News Talk 94.1/AM 1600 Where The Upper Cumberland Talks
Faster Internet is on the way for residents of Cumberland Cove near Monterey.
The state awarded Volunteer Energy Cooperative a special COVID grant to move the project forward this year. Marketing Vice President David Murphy said the installation of over 81 miles of fiber optic cable will provide internet to about 600 homes.
“We could not be more thrilled,” Murphy said. “We have been trying to get funding for Cumberland Cove up in Cumberland in Putnam County for a number of years now. We have not had much success in the past, but fortunately, the state offered some money through the broadband emergency fund.”
The grant funding the project calls for a completion by December 15th. Murphy said normally, projects like this could last a couple years, but engineering plans for Cumberland Cove are already complete from past grant applications.
“We already had a pre-engineering packet put together,” Murphy said. “That is one of the reasons this was such an ideal candidate to receive funding. They are looking for applications that not only provide access to a broad amount of people, but can also be executed by the end of the year.”
Murphy said Volunteer Energy Cooperative has ordered the materials and will work with contractors and Twin Lakes to install the cables. The broadband Internet will provide download speeds up to one gigabit.
“We are already starting on the make ready, which is inspecting the poles and getting read of any damaged poles,” Murphy said. “Putting up the messenger cable. That is the steal cable the fiber will be attached to.”
The bidding process for the project will be skipped and be added to other contracts Volunteer Energy Cooperative already has in place. The project is set to cost over 4 million dollars with an 80 percent match from the state.
