In 2023, Indian Electric Cooperative entered into a lease agreement with Cox Communications, and the national broadband giant now is serving homes in the IEC territory. 

The collaboration between the two entities has IEC leasing its infrastructure along the backbone of the system, with the cooperative operating as the middle mile and Cox supplying its broadband product from the pole to the home. 

By this summer, more than 2,500 IEC members will have the opportunity to connect to Cox services, with more homes and businesses added every day.

“That is our main objective and the reason why we teamed with Cox,” IEC CEO Todd Schroeder said. “Underserved and unserved Oklahomans deserve the same opportunities, the same quality of life as those who live in more urban areas. We knew we could open those doors for our members faster if we also opened our minds as a cooperative and made this a team effort instead of forging ahead on our own. Our members needed high-speed Internet two decades ago, and in the cooperative spirit, we’re stepping in and providing a bridge to cross that divide.”

IEC crews have installed fiber in the town of Fairfax in Osage County and cooperative members there were the first to benefit from the project at the first of the year. The backbone connects Fairfax up north to the south end of the line in west Tulsa County/Eastern Creek County. Members in that area, more specifically in near Lotsee and East Mannford, will be able to receive service this summer. 

While the cooperative is investing some of its own capital, building out the middle mile of fiber to seven counties is an expensive – and expansive – undertaking. To alleviate some of that burden, IEC was pleased to be amongst other cooperatives receiving funding through Legislature-approved American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds in January. 

The Oklahoma Broadband Office awarded IEC $17 million toward specific legs of the full project. IEC also is pursuing other funding opportunities to offset construction costs to the cooperative. 

“We are working every day to meet construction deadlines and expectations of members who have been really supportive as they wait,” Schroeder said. “It’s exciting every time a member signs up for Cox service. We are grateful to be able to provide that connection and to empower our communities with tools they deserve, tools that will help them prosper.”