk, and I would never interrupt anyone setting

Jessica Denson (01:06):

Up. <laugh> I appreciate your patience. It was very nice of you. I saw you, I kind of spied you over there sitting there, but I was like, "Oh, it's okay. She's just looking around." But then you walked over. I was like, "Oh, wait, that's, that's Sarah." <laugh> Yeah. And we're doing a panel together tomorrow. I'm moderating. And you're gonna be sitting on it. It's gonna, it's on rural connectivity. Uh, what are some things that you really hope to talk about?

Sarah Davis (01:27):

Um, I'm always excited to talk about rural connectivity. Mm-hmm. I am from a rural area in Maine. Um, the broadband development I have worked on for 18 years with, uh, Fidium Fiber has all been targeted for rural communities. So I'm really excited to talk about how much things have improved, what we're doing, all the creative partnerships we're working on, what's coming next with the BEAD program and beyond.

Jessica Denson (01:52):

Oh, yeah.

Sarah Davis (01:52):

Basically everything there is to talk about in rural communities.

Jessica Denson (01:56):

And folks, you can't see her, but she has got a huge smile on her face. So she, I think you really mean it, but you love talking about this, yes?

Sarah Davis (02:02):

Yes. Yes. I am, I love the work I do. I'm very passionate about it. To be able to help communities, um, uh, by doing the work I do and bringing connectivity to them is actually the greatest joy.

Jessica Denson (02:12):

Um, okay. So let's, let's back up a little bit and talk about Fidium. A lot of people might, might not have heard of Fidium. It's spelled F-I-D-I-U-M. It, it kind of, it's kind of fun to say. Yes. Um, but other than that, uh, talk about what the company does and what your role is there. I know you're the vice president of market development. So talk about Fidium and how that plays into it.

Sarah Davis (02:35):

Yeah. So Fidium, um, is a fiber first company. We operate in 21 states. We have been around for more than 125 years. Wow. We have roots in, um, r- rural copper te- telephone service. Um, and now for the last five to seven years, we have been doing nothing but building out fiber in our footprint, expanding fiber to all of our communities. Um, we have engaged in over 50 public-private partnerships. We have, uh, received over $320 million in government funding to light up rural communities. And it's really the bread and butter of what we do every day.

Jessica Denson (03:11):

And your role as m - vice president of market development, which I always give a shout out to the ladies who are in charge, I love it. Um, <laugh> but what do you, what is that role? Explain to somebody who maybe not, who maybe doesn't speak that language.

Sarah Davis (03:24):

Yeah. So, um, it's so hard to define exactly what you do in a role, particularly, um, when you've been doing it for a long time. But essentially, my roots are in, uh, legal and regulatory work, a lot of government affairs work. And when the pandemic hit, when COVID hit and really the game started to change and we realized the need to build out rural communities and the needs for governments and local communities to partner with providers to really get that connectivity, uh, I was put sort of on a special project focused completely on that. And it really morphed into a career. Um, and I spent all of my time just thinking about ways in which that we can expand our broadband to communities, working with all sorts of governments from the federal government right down to a local community broadband committee made up of just a few residents on trying to bring fiber, you know, to our entire footprint.

Jessica Denson (04:15):

And, uh, as you mentioned, you were in 21 states, correct? Yes. Um, and some of the communities you've worked with have also been tribal nations, right? Which are also sovereign nations. Yes. How is it, how do you work with the organizations that are kind of outside of the traditional, uh, way the government works? Because they're, they're operating in their own set of rules and their own set of things, which is wonderful, but how does that work when you work with a, a tribal nation?

Sarah Davis (04:42):

Yeah. Um, when you work with any community, I think it's largely the same. Uh, tribes are obviously sovereign nations. So to me, it's a little bit like working with a federal government and a little bit like working with a rural community, right? Uh-huh. 'Cause they really have the needs of their citizens first because they're so close to them, which is very much like a rural community. Mm-hmm. But on the other hand, they are in charge of their land and, um, their, you know, what happens to their citizens on their land. So it's like working with the federal government.

But we approach all communities the same way, which is, uh, we start with the community and what their needs are and what they want to achieve and how they want to achieve it. Uh, particularly when you're dealing with a sovereign nation, a tribe, they have their own particular way they like to do things.

(05:24):

You really have to start by listening. Mm-hmm. And so one of our most successful projects has been in Maine where we have, um, six federally recognized tribes. One of the tribes had, um, worked with the government to get some broadband funding, and they were trying to think of a way to bring broadband to their members that live on their reservation.

And, um, they had money to do that. And so they worked with us on really like a bulk agreement, what, m- much like you do for a large MDU - uh-huh. On, you know, sort of fixed pricing for a fixed term to serve all their residents. And with the money they had, they're actually able to provide three years of free internet service. That their residents on the tribe. Mm-hmm. And so it's, it's a really amazing partnership. It meet, it checks all the boxes. It both is great for the members of the tribe.

(06:09):

It's also really great as a private entity because now we have, you know, um, some security. It offered us a way to know that we could light up these members. Sometimes these areas can have high churn or other financial issues that make it really hard for private providers to build out. And this really just gave everyone, checked all the boxes to give everyone exactly what they needed.

Jessica Denson (06:30):

Did it also really help with red tape because they could just, the nation could just say, "This is what we want done and we can move forward." Sometimes that you have to deal with with federal <laugh>.

Sarah Davis (06:40):

Yeah. Yeah. So I'll, I'll tell you, a lot of companies, and we have had moments like this, shy away from projects on tribal lands or other things because there can't be more red tape than you're used to. Uh-huh. And when you're dealing with a sovereign nation, all you need is a single point of permission. Uh-huh. And that is huge, you know. So as long as you're working with them, building the way that they want you to and meeting their needs, then you have all the permission you need and it, it stops any permitting issues or other problems you might run into.

Jessica Denson (07:05):

Uh, uh, at Connected Nation, you know, we're a national nonprofit and we deal with access, adoption, and use is what we talk about. Um, before. I wanna come back to access in just a moment, but, uh, when we talk about adoption use, it's about making pe- people able to buy it affordable, that kind of thing. I can't find my words. <laugh> Uh, make it affordable. And, um, so it strikes me that that's interesting that they're gonna, uh, they're gonna be able to have three free years of internet service, three years of free internet service. Right. Um, was that something that, um, that you've really seen that that has had a big impact in that area or is that still to come?

Sarah Davis (07:42):

Yeah. I mean, it has taken a place where citizens had to make decisions about broadband or otherwise would adopt broadband, but then may have, you know, collections issues and churn issues. They don't even think about it. Every resident on the reservation was able to order it, able to access it. It has increased the education opportunities, the healthcare opportunities. You know, they run their own healthcare center. We were able to light up the healthcare center and the school and, um, with, with, you know, two gig symmetrical fiber internet service. So better internet service than they'd seen in a very long time. And it has just improved everything on that reservation and really was good for the community and good for the company. Uh,

Jessica Denson (08:20):

What, where in the p - where in the country is the reservation located?

Sarah Davis (08:24):

It's in Maine. Maine.

Jessica Denson (08:24):

Oh Maine.

Sarah Davis (08:25):

It's in rural, very rural

Jessica Denson (08:26):

Maine. So what is, for, I've never been to Maine. What, well, I've been to Boston, so that, I guess that is part of Maine. <laugh> Close. <laugh> Oh, it's not Maine.That's Massachusetts. Yeah. Oh my gosh. That's all right. I haven't had coffee yet this morning. That's all right. That's my excuse. Um, <laugh> yeah, I don't think I've been to Maine. Portland, Maine, right? Yes. Yeah. Okay. I have been. Yes. Anyway, my brain is slowly waking up. Yeah. Lucky Sarah. She's my first interview of the day. Um, but for someone who has or hasn't been there <laugh> - Yeah. Um, explain some of the different, uh, the diversity of the environments that are in Maine.

Sarah Davis (08:59):

Yeah.

Jessica Denson (08:59):

Even though it's a smaller state, it's got a lot, right?

Sarah Davis (09:02):

Yeah. Mm-hmm. Yeah. So it's, it's actually not terribly small. Um, when you think of New England states, you do tend to think small. Uh-huh. Maine is by far the largest. Oh,

Jessica Denson (09:10):

Okay.

Sarah Davis (09:11):

Uh, in, in terms of area. But there are only a million people in Maine, just over a million people. So it is very, very rural. Uh-huh. It's the most heavily wooded state in the nation. It is the whitest and oldest state in the nation. So it has its challenges when it comes to broadband adoption. Uh-huh. Um, there are lakes, mountains, oceans. There are, um, national forests. There are state forests. There are state highways. So, you know, there really is a lot of diversity with respect to that. But what there isn't are large population centers. Portland, Maine is one of the smaller capitals. Mm-hmm. Uh, that's not the capital. August is the capital. <laugh>

Jessica Denson (09:46):

Look at

Sarah Davis (09:46):

This. We're both waking up. <laugh> It's the largest city in Maine. And it is one of those, you know, smallest, largest cities in the state.

(09:53):

Uh-huh. And so really, the way that you have to serve Maine is very different. Now, on the flip side, there's really amazing things about Maine that make it really easy for a broadband provider. Mm-hmm. All of our, um, almost all of our, uh, fiber is strung aerially on poles that we own, which really fast tracks our ability to put it up.m.

We can put up about a million feet a week when we're in high season. And so, you know, it, like anywhere, it comes with really great things and really difficult things. Mm-hmm. Um, on the flip side, people don't know, but most rural communities are actually the easiest to build in because they are so excited for your infrastructure. They don't want to put red tape in your way. Right. And so as long as you go in and meet with the community, understand their needs or problems, um, we have to talk to them, you know, in Maine we're very tourist heavy.

(10:39):

Uh-huh. We have to talk to them about seasonality, right? Please don't tie up the Route one corridor in July and August. Those kind of things. But, but very rarely do you run into a no or you need these additional permits or you have to wait a lot of time. And so there really are benefits to it as well.

Jessica Denson (10:54):

So I've noticing a thread in between the different things that you've, you've talked about, and that's that you're having these conversations and finding out what's really important to those communities before you go in there. Yeah.

Sarah Davis (11:05):

Is that

Jessica Denson (11:05):

Correct?

Sarah Davis (11:06):

Yeah. Yeah. So when we started in 2020, we would meet with anyone who wanted to meet with us. Mm-hmm. And, and it could be, like I said, the federal government. It could be a town government. It could be three people who just don't have broadband access in their town and were interested how to get started. Mm-hmm. And through those conversations and really living and working where we are, we developed a program that has been wildly successful and has lit up most of our rural areas. We're over 60% fiberized with 1.4 million passings at this point.

Jessica Denson (11:34):

That's incredible. Yeah. And, uh, you said that the, uh, fiber was, is aerial, right? Yes. It's up on poles.

Sarah Davis (11:41):

Yes.

Jessica Denson (11:41):

And mo - a lot of fiber is built in the ground. Yeah. Um, is there a reason for that approach or is that, uh, are, is that atypical or other companies do that as well?

Sarah Davis (11:51):

Um, so it's really a mix and it depends where you are in the country. Mm-hmm. Um, and so in our largest market, which is Northern New England, uh, the, the telephone lines and electric lines 120 plus years ago were just happened to be built out aerially placing poles. Mm-hmm. Um, it, the state is granite. You know, there's a lot of granite in our states and it's a very rocky terrain. And so it would just would've been very difficult and very expensive during the original build out to do that. Uh-huh. And as a result, it's all placed in the air. And we have current, um, copper attachments from our routes as a traditional telephone provider. Mm-hmm. So we just take a lasher and simply have to place our fiber over our existing attachments. We don't need additional permits, you know, very rare instances of railroad crossings or other things.

(12:35):

And we can just place it very quickly.

Jessica Denson (12:38):

And, um, the m- m- Maine and New England area gets to some tough storms too. How does it hold up with storm? Or is it easy to fix because of the way you guys are doing it?

Sarah Davis (12:48):

Well, so storms can be a challenge. Uh-huh. Um, uh, you know, in the winter, we can get some really tough storms with the changes in the, the climate over the last few years. We've gotten really intense ice storms. So it can present an issue. Um, our fiber lash over, you know, heavy copper cables tends to be very resilient though. Mm-hmm. In the case, um, where even sometimes where poles or lines come down, it often still operates.

Oh, wow. Being passive, a, a GPON network that's passive all the way from the central office really helps. So if there's power outages, there isn't equipment outside of the central office that needs to be powered. And so it can be really resilient. It, you can run into issues with respect to storms. Mm-hmm. And what we suffer in that we make up for in the, the lower expense and time it takes to deploy the fiber.

Jessica Denson (13:34):

Yeah. I, I think storms and, um, fires or any of that kind of stuff is a challenge for any -

Sarah Davis (13:39):

Yes.

Jessica Denson (13:40):

Any utility, any group, any, anybody really. Yeah. Um, so you talked about you're in 21 states, and I told you I was gonna come back to the access piece. And we're ver- very big on expanding access to all people. And we love that you're working in rural, obviously. Um, w- what is for you, for your, for Fidium, what is success? What is, is it being in 50 states? Is it really focusing, hyper-focusing on those 21 states? Are, are those 20. And, and are those 21 states, are they spread all over or are they in a, a region?

Sarah Davis (14:11):

Yeah. So our 21 states are pretty well spread out. Mm-hmm. Um, we serve the Northern New England region, that's our largest market. Some of our other large markets are Texas, California, Minnesota, Florida, New York. So we really are spread out along our 21 states. Mm-hmm. As I told you, our roots are in being a traditional incumbent telephone provider. And so we really feel, um, a, a sense of responsibility to lighting up our base that traditionally has been served other ways. So while we do do edge outs and expand our footprint, our biggest focus is really on fiberizing our current existing footprint. Our goal is to be over 70% by 2027, uh, fiber access to that entire territory.

Jessica Denson (14:53):

That's incredible. I mean, that's, that's, those are some great goals. And you mentioned BEAD at the start when you first introduced Affidium. Um, w- what are your thoughts on BEAD that you feel good about sharing? <laugh> Um, and, um, are there specific projects that you're excited about that you guys are doing with BEAD right now? I know s - the money is just now starting to flow. Um, so there may be some things that we don't know yet, but wh- what can you tell us?

Sarah Davis (15:17):

Yeah, so I'm really excited about BEAD, you know, um, we talk a lot about this, and BEAD really started to be a really large part of a plan at one point. Mm-hmm. And it has now sort of, uh, petered out to just a piece of the story - Yeah <laugh>. Which I actually think is wonderful. Uh-huh. It's because so much work was done prior to this. It's really just connecting those last few people. But it, it is a large part of our story.

Um, we've received BEAD awards in seven states, um, over 35 million in Maine, seven million in New Hampshire, um, nine million in Vermont, and then smaller awards in Pennsylvania, Illinois, Florida. Um, we have, uh, had, at this point, I, I wanna say eight NEPA approvals for projects out of Maine. We are actively building all of those and hope to be done in the next month.

(16:06):

Um, we are just starting to get NEPA approvals out of New Hampshire, um, and then getting contracts signed in other states. So really excited to do each and every one of our projects. They're all really important. Um, we serve the Panhandle of Florida. That's kind of an exciting area. One thing that has made us successful in Florida is that opposite to Maine, we deployed our, our facilities underground.

Jessica Denson (16:28):

Oh,

Sarah Davis (16:28):

Okay. Even while the other utilities were, uh, restoring, uh, installing above ground, and when they had severe hurricanes in the last few years, our, our facilities have been resilient. So the people down there are really excited for more expansion from us.

Jessica Denson (16:41):

They're like, "Bring more finium."

Sarah Davis (16:42):

Bring more.

Jessica Denson (16:43):

Yeah. Bring more. And that's interesting, you're taking a different approach depending on where you are. So you, you really are being flexible as a company and, and seeing where things are needed and why.

Sarah Davis (16:51):

That's absolutely. Yeah. So we serve just down the row in Conroe, Texas. Uh-huh. Right. In Conroe, Texas, everything is buried. You know, that's, that's how the, the city was built. That's what fits in, in there. And we're gonna build out to the people that we need to in the way that we can reach them best.

Jessica Denson (17:08):

I'm a t - I'm a born and bred Texan, uh, even though I live in Louisville, Kentucky now. And I can tell you, when you're talking to Texans, they definitely wanna be in the conversation about what's gonna happen in their area. <laugh> I think it's probably true for all of rural America. <laugh> Yes. Um -

Sarah Davis (17:21):

Yes. I came down here and met a judge. Oh, you did? Now I'm from Maine. Uh-huh. A judge to me is somebody who sits in a black robe on a bench. <laugh> Nope, this is a county judge, totally different thing. Totally different. You have to learn the people that you're working with and, and how everything runs wherever you are. Yeah. When I move - And that's a really part of, important part of our strategy.

Jessica Denson (17:39):

That's awesome. When I moved to Kentucky, it's a commonwealth. It's not a state. <laugh>

Sarah Davis (17:42):

Just remember

Jessica Denson (17:42):

That. I'm like, "Okay." <laugh>

Sarah Davis (17:44):

Pennsylvania as well. I lived there for a little while. <laugh> Yeah,

Jessica Denson (17:47):

We're all learning, aren't we? Yeah. So, uh, workforce is a big issue right now, having enough, uh, skilled technicians. Is, has Fidian been looking at that and really addressing that as they go? Or, or how are you, uh, tackling that challenge?

Sarah Davis (18:01):

Yeah. So we started building in Earnest, um, our fiber in about 2019. Mm-hmm. And when we did this, we secured a lot of different, uh, contract firms to work with us to make sure that we had the people in place to build the fiber. We also have unions, um, in every single state. Uh, not everyone, but most of our states, we have union workforce that does a lot of the installation as well. Mm-hmm. And because we started planning early and we were sort of ahead of the curve and ahead of the federal funding, we have, um, a lot of resources, a lot of resources in market. And so we really haven't been slowed down by any workforce challenges.

Jessica Denson (18:38):

That's. So you, you were already ready to go before even the pandemic came and all this funding. And it's interesting now that people really understand, and I've said this before on the podcast, that there's kind of a before COVID and after COVID when it comes to broadband, whereas it was really seen as a luxury before. And now I don't even have to tell journalists when they ask questions about things that it's a necessity now. So, um, I think it's, that's just a point of order. <laugh> Yes. It's just something I'm thinking. Oh,

Sarah Davis (19:07):

Absolutely. Absolutely. It's a complete necessity.

Jessica Denson (19:09):

It is. So I do this to everybody, so don't be upset. <laugh> Tell me a little bit about you. Don't be AI, Sarah. <laugh>

Sarah Davis (19:19):

I'm always afraid of

Jessica Denson (19:19):

The AI question. <laugh> No. Oh, good. I won't ask an AI question. Everybody's tired of that today. No. Um, no. Uh, talk a little bit about you and how you ended up at Videon. What's your background?

Sarah Davis (19:30):

Oh, yeah. So <laugh> kind of funny story. Um - AI?

Jessica Denson (19:34):

Is that what it

Sarah Davis (19:34):

Is? Yeah, it was AI. It was AI that brought me here. I didn't even know what AI was. <laugh> But funny story, I lived in rural Maine. I, um, went to law school. I honestly, when I graduated law school, couldn't tell you really what the internet was or how a telephone worked. Mm-hmm. And I ended up taking, um, while I was still waiting for my bar results to find out if I passed the bar, I ended up taking like a temporary paralegal job with a company at the time called Fairpoint Communications, who was purchasing Verizon's Landline Network in the states of Maine, New Hampshire, and Vermont. So fast-forward 19 years later, and I have done so many things, so many different things in the company in terms of legal, regulatory, government affairs, and now I get to do the most fulfilling work I've ever done in my life, which is to bring fiber optic broadband to really underserved communities.

Jessica Denson (20:24):

Oh, I, I absolutely love that statement. <laugh> So, you know, explain why that matters so much.

Sarah Davis (20:30):

Yeah. So in Maine, we have quality of place and quality of people. Mm. What we don't always have is all of the assets of a big city. We can't necessarily access healthcare easily. We can't necessarily access, um, large businesses, large companies to work for. It just doesn't exist. Mm-hmm. And so for us to be able to live where we want to live as opposed to have to live where we work, broadband is the absolute equalizer. For us to be able to.

Rural healthcare facilities in our New England region, in rural areas are, are shutting down. Mm-hmm. And for us to be able to achieve quality of care in February when a foot of snow just hit the ground and it's not safe to drive, broadband is what's gonna do that for us. It really is so fulfilling to come to a community and say, "I brought the future."

Jessica Denson (21:25):

Yeah. Uh, I'm sitting here, a- again, you guys can't see me, but I'm just nodding my head at everything she's saying because it's so true. Broadband can, can help people. Like somebody who's stuck at home and can't get out - Yeah. Help them have some. They're not socially isolated any longer, or just be able to talk to their grandkids or their mom or a kid being able to go to school. You know, yes. I just think it's fantastic. Well, um, it's been a joy talking to you and I look forward to our panel tomorrow. What would you hope that our audience remembers about Fidium?

Sarah Davis (21:56):

I would hope that they remember that we're a fiber-first rural provider, that, that the way that we're doing things is taking the community as they are, not trying to change the community with what we're doing.

Jessica Denson (22:09):

Oh, that's a great place to leave it. Sarah Davis, who is the vice president of market development for Fidium. I really appreciate your time today. Thank you so much.

Sarah Davis (22:17):

I really appreciate your time. I've. It was really fun.

Jessica Denson (22:19):

Yeah, it's fun, isn't it? Yes. I tell everybody it's gonna be fun, I promise. <laugh> Thank you so much. Uh, thank you. Bye. Bye. I'll bring you continuing coverage from the Broadband Community Summit, a later podcast in 2026. Until then, I'm Jessica Denson, and this is Connected Nation. If you like our show and wanna know more about us, head to connectednation.org or look for us on your favorite podcast platform.