KANSAS CITY, Mo., Sept. 17, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Rural
fiber-optic network design and construction management leader
Conexon and global fiber-optic solutions provider CommScope are
delivering leading 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."
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."
"The combination of CommScope and Conexon has been a tremendous
asset to the outstanding success of OEC Fiber's FTTH business since
our launch," OEC Fiber President David
Goodspeed said. "Both organizations are integral to our
success and truly understand our goals and business needs.
CommScope has shown a commitment and innovation not just in
providing excellent materials, but also in helping us deploy FTTH
as efficiently and cost-effectively as possible."
By building relationships with industry leaders such as
CommScope, leveraging buying power, and gaining vendor/material
commitments—Conexon has established an infrastructure and ecosystem
to ensure cooperatives meet aggressive funding milestones and
requirements, and economically deploy fiber in their
communities.
"We expect that the broadband needs of rural America will
require the construction of over two million miles of fiber-optic
cable over the coming decade," Conexon Partner Jonathan Chambers
said. "The success of our co-op clients has only reinforced for us
an unwavering objective—world-class connectivity for every home and
business in every rural community. This is the next great endeavor
for rural electric co-ops all across the country. It takes the
commitment of companies like CommScope, as well as manufacturers of
electronics, construction crews, co-op financial institutions and,
at the center of it all, the co-op staff, board and members. We're
proud to play our role in pulling the pieces together."
About Conexon
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 160 electric cooperatives, 40 of which are
deploying fiber networks, with nearly 100,000 connected
fiber-to-the-home subscribers across the U.S., and has secured more
than a quarter of a billion dollars in federal and state grants for
its clients.
About CommScope
CommScope (NASDAQ: COMM) is pushing
the boundaries of technology to create the world's most advanced
wired and wireless networks. Our global team of employees,
innovators and technologists empower customers to anticipate what's
next and invent what's possible. Discover more at
www.commscope.com.
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SOURCE Conexon