Six-year investment expands high-speed internet access, strengthens electric reliability and creates lasting value across Oregon's South Coast.

PORT ORFORD, OR - After six years of planning, investment and construction, Coos-Curry Electric Cooperative (CCEC) and its subsidiary, Beacon Broadband (BBI), have completed the fiber network that now makes high-speed internet service available to members across CCEC's service territory.

The milestone marks the completion of one of the largest infrastructure investments in the cooperative's 88-year history. Built to serve members and communities for decades to come, the network expands access to reliable broadband, strengthens the electric system, improves outage response, supports wildfire monitoring and creates new opportunities throughout Oregon's South Coast.

The project reflects the same member-focused mission that has guided CCEC for nearly 90 years: investing in essential infrastructure that improves quality of life and creates value for the people and communities it serves.

More than 7,000 homes and businesses are already connected to BBI, but the benefits extend well beyond broadband. The fiber network serves as a secure communications backbone for CCEC's electric system, supporting today's operations while creating a foundation for future system improvements.

"At its core, this project was about serving our members and investing in the future of the communities we call home," said Daniel Loshbaugh, president of the Coos-Curry Electric Cooperative Board of Directors. "The network expands access to reliable broadband, while also strengthening the electric system our members depend on every day. That's the cooperative difference. We make investments based on long-term community benefit, not short-term returns."

INVESTING IN INFRASTRUCTURE THAT SERVES MEMBERS

CCEC's decision to build fiber was rooted in a simple belief: members in rural communities deserve access to the same opportunities and services available elsewhere.

As a member-owned cooperative, CCEC committed to making service available throughout its territory, including remote communities that have historically been overlooked for broadband investment. It was a long-term investment driven by community need and the cooperative's commitment to serving all members.

Bringing fiber to one of the most rural regions in the Pacific Northwest required years of determination and collaboration. Crews navigated rugged terrain, secured permits and easements, worked through weather challenges and supply chain disruptions, and constructed infrastructure across hundreds of miles of service territory.

That commitment continues a legacy that stretches back generations.

In 1962, Agness became one of the last communities in CCEC's service territory to receive electricity after crews extended service through rugged terrain to the remote community, located 32 miles up the Rogue River. More than 60 years later, BBI extended fiber to that same community, bringing access to telehealth services, online education, remote work opportunities and critical communications.

Technology has changed. The cooperative's commitment to serving rural communities has not.

BENEFITS BEYOND BROADBAND

While expanding access to reliable high-speed internet was a primary goal, the fiber network also delivers significant benefits for the cooperative's electric system and the members who depend on it.

Fiber now connects every CCEC substation, enabling real-time communication between substations, field equipment and system operators. The network improves outage detection, increases system visibility and provides crews with better information to more effectively operate the system.

The network also supports weather stations and monitoring equipment that provide real-time environmental information, strengthening wildfire monitoring and helping the cooperative manage risk.

In remote areas where cellular coverage is limited, the fiber infrastructure strengthens communications capabilities and provides a foundation for future technologies that will continue improving the safety, efficiency and reliability of the electric system.

THESE INVESTMENTS BENEFIT EVERY COOPERATIVE MEMBER

Reliable broadband also creates opportunities throughout the region by supporting local businesses, enabling remote work, expanding access to healthcare and education, so rural communities remain vibrant places to live and work.

For Beacon Broadband customer Kori Lewis, reliable internet made it possible for her family to return to Oregon's South Coast. After her husband's position transitioned to full-time remote work, the family relocated to Lewis' hometown, but dependable internet access remained a concern.

Before Beacon Broadband became available, her husband relied on two separate work locations with different internet providers and regularly experienced service outages, often forcing him to move between locations to stay connected.

"The reliability of Beacon Broadband has been a huge blessing for us," Lewis said. "For the first few years, my husband worked from different locations because outages were common. Since switching to Beacon Broadband, he can count on maintaining a reliable connection from his home office."

Today, Lewis' husband works full-time from home with dependable fiber service, allowing the family to live and work in the community they love.

BUILT BY PEOPLE WHO BELIEVE IN THE MISSION

The transition from vision to reality reflects years of dedication from employees across CCEC and BBI who believed the investment would create value for the communities they serve.

Over six years employees across engineering, construction, operations, customer care, finance, grant administration and leadership came together to accomplish the objective set by the Board of Directors – make high-speed fiber broadband accessible to every CCEC member.

In a true cooperative spirit, the Board of Directors saw the vision to best serve the co-op members and acted with the fortitude to make it happen.

"This accomplishment is a reflection of our electric co-op heritage," said Brent Bischoff, CEO of Coos-Curry Electric Cooperative and Beacon Broadband. "With a singular focus to serve our members, our Board, employees, contractors, and partners have worked tirelessly over years to reach this monumental milestone. Together, we've built infrastructure that expands opportunity, modernizes our electric system, and creates lasting value for the communities we serve."

LOOKING AHEAD

With the core network now complete, BBI continues connecting the remaining unserved locations within CCEC's service territory while pursuing opportunities to expand service into neighboring underserved communities.

The completion of the fiber network marks a significant milestone in CCEC's history and reflects the cooperative's commitment to investing in infrastructure to strengthen communities and expand opportunities across Oregon's South Coast for generations to come. Members can learn more about BBI services and subscribe by visiting www.beaconbroadband.com.