ANGOLA, IN – On Wednesday Steuben County REMC, and construction crews placed the second of three broadband fiber huts to serve high-speed internet to residents of rural Steuben County.

This event marks continued progress as they continue to work through Phase II of IV, of their broadband network. Each fiber hut will house necessary equipment not only for the specific area it will serve, but provide increased reliability and redundancy similar to the electrical grid.

Just last week another significant milestone was achieved as the 1000th member was connected.

“It is an exciting, and busy time here at Steuben County REMC. As we continue to reach and connect more of our membership, we are ramping up with installations in effort to provide access to more members each day,” states, Kevin Keiser, CEO of Steuben County REMC.

The project was initiated after the acquisition of the iMAN network back in 2018. They are nearly half way through the infrastructure buildout forecasted as a $30 million dollar investment into the regions access to rural broadband.

Broadband service is now available to all members living in Phase I; serving the Orland, West Otter, Salem, and Hudson areas. Phase II is 50 percent complete as members in the first two zones have access; Lake Pleasant, North & Northeast Snow Lake. Anticipated completion of the lake region is forecasted by the end of summer 2023. Phases III and IV are set to start by the end of 2023 with a projected completion date in late 2024.

“Members wanting to check the status of the project are directed to our website, remcsteuben.com, or calling our office at 260-665.3563,” says Dave Short, Director of Broadband Operations. “Here you can check the availability at your specific address, and register or sign up directly utilizing our SmartHub application.”

All broadband internet packages feature free installation, no contract, no equipment lease fees, and reliable connection regardless of weather or congestion on the network, as well as, included added security and parental controls. Packages begin at 100 megabits-per-second (Mbs); $64.95 upload/ download speeds, with no data caps, with up to 1000 Mbs, or 1 Gig available. Business and commercial packages are also available upon request.