Innovative Public/Private Partnership Brings Fiber Internet to South Hutch
Project will ensure the fastest internet connection is available to every address in city

SOUTH HUTCHINSON – Recognizing the importance of broadband connectivity and identifying it as an essential utility, the City of South Hutchinson has developed a highly innovative public/private broadband partnership model that will bring gigabit fiber internet to every residence and business in the city.

Based on its reputation for quality service and affordable prices, IdeaTek, headquartered in Reno County, has been chosen to construct and manage the fiber network.

“We are putting our community in the best position to compete in today’s digital economy,” said South Hutchinson Mayor Matt Nisly. “This project gives us the extraordinary opportunity to put the most reliable, high-speed internet access into every home and business in our city at an affordable price.”

Residents and businesses will be connected to a fiber network that will ensure the community has a top-notch connection to the internet for decades to come. This is a major step for South Hutchinson because reliable access is critical to community growth and economic development.

“Broadband is as important to a city as electricity and water,” said South Hutchinson City Administrator Joseph Turner. “IdeaTek’s market leader expertise will allow us to improve our residents’ quality of life and enhance our economic development efforts.”

Once the approval process is completed, the 12-month construction project will begin this fall. Residents will start to receive service as early as spring 2023. The expansion will give hundreds of South Hutchinson households and businesses access to gigabit speeds at affordable prices.

“Our mission of Internet Freedom means we believe everyone should have access to ultra-speed fiber internet to work, attend school, stream and keep in touch with family and friends around the world now and in the future,” said IdeaTek Co-Founder and Chief Innovation Officer Daniel Friesen. “We are thrilled South Hutchinson leaders have asked us to partner with them and look forward to seizing every opportunity to provide residents and businesses with the world-class connectivity they deserve.”

Referencing the innovative financing structure of this project, Friesen added, “the South Hutchinson project is an example of a creative public/private partnership model that can be replicated across Kansas. It’s a creative solution that costs local taxpayers nothing. We applaud local community leaders like the city administrator, mayor and council of South Hutchinson for being forward-thinking and looking to support a reliable, long-term broadband investment for generations to come.”

South Hutchinson officials have done a competitive analysis to make sure service can be provided to residents at a much lower rate than other communities in Kansas. The pricing rivals some of the lowest in the nation for gigabit service. Moreover, there are no data limits, throttling, contracts, or home phone services required.

Packages include:

• Super Gig: 2,000 Mbps download / 2,000 Mbps upload – $97.95

• Gig: 1,000 Mbps download /1,000 Mbps upload – $65.95

• Intro: 100 Mbps download / 100 Mbps upload – $39.95

Information regarding construction activity will be mailed to South Hutchinson residents and business owners about three weeks before the build. Construction crews will also be leaving additional information at doors to notify residents that construction is beginning.

For more information and details about the project, visit southhutch.com/fiber-internet and ideatek.com/southhutch. Residents and businesses interested in signing up for service in advance can visit http://hookmeup.ideatek.com to enter their address and contact information.

About South Hutchinson

Founded in 1886, the City of South Hutchinson is located in Reno County, about 40 miles northwest of Wichita. The city is comprised of 2,500 residents. For more information, visit southhutch.com.

About IdeaTek

Based in Buhler, IdeaTek was founded by Daniel Friesen and four high school friends in 1999. Today, the company employs over 130 Kansans and is continuing to grow. The team is dedicated to the mission of connecting underserved communities with affordable high-speed internet. To date, IdeaTek has deployed more than 4,000 miles of fiber — plus built more than 100 fixed wireless towers — serving customers in nearly 70 Kansas communities.