As originally reported at our 2016 annual meeting, the Coop was approved for a $59.8 million-dollar loan through the US Department of Agriculture/Rural Utilities Service. This loan will bring FTTH to 100% of 17 of our exchanges. This massive construction effort began in August of 2017 and is getting very close to being completed. Combined with the fiber put in prior to 2017, this will result in about 80% of our company being covered by FTTH infrastructure.
This project will bring symmetrical gigabit connectivity – 1,000×1,000 Mbps internet speed – a claim very few communities can make. As the need for faster broadband increases – fiber is able to meet the demand.
Here is a snapshot of the exchanges that were upgraded as part of the RUS Loan project as of September 2021:
- Girard – Construction: 100% Cutover: 100% – DONE
- Arma/Franklin – Construction: 100% Cutover: 100% – DONE
- Pleasanton – Construction: 100% Cutover: 100% – DONE
- Cherokee – Construction: 100% Cutover: 100% -DONE
- Purcell/Alba/Neck City – Construction: 100% Cutover: 100% -DONE
- Asbury/Waco/Lawton – Construction: 100% Cutover: 100% – DONE
- Weir – Construction: 100% Cutover: 100% – DONE
- Mulberry – Construction: 100% Cutover: 100% – DONE
- Arcadia – Construction: 100% Cutover: 100% – DONE
- Uniontown/rural Redfield – Construction: 100% Cutover: 85% – NEARING COMPLETION
- Savonburg/Kimball/Stark — Construction: 85% Cutover: 0% – CUTOVERS TO BEGIN SOON
- Edna (KS only)/Angola/Valeda — Construction: 85% Cutover: 0% CUTOVERS TO BEGIN SOON
- Hume – Construction: 0% Cutover 0% – NEXT IN LINE
Our ultimate goal is to bring fiber to the homes of every cooperative member. While we do not have a timeframe for the remaining exchanges, we are working hard to make it happen!