Clearwave Fiber

Clearwave Fiber: a buyer’s guide

Clearwave Fiber is an all-fiber brand whose Southern Illinois roots run through Clearwave Communications and whose 2020s scale came from a Cable One joint venture — now combined with Point Broadband. On RSINC it appears in about 152 cities across 5 states, with Fiber as the primary technology on all 152 city listings. Sample directory communities include Carbondale, IL, Brighton, IL, Marion, IL, and Carterville, IL.

RSINC shows sample plan rows for fiber (pulses of infrared light through optical cables) with an advertised download example of up to 7 Gbps and an unlimited-data fiber row. Treat those as directory examples, not a default residential tier. City counts are relationships, not homes passed. Compare Clearwave Fiber with other options for your ZIP on RSINC, or call 1-877-697-2926.

History of Clearwave Fiber — Harrisburg CLEC to Cable One JV to Point combination

The Illinois name is older than the 2022 LLC. Clearwave Communications (also associated in deal records with Delta Communications, L.L.C.) has been a facilities-based competitive local exchange carrier headquartered in Harrisburg, Illinois, since 1996, selling voice, data, and internet in Southern Illinois and owning its own network equipment. Cable One (NYSE: CABO) announced the acquisition in November 2018 and closed on January 8, 2019 — about $359 million in later Cable One acquisition tallies — picking up a dense metro fiber book (deal summaries cited 2,400-plus route miles) inside Cable One’s existing footprint, previously backed by Stephens Capital Partners.

The Clearwave Fiber brand is the 2022 vehicle. On January 3, 2022, Cable One announced a joint venture with affiliates of GTCR, Stephens Capital Partners, The Pritzker Organization, and management to form Clearwave Fiber LLC. The new entity held Cable One’s Clearwave Communications subsidiary plus certain fiber assets of Hargray Communications (itself acquired by Cable One in 2021). Cable One said it would own a majority, take no cash proceeds, and contribute operations that were about 3% of Cable One’s then-recent quarterly revenue. Leadership named at formation: Executive Chairman Michael Gottdenker and CEO David Armistead, both from Hargray’s 2007–2021 executive team. The JV’s stated job was to pour capital into fiber-to-the-premise across the existing footprint and near-adjacent markets.

Residential expansion in the sample RSINC towns followed immediately. A March 10, 2022 Clearwave Fiber release said the company had served businesses in Southern Illinois since 1996 and would start residential construction in Carbondale in April 2022, citing a Savannah, Georgia base, more than 2,000 route miles, and fiber in more than 90 Illinois municipalities including Harrisburg, Marion, Carbondale, and Eldorado. Company copy at the time floated a long-term goal of more than 500,000 homes and businesses by 2027 — a target, not a 2022 passing count.

Scale changed again in 2026. On January 5, 2026, Point Broadband and Clearwave Fiber announced a definitive agreement to combine, creating an independent fiber platform across 12 states with more than 500,000 homes and businesses. That announcement carved out Southern Illinois operations for a purchase by Metro Communications — a crucial footnote for Carbondale/Marion shoppers. The combination closed May 4, 2026, with Armistead as CEO of the combined company and John Cinelli as chairman; GTCR and Berkshire Partners were described as jointly controlling, with Cable One remaining a significant shareholder. RSINC still lists Clearwave Fiber and Point Broadband (casair slug) as separate directory pages. Confirm which brand, bill, and — in Southern Illinois — which successor company actually holds your drop after those closings.

What Clearwave Fiber offers — all-fiber directory labels, address-specific tiers

Unlike mixed WISPs, RSINC’s Clearwave city labels are Fiber across the board. That still is not last-mile proof: a city relationship does not mean every subdivision is passed, and “up to 7 Gbps” is an advertised ceiling, not the default. Where a Clearwave (or successor) drop is live, expect FTTH traits: strong uploads, low latency versus satellite, multi-gig SKUs where sold, and business ethernet/voice in many towns. Do not assume a national linear-TV bundle or that a Brighton, Illinois listing is the same plant as a Southeast Hargray leftover. Equipment fees, promotions, and whether Southern Illinois accounts now sit with Metro Communications versus the Point combination can change. Confirm the legal entity on the order.

Who it fits — and when to compare alternatives

Clearwave Fiber fits households and businesses in the five-state directory footprint — especially Southern Illinois sample cities — that want a dedicated fiber builder rather than a cable upgrade. It is a stronger candidate if construction already reached the subdivision (Carbondale’s 2022 residential turn-up is an example of that wave, not a guarantee for every street today).

Compare alternatives when another municipal, co-op, or national fiber route already passed the house; when you are in the Southern Illinois carve-out and need to know whether Metro Communications is the surviving ISP; or when you only need wireless mobility. After the May 2026 Point combination, branding may still be integrating in non-Illinois markets. City-level Fiber labels on RSINC are not an install date.

Start with an address-level comparison on RSINC, or call 1-877-697-2926, before you treat any city-page label as an install date.

Clearwave Fiber FAQs

Is Clearwave Fiber the 1996 Harrisburg company?

Clearwave Communications dates to 1996 in Harrisburg, Illinois. Clearwave Fiber LLC is the 2022 Cable One / GTCR / Stephens / Pritzker joint venture that absorbed that subsidiary plus certain Hargray fiber assets.

Is Clearwave Fiber now Point Broadband?

They announced a combination January 5, 2026, and announced it closed May 4, 2026. Southern Illinois operations were slated for Metro Communications instead. RSINC still has a separate Clearwave Fiber slug. Confirm branding at your address.

Does “up to 7 Gbps” mean my house gets 7 gigabits?

No. That is a directory advertised maximum. Ask for the provisioned tier at your address.

How do I check Clearwave Fiber at my address?

Call RSINC at 1-877-697-2926, or start from the RSINC homepage. Service options and installation eligibility vary by location.

Are published Clearwave Fiber prices guaranteed current?

No. Verify current pricing, offers, fees, and terms before ordering. Call 1-877-697-2926.

Disclaimer

RSINC is an independent comparison site and is not Clearwave Fiber, Clearwave Communications, Cable One, Point Broadband, Metro Communications, GTCR, or related investors. Directory city counts are relationships, not coverage percentages or subscriber counts. Speeds, prices, ownership details, and build maps change. All trademarks belong to their owners.