{"id":44904,"date":"2024-08-07T19:04:00","date_gmt":"2024-08-07T23:04:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.westbendnews.net\/autonews\/?p=44904"},"modified":"2024-08-06T16:30:55","modified_gmt":"2024-08-06T20:30:55","slug":"paulding-putnam-electric-cooperative-will-provide-high-speed-fiber-internet","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.westbendnews.net\/autonews\/paulding-putnam-electric-cooperative-will-provide-high-speed-fiber-internet\/","title":{"rendered":"Paulding Putnam Electric Cooperative will provide high-speed fiber internet"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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On July 18, 2024, after conducting several feasibility studies, the PPEC Board of Trustees voted unanimously to provide fiber internet to the membership as a new service.\u00a0Pictured left to right (back row): Trustees Ken Niese, Bill Beckman, John Saxton, Steve McMichael, Ronald Black, Secretary-Treasurer Tim Derck, Chief Financial Officer Renee Hull, and Board Chairman Joseph Kohnen. Front row: CEO Randy Price, Director of Engineering and Operations Nick Eltzroth, Vice Chairman Adam Schnipke, Trustee Bill Dowler, IT Manager Todd Taylor, and HR and Administration Manager Stacy Morrison.\u00a0<\/strong><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

PAULDING, OH \u2014 On July 18, 2024, the Paulding Putnam Electric Cooperative Board of Trustees unanimously voted to provide fiber internet as a new service offered by the co-op. This decision came after conducting several feasibility studies earlier this year. The board\u2019s goal is to provide high-speed, reliable internet to the co-op\u2019s electric membership via fiber-to-the-home. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cOur goal will be to build and operate this new business just as we\u2019ve operated the electric side: with our members and community first in mind,\u201d said PPEC President and CEO Randy Price. \u201cWe will combine and leverage the electric plant\u2019s benefits and infrastructure we\u2019ve built over the last 89 years with the data transmitted through fiber to better serve you, our members, and future generations.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Why is the co-op undertaking this effort?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In November 1935, PPEC \u2014 a not-for-profit, local cooperative \u2014 was created by its members to provide life-changing electricity to their farms and homes. Back then, the co-op powered rural areas where other big companies said it wasn\u2019t profitable; PPEC met a need when no one else would. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Today, the problem is modern connectivity: work, video streaming, gaming, home devices, and nearly every aspect of life in this digital age requires quality internet. Data gathered from the co-op\u2019s feasibility studies show that nearly 70% of PPEC\u2019s membership (especially those in rural areas) is unserved or underserved when it comes to high-speed, reliable internet. PPEC believes quality internet should not be a luxury available only to those in cities. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Just as it did in the 1930s, the co-op today strives to improve its members\u2019 quality of life by providing a crucial service. According to PPEC, co-op leadership see the need and are stepping up to fill it.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAs a utility, we experience daily frustrations due to a lack of connectivity,\u201d Price said. \u201cWithout reliable and affordable broadband, everyone\u2019s quality of life is impacted.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cConcern for Community\u201d is one of PPEC\u2019s Seven Cooperative Principles and the lifeblood behind this decision. Providing high-speed, reliable fiber internet will support economic development efforts locally, lead to higher rates of new business formation, allow for improved remote healthcare, and increase job opportunities for area residents, especially for increasingly popular remote work. When the community prospers, the co-op wins.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Residential and commercial members who are currently unserved or underserved, and who express interest will be the priority for connection. PPEC has nearly 14,000 members across seven counties in northwestern Ohio and northeastern Indiana \u2014 and growing. Progress will be determined by the amount of member interest in an area. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If the co-op determines it is financially feasible, it may add non-member communities in need outside of the PPEC territory. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Fiber is considered the \u201cgold standard\u201d of broadband connections. The term fiber-optic internet, or just \u201cfiber,\u201d refers to bringing internet service to your home or business through ultra-thin strands of glass fibers bundled inside an insulated casing. The fibers transmit data using light pulses instead of electric currents. Unlike the copper wire of phone or cable connections, or the wireless signals of satellite connections, the data transmitted over fiber-optic cables is coming to you at the speed of light! PPEC plans to provide speeds of up to 1 gigabit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Planning, design, and engineering will take place over the next year. By fall 2025, the first member should have internet service from PPEC. The co-op aims to complete its member system by 2028. If PPEC serves non-member communities, the build may take as long as five years (through 2030). Other unforeseen factors may affect these plans, but the co-op will keep the public informed throughout the process via its website, magazines, email newsletters, and social media. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The internet and electric sides of the business will remain separate. Electric members will not see their rates increase due to the fiber internet efforts. However, all members will see the benefit of connecting our substations using fiber technology. This will allow PPEC to detect and restore power outages more quickly and provide more accurate data to the membership with improved communication between equipment. All members will benefit from a smarter, stronger, more connected electric grid. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Watch PPEC\u2019s fiber updates webpage, www.ppec.coop\/fiberupdates, for more information coming soon. Pre-registration will be available this fall.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Those with questions can call the co-op at 800-686-2357 or email fiber@ppec.coop.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe Paulding Putnam Electric Board of Trustees and staff are driven daily to be member\u2014and community\u2013focused,\u201d Price said. \u201cWe are visionary and use every experience to learn, improve what we do for you, and invest in your future. We look forward to serving you in this new capacity.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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