Customer Spotlight – City of Superior

Why Superior Built Its Own Fiber Network

Superior, Wisconsin (pop. 26,000) had a problem:

• Aging copper lines
• Expensive, unreliable internet
• No investment from private ISPs

During the pandemic, things got worse—families were sitting in parking lots just to get Wi-Fi.

So the city stepped up. Using federal funding, they launched Connect Superior, an open access fiber network built for the community, by the community.

What’s Open Access Fiber?

It’s a shared network where multiple ISPs compete to offer services over the same infrastructure.

Here’s what that means for residents:

• More choice
• Lower prices
• Better performance

Superior didn’t want to become an ISP—they wanted to build a platform.

Run by Just Two People (Seriously)

Stephanie Becken leads the project with a lean, two-person team. And it works.

Thanks to COS Business Engine, they’re able to:

• Automate service activation
• Manage multiple providers
• Power the customer portal
• Handle billing, support, and network ops

“It’s a tool I almost always have open.” – Stephanie Becken

What Other Cities Can Learn

• Start small – You don’t need to build it all at once.
• Stay transparent – Residents appreciate honesty.
• Use the right tools – You can run a network without hiring 10 people.

This project proves it: Municipal broadband isn’t just possible—it’s powerful.

From webinar to results: Read the full case study!