(Red Oak) — Farmers Mutual Telephone Company plans to begin expanding its residential fiber internet project in Red Oak this fall.
FMTC officials announced earlier this week the launch of the company’s second residential fiber construction project within Red Oak city limits. The effort is part of the Stanton-based fiber internet provider’s “City Fiber” project started last year, with the first phase completed earlier this year in parts of Red Oak and Clarinda. Now, FMTC CEO Kevin Cabbage tells KMA News that crews are expected to begin expanding the fiber offerings in Red Oak further south this fall.
“It’s approximately 17 blocks within the city of Red Oak this fall and it’s the 17 blocks between the south side of East Oak Street, blocks 100 through 700, and the north side of West Elm Street, blocks 100 through 700,” said Cabbage. “Then it’s between the east side of North Boundary, blocks 1200 and 1300, and then the 1200 block of North 8th.”
The first phase in Red Oak made the fiber internet options available to roughly half of the residences in the community, with roughly 40% of potential households signing up for the service. Cabbage says the majority of the feedback thus far has been positive.
“They’re very pleased with the construction process and the installation process,” he said, “but more importantly just how fast and reliable FMTC Internet is over our underground fiber optics and more importantly, it’s unlimited data usage.”
FMTC officials also announced a “special launch offer” for new customers, including 250 megabytes symmetrical fiber at only $49.95 a month for two years and waiving installation and basic router fees. Cabbage adds that interested residents are encouraged to sign up ahead of construction to help make installation more efficient.
“While crews are in the area and and other utilities have located there their underground facilities, it’s always much easier to get the construction done while the crews in the area,” said Cabbage. “Obviously we will we will come back and and hook people up at a later date, but we are pushing into the the latter part of the year. Even though this is August, with this construction probably starting later this fall, we’re we’re getting into that time of year where as we enter into the winter months construction would not be possible.”
Cabbage says phase one of the project in Clarinda was also completed earlier this year, with roughly 20% of potential households signed up. While they would hope to fulfill their “City Fiber” project faster, Cabbage says residents in Red Oak, Clarinda, and Corning can expect smaller chunks to be completed at a time to ensure the capital investment-heavy project is done efficiently.
“We plan to do this routinely until we are completely finished in Red Oak and we’re also working in the communities of Clarinda with the same approach, and also in Corning,” said Cabbage. “(Corning) is a project area that we just are just finishing up construction of the mainline fiber and now we’re looking at taking underground drops to houses that have signed up for us in Corning. We’ll be continuing this approach until we’re done in all three of those communities.”
For more information on FMTC’s services or to sign up, visit myfmtc.com/construction.
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