Omni Fiber Sues City of Stow Over Fiber Internet Access

MASON, OH, UNITED STATES, September 29, 2026 /CourierPR/ -- Omni Fiber, a leading provider of high-speed fiber optic Internet services in the Midwest, has filed a federal lawsuit against the City of Stow, Ohio, to bring fiber Internet choice to its residents. After 18+ months of good-faith effort, the company has been unable to build its 100% fiber network in Stow due to repeated rejections of permit applications on shifting and contradictory grounds.

Omni Fiber first applied for construction permits in March 2025, only to have the City change its requirements, contradict its own earlier guidance, and raise new objections with each resubmission. The company has spent more than $3.8 million on engineering and design to meet these shifting demands. Despite these efforts, the City has not approved a single construction permit.

The City's actions have been described as discriminatory, as it has approved permits for other providers, including direct competitors, without imposing the same requirements on them. In November 2025, Omni Fiber asked the Ninth District Court of Appeals of Ohio to order the City to act on its applications. That case led to mediation and a Permit Procedure Agreement, signed on March 6, 2026, which required the City to review permits within 30 days, to reject applications only on reasonable legal grounds, to not discriminate against Omni Fiber, and to work in good faith to resolve issues within 10 days.

However, since the agreement, the City has rejected Omni Fiber’s application again, including on issues the parties had already resolved, and has failed to respond within the agreed timelines. According to the lawsuit, Omni Fiber is asserting claims under Section 253 of the federal Communications Act, the Takings Clause of the Fifth Amendment, Ohio law protecting utilities’ property rights, breach of the Permit Procedure Agreement, and promissory estoppel. The company seeks damages for the losses it has suffered.

Omni Fiber remains committed to serving Stow and the surrounding communities in the Summit County area and will continue to seek a cooperative path forward with City leaders while the case proceeds. Stow residents and businesses interested in Omni Fiber service can place a no-obligation pre-order at www.omnifiber.com or by calling 1-844-844-OMNI (6664).

Founded in 2022, Omni Fiber is backed by Oak Hill Capital, one of the largest investment firms in the telecommunications industry. Based in Ohio, the company provides fiber Internet, mobile, TV, and phone services to residential and business customers in Ohio, Pennsylvania, Michigan, and Texas. Omni Fiber offers symmetrical speeds of up to 10 Gbps, no hidden fees, no data caps, Premium Wi-Fi included, local customer service, and competitive pricing.