Park Board and local leaders gather to mark the launch of ten-year partnership with fiber internet service provider
Springfield, MO – January 17, 2025 – Today, Brightspeed, one of the nation’s largest fiber broadband builders, joined the Springfield-Greene County Park Board, Mayor Ken McClure, local community leaders and Greene County residents to celebrate the newly named Brightspeed Ice Park. The event served as the official unveiling of Brightspeed’s ten-year sponsorship supporting the Springfield-Greene County Park Board’s mission of offering high-quality recreational facilities to Springfield residents and visitors, thereby promoting health, social engagement, and economic vitality in the area.
“Brightspeed Ice Park is a welcoming place for families and individuals to come together, stay active and create lasting memories,” says Steve DeCaspers, vice president of Marketing at Brightspeed. “Brightspeed’s sponsorship reflects our dedication to Springfield, and we are proud to support efforts that enhance the quality of life for all its residents and help uplift the community. We look forward to witnessing the ongoing success and joy this facility brings to the area.”
“We are deeply appreciative of dedicated partners, like Brightspeed, who share our mission to enrich the lives of our Springfield residents and strengthen the fabric of our community,” says Rob Schneider, director of Parks and Recreation for the Springfield-County Park Board. “Whether it’s bringing reliable, fast fiber internet to local families and businesses or enhancing common spaces like the ice park, these initiatives play a crucial role in ensuring our city thrives and operates seamlessly.”
Missouri currently ranks 43rd in the nation for internet coverage, speed, and availability according to BroadbandNow. This creates significant challenges for those relying on high-speed internet for job searches, remote work, school assignments, or telehealth services. Simply put, high-speed internet leads to equal opportunity, which is why Brightspeed is committed to investing in the Springfield community.
Brightspeed leases City Utilities of Springfield’s fiber network to provide families and businesses with the reliable, superfast internet service they need to work, learn, play and thrive in today’s hyper-connected world. The company has made a multi-billion-dollar investment to build a state-of-the-art fiber network in communities across its 20-state footprint, including in large portions of Missouri, that would reach homes and businesses that have historically lacked quality options for reliable high-speed internet. The company continues to pursue state and federal broadband grants and funding, including BEAD program funds in Missouri, to augment its investment in bringing fiber internet to even more homes and businesses.
To learn more about Brightspeed Fiber Internet in the Springfield area, please visit https://brightspeed.com/fiber.
About Brightspeed
Headquartered in Charlotte, N.C. and with assets and associated operations in 20 states, Brightspeed provides broadband and telecommunications services through a network platform capable of serving more than 6.5 million homes and businesses. Our 4,000 employees are committed to building a future where more communities benefit from a more connected life, deploying a state-of-the-art fiber network and a customer experience that makes being connected as simple as it should be. For more information, please visit www.brightspeed.com.