Bowling Green homes and businesses that get their internet from Stupp Fiber will have a new provider if a deal announced this week goes through. South Central Telcom announced on Wednesday, Nov. 11, that it has agreed to buy Stupp Fiber's network, customer accounts and operations in Bowling Green, according to WCLU Radio, WBKO and WNKY.
For now, nothing changes for customers. Current Stupp Fiber customers are expected to keep getting service without interruption, and they don't need to do anything at this time, WCLU reported.
The Details
- Buyer: South Central Telcom LLC. It is owned and operated by South Central Rural Telecommunications Cooperative (SCRTC), a member-owned cooperative that serves 11 counties in south central Kentucky, according to WCLU.
- Seller: Stupp Fiber, a wholly owned subsidiary of Stupp Bros. Inc., according to the companies' announcement.
- What's included: Stupp Fiber's network infrastructure, customer accounts and operations in Bowling Green, per WCLU.
- Still pending: WCLU reported that the deal needs approval from Bowling Green and Warren County, a transfer of the franchise, and the usual closing conditions.
- Timing: The deal is expected to close by the end of 2026, according to WCLU.
- Prices and plans: None of the reports said whether prices, speeds or contract terms will change. Check with either company before changing your account.
The Backstory
Stupp is better known around Bowling Green for heavy industry. Stupp Bros. came to Bowling Green in 1998, according to the Bowling Green Daily News, and its Stupp Bridge Company builds steel bridges on Century Street. Stupp Fiber began installing fiber in Bowling Green in May 2023, using contractors, the Daily News reported in May 2024; that story noted AT&T was also installing fiber in the city. The Bowling Green Area Chamber of Commerce's member directory lists Stupp Fiber's office on Nashville Road.
South Central Telcom's parent cooperative, SCRTC, is based in Glasgow and has mostly served rural south central Kentucky. GlasgowNews1 reported in July that SCRTC's residential fiber plans would start at $50 a month for 500 Mbps; check current rates with the cooperative. No report has said those rates will apply to Stupp Fiber accounts in Bowling Green.
What It Means for Bowling Green
A local fiber provider is moving from a subsidiary of an industrial company to a regional telephone cooperative. WBKO and WNKY both presented the deal as an expansion of fiber internet in the region, but none of the reports named new neighborhoods or a build-out schedule. Billing and support details after the sale have not been announced.
Because WCLU reported that the deal needs city and county approval and a franchise transfer, the sale isn't final until Bowling Green and Warren County sign off.
Before You Go
- The sale is expected to close by the end of 2026, pending approval from the city and county.
- For questions about your account, contact Stupp Fiber, or South Central Telcom through scrtc.com.
Sources
- WCLU Radio: South Central Telcom agrees to buy Stupp Fiber's Bowling Green operations: deal terms, approvals and timeline
- WBKO: South Central Telcom acquires Stupp Fiber: announcement coverage
- WNKY: South Central Telcom to acquire Stupp Fiber: announcement coverage
- Bowling Green Daily News: Broadband fiber installation leads to some issues (May 2024): background on Stupp's fiber build
- Bowling Green Area Chamber of Commerce: Stupp Fiber listing: local office address
- Bowling Green Daily News: Stupp earns IOY award: Stupp Bros.' arrival in Bowling Green in 1998
- GlasgowNews1: SCRTC fiber plan pricing: SCRTC's $50 starting rate
- SCRTC: contact information
