Timeline

Cookson Hills Electric Cooperative is as excited as you are by the opportunities that lie ahead with the construction of a world-class fiber-to-the-home (FTTH) network to serve our community. Since our humble beginnings in the 1940s to bring electricity to our rural farming communities, our mission has always been to make lives better by providing our members with high-quality, affordable services.

The location of your home or business is a major factor in determining the timeline for services. The best way to know how long it will take to begin services is to call us at 800-328-2368 and we will be happy to provide you with an estimate.

Construction of a fiber network is a complex process involving numerous contractors and is dependent on a number of variables that include the length of the circuit, terrain and soils, weather, and other external factors. Most distribution lines are a mix of overhead and underground construction. Construction is divided into 6 phases for an overhead distribution project.

The project begins with the design of the fiber build. Once the design is set, field engineers determine if modifications to any poles are required in order to support the fiber and the steel strand that accompanies it. Poles may need to be moved to make more space, or they may need to be replaced with stronger or taller poles.

During the first phase, inspectors will also “ride out” the build, visiting every location throughout the project area and making notations of changes that may need to be made. During make-ready engineering and assessment, we also make sure every member in the territory is included in the build. This phase can take 2 to 4 weeks.

The timeline for make-ready construction can vary widely, typically from 1 to 3 months. During this phase, crews make the changes necessary to accommodate fiber. Line crews change poles, move transformers from one side of the pole to another, move wires on the pole, add new anchors to the poles, and perform other work to allow the fiber to be placed during the fiber construction phase.

Fiber crews will begin the process of adding fiber-optic cable and steel strands to pole lines throughout the community. This process can vary whether electric lines are above or below ground. If underground, asphalt and concrete driveways will be bored under and a pedestal may be placed next to a transformer or junction box to allow for a service drop. Fiber construction can take four to eight weeks in the designated zone.

Once both the strand and fiber are placed and secured, splicing can begin. Splicing can take 3 to 6 weeks for the main lines. In this phase, technicians splice the necessary cables at each end and tap point, and mount the splices in enclosures secured to the distribution poles or inside pedestals.

Service drop construction may be done simultaneously with some of the previously mentioned steps, or it may not be done until after the mainline fiber is in place. In this phase, the drop crews extend the fiber from the nearest splice point to the structure receiving service and leave coils of fiber in each location.

Drop splicing is the next-to-last step of the process. The splicer connects the last length of the fiber at the tap point and mounts a network interface device (NID) at the structure with the final splice inside it.

After drop splicing is completed, the network is now ready to be turned over for installation to homes and businesses to start receiving service.

Finally, the fiber is connected to a fiber jack inside your home or office, where it is plugged into the modem we provide! If you pre-register - 1 of our subscriber support representatives will contact you to schedule an appointment for an in-home installer to finalize your connection and test the services from your equipment. Once the installation is complete and tested, your service should be ready to go. Welcome to the world of high-speed internet!

The scope of the fiber project ultimately determines its final timeline. Upon completion, the Cookson Hills Connect network will span 2,500 miles of fiber with the potential to reach more than 14,000 residential and commercial customers. Fiber service is expected to take 3 years to extend to 100% of the membership.

Keep following project progress here and on our Facebook page. We are proud to continue the legacy of Cookson Hills Electric with a new era of economic, educational, and community growth for our area created by the transformational power of gigabit-speed internet. Thank you for being a part of our journey.