Pioneer ahead of schedule on fiber optic installation

Last year, almost 70 miles of new fiber optic lines were laid in the second year of Pioneer Telephone’s $8.5 million project. That contrasts with the scarcely more than 20 miles laid the year before.

“We’re ahead of schedule,” said Dallas Filan, Pioneer Telephone manager, told the Gazette last Friday.

Originally the project was projected to take five or six years to complete. Given the current progress, if it had not been for the two months of snow and freezing temperatures, the project may have been wrapped up this year. Filan estimated there are only 70 to 80 miles left on the project.

Work...