Connect, powered by Osage Valley Electric Cooperative, a local provider of fiber-to-the-home broadband internet, has achieved a significant milestone by connecting 5,000 customers to its broadband services. Recently, Four Fillies Mercantile in Lowry City became the 5,000th subscriber.
“We are thrilled to reach this significant milestone of connecting 5,000 members to Connect, powered by Osage Valley Electric Cooperative, just 21 months after starting the project,” said Jarrod Campbell, general manager and CEO of Osage Valley Electric Cooperative. “The relentless effort put forth by our team and Conexon Connect has brought us one step closer to bridging the digital divide in our service territory and improving the lives of our members.”
“This achievement is a testament to the successful partnership of Osage Valley Electric Cooperative and Conexon Connect to bring high-speed internet to rural areas. We understand the critical need for quality internet service and are proud to be a part of the solution,” said Randy Klindt, Conexon founding partner and Conexon Connect CEO.
Small businesses serve as the backbone of rural economies, playing a pivotal role in job creation, income generation, community development and cultural preservation. Ensuring they possess the necessary tools is imperative for their flourishing success.
Regan Hollingsworth, owner of Four Fillies Mercantile, said, “With reliable internet, our customers will no longer have to wait on our system to reconnect during transactions which will enable them to have a quick and pleasant experience when stopping for their daily coffee.! Having the ability to offer Wi-Fi to our customers who want to sit and work while drinking and eating will be a major incentive for people to come spend time with us.”
Connect, powered by Osage Valley Electric Cooperative, is actively expanding its network to encompass its entire membership. Originally projected to span four years when initiated in late 2021, the project has exceeded expectations and is now anticipated for completion in mid-2024.
Osage Valley intends to explore funding opportunities through the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) grant program next spring to address off- system areas that lack adequate internet service options. Securing these grant funds will determine the local cooperative’s ability to expand the service outside of its existing service territory.
To learn more about fiber-fast internet services provided by Connect, powered by Osage Valley Electric Cooperative, go to www.conexonconnect.com or call 1-844-542-6663.
About Conexon
Conexon works with Rural Electric Cooperatives to bring fiber to the home in rural communities. The company is comprised of professionals who have worked in electric cooperatives and the telecommunications industry, and offer decades of individual experience in business planning, building networks, marketing and selling telecommunications. Conexon offers its electric cooperative clients end-to-end broadband deployment and operations support, from a project’s conception all the way through to its long-term sustainability. It works with clients to analyze economic feasibility, secure financing, design the network, manage construction, provide operational support, optimize business performance and determine optimal partnerships. To date, Conexon has assisted more than 200 electric cooperatives, 50 of which are deploying fiber networks, with more than 500,000 rural Americans connected to fiber-to-the-home. The company has secured more than $1.5 billion in federal and state funding for its clients.
About Osage Valley Electric Cooperative
Osage Valley is a rural electric distribution cooperative serving over 17,500 meters along 3,750 miles of line in portions of seven counties in west central Missouri. The Cooperative began bringing electricity to its members in 1938 and in 2022 began building a fiber optic network to bring high speed internet to the region.
