FIBER
OPTICS:
• UPDATE
Click here to view the Fiber Construction Map!
December 2012 - Enchanted Light Fiber Optic Project Continues through winter
The KCEC Enchanted Light Fiber Optic High Speed Internet Project will continue construction through the winter months. This means over 150 of our extended KCEC family members will continue to receive paychecks through the holiday season and beyond.
Much of the 515 miles of underground construction has already been completed. This was a priority as the colder winter temperatures bring frozen ground that can't be trenched effectively. Since our winter has so far been mild underground crews will continue to work until con-ditions make it impossible to proceed. The 1,300 miles of overhead lines can still be installed except during severe winter conditions. This means, although progress might not be as rapid during the winter, the project will be moving forward.
Work crews are currently in Angel Fire, Black Lake, Hid-den Lake, Taos Country Club, Taos Pines, Weimer Foot-hills, Arroyo Hondo, Arroyo Seco, Valdez, Questa, Amalia and Costilla. We welcome questions in regard to the construction and will always do our best to answer them. Of course, the big question is when? As in, when will I receive fiber optic service at my home or business? Un-fortunately, this is a question we can't answer accurately at this point due to unknown factors such as the weather.
We do commit to provide fiber optic service to every home and business receiving electric service fromKCEC as quickly as possible.
August 17, 2011 – Kit Carson Electric Co-op (KCEC) today formally launched its $64,000,000 broadband fiber-to-the-home project with a ground breaking ceremony that included Senator Jeff Bingaman and Congressman Ben R. Luján as well a host of other dignitaries ... Click here to read more...
June 28, 2011 – Kit Carson Electric Cooperative (KCEC) announced today that it has
entered into a strategic partnership with Pulse Broadband, an advanced fiber-optic
telecommunications leader serving rural markets, to build KCEC’s state of the art Fiberto-
the-Home network serving Northern New Mexico. Kit Carson’s service area is
comprised of more than 29,000 homes and businesses in Taos, Colfax and Rio Arriba
Counties. Pulse Broadband will act as Project Manager and Project Engineer and utilize
its vast experience in the construction of next-generation Fiber-to-the-Home networks to
give homes and businesses in the KCEC service area access to best-in-class broadband
Internet, telephone and television services. Click here to read the more..
Projected
Timeline:
•RFP released: May 16, 2011
•Pre-Bid Conference (Attendance is required to qualify for RFP acceptance): May 23, 2011 (5:30 pm KCEC Boardroom)
•Contract Awarded: June 22, 2011 Construction begins: July 18th, 2011
Kit Carson just got their first Fiber Optical Beta customer up and running. The location will be disclosed at a later time when all tests are complete.
Fiber Optic Network speeds capacity, and reliability are just around the corner. Engineering and Design are currently in progress and Construction is on the verge of breaking ground. The “Fiber-to the-Home” Network will revolutionize Northern New Mexico and put our community’s in the 21st Century. This Broadband infrastructure will have the ability to deliver affordable broadband service to 29 communities comprised of approximately 20,500 households, 3,600 businesses and 183 critical community institutions, two Native American Pueblos within a 2,951 square mile, rural underserved area in Taos, Colfax and Rio Arriba counties.
Click here to view the proposed service
area map
Tentative Time Line (Subject to Change)
• Engineering and Design- December-2010 through April-2011
• Material Procurement and Management- March, 2011 through September,
2013
• Construction- April, 2011 through September, 2013
• Testing- April, 2011 through November, 2013
Construction will start in the Taos vicinity and work its way like a shot gun affect and work its way towards the north territory, east territory, and west territory.
Kit Carson commitment to its local community is to keep the money in this area and hire locals. Our goal is to stay close to 90% locals on this project. Employment will be updated on the employment link.
If you have any questions regarding this project, please contact Jose Lovato, Fiber Optic Network Design/Engineer at 758-4838 or 800-758-4820.