Fiber is Coming Along the back roads that wind from Tahlequah to Wagoner, and New
Tulsa to Porter, the buzz is palpable: Fiber is coming. LREC’s best predictions show their fi ber program will pay its way in fi ve to seven years. As it has since 1949 when the co-op organized, LREC’s suc- cess will depend ultimately on its members. More fi ber subscribers bring added revenue, allowing the co-op to extend service to increasingly isolated areas. To encourage the all important member buy-in, LREC is pressing replay on its populist past. “We’re letting our members spread the word for us,” says Larry Mattes,
LREC communications specialist. “They’re going door to door, putting up yard signs and handing out fl yers to get fi ber to their area, just like our fi rst members worked to get electricity.” Members are encouraged to sign up online and pay a $50 fee, refundable to them once their service is connected. With 11 zones designated for fi ber, member participation dictates the direction the co-op will build and helps them avoid overbuilding. An online map with status bars for each zone encourages competition by allowing members to check their progress. It’s crowd sourcing done co-op style, Mattes says, and it’s working. In three months, one zone moved past the critical 45 percent participation rate nec- essary to deploy fi ber cost effectively; two other zones are within the 10 percent mark. Thus far, some 1,543 members have paid the advance deposit necessary to secure their commitment. As fi ber deployments go, LREC is still in its infancy, but its impact is al- ready rippling the stagnant waters of rural development. Located at the edge of town, the Dawson Ridge Housing Development
advertises “the fi nest home sites in Fort Gibson.” Developer and local tag agent Barry Steveson says having available fi ber at his properties adds im- mense value that attracts buyers. “I was the fi rst development to get fi ber, and it sure didn’t hurt me any,” Steveson admits. Two of the fi rst fi ve lots sold in Dawson Ridge went to government workers
from Tulsa who must have a high-speed connection to work from home. The broadband TV service didn’t hurt, either. “They love that the TV service is available,” Steveson says. “And it’s cheap- er than other providers.” Co-op members Mary Kennedy and Melissa Moffett own homes in the hinterlands east of Fort Gibson. Before LREC fi ber arrived, they endured DSL service from another provider. “They advertised it as high speed, but we’re savvy. We’ve lived around the world and we know what fast internet is,” Kennedy recalls. Moffett found the disappearing data dilemma to be particularly aggravating. “We were paying for vapor, basically,” she admits. “Then LREC hooked us up—and wow—we’re in the modern world now!” There’s no doubt that bringing the Cadillac of broadband conduits to the boonies opens the door to vast opportunities made possible via telemedicine, distance learning, advanced emergency services, smart home automation and voice over internet. For Vahdatipour, however, the value is more intrinsic. “Without high speed internet and all it provides in the way of games and entertainment,” says the grandfather of fi ve, his voice trailing. “Well, we might not be the favorite grandparents to visit anymore…” In the end, it’s all about connection. For LREC and its members, that is full speed ahead.
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