WRVEC is interested in bringing fiber internet to Ozark County, asks commissioners to partner in project

If you live in Ozark County and you’re reading this story on the internet, you may soon be able to load it faster and more reliably.

“Soon” is loosely defined, but White River Valley Electric Cooperative (WRVEC) presented a proposal to Ozark County commissioners Monday to help bring 100 mbps fiber optic internet to all of its nearly 4,000 customers in Ozark County, in addition to the customers in the four other counties served by WRVEC.

The massive project would cost about $234 million and would be paid for by WRVEC, state and federal grants, along with an investment from the counties.

Cassie Cunningham, Manager of Communications and Member Services for WRVEC, made the presentation to Ozark County commissioners Monday, along with 155th District State Representative Travis Smith, who has been an advocate in getting broadband internet to rural Missouri.

Cunningham said in order to get the grants, WRVEC needed some matching funds from the counties. For the $234 million project, $10 million of that cost would have to be shared by the counties. Ozark County’s projected share would be around $1.5 million. Cunningham said the WRVEC board has voted to proceed with the project if they can obtain the grant money.

The high-speed fiber internet would be a minimum speed of 100 mbps, said Cunningham, and would be available to over 3,600 homes in Ozark County, which would cover 91 percent of their members here. Cunningham said the projected cost for the service to subscribe would be $89 per month for the guaranteed 100 mbps speed. The system would be built to potentially handle speed of up to 40 gps, Cunningham said.

There was some discussion among those in attendance at the Monday meeting about the cost of the monthly service to people who would potentially subscribe. “I think $89 a month is high,” said presiding county commissioner John Turner. “I think there are a lot of people in Ozark County who can’t afford that.”

There was also some discussion about the eastern portion of the county, much of which is covered by Howell-Oregon Electric Cooperative. “I’m not sure how those residents on that side of our county would feel about spending county funds on something that may not benefit them,” Turner said. Cunningham explained that, as a cooperative, WRVEC obviously would work with other cooperatives. “As a cooperative, our first loyalty is to our members,” said Cunningham. “But we plan to also offer the service to non-members later.”

According to a representative from Howell-Oregon Electric Cooperative, they serve 1,589 members in Ozark County.

“So you’re asking Ozark County to give (WRVEC) money … to spend on internet … that you’re going to be charging for and making money from?” Turner asked Cunningham. “Something about that just doesn’t seem right,” Turner added.

Cunningham explained that the high-speed internet would be an investment in the county. “It will promote and help businesses develop and especially attract potential new businesses and would help with education and other areas,” Cunningham said. “You have to look at it as a big benefit for the overall county.”

Cunningham said the proposal is not considered a solid investment, financially speaking, for WRVEC. “We’re looking at a 15-year payout,” Cunningham said, meaning it will take 15 years to break even on WRVEC’s expenses. “We are looking at it sort of like we did when the cooperative brought electric services to the rural areas way back when. It was just to bring the utility to people who didn’t have electricity. That’s why cooperatives were formed.”

The broadband discussion is not a new one.

Smith held a town hall meeting in late October in Pontiac to gauge the desire for high speed internet and was met with a bevy of folks who desire fast and reliable internet.

“It would definitely be attractive for younger retirees and businesses who might be considering Ozark County,” said County Clerk Brian Wise. “Right now it’s pretty much a no-go for many people looking to relocate here,” he said. 

Wise said faster, more reliable internet would attract new businesses such as web developers and would boost the current business community. 

One of the ideas Smith and others had to help fund the broadband is the use of American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) of 2021 funds recently released by the federal government.

However, those funds, which were appropriated by Congress, come with specific guidelines and limitations that must be heeded. 

Turner said he feels like the state and federal government needs to foot the bill for the broadband.

Ozark County is receiving nearly $1.8 million in ARPA funding, with $890,971 already received this year and another $890,972 payment coming next year.

The county, to date, has already spent more than $208,000 of that money on sheriff’s department salaries, new automatic doors for the courthouse that will soon be installed and the installation of two new water fountains in the courthouse.

After a lengthy discussion, commissioners asked Cunningham to keep them updated on the progress of the proposal.

Cunningham said the first round of funding would be paid out for the project in late February.

She said the construction plan to bring the fiber optic internet would be a five-year plan, with more than 90 percent of the households and businesses being served within the first three years.

Turner said the county would know more about their financial status and spending as the budget process gets underway later this month and into the new year.