Louisiana Piney Hills Parishes Broadband Infrastructure Federal Stimulus Grant

Update: It doesnt look like this project will ever be finished no one will get service from the money that was spent. The company is just using the fiber to speed up its existing customers schools and such..
I basicaly consider this project a falure! Its impossible to connect to the fiber they dont sell to consumers.

I think in the future the gov needs to retain ownership of the fiber until the project is compleated.

A Monroe-based network systems company nexussystems.net has been awarded a $9.1 million federal stimulus grant to provide a high-speed internet infrastructure system through several north central Louisiana parishes. Total Award:$9,163,384

The award will allow Nexus Systems Inc. to install fiber optics from Alexandria to just north of Ruston along Louisiana 167. The project is expected to be completed in Jan 2012 and will allow area Internet providers to tie into the system to access faster Internet services. The overall number of expected subscribers for the project is in excess of 150 businesses, 55,000 households and 331 anchor institutions, which range from schools to public safety agencies.

"It is intended to tie in a number of anchor institutions, which are schools, libraries, a vocational school, Louisiana Tech University and Grambling State University and hospitals to provide them all with very high-speed Internet service up to a gigabyte," said Nexus President Mark Stevenson. "We'll also be enhancing microwave services out into the more remote areas off the main highway paths." Stevenson said that 108 miles of fiber optics will be installed along U.S. 167. Stevenson said improved services will become available as the fiber optics are laid.

Last Status report:2013
Construction of conduit and fiber has been completed for about 95% of the route. The remaining fiber construction item is the termination point in Pineville which is being redesignated as a lateral and should be completed in the next quarter. Foundations for colocation buildings have been completed and buildings placed. Renovations of the point of presence site in Vienna are 90% completed with completion next quarter. Fiber terminations and testing in three co-location sites are completed with two remaining. Fiber transmission equipment is in test with deployment available upon completion of fiber terminations at Vienna and Pineville. Major procurements for equipment have been completed with the exception of routing switches for which competitive models are being tested next quarter. Nexus has been contacted by (4) major providers requesting information for broadband agreements with timelines for implementation. These potential partners have also provided significant assistance with suggestions for promoting co-locations and terminations into telecommunications central offices. These suggestions have prompted some changes in the network configurations in order to improved the network to accommodate needs of these stakeholders. Multiple critical anchor institution sites are being prepared for Summer conversion to the new network as this period will provide a less obtrusive conversion for schools, public offices, and similar sites.

Reports to NTIA:
Third Quarter, 2010
Fourth Quarter, 2010
Annual Report, 2010
First Quarter, 2011
Second Quarter, 2011
Third Quarter, 2011
Fourth Quarter, 2011
Annual Report, 2011
First Quarter, 2012
Second Quarter, 2012
Third Quarter, 2012
Fourth Quarter, 2012
First Quarter, 2013
Second Quarter, 2013


No reports have been filed for 1014 as of 9/2016
Latest project reports to NTIA in PDF