Co-Mo Connect is one step away from becoming a reality.

Tipton, Mo. (May12, 2011) Co-Mo Connect is one step away from becoming a reality.
The broadband service proposed by Co-Mo Comm, a subsidiary of Co-Mo Electric Cooperative, now has attracted enough subscribers to meet the minimum threshold to construct the network. The Co-Mo Electric Cooperative and Co-Mo Comm Board of Directors will meet Wednesday, May 18, to review the project and vote on whether to proceed.
Should the board approve, the network is targeted to be running by the end of the year. It would bring fiber-to-the-home high-speed Internet to two areas in the Co-Mo Electric Cooperative service territory, one around Syracuse and the other around Laurie and Gravois Mills. About 1,150 Co-Mo Electric members are eligible to become subscribers during the pilot project.

We've reached this point because of the commitment from the people in the pilot project area to see the vision of how broadband can change their lives, said Co-Mo Comm President Ken Johnson."It took their commitment and the hard work of those in the communities who stepped up to go door-to-door to talk with their neighbors about that vision. Without that sort of commitment, the effort would have been much more challenging"
If the pilot is approved and performs to expectations, the board plans to consider expanding the service to the entire Co-Mo Electric service territory within the next four years. As the project is expanded, Co-Mo Connect likely would also include television service, in addition to the broadband and unlimited local and long-distance telephone services offered in the pilot project.
Johnson encouraged those in the pilot project area who have yet to sign up to do so before construction crews installing fiber pass their home or business.
It will never be more economical for people to sign up than before the crews pass by, Johnson said.
For more details on this story and the board s vote, visit co-mo.net on Wednesday afternoon.