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The Technology — Internet Service
Fiber-optic systems are made up of tiny strands of glass that carry data using light waves, resulting in much faster internet speeds and better reliability than traditional copper lines. Most internet providers use fiber in their systems, but use copper lines for the final connections to the home, resulting in slower speeds. Cookson Hills Electric Cooperative and fellow cooperatives believe fiber to the home (FTTH ) is the best, most sustainable communications choice. With our FTTH service, we offer “symmetrical” speeds, meaning you’ll enjoy the same high speeds whether uploading or downloading.
A fiber-optic network sends and receives data at the speed of light. In addition to super-fast transmission speeds, a fiber-optic network can carry an extremely high amount of data. Fiber is also more reliable than other networks because it’s less susceptible to interference and damage from lightning and other acts of nature.
Broadband commonly refers to high-speed internet access that is always on and faster than traditional dial-up access. Broadband fiber-optic networks can deliver voice, data, video, and email services over the Internet.
The Next Steps – Getting Service
The best way to start services is to call us at 800-328-2368 and provide a few small details to our team and we will take care of it from there. You can also select the “Start Services” icon at the top of our website.
Cookson Hills Connect offers four different internet packages to fit your needs, your lifestyle, and your budget!
- Basic – 100 megabits per second – $59.95/month
- Enhanced – 150 megabits per second – $64.95/month
- Premium – 500 megabits per second – $79.95/month
- Thrive – 1 gigabit per second – $84.95/month
Managed wi-fi service, which provides better performance and user experience with in-home equipment, is included in each member’s package for no additional charge.
There are no data caps or bandwidth throttling (intentional slowing or speeding of internet service) with this service. Our rural subscribers will finally have a provider with truly unlimited and unrestricted data!
Cookson Hills Connect offers Voice (VoIP) in addition to broadband internet service. While there are no current plans to offer TV services, Cookson Hills Connect's high-speed internet service will enable seamless, enhanced streaming TV performance, providing countless options users can choose for your personal viewing experience.
Cookson Hills Connect offers four different internet packages to fit your needs, your lifestyle, and your budget!
- Basic – 100 megabits per second – $59.95/month
- Enhanced – 150 megabits per second – $64.95/month
- Premium – 500 megabits per second – $79.95/month
- Thrive – 1 gigabit per second – $84.95/month
Managed wi-fi service, which provides better performance and user experience with in-home equipment, is included in each member’s package for no additional charge.
No. We do not require a contract.
Once you call and begin the setup process, fiber internet and phone services can be installed and ready for use in as few as 3-4 weeks.
Once you sign up for service, fiber installation is fairly simple and non-invasive. We pull fiber from our main lines and follow power lines to attach the fiber to your home or business. The fiber will be hung or buried underground. Next, crews will install a box, known as a NID, on your home, and then attach the fiber line to the NID where the home/business inside wiring connects with the outside wiring. Finally, the fiber is connected to a fiber jack inside your home or office, where it’s plugged into the modem that we provide.
Fiber construction often involves digging or trenching which often requires our trucks to be in the neighborhoods. Our contractors are trained to minimize any damage, and should any occur, to repair before leaving the job. Feel free to contact us via email to share any concerns about the construction process.
The Benefits
Our communities have long suffered from a lack of broadband equality – access to the same speeds and capabilities as those in less rural areas. Broadband availability across our service area will help close the digital divide between those who have access to advanced technology and those who don’t. A few of the many advantages of broadband access are:
- Online teaching capabilities, allowing our students to learn from home
- Healthcare benefits such as telemedicine
- Work-from-home interoffice connectivity and videoconferencing capabilities that will help professionals stay in their homes while being productive
- Quality of life improvements through enhanced communications
- Economic development and growth in rural areas. Access to high-speed internet can raise home prices and attract businesses to communities.
Our sole reason for offering high-speed internet services is to meet the needs of members like you. You will no longer have to rely on DSL, fixed wireless, or satellite internet to stay connected online. You will be able to stream high-definition media smoothly and quickly, have the data capacity to download and upload data such as files, photos, and videos at super-fast speeds, and have access to the latest technological advancements and applications. Our FTTH world-class service will be reliable, affordable, and backed by your local, trusted co-op.
You will be able to run multiple devices – such as televisions, cell phones, computers, and laptops – simultaneously in your home or business without decreased download and upload speeds. The table below gives you a speed comparison between what you may have now and what’s possible with FTTH.
| Typical DSL/wireless/satellite (3Mbps) | Standard internet speed (25 Mbps) | Fiber internet Up to 1,000 Mbps (Gigabit) |
|
|---|---|---|---|
| Download 100 photos | 14.7 minutes | 1.8 minutes | 2.8 seconds |
| Download HD movie | 4.8 hours | 34.4 minutes | 54.3 seconds |
| Download 50 Songs | 8.2 minutes | 1 minute | 1.5 seconds |
| Download 50GB Game | 39.8 hours | 4.8 hours | 7.5 minutes |
Download speeds calculated using the following averages:
- Phone Photo – 3.15 MB
- HD movie – 6 GB
- song – 3.5 MB
- game – 50 GB
Phone Services
Cookson Hills Connect’s phone service uses Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) technology. Calls you make are processed over the public telephone switched network, which results in a higher quality call than traditional VoIP calls.
No, you can sign up for the services individually.
In the majority of cases, yes. We sign agreements with various carriers to “port” phone numbers to the new service.
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.