ROCHESTER, Ind. -- A fiber communications company in Fulton County announced this week that, as of May 2025, the county is the first county in the state of Indiana to have fiber internet available to every home and business, which represents a major leap forward for digital access in rural Indiana.

“This project wasn’t just about installing fiber — it was about building opportunities for not just our company but our community and its economic development as a whole,” said RTC Fiber Communications President Joe McCarter.

“Access to reliable, high-speed internet is no longer a luxury — it’s essential for education, healthcare, business, and quality of life. We’re proud to be a part of bringing that future to every corner of Fulton County.”

The company says hitting this milestone was made possible by the support of the Next Level Connections Broadband Grant Program, administered by the Indiana Office of Community and Rural Affairs (OCRA).

On May 5, 2022, RTC was awarded four grants in Fulton County totaling $9,570,000. Those funds were critical in expanding the fiber network to an additional 4,000 homes and businesses across the county.

The total project cost was over $17 million.

"RTC extends heartfelt thanks to OCRA for its investment in rural Indiana, as well as to the local communities, leaders, and teams who helped make this vision a reality," an McCarter said.