KANSAS CITY, MO — Rural fiber-optic network design and construction management solution provider Conexon and global fiber-optic solutions provider CommScope are delivering fiber-optic cable and connectivity products for electric cooperatives working to close the Digital Divide.
Multiple state and federal funding initiatives aimed at expanding broadband availability across rural America are driving an increasing number of projects. Within that landscape, Conexon and CommScope's long history of complementary fiber expertise offers a steady and reliable supply of top-tier fiber-optic solutions that enables cooperatives to meet the accelerated milestones and timelines required for funding.
"CommScope shares Conexon's commitment to closing the Digital Divide, and our ongoing collaboration offers extensive fiber-optic resources for rural networks all around the country," said James DeCoe, vice president, Network Fiber Connectivity, CommScope. "In particular, our end-to-end portfolio—from fiber-optic cabling to network connectivity solutions and services—provides a unique advantage to cooperatives building out their networks."
Several Rural EPAs to Be Connected by End of 2020
Today, Conexon and CommScope are working with seven Mississippi electric power associations (EPAs) receiving a combined $30 million in CARES Act grant funding to fast-start FTTH construction in unserved and underserved areas. Customers are scheduled to be connected by the end of 2020. In addition, Conexon continues to work with cooperatives well-positioned to receive federal funding in early 2021. Those projects will also require rapid scale-ups as cooperatives build out networks to bring world-class high-speed internet to their rural communities.
"Conexon specifies CommScope fiber products and our growing relationship expands the range of available solutions in our FTTH construction ecosystem," Conexon Partner Randy Klindt said. "Our history with CommScope goes back several years, to a time when fiber was very hard to obtain, with some network operators struggling with lead times as long as a year. That was never the case for us. CommScope always provided our clients materials without delay and ensured our projects never experienced fiber shortages. Their team's dependability will be even more crucial as we anticipate federal funding opportunities with tight deadlines and do our part to ensure that rural Americans gain broadband parity with the rest of the nation."
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