| Resource Type | Case Study |
| Author / Source | Conexon |
| Publication Date | August 2021 (page includes some later-updated figures) |
| Location | Wisconsin (framework applicable nationally) |
| Initiative Type | Program, Partnership, Technology |
| Project Complexity | Advanced |
| Recommended For | Board, Staff |
Estimated reading time: 5 minutes
Why This Matters for Rural Electric Co-ops
This case study shows how Pierce Pepin Cooperative Services (PPCS) made the case for fiber and used an outside partner to take on a build it could not do alone. The co-op surveyed members first and found strong demand in a territory where 66 percent lacked access.
For a co-op without in-house expertise, the lesson is the outsourced-build model. PPCS engaged Conexon for the feasibility study, business planning, design, project management, and construction, and built fiber along its existing power lines. A leader can use it to see how a survey and feasibility study reduce the risk in the board's decision, and how a build partner makes a large project feasible for a small co-op.
Key Takeaways
| › | A member survey quantifying demand and perceived home-value and economic benefit can give a board the evidence it needs to commit. |
| › | An outside feasibility partner supplying cost, competition, and build data helps a board understand what a project really requires. |
| › | Outsourcing feasibility, design, and construction lets a small co-op take on a build it could not staff internally. |
| › | Building fiber along existing power lines controls cost and uses infrastructure that national providers do not have. |
Implementation Considerations
- Cost or Funding Requirements: The first phase was anchored by Wisconsin state broadband grants, and the partner model was chosen to make the build financially sound. Co-ops should plan to stack state grants with a feasibility-backed financing plan.
- Staffing or Technology Requirements: PPCS lacked the in-house capacity for a build of this scale and engaged a partner for feasibility, design, and construction. Smaller co-ops should expect to outsource much of the build.
- Time-Sensitive Information: The case reflects the project's 2021 launch. The buildout has progressed substantially since, so current subscriber and mileage figures will differ from those described.
Notable Examples
- Pierce Pepin Cooperative Services: Western Wisconsin co-op of about 7,000 members building an 800-mile fiber network to reach more than 5,500 homes and businesses across three counties through its SwiftCurrent Connect subsidiary.
- Conexon: Provided the feasibility study, design, project management, and construction services for the buildout.
Estimated reading time: 5 minutes
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