US Internet Expanding Fiber Service In South Minneapolis

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) - US Internet is expanding its fiber internet service to dozens of new south Minneapolis streets.

The Minnetonka-based company started construction Monday in five neighborhoods, most of them between Lake Harriet and Lake Hiawatha. Service plans for residents living on the new streets are expected to be available this summer.

US Internet, a low-cost alternative to Comcast and Century Link, has been laying fiber in south Minneapolis for the last several years. Its fiber plan offers speeds of 25 to 100 Mbps for $30 to $48 per month -- about half the cost of its rivals.

Minneapolis resident Patrick Malloy switched to US Internet in February. He suffered some outages the first few weeks but has found the fiber service reliable and comparable to his previous provider.

"I went with the same 50 Mbps speed we had with Comcast, but switched because it was about half the price," he said.

A list of all the new streets is available on US Internet's website.

US Internet is also developing a new wireless internet platform that it is planning on rolling out this summer in northeast Minneapolis. Travis Carter, a US Internet co-founder has described it as an "interim technology" that is easier to install than fiber cable. It will cost $19.95 a month, with speeds of 25 Mbps.