Starting in 2017, our five-year construction work plan included installing fiber internet to all 16 of our substations for operational purposes. While development for this project began, we started looking for synergies that might be available to facilitate the expansion of fiber (broadband) internet to members' homes and businesses.

In early 2018, we met with local internet providers to explore their options for installing fiber internet service to the substations. After initial meetings, it was confirmed that local broadband provider, Cincinnati Bell (now known as "altafiber"), would be a great partner in helping to bring fiber not only to our substations, but to our members and surrounding communities as well.

In 2021, we completed our first project with altafiber to bring fiber access to over 2,000 member locations where high speed internet was not available. The project also provided fiber service to the cooperative’s substations and switching equipment. The project was a huge success, bringing greater operational flexibility to enhance reliability while improving the quality of life for many members. We have received extensive positive feedback; members whose children are now able to do their assignments from home rather than driving to school parking lots to access a Wi-Fi hot spot, members who have more career options due to the ability to work from home, and businesses and farms that now operate more efficiently due to higher internet speeds.

After the completion of our first fiber project, we knew many members still lacked access to adequate and reliable high speed internet. We continued to research and look for innovative ways to extend fiber service to all remaining members.

During our Annual Meeting on April 28, 2022, our General Manager, Tom Wolfenbarger, announced that the partnership between Butler Rural Electric Cooperative and Cincinnati Bell’s altafiber would continue. altafiber informed the cooperative and members that it would make the investment to extend fiber access to the remaining 2,800 cooperative members who were underserved. The expanded partnership brings gigabit high-speed broadband fiber internet access to all of the cooperative's nearly 12,000 members.

As promised, altafiber continues to expand its fiber network in our area, and members continue to gain access to fiber service as the network is built. The remaining underserved members are expected to have available fiber service within the next two years, with many having access by fall and winter of this year.

We are thrilled to build on this innovative partnership and deliver access to reliable connectivity for all of our members.

If fiber is already available at your location, contact altafiber to get more information about signing up.