Conexon Business Partnerships: Invest with
We work exclusively with electric cooperatives to build fiber to 100% of their members and communities.
Conexon’s commitment to cooperative principles and our aim to deliver fiber broadband to rural communities across the country makes us different – and our record of success proves it.
Conexon is ready to invest, partner, and provide an end-to-end blueprint for broadband success. When it comes to bringing fiber to the home to your members, there are options. We would love to discuss possible investment opportunities that would make sense for your cooperative.
ABOUT CONEXON CONNECT
WHAT MAKES CONEXON CONNECT DIFFERENT
Conexon has moved beyond its core consulting and advisory capabilities with the recently launched Conexon Connect, its new Internet service provider (ISP) created to operate and manage fiber-to-the-home networks for cooperatives and investors. The debut of Connect is one more way that Conexon is transforming rural America by meeting the needs of residents and cooperatives in the heart of their communities. High-speed Internet becomes infinitely more accessible and affordable, closing the Digital Divide at last for populations previously left behind.
Conexon Connect is partnering directly with electric cooperatives to build a 100% fiber network to serve all homes and businesses in the co-ops’ territories.
Our demonstrated experience gives us the edge when it comes to educating your team and guiding your project forward. While many other fiber solutions providers offer consulting services, Conexon Connect puts our reputation and our money behind our promise: your success is our success, and we are committed to building a successful FTTH network with you.
Find out more.
WHO CHOOSES CONEXON CONNECT
“Our electric cooperative’s leadership sees firsthand the disadvantages associated with a lack of internet service. That’s why electric cooperatives throughout the state have been actively searching for partnerships with providers like Conexon to bring high-speed internet to our rural communities so our members are afforded the opportunity to participate in today’s digital world.”
- George Weaver, President/CEO of Central Georgia Electric Membership Cooperative
“We know electric cooperatives play a critical role in connecting underserved areas and we are proud to partner with Conexon to help bridge the digital divide for our communities. This partnership will enable thousands of rural Georgians to finally access the same online connections as those in more urban areas, while allowing us to maintain focus on our core mission – providing reliable, affordable electricity to our members.”
- Michael McMillan, Southern Rivers Energy
“To say that we are excited about this journey is an understatement. For more than 80 years, our cooperative has been committed to continuously improving the rural communities we serve, but bringing broadband is something different and unlike anything our membership has experienced. The impact on daily life for Washington EMC’s counties will truly be something inspiring to see.”
- Wendy Sellers, President and CEO of Washington EMC
“Our members have waited long enough for high-speed access to make telemedicine, remote learning, working from home and videoconferencing with loved ones a reality on a daily basis. Conexon Connect is making it possible for our members to access this vital service at last. We are ready to show them all the opportunities that open up in a more connected community.”
- Randy Crenshaw, president and CEO of Middle Georgia EMC
“Without question, fiber broadband will be a gamechanger. The speed, reliability, affordability, and attention to customer service that Conexon’s network will provide will change lives from the moment it is deployed. We cannot wait to share that future with every one of our members and watch our communities flourish.”
- Jim Davis, General Manager of Sac Osage Electric Cooperative
“This endeavor represents a huge opportunity for our rural communities in the Osage Valley service area to move forward with access to the technology that has powered lives in urban areas for years – but has been woefully absent for our members. With Conexon Connect guiding the process every step of the way, we know our members are in the best possible hands from start to finish and will receive exceptional service on a state-of-the-art network.”
- Jarrod Campbell, General Manager of Sac Osage Electric Cooperative
“Fiber internet will help Satilla REMC stay up to speed with where the world is going today. The bottom line is, if you don’t have access to broadband, you’re being left behind. Our members need the connectivity to stay in touch and the ability to work from home, learn from home, or see their doctor from home. Our network with Conexon Connect will deliver all those options and more.”
- Romeo Reyes, President/CEO of Satilla REMC
“It seems fitting that as we celebrate 80 years of powering possibilities through decades of innovation and industry changes, that we announce our plans to bring fiber-to-the-home broadband to our co-op communities to bridge the digital divide."
- Jim Herron, CEO of Mountain View Electric Association
“Our members will finally be able to achieve the same internet capabilities as those in big cities thanks to our partnership with Conexon Connect. We are ready to show our members what a more connected community looks like in today’s day and age.”
- Randy Crenshaw, president and CEO of Irwin EMC
“Flint is strengthening its overall electric system through a fiber backbone that gives us smart grid operational benefits that will enhance our ability to continue offering exceptional service to members. That initiative allows us to also meet the pressing needs of our unserved and underserved members for high-speed internet. We believe the time for us to act is now, and we’re thrilled to have found partners like Conexon and Conexon Connect to make this happen.”
- Jeremy Nelms, CEO, Flint Energies
“We can’t wait for our members to experience some of the same benefits that their urban and city counterparts experience, while pairing it with living in rural settings and enjoying the natural beauty our counties offer. Everyone will have access to this network – we’re not leaving anyone behind.”
- Julius Hackett, CEO of Tri-County Electric Cooperative
“The abrupt change in our lifestyles during the pandemic brought to light how far behind in broadband access Florida’s Heartland has been left. We began to research how Glades Electric could be part of the solution, which led us to Conexon to help us bridge the gap in a very affordable way and continue our mission of ‘Neighbors Working for Neighbors’. ”
- Jeff Brewington, CEO, Glades Electric Cooperative
“Since Kenergy’s beginning, we have put our members first and continuously enhanced our services to fit their needs. We’re excited to take the next step to bringing them the fiber-to-the-home internet connection that they need. Rural communities in our area desperately need high-speed internet to stay in touch, whether that’s for telemedicine, work, or education. We are grateful to be the company that can give them that connection.”
- Jeff Hohn, President and CEO, Kenergy
“We are extremely pleased to partner with Conexon Connect to bring high-speed internet to Ocmulgee members. Our rural areas and communities have long waited for this kind of service and we are excited to bring them the economic, educational and other advantages broadband offers."
- W H Peacock, General Manager of Ocmulgee EMC
THE CONEXON STORY
Conexon Partner Randy Klindt is considered an electric cooperative broadband pioneer with over 20 years of experience, and is widely credited for architecting the most efficient, affordable and sustainable fiber-to-the-home design in use by electric co-ops today. There are currently two cooperatives in the country with more than 20,000 subscribers – both planned and launched by Randy. Partner Jonathan Chambers has over 25 years of telecommunications regulatory and federal funding experience and in 2018’s Connect America Fund (CAF) II, spearheaded the largest, most successful bidding consortium in the FCC’s history. In the FCC’s 2020 Rural Digital Opportunity Fund (RDOF) Phase I auction, he led the auction’s largest bidding consortium – more than 90 cooperatives strong – to awards of over $1.1 billion. It was the auction’s third-highest recipient of both locations and funding, winning more states, locations and funding than any other consortium.
Together these two industry leaders have established Conexon as the premier end-to-end solutions provider in rural fiber broadband design and construction management for electric cooperatives deploying fiber internet.
Meet our Conexon Leadership Team
WHAT SETS CONEXON APART
At Conexon, we share your commitment to the transformative power of broadband in rural communities. Our approach is to work exclusively with electric cooperatives to launch and deploy high-speed fiber-optic networks – the gold standard of communications transmission – enabling the delivery of world-class fiber broadband to 100% of co-op members.
Our team of co-op veterans and industry thought leaders leverages decades of expertise in co-op operations, fiber-optic design and construction, telecommunications, federal and state lobbying and customer experience management to launch and operate fiber-to-the-home (FTTH) projects efficiently, affordably and reliably.
250
Cooperative Clients
60
Fiber Networks Deployed
200,000+
Miles of fiber designed
50,000+
Miles of fiber designed annually
500,000+
Rural Americans connected to
high-speed fiber internet
Over $1.5 Billion
in local, state and federal funding secured
Together, we’ve built an ecosystem specially designed to fast-track electric cooperatives’ projects and help them meet aggressive funding deadlines. We share your dedication to providing your members with accessible, affordable services and we have compiled resources with this specific goal in mind.
This ecosystem of best-in-class suppliers and resources and Conexon’s unparalleled expertise makes the difference for our investment partners, and our record of success proves it:
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- Securing CARES Act funding and supporting 7 Mississippi electric cooperatives’ broadband pilot projects to build over 2,000 miles of fiber and provide high-speed internet access to nearly 14,000 homes in less than five months.
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- Designing and building more total miles of fiber than any competitor – more than 100,000 miles designed and building 30,000 miles each year.
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- Helping co-ops construct world-class networks at significant cost savings compared to other carriers.
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- Showing co-ops how to make voice services profitable while meeting funding obligations.
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- Creating innovative turn-key solutions to simplify cooperatives’ operations, with a focus on NOC, engineering, call center services, voice solutions, and full-service marketing strategy and resources.
