Cindy Parks
913-526-6912
Connect, powered by Kenergy, delivers all-fiber broadband service to inaugural customer
McLean County resident takes advantage of Connect, powered by Kenergy, all-fiber service, gaining access to up to 2 Gbps internet
CALHOUN, Ky, February 16, 2023 – Kenergy and Conexon Connect, the internet service provider arm of rural fiber-optic network design and construction management leader, Conexon, are pleased to announce the connection of their first customer to gigabit-speed internet.
McLean County’s connection to the Connect, powered by Kenergy’s, fiber broadband network means rural Kentucky residents now have access to Connect’s 2 Gbps service internet that is among the fastest and most robust in the nation. Mark and Carol Heppler were thrilled to find out they were the first customers connected in this monumental project.
“We have been so happy with the service and the speed we can access things now,” Carol Heppler said. “We know our neighbors are excited to get connected too.”
Conexon Connect and Kenergy announced its fiber-to-the-home (FTTH) project in August 2022 to launch and deploy a 7,200-mile fiber network providing high-speed internet access to 57,000 homes and businesses in Breckinridge, Caldwell, Crittenden, Daviess, Hancock, Henderson, Hopkins, Livingston, Lyon, McLean, Muhlenberg, Ohio, Union and Webster counties.
“We are thrilled to have our first customer connected, as this is a major milestone on our way to closing the digital divide for Kenergy members,” Jeff Hohn, President and CEO of Kenergy, said. “Our members need access to reliable high-speed internet and we are proud to partner with Conexon Connect to be able to provide world-class internet to our members.”
The FTTH project is expected to be completed within three years and together, Kenergy and Conexon Connect are investing approximately $150 million to build the network.
To check availability and sign up for service, visit Conexon Connect.
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Kenergy is an electric distribution cooperative located in Henderson, Kentucky. The cooperative was established in July 1999 through the consolidation of Henderson-Union Electric Cooperative (organized in 1936) and Green River Electric (organized in 1937). As a co-op, Kenergy is member-owned and operates on a not-for-profit basis. Kenergy exists to provide safe and reliable electricity at an affordable price. The co-op currently serves members throughout Breckinridge, Caldwell, Crittenden, Daviess, Hancock, Henderson, Hopkins, Livingston, Lyon, McLean, Muhlenberg, Ohio, Union, and Webster counties.
Connect is the internet services provider (ISP) arm of rural fiber broadband design and construction management leader Conexon. The subsidiary was formed to operate and manage cooperative and investor-owned fiber-to-the-home networks. Connect leverages Conexon’s decades of co-op operations, fiber-optic design and construction, telecommunications, federal and state lobbying and customer experience management expertise to successfully launch and operate projects. The Connect approach is to work exclusively with electric cooperatives to launch and deploy high-speed fiber-optic networks, enabling them to offer world-class fiber broadband to 100% of their members.
Conexon works with Rural Electric Cooperatives to bring fiber to the home in rural communities. The company is comprised of professionals who have worked in electric cooperatives and the telecommunications industry, and offer decades of individual experience in business planning, building networks, marketing and selling telecommunications. Conexon offers its electric cooperative clients end-to-end broadband deployment and operations support, from a project’s conception all the way through to its long-term sustainability. It works with clients to analyze economic feasibility, secure financing, design the network, manage construction, provide operational support, optimize business performance and determine optimal partnerships. To date, Conexon has assisted more than 275 electric cooperatives, 75 of which are deploying fiber networks, with more than 500,000 rural Americans connected to fiber to the home. The company has secured nearly $2 billion in federal, state and local grants and subsidies for its clients.
