Broadband Expansion Project Updates
MVEA has been providing updates about the Broadband Expansion in Colorado Country Life Magazine, community events, and member meetings. Below are recent communications published in MVEA’s pages of Colorado Country Life Magazine.
- September 2024 Broadband Expansion Update (Page 10)
- May 2024 Annual Report with Broadband Expansion Updates (Pages 7 & 9)
- March 2024 Broadband Expansion Update (Page 7)
Mountain View Electric Association is excited to bring world-class fiber broadband internet to 100% of our membership. Our electric cooperative is partnering with rural fiber-optic leader Conexon Connect to build a fiber-to-the-home (FTTH) network.
The network will be built over the existing electric distribution infrastructure that will enable fiber to be brought directly into our member’s homes and businesses and deliver reliable, high-speed internet services.
The Conexon Connect approach is to work exclusively with electric cooperatives such as MVEA to launch and deploy high-speed fiber-optic networks to offer world-class fiber broadband.
The FTTH buildout, encompassing nearly 5,800 miles of fiber, will ultimately reach Mountain View Electric Association’s more than 56,500 members in portions of Arapahoe, Crowley, Douglas, Elbert, El Paso, Lincoln, Pueblo, and Washington counties.
Under the partnership, design and construction of the FTTH network is being led by Conexon, with the network managed and operated by Connect, powered by Mountain View Electric Association.
The fiber-optic network will offer members access to symmetrical Gigabit internet capabilities (same download and upload speeds) – among the fastest and most robust in the nation.
Additionally, it will provide reliable, clear phone service and enable the benefits of smart grid capabilities to the electrical infrastructure, including:
- Improved power outage response times
- Better load balancing
- More efficient electricity delivery
- Other benefits
Landowner Easement Questions & Answers
As a part of our Broadband project, some MVEA landowners have received easement packets.
Below is a list of common questions along with the answers for landowners.
This easement addresses the addition of a fiber optic line which MVEA will use to supplement its electric grid.
MVEA is updating their package of rights to install fiber in the existing easement area and is asking for a voluntary easement before exercising Colorado’s broadband Easements Statute.
While there may be exceptions, generally, it will follow our existing electric distribution infrastructure.
- Underground fiber infrastructure will be built using bores and trenching
- Overhead fiber lines will be installed on existing above-ground electrical infrastructure (below our electric lines).
Only if existing infrastructure needs to be replaced or upgraded. MVEA’s electric distribution system, including more than 6,200 miles of energized line and 24 substations, regularly receives scheduled upgrades and maintenance as part of our focused effort to provide safe and reliable electricity to the membership.