A Commitment to Oklahomans

Janice Williams, Executive Director of the Haskell County Chamber of Commerce and Cookson Hills member

Cookson Hills Connect recently reached a milestone in its commitment to bring high-speed fiber internet and phone services to rural households and businesses in eastern Oklahoma. With the recent completion of a fiber construction project that began in 2021, all 14,738 Cookson Hills Electric Cooperative members now have access to fiber from Cookson Hills Connect. Over 6,000 services have been placed in less than three years, and that number continues to grow each day.  

What was only a dream for so many is now a welcome reality for members like Janice Williams, Executive Director of the Haskell County Chamber of Commerce. “I have seen the benefit from the economic development perspective and as an individual member of Cookson Hills Electric. One of the first questions that business site selection companies ask is if our industrial park has high-speed internet, and I am happy to tell them yes.”, says Williams. “I not only benefited from it at work, but I was equally excited to learn that it would be available at my home, too. I now can upload large files and communicate after normal business hours from my home with government officials, chamber members, and site selectors looking for places to begin a business, and this was not an option before getting service from Cookson Hills Connect.”

With millions of dollars invested in the project, an estimated 33,000 people who make up the member households at Cookson Hills Electric will benefit from this venture. “We knew it would be a challenging yet rewarding experience, but watching it happen and hearing all of the positive feedback from our members has been even more incredible than I could have imagined.”, says Juli Orme, CEO of Cookson Hills Connect. “We extend our heartfelt gratitude to each member for their patience and support in this endeavor.”

Electric cooperatives continue holding dear to their cooperative principles as they expand into building world-class infrastructures across the state of Oklahoma. The type of materials, technology, and equipment might differ from that used by cooperatives some 80 years ago, but the commitment to serve people remains unchanged. After all, it’s about our people.

Cooperative Reborn: OEC Fiber carries on a proud history

Historic photo of some of OEC’s first linemen

OEC Fiber proudly takes its roots from the rich history of cooperatives. Born from the legacy of Oklahoma Electric Cooperative (OEC) in 2018, it shares the values and expectations of cooperatives nationwide.

Cooperatives differ from investor-owned utilities. They are owned by the people they serve. Many started with just a few people banding together to try and make life better for themselves and those around them. This commitment to improving lives traces back over eighty years when local individuals pioneered rural electrification in Oklahoma.

In the 1930s, rural areas faced challenges in accessing electricity. Larger power companies hesitated to bring them electricity because of the cost associated with extending their electric lines. Imagine what life would look like without electricity–no lights or refrigeration and only wood-burning stoves to cook with or heat your home. It was a difficult existence.

Farmers from Cleveland and McClain counties decided they wanted better. They joined forces to solve the issue. This led to the birth of Oklahoma Intra-County Electric Cooperative on January 12, 1937, later renamed OEC.

Fast forward to the present century, internet access has become the transformative utility of the current century that electricity was in the last. Internet access allows families to enhance their lives in ways a group of farmers in the 1930s could never have imagined. Working and learning from home. Virtual medical appointments. The list goes on. By having Wi-Fi in the home, families blow open the doors of opportunity.

Yet, not everyone enjoys the blessing of equal access to this life-changing service. Even in Norman, Oklahoma’s third-largest city, some families lacked home internet access. This was unacceptable.

Once again, the cooperative spirit rose to address the community’s needs. OEC conducted a feasibility study in 2017 to see what it would take to bring internet service to their members. The report said it would take five to seven years to complete. OEC Fiber initiated construction in April 2018 and connected the first subscriber to the internet in February 2019. What was supposed to take five to seven years became history in the making, taking a fraction of the time expected to establish service.

Today, OEC Fiber proudly serves over 38,000 subscribers. Despite its different name, it embodies the same commitment to community. OEC Fiber goes the extra mile to ensure that everyone can have the internet they need for a better quality of life. Drawing inspiration from the rich history and core principles of cooperatives, OEC Fiber has positioned itself at the forefront of a movement that will only continue to grow, making life better for all Oklahomans.

To learn more about the amazing history of OEC and OEC Fiber, watch The Power of Connection with OEC and OEC Fiber

Building Beyond Co-op Borders

Outside of the LRTC tech linemen working on fiber optic lines.

Lake Region Electric Cooperative subsidiary Lake Region Technology and Communications (LRTC) strives to provide superior internet service, bringing the newest standards in fiber optic technology. The electric cooperative members came to their local trusted co-op asking for help over 10 years ago. Lake Region listened and constucted a fiber optic network throughout the co-ops electric distribution system. 



The word has gotten out that LRTC has the best internet and customer service in several communities. With this comes more off-system customers pleading for service. This is another example of how LRTC is going the extra mile, helping the residents and businesses outside of our electric distribution system gain access to better broadband internet.

LRTC has achieved success with several off-system builds, and Gibson Grove, a new housing development in Wagoner, OK, stands out as a success story. Gibson Grove was stranded in an area with no internet options. Developers built several duplex apartments, and no internet service provider, Windstream, ATT, or Optimum, would build service into these new homes. The developer came to LRTC pleading, and after a few months of construction, Gibson Grove residents and future lots now have access to broadband internet.

“Before Lake Region was available, my only option was a satellite system. We had endless problems with the satellite, streaming was brutal, and we spent most of the time waiting for the internet to load. Eventually, I paid to get out of the contract with the satellite provider! Lake Region is faster and more reliable at home than my work internet, so I often move Zoom meetings, etc., to my house for a better connection. Thank you, Lake Region, for helping us,” said Gibson Grove resident Michelle Suarez.

The approach is still the same now as we continue to build off-network; there are northeast Oklahomans who lack access to adequate internet, and if LRTC can help, we will consider it.

Co-op Fiber Subsidiaries Offer More Than Internet

Co-op fiber subsidiaries offer more than internet; they offer peace of mind with advanced parental controls and social media monitoring that aim to keep kids safe while online.

Stillwater-based Centranet, a subsidiary of Central Rural Electric Cooperative and Okmulgee-based ecoLINK, a subsidiary of East Central Electric Cooperative, are two fiber subsidiaries that recently launched Bark. 

“As an internet service provider, we feel we have a responsibility to protect our subscribers from online threats,” said Jillianne Tebow, Centranet’s VP of Marketing and Business Development.  

“Bark offers peace of mind to parents,” added Billie Been, ecoLINK’s Supervisor of Broadband Marketing and Services. “Monitoring all of your child’s online activity isn’t often possible for today’s busy parents, but Bark does just that and provides alerts to parents.”Bark aims to protect children both online and offline. The comprehensive parental controls and social media monitoring allows parents to monitor a child’s online activity. The tool monitors content like social media posts and messages and looks for issues like of cyberbullying, sexual content, online predators, depression, suicidal ideation, threats of violence and more. Parents can manage screen time, block websites and even track the location of their child’s device through the tool.

Electric Cooperatives with Fiber Subsidiaries Awarded Broadband Expansion Grants

Rural consumers in the service areas of five electric cooperatives with fiber subsidiaries will be empowered with reliable, high-speed broadband following a historic announcement from the Oklahoma Broadband Office (OBO).

The Oklahoma Broadband Governing Board authorized 142 broadband infrastructure expansion projects in 57 counties. Project funding is designated from Oklahoma Legislature-approved American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds.

“Access to reliable and affordable broadband will enable better educational and healthcare services, stimulate economic development, and empower Oklahomans to leverage the online technologies of the future, regardless of zip code,” Mike Sanders, OBO executive director, said.

Approved projects for electric cooperatives will be carried out in 18 counties and total more than $76 million in awarded grants. The boost in funding will enable electric cooperatives with fiber subsidiaries to continue empowerment of the unserved and underserved with high-speed internet.

Selected co-ops to receive grants are: Canadian Valley Electric Cooperative based in Seminole; Central Rural Electric Cooperative’s Centranet, based in Stillwater; East Central Electric Cooperative’s ecoLINK based in Okmulgee; Indian Electric Cooperative and Northeast Oklahoma Electric Cooperative’s Northeast Rural Services, Inc. based in Vinita, Oklahoma.

“The cooperative business model is uniquely suited to provide this essential service,” says Hunter Robinson, chair of the Cooperative Broadband Coalition and CEO of Central Rural Electric Cooperative and its fiber subsidiary, Centranet. “We stand on a legacy of bringing service to those who never had it, much like we did 80 years ago, bringing electricity to rural areas that were in the dark.”

To date, 10 electric cooperatives with fiber subsidiaries have connected more than 113,000 households, empowering 285,000 Oklahomans with reliable broadband. Co-op subsidiaries are bringing reliable, high-speed internet not only to residences across Oklahoma but to county offices, city offices, small businesses, farming operations, health organizations, public schools and educational institutions. “Providing rural broadband is an extension of the cooperatives’ mission to work toward quality-of-life improvements in rural areas of the state,” says Chris Meyers, General Manager of the Oklahoma Association of Electric Cooperatives. “Rural communities deserve the same opportunity as their urban neighbors. We thank the Oklahoma Legislature, the Broadband Governing Board and the Oklahoma Broadband Office for the opportunity to continue investing in broadband projects that change lives for the better.”


CO-OP HIGHLIGHTS:

  • Five rural electric cooperatives in Oklahoma with fiber subsidiaries are among organizations selected to receive broadband expansion grants.
  • The Oklahoma Broadband Office announced 55,000 Oklahoma homes and businesses will benefit from broadband infrastructure expansion projects in 57 counties, representing 142 approved projects.
  • Approved projects for cooperative fiber subsidiaries will be implemented in 18 rural counties, totaling more than $76 million in grant funding.
  • To date, 10 electric cooperatives with fiber subsidiaries have connected more than 113,000 households, empowering 285,000 Oklahomans with reliable broadband.

CBC hosts Connected Oklahoma – Rural Broadband Summit

Speaker Charles McCall of the Oklahoma House of Representatives addresses attendees of Connected Oklahoma – Rural Broadband Summit on Sept. 27 in Edmond.

More than 200 guests from 21 states attended the Cooperative Broadband Coalition’s inaugural Connected Oklahoma – Rural Broadband Summit in Edmond on Sept. 27. The Cooperative Broadband Coalition brought together various stakeholders to discuss opportunities to better serve broadband in rural areas.

“Internet is key to unblocking the economic potential in rural areas,” said Speaker Charles McCall, Oklahoma House of Representatives. “There is a lot of untapped potential outside the metros. Rural broadband is going to let the rural workforce compete with the urban centers.”

McCall said more than $1.4 billion in funding is being pushed out through the Oklahoma Broadband Office, and a focus will be on getting money to the unserved and underserved areas first.

In addition to Speaker McCall, attendees also heard from Mike Sanders, Executive Director of the Oklahoma Broadband Office; Gigi Sohn, Executive Director of the American Association of Public Broadband; Jon Worley, Senior Technology Architect for the American Registry of Internet Numbers; Sarah Bleau, Director of the Middle Mile Program for the National Telecommunications and Information Administration; directors of the Arkansas, New Mexico and Indiana broadband offices; and several additional panelists including Oklahoma rural broadband operators. Some topics discussed were the state and federal grants process, supercharging the economy with broadband, and building a coalition-based middle mile network.

The CBC unites 11 electric cooperatives with fiber subsidiaries in the state of Oklahoma. Collectively, these cooperatives have reached the milestone of connecting 100,000-plus households in rural areas, a significant investment in the quality of life for rural Oklahomans and the statewide economy. Visit cooperativebroadband.coop for more information.  

ecoLINK Fiber Member Project Complete


In 2018 East Central Electric accepted the mission of providing reliable, affordable internet service to members in our communities by forming ecoLINK fiber services.  

The mission was similar to when the co-ops first brought electricity to rural homes and farms.  It made such a difference in the lives of those who had been overlooked or refused service.  Now, 85 years later, we’ve done it again by building 4,153 miles of fiber to provide internet to over 31,000 broadband service locations.

The cooperative core value of improving quality of life for others inspired us to accept the mission and our approach was with the same attitude and spirit that East Central Electric members know and trust.  There was a need in the East Central Electric service area that the Board of Directors recognized just in time.

“We recognized the importance of high-speed internet, but none of us were fully prepared for the extent of the desperate need,” said ecoLINK Director of Broadband Operations Jeremy Hendrickson. “When the pandemic began, the need for high-speed internet was obvious. We received feedback from educators, students, remote workers, and individuals requiring telemedicine services that were desperate to get access. It certainly pushed us into higher gear.”

Initially the mission was a six year, six phase project.  Once the project began, two phases were combined which shaved one year off.  After that, work accelerated and was completed in an impressive four years and five months.  

Hendrickson says, “Although the mission to our members is complete, there are still many who need access to high-speed internet and we’re committed to seeing this through.  Now, we will begin filling in the gaps and fulfilling grant obligations in off-system areas.”
We’re thankful to the many who have helped with our mission and have chosen to continue with us for the next mission.

We want to see communities, members, schools, and small businesses thrive; and for all who need or want reliable, high-speed internet to have access to it.
ecoLINK By the Numbers:

• 4,153 miles of fiber
• 14, 363 installations
• 50% take-rate
• 5 phases
• 78 feeders
• 22 fiber huts
• 90 net promoter score

OEC Fiber Awarded “Best ISP” by the Journal Record

 OEC Fiber received the “Best Internet Service Provider” in Oklahoma award at a ceremony on June 22 at OCCC Visual and Performing Arts Center Theatre in Oklahoma City. This is the second year in a row that The Journal Record has awarded OEC Fiber this honor as voted by their readers. 

“Having our subscribers vote for us to receive this award two years in a row speaks volumes for the work our team does to ensure that our subscribers receive the best value, service and support to stay connected,” said OEC Fiber president, David Goodspeed. “Each team member at OEC Fiber is dedicated to providing the best service possible to our subscribers, and it shows.” 

OEC Fiber is a subsidiary of Oklahoma Electric Cooperative (OEC), governed by the OEC board of trustees and the OEC Fiber board of directors. OEC Fiber is managed and operated by employees who embody the same attitude and spirit of the OEC you know and trust. Learn more at www.oecfiber.com. 

Centranet Named Best of Stillwater Internet Service Provider

Centranet recently won top honors in the Stillwater News Press “Best of Stillwater” contest. Every year, readers of the Stillwater News Press and followers of the newspaper’s social media profiles, websites and e-mail blasts celebrate the best businesses, organizations and people in a two-step process.

In June, they cast their nominations in the contest, revealing the top five nominees in each category. In July, voters select their top pick from each category, hoping their favorite will rise to the top.  On July 29, the newspaper announced Centranet as the first place winner in the internet service provider category. 

“We are excited that Centranet was chosen for this award,” said Mark Prather, President of Fiber and Technology of Central Rural Electric Cooperative and its fiber subsidiary, Centranet. “From the beginning, we’ve made subscriber satisfaction a pillar of all we do. We’re delighted the community recognizes this and chose Centranet as their provider of choice.”

Located in Stillwater, Okla., Centranet is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Central Rural Electric Cooperative that aims to bring members the fastest, most reliable internet through its fully fiber network.

Co-op’s Participate in HB-1965 Ceremonial Bill Signing

Co-op leaders are pictured with Governor Kevin Stitt

Today, cooperative leaders participated in the ceremonial bill signing of HB-1965 along with Governor Kevin Stitt, Representative Carl Newton State Representative and Kirk Martin, Deputy Director of the Oklahoma Broadband Office. The bill encourages the development of broadband services in unserved and underserved areas, ultimately helping Oklahoma bridge the digital divide. Ten distribution electric cooperatives have fiber subsidiaries and are bringing critical access to reliable broadband to unserved and underserved areas in rural Oklahoma.