Cookson Hills Connect Update from General Manager Juli Orme

Overall Project Progress

Our project is well underway as I hope you’ve seen from our Facebook updates and in the Hot Watts. We have, for the past several months, been working with our partners at Conexon, designing and mapping the network — honing in on the optimum fiber path along our electric infrastructure. This early, intricate design work maps the fiber route along our entire Cookson Hills Electric grid through every substation and the feeders branching off, to the poles and lines that will deliver fiber to individual homes and businesses. The work sets the stage for a smoother build, prevents missteps in the long run and allows us to offer broadband affordably to members in the quickest, most efficient way possible. We also continue to work with city and county officials and regulatory bodies as we plan and prepare to build out in our various communities.

Many of you have seen crews working during our make-ready stage – the process of evaluating and possibly changing out poles to prepare our infrastructure to accommodate the extra load of fiber. Make-ready work has been happening in multiple areas across the Cookson Hills territory. In addition, we have set fiber huts at our Enterprise, Stigler, Tenkiller, Sallisaw, Akins, Liberty and Muldrow substations. These huts house the equipment that lights the fiber which goes out to the homes and businesses served by the substation, thus preparing the way to distribute the fiber.

Phase 1 Locations and Timing

Of course, everyone’s top question is where will service be offered first? The first zone for service availability and member connections will be our Enterprise substation - Feeder 4. This area of about 810 homes and businesses includes areas in the communities of Brooken/Brooken Mountain Road, West Liberty, McKinney Addition, and Enterprise. We anticipate connecting our first members in late summer, or early fall of 2021, barring unforeseen circumstances.

The second zone for fiber service is the Tenkiller substation - Feeder 1. This zone, with approximately 840 homes and businesses, covers the East Lake Hills, Evening Shade Road, Blackgum, Ridge Route, Cato Creek and Diver’s Ridge areas. We hope to begin connecting Tenkiller subscribers before the end of 2021, again barring unforeseen circumstances.

Staying in the know

As you can see, we are listing substations and feeders to reference where the fiber project work is taking place. Beginning with the September billing cycle, you will be able to find which substation and feeder provides your electricity by looking at your electric bill. This will help you better determine when service becomes available at your specific location.

I hope you found this letter helpful. I plan to provide additional updates as we progress. In the meantime, I encourage you to follow us on Facebook and to pre-register for broadband at your home or business by signing up at www.CooksonHillsConnect. com. Pre-registering and providing your email lets us easily notify you with specific construction updates and alert you when fiber service will be available in your area.