Co-Mo Electric Cooperative is accomplishing something that, to date, is unmatched by any other rural co-op in America. They’re bringing their members internet, television and telephone service over fiber optic cable at unmatched speeds that range from 5 mbps to 100 mbps — all without government assistance. Currently, they’re working on providing service to the Shawnee Bend, Sunrise Beach and Laurie areas with plans to run 4,000 miles of cable over the next four years.
John Agliata, communications manager for Co-Mo, explained.
“For a number of years we had heard complaints from our members about the lack of high-speed internet service. In 2009 to 2010, when stimulus grant money was being given out, we researched the idea of getting a grant to provide the service ourselves. We were denied, but during the application process, we were required to obtain letters of support from the community. Surprisingly, more than 300 came in from everything from schools to small and large businesses and residents. As we looked at that box of letters, we decided to explore the idea of bringing service on our own, without government assistance,” he said.
Agliata said they conducted several “scientific” surveys and all revealed heavy support for the project so the Co-Mo Electric Board of Directors decided in 2010 to test the market with a pilot program. “It’s one thing to check a box stating that you would be willing to pay X number of dollars for a service but we were concerned that it might be something different when people actually had to commit,” he said. Co-Mo chose two test areas that were representative of their overall service territory to determine if the costs to construct an advanced communications network could pay for itself and not negatively affect electricity rates.
“We were offering internet and telephone and had already decided that we weren’t going to build unless we got a certain percentage of participation. Again - the response was overwhelming – and at that point, we were basically selling ‘blue sky.’ Nothing was in place but people were willing to commit. That showed us it would work,” he said.
In June 2012, the board announced it would extend the pilot project to the entire Co-Mo Electric service territory through a four-phase plan over the next four-plus years. The service got a name – Co-Mo Connect – and crews went to work. Today, 18 months later, more than 800 are online, with more joining daily. Packages allow customers to choose internet at three different speeds and to bundle that with cable television or telephone with unlimited long distance – or both.
Agliata said that as a side benefit, the power company is finding that the internet service is actually helping them save money by allowing them to better operate “smart meters” to track customer usage and the additional income should also help the co-op keep downward pressure on any rate increases that might be required to meet additional government mandates.
Lines, which can bring not only internet service but television and telephone service, are being run in the same right-of-way as the power lines. If lines are overhead, then the fiber optic cable follows suit. If lines are buried, the cable is being fed through existing conduit.
“That’s one reason why it’s been fairly easy for us to add this service. We know how to build lines! We have them all over our service area,” Agliata said, adding that they also considered their stimulus grant denial a blessing in disguise. “We’ve heard about other rural co-ops that did get approved and they’ve been tied up in so much red tape, it’s greatly slowed their process. Because we’re doing this on our own, with absolutely no government assistance, we can move at our pace, which has been extremely quick.”
According to Michael Scahill one of Co-Mo Connect’s new Shawnee Bend internet customers, it arrived none too soon.
“People in this area are thrilled to finally have high-speed, broadband Internet service. Co-Mo is our hero! In this day and age, especially in an area like this, I think everyone just assumes that it’s available but that certainly hasn’t been the case. When we moved here four years ago I went to Charter to sign up for service but I was told it wasn’t available on my street – and never would be! And I live on a street that’s 2 ½ miles long that’s 90 percent built out with some 50 homes. I couldn’t believe it but later learned that we weren’t the only ones with this problem,” he said, adding that Charter eventually ran service to a neighbor, but only because that neighbor was willing to pay the cost of bringing it to his house.
“I think it will even be a selling point for homes. So many second home owners need high-speed Internet access to conduct businesses while they’re here and away from the office.”
The Lake of the Ozarks Business Journal provided this news story to LakeExpo.com for republication. For a hard copy, pick up The Lake of the Ozarks Business Journal at newsstands across the Lake area. The Lake of the Ozarks Business Journal is a respected monthly news magazine providing accurate, relevant news and information to area readers.
