When is broadband coming to my area?

Sooner than you might think! Pea River Electric Co-op members are first in line to receive fiber internet services. To find out when your area will be connected, check out our Service Areas map.

Why will some areas have service months or years before nearby areas?

Bringing broadband to all unserved and underserved rural communities in our service territory will take years to complete. While we wish we could connect homes in a straight line, many variables prevent us from doing so. As we begin offering service in new areas, you may notice that one neighborhood is connected while a nearby community is still months away from receiving service.

Here are just a few reasons why:

There are engineering barriers. Fiber cables contain 144 strands of glass that we must cut and splice by hand so that each home can receive its dedicated strand. Fiber Internet service is delivered by light waves traveling down each strand. The light can only travel so far before the integrity of services is affected. So we must follow strategic connection plans that roadways and power lines may impact.  

Grant money is allocated to specific projects long before it is awarded to recipients. Some of our most underserved communities will not be connected until the second or third year of our buildouts because grant money allocated to serve these communities has not yet been awarded, and no services can be provided for these areas until the award has been issued. Our number one goal is to connect as many members as quickly as possible, but it is unavoidable that some communities will receive services before other nearby regions. 

We are a small team of real people. We ask that you grant us a little grace as we work each day to bring you the high-speed Internet service we know you need. We want nothing more than to provide you with a better connection as soon as possible, and we have all hands on deck to get the job done.

What should I do to ensure I get Internet service when it becomes available in my area?

Pre-register your address to be notified when service becomes available in your area. Pre-registration is not binding and will not obligate you to make a purchase. 

How much is the installation fee?

FREE. Our goal is to provide affordable, reliable high-speed Internet connectivity to as many people as possible. We will install your service for no additional charge.

How much is the monthly equipment fee? 

FREE. Each broadband subscriber will receive top-of-the-line Wi-Fi equipment at no additional cost. This means your monthly broadband bill will only include the cost of your service, nothing more. However, if you choose to enhance your Wi-Fi coverage with Wi-Fi extenders or outdoor equipment, additional fees will apply. 

Can I use my own equipment?

Yes, but you won’t be able to benefit from the exclusive features included in your monthly subscription. 

For instance, those who subscribe to our 1GB and 2GB plans have free access to IQ Suite add-on services which are only compatible with Pea River Broadband equipment. Those who subscribe to the 300 Mbps plan also have access to exclusive mobile app features which are not compatible with after-market equipment. 

Also, not all equipment can deliver the Internet speeds Pea River Broadband offers. We lease compatible Wi-Fi equipment to all subscribers at no additional cost to ensure each household has the best experience possible.

We encourage you to try our service using the free equipment included in your subscription. If you decide to return our equipment and use your own, you can do so at any time with no penalty.

How will my electric bill change if I choose to add broadband?

Internet and phone services will not affect your electric rates. Electric members will receive one billing statement with a unique account number for each applicable service.

Will you have phone plans?

Yes! You can add Residential Voice service to any internet package for an additional $29.95/month. Residential Voice is also available without internet service for $59.95/month. Explore Residential Plans here.

What is broadband internet?

Broadband is high-speed internet access that is always on and faster than dial-up access. Broadband includes several high-speed transmission technologies, such as fiber, wireless, satellite, digital subscriber line (DSL), and cable.

How is fiber broadband different from other high-speed internet options?

Fiber broadband is delivered to your location via fiber optic cables. These cables contain more than 100 fibers of hair-thin strands of glass that carry large amounts of electronic data as waves of light travel down the fibers.

Because of its glass infrastructure, fiber is typically much faster than DSL and cable connections and more reliable than line-of-sight services such as wireless or satellite connections.

How will fiber be delivered to my home? Overhead or underground?

This depends on how electricity is delivered to your location. The fiber cables will follow the path of your existing power lines.

I have overhead powerlines. What will be done about tree limbs?

We may be required to trim tree limbs that hang in the path of fiber cables. 

Why is Pea River Electric Co-op offering internet service?

We are still on a mission to power and empower our communities – a task that began 85 years ago when we brought electricity to rural Barbour, Dale, and Henry Counties.

Now, there is a “digital divide” between communities with reliable internet access and those without, putting the latter at a significant disadvantage. We’re doing our part to close that divide by providing reliable, affordable internet to our members.

What are the business internet plans and pricing?

Visit our Business Plans page to learn how Pea River Broadband can help boost your organization's productivity. If you have any business questions, please pre-register* your address for fiber internet services.

Business Specialist Lela Carroll-Bell looks over the business pre-registration list daily and will respond to your question within 1-2 business days. Pre-registration does not obligate you to make a purchase.