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EREC’s Fiber Network Goes Live As First Customer Connected In Bratt

A portion of a new high speed fiber internet network in North Escambia went live Monday morning with the very first customer of Escambia River Electric Cooperative and partner Conexon Connect.

Service was installed and activated at the Bratt home of William Reynolds, publisher of NorthEscambia.com.

A crowd of dignitaries and company officials  gather at the Reynolds home not far from Northview High School to eagerly await the moment when the fiber was “lit” at a symmetrical speed of 2 GB down and 2 GB up — one of the fastest residential speeds available in Escambia County.

“This is a big step for our neighbors throughout the EREC territory as true high speed fiber internet comes to North Escambia,” Reynolds said. “From video conferencing, to telemedicine, to educational opportunities, to simply being able to watch a video without buffering, we now have internet not limited by our choice to live in a rural area. We now have the same opportunities as people in major cities.”

“I could not be happier to have the first fiber customer lit this morning,” Escambia County District 5 Commissioner Steven Barry said.  “I think it’s a fantastic day for Escambia County, and certainly a fantastic day for Escambia River Electric Cooperative. I could not be more excited. The project is unrolling even faster than I could have ever hoped. Thanks to Ryan Campbell and his team at EREC and our partners Conexon. I want to thank them both, the State of Florida, Michelle Salzman state representative for our area. It’s a great day for Escambia County.”

FOR MORE PHOTOS, CLICK HERE.

“This is life changing, absolutely life changing,” Ryan Campbell, CEO of EREC, said. “Access to quality internet is important.”

“Access to quality internet is critical to citizens across all of America and in our community,” Rep. Michelle Salzman said. “We don’t have access to an emergency room or health care facility within 45 minutes from here. Being able to do a telehealth medicine appointment could literally be lifesaving. Of course access to education. For those that want to home school or do virtual school, they don’t really have that option if they don’t have quality internet. This will provide another opportunity for the children.”

Campbell said installations are expected to begin this week for additional customers in the Bratt area as fiber backbone construction continues across the rest of EREC’s service area in Escambia County. The fiber internet will also become available later to EREC customers in Santa Rosa County.

EREC and Conexon Connect are investing about $50 million to build the two-county network.

FOR MORE PHOTOS, CLICK HERE.

Editor’s note: NorthEscambia.com operates in the cloud; it does not operate on the Conexon service. For over 15 years, it has been hosted by a major provider elsewhere in the U.S.

NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.