We will use a participation model (join.gibsonconnect.com) that enables members to drive our construction process. We'll have our service area divided into community and substation-based participation zones. When a zone reaches the required participation level, our board will vote to move forward with engineering, ordering materials, and construction.

The colors are used to show the different zones. On the zones tab you can see each zone's progress toward fully meeting the required participation level.

It depends on your zone. We have our service area divided into 27 zones. Each zone has a participation goal (number of people needed to register) based on miles of line and members per mile of line.

We set up the zones based on our substations and our communities. We also considered the miles of line within the zone, the members per mile of line, and the connections. We used all of this information to arrive at the participation level we'd need to require for the fiber build-out to be financially feasible.

We already have fiber to each of our substations and when a zone reaches its participation requirement and the board approves funding for the project, we'll build from the substation out. The fiber to the homes will follow the existing power rights of way with the core electronics being at the substation.

You can register through join.gibsonconnect.com, call 1-844-859-6767, or come by your local Gibson EMC member service center (during regular business hours). If registering from the site, click here. There is a $20 registration fee that will be applied to your first Gibson Connect bill once you receive service, and you will be required to make a one-year commitment. Registration will enable you to avoid paying a $200 connection fee later.

Once a zone reaches the required registration/participation level, our board will vote to move forward with engineering, ordering materials, and construction. Unfortunately, we cannot provide a firm timeline. The answer is dependent on a number of variables such as the number of miles of fiber that must be constructed within a zone and the number of zones currently under construction. We're excited about providing this service, but please remember that delivering a service over a 12-county area is a big job that may take several years to complete. Of course, as zones reach their participation requirements we will provide more specifics regarding timelines. 

Our members will determine how quickly we will start construction and where. Members can register for service at join.gibsonconnect.com, and when a zone reaches its participation requirement, we will take the project before the board. Once the board approves the project, we'll engineer, order materials, and construct the fiber in that zone area.

There are a lot of variables making it extremely difficult to project a timeline for providing service. For example, some zones have more miles of line than others; we will be dependent upon vendors for delivery times, etc... Our best estimate at this time, however, is: (1) it could take up to one month for board approval. (2) it could take up to two months for engineering. (3) it could take another three months for materials to arrive; and it could take up to six months to construct the fiber. So, the total process could take a year or longer from the time a zone reaches its participation requirement.

We will start construction at the substation and once we have fiber to your home or business, we can go ahead and provide you service.

You can track your zone's progress by clicking HERE to view the zone map and percentage values of goals met.

Encourage your neighbors to sign up too. The higher the participation in your zone, the faster we can provide this essential service.

To register, click here.