Dodge City, Kan, 6-8-23 —United is thrilled to announce United FiberFest, a series of community events that celebrates the completion of the cooperative’s 7-year, ~$35 million fiber network investment, successfully bringing cutting-edge fiber connectivity to every single member-owner of United’s cooperative. This remarkable achievement showcases the commitment and vision of its members, who have embraced the power of advanced technology to enhance their lives and propel our communities forward. Together, we have created a robust network that empowers our members to thrive in the digital age.
United FiberFest will take place June 12-22, 2023, offering an exciting road tour of community events that will be open to the public. These events will commemorate our collective cooperative achievement and allow United to express gratitude to the communities it has the honor of serving, provide lunch, offer exciting prizes and giveaways, and educate the public about fiber and its comprehensive service offerings.
United is recognized by NTCA-The Rural Broadband Association as a Smart Rural Community℠ (SRC) Provider and a Certified Gig-Capable Provider for enabling technological innovation in Southwest Kansas communities and delivering gigabit broadband speeds delivering Internet speeds of up to one gigabit per second, which is 100 times faster than those currently available in many U.S. households. As part of the United FiberFest events, United will present local leaders with plaques designating their respective towns as Smart Rural Communities (SRC). This esteemed recognition highlights the commitment of our communities in embracing advanced technologies to bridge the rural broadband gap and foster growth and innovation.
United is proud to have successfully completed this major initiative, which would not have been possible without the support and commitment of the communities it serves and the unwavering dedication and hard work of its United team. Their tireless efforts have resulted in providing crucial rural broadband access to United’s member-owners, empowering them to thrive in our technology-driven world.
Join us as we honor and celebrate the incredible members of our telecommunications cooperative and the vibrant communities we serve, as we commemorate the completion of our fiber network buildout. Let’s gather in unity, acknowledging the collective effort that has brought faster, more reliable connectivity to our communities. Together, we are uniting and strengthening our communities through state-of-the-art connectivity and revolutionizing the way member-owners and our Southwest Kansas communities connect and thrive.
FACTS & FIGURES (approximate at time of release)
Total cost of investment: $34,844,630
Total feet of fiber buried: 7,336,669 feet (that’s over 1389 miles!)
Project timeline: Design began in Summer 2016 and construction began in late October 2016
About United
Headquartered in Dodge City, Kansas, the United Family of Companies is committed to being the most trusted and customer-focused provider of sustainable communications solutions in Southwest Kansas. Established in 1951, United provides state-of-the-art Internet, television, wireless phone, and landline phone services and has a strong commitment to strengthening Southwest Kansas communities and enriching the lives of its members and customers.
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