Marks achievement of 3-year commitment in eastern Oklahoma

Cookson Hills Connect, a wholly owned subsidiary of Cookson Hills Electric Cooperative, is proud to announce the completion of construction for its world-class fiber broadband network. With the opening of the final construction zone completed in the Porum area this February, Cookson Hills has achieved its commitment to reach all its 14,612 members with gigabit-speed fiber to the home, a project that began fiber construction in March of 2021 in the wake of the pandemic.

Just under three years later, Cookson Hills Connect has completed its entire system build on time and has connected over 6,000 subscribers to high-speed internet to date. The highly anticipated project establishes a state-of-the-art fiber network that spans our entire service area across seven counties, providing lightning-fast speeds and unparalleled connectivity.

“Our pursuit of this initiative has been driven by the desire to make lives and communities better by providing our members with high-quality, affordable services both with Cookson Hills Electric and Cookson Hills Connect,” Juli Orme, General Manager of Cookson Hills Electric, said. “It’s hard to believe that the day has arrived where 100% of our members, including those living in our most rural communities, now have the same life-changing access to fiber broadband as those living in urban areas. We couldn’t be more excited to watch the digital divide close in eastern Oklahoma.”

Fiber project by the numbers:

• 2,077 total miles of fiber line built

• 6,166 customers connected

• 11 fiber huts installed that light the fiber for our communities

• 12 fiber subsidiary employees hired

• Project completed in under three years

“We extend our heartfelt gratitude to each member for your patience, support, and unwavering belief in this endeavor,” Orme said.

“Your commitment to Cookson Hills Electric Cooperative has been the driving force behind this achievement, and we are honored to have you as a part of our cooperative family.”

Cookson Hills Electric Cooperative’s board of trustees voted to establish the fiber subsidiary, Cookson Hills Connect, in October 2020.

By November 2020, Cookson Hills Connect participated in phase 1 of the FCC’s Rural Digital Opportunity Fund (RDOF) and secured more than $4 million to be awarded over 10 years.

This helped the new company to deploy a fiber-to-the-home (FTTH) network to every member of Cookson Hills Electric and provide smart-grid capabilities to improve electric service and reliability.

To learn more, visit www.cooksonhillsconnect. com or call 800– 328-2368.