Are You Excited About Bolt Fiber Optic? You Should Be…

Something exciting is coming to the Grand Lake area, and it doesn’t have anything to do with the newest boat lines, the latest fishing gear or the lifestyle that already makes Grand Lake so great.

No, this is happening courtesy of the fine folks at Northeast Rural Services (NRS), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Northeast Oklahoma Electric Coop.

What NRS is bringing to the Grand Lake area is Bolt Fiber Optic Services. And this will change the way we watch, communicate and learn throughout Northeastern Oklahoma.

This is the kind of ‘economic development’ that truly benefits an area with opportunities to connect with the world that most rural areas just don’t have.

To understand why this is so important, take at look at this map. Do you see that eastern portion of Oklahoma…that color indicates, on average, the slowest internet in the United States!

Average Internet Speeds
Average internet speeds by congressional district. Image courtesy of Gizmodo & The Washington Post.

You can learn more about this map and what it represents by clicking here to read the corresponding Washington Post article.

And NRS has secured the ability to bring the 21st century to NE Oklahoma.

“Bolt Fiber Optic Services will be among the highest quality and fastest in the nation,” says Anthony Due, General Manager of NRS. “We believe access to this advanced technology will open many doors for both residents and business here in Northeast Oklahoma.”

Folks…this is big. This can transform everything from the way you watch TV and use the internet to the way our kids learn in schools and much, much more.

Now, NRS proudly proclaims that the Bolt Fiber Optic Services will provide:

  • The fastest internet available
  • The highest quality high-definition television
  • Crystal clear Voice of Internet Protocal (VoIP) phone service.

And it will…it will do all of that.

NRS is planning on offering subscribers a ‘triple play’ bundle of broadband services that includes video, data, and VoIP.

But, more importantly, it puts the 4 counties of Northeastern Oklahoma, and the residents and businesses of those counties, on an equal playing field with the rest of ‘connected’ America.

Other opportunities to take advantage of this technology will come in medical technology, home security, video surveillance, distance learning and all sorts of other applications including agriculture, health care, government operations.

And the real estate! Think about the impact on Grand Lake real estate values!

So, why REC, or NRS, to bring Fiber Optic to this area.

Because the NRS Board of Directors understands how important access to these fiber optic services is to grow and improve the quality of life in the Grand Lake area.

Also, for an existing utility provider – like REC – this also brings the ability to bundle a whole new batch of services to it’s customers while also upgrading their overall systems efficiency and reliability.

And this looks to be the trend developing around the country where other already existing utility providers, many of them public, or looking to be the ones to bring the technology of the 21st century to their areas.

According to this article“a fiber-optic network can be 200 times faster than cable and has the potential to trigger a new generation of economic development.”

The economic impact of this for our little corner of Oklahoma could be huge. It will all depend on regional and local leadership to emphasize this great feature when actively pursuing new private investment in Northeast Oklahoma and the Grand Lake area.

But just think about it…with low utility costs, access to transportation, and the best ‘connectivity’ available, the Mid-America Industrial Park in Pryor, and similar industrial parks in Vinita, Grove and Miami…will truly have the ability to compete with any other area in the country to entice new business, and that means new jobs, to this area.

On a much smaller but much more specific Grand Lake level…think about the opportunities that now open up for ‘cyber-commuters’ or ‘location neutral workers’ to pack up the family and move to Grand Lake, knowing that there are no more limits to their work being done efficiently while their kids attend schools with state of the art connectivity.

It is all good on so many levels.

So, here are some of the details on the roll-out straight from NRS:

NRS will begin construction of a network in 2014 that it anticipates will one day overlay 5,000 miles of electric lines. Deployment along this network will follow a three-phase approach, connecting homes and businesses in a four-county area along the way to a next generation fiber infrastructure. the network will be capable of providing internet connectivity at up to 1 gigabit (1,000 megabits, or megs) as well as high definition TV and video services. Additionally, Voice over Internet Portocol telephone services will be offered through an independent contractor.

The initial phase of the project will deliver fiber in areas of the largest population density (14-20 homes per mile) with subsequent phases eventually working their way into more remote, outlying areas. ‘We anticipate that the first phase of the project should be available to roughly one-third of NEO Coop membership’ said Due. ‘A significant number of businesses and community institutions in our area would also be connected during this phase’.

And here is more on the benefits of this technology, again straight from NRS in the Connections magazine:

1. Business and Economic Development – High-speed connectivity enhances potential for current businesses while providing the infrastructure necessary to attract entrepreneurs, knowledge workers and technology based companies that would not otherwise consider northeast Oklahoma as a home for their businesses. With a fiber network in place, these companies can build anywhere in the service territory.

2. Education – All levels of the education continuum, including primary, secondary, post-secondary, home-schoooling and continuing education programs start to gain incredible opportunities in rural areas. Whether it be an adult taking on-line classes or a child returning home after school, they will have available quality, high speed internet, that is also affordable, for homework and research.

3. Health Care – Tele-medicine and tele-health allow rural providers to offer a whole new range of health services. From access to specialists, retrieval of health records, improved emergency response and reduction of transportation costs to new alternatives for home health and e-visits, connection health professionals to their patients in real time has the potential to revolutionize health care in rural America.

4. Entertainment – High-capacity bandwidth allows for optimum movie streaming, video on demand and leading edge gaming. With residential high-speed internet, quality VoIP and high definition fiber optic television, it’s easy to get exactly what you want out of your entertainment experience. Enjoy convenient features you’ve always wanted, including clarity, dependability and versatility.

Northeast Oklahoma Electric Coop members interested in signing up for BOLT Fiber Optic Services can call the Coop at (800) 256-6405, email [email protected] or visit : http://neelectric.com/ffth.html.

The following information will be needed in order to sign up: name, phone number, mailing and physical address, email address and cooperative pole location or account number.

Also, there is a benefit for acting fast. Those who live within the initial phase area can sign up for services in advance for a $100 installation fee. A minimum fee of $250 will be charged if crews are required to return to your location once the initial installation has been performed in that area.

One more thing…a big THANK YOU to the leadership at REC, the Board of Directors and everyone responsible for bringing this great service to Northeast Oklahoma.

 

Bolt Fiber Optic Services

 

 

 

24 responses to “Are You Excited About Bolt Fiber Optic? You Should Be…”

  1. Jeff Savage Avatar

    Great article! Thanks so much for bringing this information to us. I saw a pamphlet while I was working at the Tulsa Boat, Sport & Travel home this week. I wanted to know more, so, your article was timely and detailed. Thanks again, Jeff

    1. Geoffrey Avatar
      Geoffrey

      Thanks for the feedback, Jeff. I think this potentially could be really, really big for this area…

  2. Mike Gibson Avatar

    I have electric service with PSO. Will I be able to get Bolt at some point? Thanks!

  3. Roy B. Green Avatar
    Roy B. Green

    Mike, unfortunately at this time we will only be bringing service to the members of REC. However, I need you to call in so we can track your interest in getting this technology also it allows us to see where to deploy next. So it’s very important that everyone who is interested call. 800-256-6405

  4. […] is a short (less than 3 minutes) video that should help you understand what it is and why fiber optic services at Grand Lake are so good for our […]

  5. terrylee payne Avatar

    At your last meeting at woodland shores we were told by your spokesperson that we would have another meeting in april to let us know the costs of our monthly service. That did not happen and we have more questions and needing to know the cost. Please get back to me. Thank you

  6. Roy Avatar

    Terry we have posted our prices on our website http://www.boltfiber.com . And if you would like a follow-up mtg we could do that as well. Just let me know.

    Thanks Roy

  7. terrylee payne Avatar

    Thank you Roy for such a quick reply!

  8. Roy Avatar

    Terry let me know if I can be of assistance.

    [email protected]

    Roy B Green Office Services & Business Development Supervisor BOLT Fiber Optic Services

  9. terrylee payne Avatar

    Will bolt go in the attic or under the house for wiring needed

  10. Roy Avatar

    Whichever is the best solution

  11. […] your technology, think again! The Northeast Rural Services (NRS) has spearheaded the effort to bring fiber optic high speed internet to the Grand Lake area. Living on the lake and getting some Netflix time in? Yes, […]

  12. Ken garrigues Avatar

    We are signed up and paid the fee for membership. My daughter presently has a job on line that requires fiber optic service . she is quite anxious to know an approximate time when the cable that is in place will be in operation at 63750 E330 Loop jay 74346
    She has to drive to Tulsa to do her job that requires cable . When can we expect service? Thank you.

  13. Roy Avatar

    Ken,

    Where is the 330 Loop I’m assuming that it is in the Zena Area? If so we are working the Zena Area now and expect to have it operational first quarter of 2015. But, get me a more specific location and I’ll be able to confirm.

    Thanks,

    Roy

  14. […] can learn more about how Bolt will impact the area here, but in the meantime, make sure you are all signed up for when the installation […]

  15. mv Avatar
    mv

    are you marking lines at the Vintage for fiberoptic at this time?

    1. Geoffrey Monical Avatar
      Geoffrey Monical

      I don’t know if they are or not. You would need to check with the Bolt folks. You can reach them at (918) 256-6405.

  16. Pete Davies Avatar

    When will bolt be at 2094 Evans drive grove ok 74344. New to area need to know as soon as possible. Ty

  17. Geoffrey Monical Avatar
    Geoffrey Monical

    Best bet is to call Bolt at (918) 256-6405 and ask them directly. I don’t think anyone from Bolt follows this page…

  18. Roy Green Avatar

    Mr. Davies are you on REC or PSO? Please respond to my email.

    Thanks,

    Roy

  19. Geoffrey Monical Avatar
    Geoffrey Monical

    Never mind! Way to go Roy Green!

  20. […] Bolt Fiber Optic is bringing high speed fiber optic internet service to the Grand Lake area…and while we are all super excited to have up to 1 Gig to the home…it’s the business community that stands to gain the most. […]

  21. Egbert Avatar
    Egbert

    Please post details concerning whole house DVR and receiver requirements/limitations/costs.

    1. Geoffrey Monical Avatar
      Geoffrey Monical

      You’ll need to contact Bolt directly for that info. There contact info is above…

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