Bartholomew County Fiber Internet Project Faces Delays, Funding Concerns

A high-speed fiber internet expansion project in rural Bartholomew County, Indiana, is facing significant delays and potential funding loss due to stalled progress and rising costs. Although the county initially aimed to provide fiber access to 85% of rural households, current estimates indicate only 20% have access, jeopardizing $4 million in federal COVID relief funds.

Project History and Challenges

The project, initially spearheaded by Hoosier Fiber (later rebranded as mStreet Fiber Indiana), aimed to bring high-speed internet to unincorporated areas of Bartholomew County. However, the installation faced a major setback when its primary contractor, Trueline Infrastructure, filed for bankruptcy in March 2025 [1]. Congruex was subsequently brought in as a replacement, but ultimately proved unable to fulfill the role [1].

Current Status and Financial Implications

During a Bartholomew County Commissioners meeting on Monday, November 10, 2025, mStreet Fiber CEO Dave Brodin reported that the company is still seeking bids for a new installation contractor, but current bids are exceeding the project’s financial constraints [1]. Rising labor and material costs, coupled with expenses related to rectifying previous work, are contributing to the budgetary issues.

The county had allocated $4 million from its American Rescue Plan (ARP) allocation, contingent upon reaching the 85% rural household access target. These funds must be spent by the conclude of 2026, or they will be returned to the federal government [1]. Commissioner Tony London indicated that, as the 85% goal is now unattainable, the county is exploring alternative uses for the $4 million.

Commissioners’ Concerns and Future Outlook

Commissioner London expressed frustration with the lack of progress, particularly given mStreet Fiber’s successful deployments in other communities like Columbus, Bloomington, and Shelbyville [1]. He suggested the Bartholomew County Council may consider revoking mStreet Fiber’s tax abatement due to the performance issues.

Commissioner Carl Lienhoop drew parallels to the Rural Electrification Act, acknowledging that widespread infrastructure projects take time. Despite the setbacks, both commissioners remain optimistic that Bartholomew County will eventually receive improved internet access, potentially through partnerships with the Bartholomew County REMC or a new service provider.

Previous Progress

As of November 16, 2023, Gigabit Now had connected its first customer in Bartholomew County, with speeds exceeding 2.1 Mbps at that location [4]. The county had been working on bringing high-speed internet to rural areas for over three years, with expectations to serve 10,000 customers by the following year.