Colorado’s second Connect fiber-to-the-home network will span five counties to reach 18,000 homes and businesses served by the cooperative

KANSAS CITY, Mo. , June 27, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — Conexon Connect, the Internet Service Provider (ISP) formed by rural fiber optic network leader Conexon, has been selected by Mountain Parks Electric (MPE), headquartered in Granby, Co., to provide high-speed fiber Internet access to members throughout its Colorado territory, including homes and businesses in Grand and Jackson counties, as well as parts of Larimer, Routt and Summit counties.

The Conexon Connect network will provide fiber-to-the-home Internet service access across 4,000 square miles of Rocky Mountain terrain to reach over 18,000 MPE members.

“Since Conexon’s earliest fiber construction projects, we have advised electric cooperatives that fiber networks should be built to be used for electrical purposes,” said Conexon Co-CEO Jonathan Chambers. “Just as fiber is ‘stable’ in relation to broadband, it will also be future-proofed for all smart grid applications, as long as fiber is built to the electricity meter.

“Furthermore, when designing a fiber backbone to connect electrical substations, the backbone must be designed to enable broadband for every member of the cooperative. That’s exactly what Mountain Parks Electric did. Together, we built a fiber backbone for the power grid. We did this in a way that will allow us to build quickly and efficiently so that all members will soon have access to world-class broadband.”

The relationship with MPE expands Conexon Connect’s footprint in Colorado, marking the second collaborative collaboration in the state. In 2021, Connect announced a partnership with the Mountain View Electric Association to serve its members. With Colorado’s current projects, Connect will eventually reach nearly 75,000 Coloradans with access to multi-gigabit speed Internet service.

“We are pleased to announce this important partnership. Through our agreement with Conexon Connect, we are able to fully realize the value of our mid-mile fiber network,” said MPE CEO Virginia Harman. “MPE is leveraging our fiber asset to ensure our members have access to true high-speed Internet service through Conexon Connect.”

MPE began work on its medium-mile fiber network in 2019 to connect its substations and on-line electrical equipment. That network was completed in 2023, and excess fiber is being leased by Conexon as part of a planned fiber-to-the-home build.

The ultra-fast fiber optic network will provide MPE members with access to symmetric (same upload and download speeds) multi-gigabit internet capabilities – among the fastest and most powerful in the country. In addition, it will provide reliable and clear telephone service and enable the benefits of smart grid capabilities in the electrical infrastructure, including improved power outage response times, better load balancing, more efficient distribution efficient electricity and more. Mountain Parks Electric members can call 844-542-6663 or visit ConexonConnect.com to learn more.

“Partnerships between Conexon Connect and electric cooperatives across the country continue to grow. We are committed to expanding high-speed Internet access to the unique and rural terrain in the Rocky Mountains, just as MPE did when it brought electricity to residents in this part of the country,” said Conexon founding partner and co-CEO Randy Klindt. “Our fiber network has proven to open many new doors for communication, education, commerce and growth. We’re excited to see where these opportunities take MPE members.”

About Conexon
Conexon is an industry-leading company that designs, builds and operates broadband networks that works with electric cooperatives, communities and other entities to deploy fiber to homes across rural America. Since its inception a decade ago, Conexon has partnered with electric cooperatives in 80 markets to launch and deploy fiber-to-the-home networks in their territories, with more than 20 projects now reaching 100 percent of members. The company’s Internet service provider, Connect, today offers multi-gigabit Internet speeds in many of those markets. Through Conexon’s work with its partners, nearly 3 million rural Americans now have access to fiber to the home, with more than 1.1 million connected. The company has designed more than 200,000 miles of fiber and builds more than 50,000 miles annually. With more than $2 billion in federal, state and local grants and subsidies for FTTH projects, Conexon and its partners have collectively secured more federal broadband funding for fiber construction than any other group in the country.

About Conexon Connect
Conexon Connect, the fiber-to-the-home Internet service provider (ISP) formed and operated by Conexon, is an emerging leader in rural broadband. Like Conexon, Connect works primarily with electric cooperatives and communities, building networks using Conexon’s proven methodology and architecture that leverages existing infrastructure to power reliable and affordable 100 percent fiber broadband service to homes and businesses rural. Connect currently operates in Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi and Missouri.

circle Electric Mountain Parks
Mountain Parks Electric, Inc. (MPE) is a member-owned electric utility cooperative. Founded in 1946 in Walden, Colorado, MPE has been headquartered in Granby since 1953 with a service center in Walden. MPE serves approximately 18,000 members through more than 22,000 yards in approximately 4,000 square miles of Rocky Mountain terrain, including all of Grand and Jackson counties, as well as parts of Larimer, Routt and Summit counties.

Cindy Parks
913-526-6912
[email protected]

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SOURCE Conexon Connect