Conexon, a professional consulting company that works exclusively with electric cooperatives to bring fiber to homes in rural communities across the country, recently announced plans to partner with Osage Valley Electric Cooperative to enhance broadband access in rural west central Missouri. Conexon will deploy a 3,700-mile fiber-to-the-home (FTTH) network providing high-speed internet access to more than 16,000 homes and businesses in Cass, Bates, Henry, St. Clair, Johnson, Benton, and Vernon counties.
“The partnership with Osage Valley Electric Cooperative presents an exciting opportunity to bring the power of Conexon fiber broadband to our own backyard,” said Conexon Partner, Randy Klindt. “We’ll be installing fiber in areas just an hour away from our corporate headquarters. We’ll be on the ground both building and operating the network for local customers, and watching firsthand as members experience the life-changing impact of broadband to power their homes, businesses, health care and education.”
Conexon established its headquarters in 2019 in Kansas City, Missouri. The company also launched a full-service Network Engineering and Technical Support Call Center in the same location to support its clients in broadband deployment and operations.
“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,” said Jarrod Campbell, CEO of Osage Valley Electric Cooperative. “With Conexon 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.”
Missouri is no stranger to fast and reliable broadband service. Google Fiber chose Kansas City as its first location in 2011. And in 2020, Missouri Governor Mike Parson announced nearly $50 million to support broadband expansion across Missouri.
“Providing Missourians essential services during this time is one of our top priorities,” said Governor Parson at the time of the announcement. “Ensuring citizens have appropriate access to telehealth and education and that they are able to telework is critical. These are not optional services, and we want to do our best to increase connectivity across the state.”
“Improving Missouri’s digital infrastructure is essential to the resiliency of our economy in this pandemic and beyond,” said Rob Dixon, Director of Missouri’s Department of Economic Development. “By providing these essential resources, we are better able to work toward economic recovery, and help Missourians prosper.”
Read the original article published by Missouri Partnership.
