Plastic conduit connects tribal communities

The fiber-optic cable being buried by the thousands of miles under tribal lands delivers more than high-speed internet: It's leveling the playing field for underserved communities at a time when online learning and remote work have become parts of daily life.

Protected in conduit made of high density polyethylene, the electrical and telecommunications wiring is bridging a digital divide among tribal, rural and urban areas. Just 67 percent of tribal lands in the continental U.S. have access to broadband, according to a 2021 Federal Communications Commission report. And just 46.5 percent have connections that meet the minimum requirements for high-speed internet (download speeds of 25 mbps and upload speeds of 3 mbps).

These FCC statistics are a best-case scenario, according to the American Indian Policy Institute, which says lack of fast internet service impedes economic growth, community health, education and civic engagement. The research institute, which is based in Phoenix at Arizona State University, calls tribal broadband "an infrastructure that quite literally could have saved lives had it been in place prior to the onset of the pandemic."

Conduit extruder United Poly Systems LLC is part of a team with resin producer Dow Inc. and Sacred Wind Communications Inc. that is filling so called dot-com deserts with broadband. The three companies are in the middle of a project that will provide 3.61 million feet, or nearly 600 miles, of HDPE conduit for high-speed, fiber-optic internet to preschools, libraries and homes in New Mexico and Arizona.

With $90 million in annual sales, United Poly Systems ranks 51st among North American pipe, profile and tubing extruders, according to Plastics News' latest ranking. The company was recently acquired by Harvey, Ill.-based Atkore Inc., which is ranked seventh, with $860 million in pipe sales, according to the rankings.

Business is brisk for Springfield, Mo.-based United Poly, which has two plants in Missouri and New Mexico, but the company was committed to getting conduit to the project area in rural and tribal areas of New Mexico.

United Poly's customer, Yatahey, N.M.-based Sacred Wind Communications, is overseeing the effort to connect 54 preschools and libraries and tens of thousands of homes in the Navajo Nation reservation and the Grants, Milan and Bluewater communities.

When first approached about the project, United Poly responded quickly and offered competitive pricing for the 1¼-inch HDPE conduit to support the service expansion, according to Logan Bridges, United Poly's marketing director.

"We provided immediate releases to help ensure the areas in highest demand could begin installation immediately, and we've provided staggered releases throughout the project to meet the needs of the installer's progress," Bridges said in an email. "Demand for HDPE conduit seems to be at an all-time high, and it's imperative that projects like this don't get left by the wayside, so we did what we could to help the project kick off as quickly as possible while maintaining our output for other customers."

United Poly partnered with Midland, Mich.-based Dow to provide its Continuum-brand bimodal resin, which the material maker said produces plastic pipe that has superior strength and quality.

Bridges said the size of the project required close collaboration among all parties and impeccable project management. The initial pipe shipments were delivered without delay and staged on-site for progressive installations.

HDPE conduit provides a protective pathway for wires and cables that does not become brittle at extreme temperatures, resists chemicals and corrosion, and has a bend radius that is flexible enough to store on reels and route around or under obstacles. The plastic pathways also can be installed via directional drilling, which limits disruption and saves on restoration costs like paving.

"HDPE conduit is the superior material for housing the fiber optic cables that keep our country connected," Bridges said.

The conduit market is growing and will benefit from U.S. infrastructure legislation, according to John Pregenzer, president of Atkore's electrical business.

"We are pleased to complete the acquisition of United Poly Systems, which strengthens Atkore's product portfolio, expands our manufacturing capacity and further enables us to meet HDPE customers' needs," Pregenzer said in a June 22 announcement about the United Poly deal.

In the last few months, Atkore has acquired Four Star Industries LLC, a provider of half- to 6-inch HDPE conduit for the utility and telecommunications markets, and Sasco Tubes & Rolling Forming Inc. and Talon Products to align with its product portfolio.

Atkore's new ranking, up from 16th place, includes Four Star Industries. The company has spent $250 million on mergers and acquisitions in fiscal year 2022.

"The benefits of all acquisitions will turn out as a primary growth factor in the long term as the company is increasing its presence in many interlinked markets. The company also has a strong cash position and credibility, which can make funding available for future acquisition," Mayank N. Sharma, equity research analyst, said in a post on Seeking Alpha.

Blue Diamond Industries is planning for growth, too. In February, the company announced the location of its first East Coast plant in Clinton, S.C. The facility will produce HDPE conduit materials, including microducts.

Sales and Marketing Manager Jaime Shouldis said the expansion reflects the confidence of Blue Diamond and its Swedish parent company, Hexatronic Group AB, in the booming fiber-to-the-home market in the United States, as well as the potential offered by anticipated federal infrastructure upgrades.

Hexatronic provided an estimated 2021 sales figure for BDI of $106 million, which places it 46th among the pipe, profile and tube manufacturers in North America in PN's ranking.

United Poly is currently operating ahead of budget, Bridges said.

"We anticipate continued growth and continued expansion in terms of output and product through the remainder of the year," he added.

The Navajo Nation project involving United Poly is being funded from several government grants, including the Tribal Broadband Connectivity Program.

"With more than 280 tribes requesting funds from the project, the need for telecommunications infrastructure has never been greater," Bridges said. "United Poly is proud to have the opportunity to help supply access to education and remote work for those in need."

The federal tribal broadband grants are funded by the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021, which made $980 million available to eligible Native American, Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian entities for broadband deployment, digital inclusion, workforce development, telehealth and distance learning. 

When Sacred Wind Communications was founded in 2006, only 26 percent of the households in its territory had access to emergency 911 telephone service and no high-speed internet. As of last year, all of Sacred Wind's customers have 911 and telephone service and at least 85 percent in its territory have access to high internet speeds, according to the company website.