3:03PM January 28, 2020

#TeamSEMOTuesday is back and this week we are highlighting Subscriber Care and Support Representative, Angela McLean! Angela has worked for SEMO Electric and GoSEMO Fiber for a little over a year. As a member of the Subscriber Care and Support Team, Angela assists member-owners in signing up for service, helps with billing questions, schedules flag and install appointments, and prepares equipment for installations. Her favorite part about TeamSEMO is the way the team seems more like a family.

1:21PM January 24, 2020

See Gimme That Fiber from Tyson Foods in Bloomfield, Mo. Call Bart at 877-430-5418 for your commercial high speed fiber fast connection! 

3:48PM January 08, 2020

January 8, 2018, we connected the first test home for fiber-fast Internet.  The following year on January 8, 2019, we connected the 1,000th subscriber.  Today we have connected 3,158 subscribers. Thank you and we appreciate your support as we work to make people's lives better with juice and fiber.

1:51PM January 08, 2020

Happy 82nd Birthday: The articles of incorporation of what would become the Scott-New Madrid-Mississippi Cooperative Association were filed on January 8, 1938 with the recorder of deeds in Benton. The first meeting of the cooperative was held at 1 p.m. on Jan. 15, 1938 at the Del Rey Hotel in Sikeston. (Today the building houses Jeremiah’s Restaurant and Lounge.) The meeting was called to order by Elon Proffer, one of the original incorporators and a stockholder. He was unanimously chosen as chairman and Alwin Gasser was chosen to be secretary and keep the minutes. Those present were: Proffer, Rev. Hubert J. Eggemann, John T. Carlton, E. Moxley, E.L. Cobb, David Conn, E.S. Nelson, R.G. Stroud, H.G. Cathey, J.H. Spradling, Sylvester Schuchart and John G. Russell. Each one was certified as a subscriber to a share of the cooperative’s stock at $5 each. The purpose of the meeting was to adopt subscribers as stockholders, adopt the articles of association and certificate of incorporation from the Secretary of State, adopt bylaws and any other business that came up.

11:47AM January 08, 2020

8:27PM December 06, 2019

You did it! 3,000 subscribers in a hurry. Now, let's get to 4,000. Tell your neighbors. 

1:29PM November 15, 2019

SEMO Electric Cooperative hosted Tim Arbeiter, the state of Missouri’s director of broadband development, for a round table discussion to discuss expansion of broadband in Missouri. Representative Holly Rehder, the University of Missouri’s Abner Womack, professor emeritus of the Food and Agricultural Policy Research Institute and representatives from four local school districts were among the guests. Arbeiter said he wanted to visit SEMO Electric to learn about the cooperative’s success with GoSEMO Fiber and how the state could leverage the co-op’s experience to help other areas in Missouri. “Today was great,” said Arbeiter. “Today was an opportunity to hear about the continued struggles as it relates to broadband deployment in Missouri.” In addition to the round table, Arbeiter toured SEMO Electric’s fiber operations to gain a better understanding of the resources required to deploy a fiber-to-the-home project. His position was established in 2018 as a partnership between the Department of Economic Development and the Department of Agriculture to build and strengthen partnerships between public and private stakeholders, and align efforts statewide to improve broadband access.

4:57PM November 05, 2019

This #TeamSEMOTuesday we’re highlighting Nathan Hull! Nathan is a Fiber Operations Coordinator and has been with Team SEMO for 11 months. As Fiber Operations Coordinator, Nathan makes sure everything is ready for the contractor for fiber construction. His favorite part about working at SEMO Electric Cooperative is, “the team environment and how everyone is willing to help everyone.” Fun facts about Nathan: he loves adventures, spending time with family, and leading children’s church with his wife. Nathan, thanks for all you do for Team SEMO!

3:06PM October 17, 2019

#TeamSEMO rocked it Saturday in Howardville, Mo., for The Porch Light Project. We delivered hundreds of LEDs and provided food for many area residents. Plus, we shared smiles, hugs and high-fives. Thanks to all.

12:29PM October 10, 2019

1:14PM September 24, 2019

Our #TeamSEMOTuesday spotlight of the week is Charla Carrier!! Charla works for Team SEMO as a Subscriber Care and Support Specialist. She talks with subscribers, potential subscribers and with customer service. She has been with us for seven months! Charla’s favorite thing about working for SEMO Electric Cooperative is changing people’s lives by making them better. Charla’s favorite things are camping, the outdoors, and going to her children’s sports games! Thanks for all that you do for Team SEMO, Charla!

5:48PM September 10, 2019

Fiber-fast Internet is important to the agriculture community! 

5:43PM September 10, 2019

Today’s #TeamSEMOTuesday Spotlight is Kendra! Kendra is a Service Design Associate and has been a member of Team SEMO for three years. Her favorite part about working for Team SEMO is helping the member-owners. Kendra, thanks for all that you do for Team SEMO!

10:26AM August 28, 2019

This week’s #TeamSEMO spotlight is Marla Wood! Marla is the Administrator of Internal Affairs. Some of her duties here at the Co-op include Human Resources, work compensation claims, and employee benefits. Marla loves working at SEMO Electric Cooperative because of her amazing co-workers. She has been with us for 26 years. Marla’s hobbies include taking care of her grand-babies and water coloring! Thanks for all that you do for Team SEMO, Marla!

10:21AM August 28, 2019

Open  house at SEMO Electric's Bloomfield Office.  

6:27PM August 20, 2019

Our #TeamSEMOTuesday spotlight of the week is Randy Hicks! Randy is a servicemen for Team SEMO and has been with us for 29 years! Randy’s favorite thing about working for SEMO Electric Cooperative is how close he is with his members. He said that some of the members are like family to him. A fun fact about Randy is that he has a place near Castor River and he has three grandchildren. Randy, thanks for all you do for Team SEMO!

3:05PM August 14, 2019

GoSEMO Fiber makes lives better with local service and fiber-fast Internet. We are open in Kewanee today, tomorrow in Benton and Friday in Advance. Or you can call us at 877-430-5418 or clickGoSEMOFiber.com. No activation fees. No contracts. Unlimited data. $50 for 100 up and 100 down.

4:05PM July 23, 2019

Our #TeamSEMOTuesday spotlight this week is Tony McGowen! Tony is the Mechanic for SEMO Electric and GoSEMO Fiber and has been a part of Team SEMO for two years.  When asked what was his favorite part about SEMO Electric Cooperative, he answered “How everyone on Team SEMO is such a team player. And the interns.” Fun facts about Tony: He loves fried potatoes and loves to fish. Tony, thanks for all that you do for Team SEMO and our members.

4:03PM July 23, 2019

Our #TeamSEMOTuesday spotlight of the week is Terry Bunting. Terry is a Serviceman for Team SEMO and has worked for the cooperative for 32 years. His favorite part about SEMO Electric Cooperative is “seeing people’s lights come on after they’ve been off for awhile.”

Fun facts about Terry: he farms part time and his favorite movie is Top Gun. Terry, thanks for all that you do for Team SEMO,

12:02PM July 19, 2019

We are available to serve you. GoSEMO Fiber has offices open during the week in various locations: Tuesdays (downtown Bloomfield), Wednesdays (downtown Kewanee), Thursdays (downtown Benton) and Fridays (downtown Advance). GoSEMOFiber.com 877-430-5418.  Plus, SEMO Electric has offices open Monday through Friday in Bloomfield and Sikeston. GoSEMO.com 800-813-5230

11:59AM July 18, 2019

Visit us on Thursdays in Benton. We are east of the courthouse - 152 South Winchester, Benton, Mo. 

11:58AM July 18, 2019

GoSEMO Fiber hits 2,000 subscribers! 

9:20AM July 02, 2019

This week’s #TeamSEMOTuesday is Chas Kersey! Chas works for SEMO Electric Cooperative as a member services representative. Today marks Chas’ six-month anniversary with the Co-op!

When asked what Chas loved about SEMO Electric Cooperative, she answered, “I love all my coworkers and how we all work towards the end goal of making lives better for our member-owners.”

Fun facts about Chas: She’s a mom of three boys, she loves the beach, and is terrified of spiders. Chas, thanks for all you do for Team SEMO and our members.

9:19AM July 02, 2019

This #TeamSEMOTuesday spotlight is Mary Simmons! Mary is the Billing Coordinator and has been a member of Team SEMO for more than 30 years.

“My favorite part about working at SEMO Electric Cooperative is the people I work with and how hard our team works to support our member-owners.”

Fun facts about Mary: She loves to shop, has five grandchildren, and her favorite places she’s traveled includes Hawaii and The Virgin Islands.

12:42PM June 29, 2019

Take it from GoSEMO Fiber subscriber April - “It’s the best internet ever.  It’s wonderful.”  

SEMO Electric members get free installation, with no activation fees, no contracts, no throttling and no data caps. Plus, local service.  877-430-5418

10:24PM June 18, 2019

This #TeamSEMOTuesday Spotlight is Bart Ziegenhorn! Bart joined Team SEMO in January of this year as a Fiber Sales Consultant. Bart’s favorite part about SEMO Electric and GoSEMO Fiber is the passion each team member has for what they are doing.
Fun facts about Bart: he is the father of twins, loves Dr. Seuss quotes, and is a die hard Ole Miss fan.
Thanks for all you do for Team SEMO, Bart!

10:22PM June 18, 2019

This #TeamSEMOTuesday spotlight is Peggy Evans! Peggy has been working for Team SEMO for twenty six years as the Purchasing/Warehouse Safety Supervisor. She has seen a lot of changes over the years, but one thing that will remain constant is her enjoyment of her coworkers. “Everyone is so driven to have the same end goal, and that is to help improve the lives of our members,” Peggy said. Fun facts about Peggy: she is a twin, has five sisters, and was born in Germany. Thanks for all you do for Team SEMO, Peggy!

4:19PM June 12, 2019

We appreciate the support for GoSEMO Fiber. Like many members, we wish we could be everywhere at once. However, we now have WiFi hot spots at Advance, Bloomfield, Kewanee and Sikeston. We are still building the fiber network for the Lilbourn Substation, but area members can stop by Kewanee to update phone apps, download movies or FaceTime grandchildren 24/7 (unless we are working on the network). Thank you. GoSEMOFiber.com 877-430-5418.

1:45PM June 11, 2019

1:34PM June 11, 2019

Hey sports fans, don’t miss another big game and don’t miss GoSEMO Fiber Night at the Advance ballpark tonight!! Come see us at the tent-o-fun, enter for some great prizes, and sign up for your local fiber-fast services.

1:18PM June 11, 2019

Yesterday our CEO was a panel speaker at Broadband Leaders Academy.  He was part of a group representing broadband services in Missouri.

8:20AM June 08, 2019

We want to make more people’s lives better with rural broadband. We appreciate the U.S. Department of Agriculture ReConnect Program opportunity. Thanks to our partners for helping us move forward as we push towards 2,000 GoSEMO Fiber subscribers. Senator Roy Blunt Matt BainCongressman Jason Smith Conexon.  Those subscribers who already have SEMO Electric Cooperative’s GoSEMO Fiber Internet, HDTV and phone services can help by sharing our FaceBook post to show Washington, DC how much desire there is for broadband in southeast Missouri.GoSEMOFiber.com.  

8:18AM June 08, 2019

Join us for GoSEMO Fiber’s Open House from 10 am to 6 pm Saturday west of the post office in Kewanee. Get a free five-gallon bucket!

9:44PM June 04, 2019

Find out why our Triple Play Package could be the purr-fect addition to your household. Our Triple Play Package includes three popular services: HDTV, fiber-fast Internet and crystal-clear phone service. It’s a choice that will save you money compared to buying these services separately from different companies. Plus, you’ll gain the convenience of dealing with us and receiving one bill, as well as the personal attention that only your local provider can deliver. Stop by our offices or call 877-430-5418.

9:00PM June 04, 2019

We are almost ready for our GoSEMO Fiber Open House for Lilbourn Substation members - 4 pm to 8 pm Wednesday and 10 am to 6 pm Saturday in Kewanee. We are working quickly to get to all areas with world-class fiber-fast Internet, HDTV and phone services. Come see us!

8:53PM June 04, 2019

This week’s #TeamSEMOTuesday Spotlight is Dylan! Dylan is our Fiber Services Technician. Dylan helps fix any issues that may arise with your fiber-fast internet. 
This is Dylan’s fourth week working for SEMO Electric and GoSEMO Fiber. His favorite part about SEMO Electric and GoSEMO Fiber is his helpful and inclusive coworkers. Dylan enjoys the outdoors and watching Cardinal’s Baseball. Thanks for all you do for Team SEMO, Dylan!

8:49PM June 04, 2019

Fiber interns are out and about in Advance, Miner, and Bloomfield if you see the signs. Thanks for helping spread the word!! If it's not fiber, it's not fast enough!

6:14PM May 28, 2019

The construction process for GoSEMO Fiber is underway for Kelly Substation as we took delivery of the fiber hut today. The fiber-build includes hanging the messenger to the poles, lashing the fiber to the messenger, splicing the fiber, dropping the fiber outside to a home, farm or business and installing fiber inside to a home, farm or business. We are making people’s lives better. Preregister at GoSEMOFiber.com.Thank for your support and patience.

2:45PM May 28, 2019

Our first #TeamSEMOTuesday spotlight is Josh Carmack! Josh is the System Technology Coordinator for SEMO Electric and GoSEMO Fiber. Josh has been a member of Team SEMO since October 2017. Some fun facts about Josh are that his favorite color is blue and he is terrified of heights. Josh’s favorite part about working for SEMO Electric and GoSEMO Fiber is that he is able to support his coworkers which allows them to support the Member-Owners. When asked what sets GoSEMO Fiber apart from other providers, Josh answered, “our genuine customer service and data speeds.” Thank you, Josh, for all that you do for SEMO Electric Cooperative and GoSEMO Fiber!

5:22PM May 08, 2019

Another step to bring fiber-fast Internet to SEMO Electric Cooperative member-owners served by the Kelly and Vanduser substations!  Pads were poured for the fiber huts. The huts should arrive in late May. Once installed, Team SEMO will install necessary electronic equipment inside the fiber huts to connect areas to the GoSEMO fiber ring. During the next three to four months, fiber construction crews will install nearly 350 miles of fiber to build-out the fiber network for Kelly and Vanduser. Preregister for service at GoSEMOFiber.com. 

8:00PM May 04, 2019

A week-long of FREE STARZ!  May 3 - 10 enjoy channels 420 thru 441.

12:08PM May 03, 2019

GoSEMO Steps Up to Revitalize Rural Communities in Southeast Missouri, Enabling Remote Working and Business Development with New Gigabit Broadband Services 

View Video

https://calix.wistia.com/medias/tcvtolq61n

SAN JOSE, CA – May 2, 2019 – Calix, Inc. (NYSE: CALX) today announced that GoSEMO, the broadband subsidiary of rural Missouri-based electric cooperative SEMO Electric Cooperative, is building out its new fiber network with Calix. GoSEMO’s new network delivers gigabit service to communities where broadband options were severely limited — enabling more members to work remotely and attract new business to the area. GoSEMO selected Calix based on recommendations from other electric cooperatives, a testament to the reputation Calix has built and evidence of how rural companies work collaboratively to help each other succeed and enhance the lives of their members. The Calix GigaCenter and Calix Support Cloud (CSC), key components that now come standard with the new managed Wi-Fi broadband service, are already generating significant interest among SEMO’s 16,000 homes, farms, and businesses.  

This cloud-based, cutting-edge managed Wi-Fi solution enables GoSEMO to proactively monitor, diagnose, and manage home networks remotely to address issues before members experience service interruptions. GoSEMO’s Wi-Fi services are now attracting new residents and businesses in areas where the lack of broadband offerings had previously limited opportunities. Rolling out GigaCenters to the premises has been key to their success as more members experience the power of dramatically enhanced, managed Wi-Fi. Now coupled with Calix Support Cloud, GoSEMO has the network insights necessary to ensure that the experience remains unparalleled for all members.

“Broadband is essential to the advancement of our communities – from taking care of our current members to providing economic development opportunities in the future,” said Sean Vanslyke, CEO of GoSEMO and SEMO Electric Cooperative. “By partnering with Calix and learning from other electric coops, we have been able to accelerate our projects and build a network that exceeds the expectations of our members. Calix is a proven partner amongst electric cooperatives, and this relationship will be instrumental to the growth and success of our network.”

SEMO Electric is headquartered in Sikeston, MO, which actually lies outside its electrical membership serving area. Given the significant excitement from members and residents in neighboring towns, GoSEMO is working with the Municipality of Sikeston to expand beyond its current footprint. In the near future, those adjacent communities will have access to the gigabit service as well. 

“Electric cooperatives have the valuable mission of bringing broadband service to underserved communities the same way they brought electricity almost a century ago,” said Skip Hirvela, vice president of sales for Calix. “Calix is proud to support these initiatives that create a lasting impact on so many communities. Our partnership with GoSEMO is creating an experience that will be a game-changer to all community members today and in the future.”

For more information on Calix solutions for new network buildouts and to hear more from GoSEMO about their journey, watch their video.

About Calix

Calix, Inc. (NYSE: CALX) – Innovative communications service providers rely on Calix platforms to help them master and monetize the complex infrastructure between their subscribers and the cloud. Calix is the leading global provider of the cloud and software platforms, systems, and services required to deliver the unified access network and smart premises of tomorrow. Our platforms and services help our customers build next generation networks by embracing a DevOps operating model, optimize the subscriber experience by leveraging big data analytics and turn the complexity of the smart home and business into new revenue streams.

12:44PM May 01, 2019

Enjoy World Fishing Network (Channel 332) for free during the month of May!

9:19AM April 19, 2019

Enjoy the Easter Weekend with GoSEMO Fiber's Spring to a Gig promotion. Its's free. We upgraded all subscribers to a Gig until 7 a.m. Monday. 

3:17PM April 18, 2019

Fiber-fast Internet, HDTV and phone packages are now available for members served via the Advance, Bloomfield, Idalia and Miner substations. SEMO Electric Cooperative’s fiber broadband project includes FREE professional installation and in-home training. Call 877-430-5418 to get on the install list. No throttling. No data caps. No viewing limits. No contracts. Now, splicing work is underway members served by the Tilsit substations. Design work is underway for the Lilbourn and Kelly substations. GoSEMO Fiber is powered by SEMO Electric Cooperative, the people you already know and trust. We are determined to improve internet access and, as a result, your quality of life. If we don't do it, who will? That's why we appreciate your patience as we build out. The project was approved on March 22, 2017. It is a big job to build 2,000 miles of fiber. Plus, $40 million.

2:39PM April 18, 2019

Check your inbox for our first eNewsletter! Let us know what you think. Thanks to Sally Schatte for sharing her feedback on Facebook! 

Click here to see April's eNewsletter. 

7:44AM April 17, 2019

Big weekend plans? Add this to the mix: Starting at 5 pm Thursday until 7 am Monday, we will upgrade every GoSEMOFiber.com subscriber to a 1 Gig level of internet for the long weekend. Binge-watch until your heart is content...game like you’ve never gamed...upload until you drop!! 100 Mbps is fast, but 1,000 is WOW.

7:47PM April 13, 2019

Thank you Rick Sinclair with Pure Country C106 for going live with us on the radio and Facebook to help us inform member-owners about Fiber-fast Internet. Don’t forget to register gosemofiber.com or call us at 877-430-5418.  

10:28AM April 09, 2019

Here is your chance to see some awesome shows and movies for an extended weekend! Sit back and relax and see what you have been missing. After the preview weekend, call us to continue receiving the TV plans. 877.430.5418

8:03AM April 09, 2019

Our first release in the Tilsit Substation area, with much more to come!

8:01AM April 09, 2019

To help make people’s lives better with fiber-fast Internet, we were able to visit several electric cooperatives to seek best practices. Last week, SEMO Electric Cooperative payed it forward by hosting collaboration sessions for electric cooperative leaders from several states. It is a blessing to highlight southeast Missouri. 

9:58AM April 03, 2019

Thanks to KFVS Ch 12 (CBS), we are able to share the story about making your life better with juice and fiber. Check out the video. 

7:33PM March 27, 2019

A big thank you to Zion United Methodist Church for hosting our Thursday's at Tilsit.  Our last Thursday at the church will be March 28, 2019!  Stop by tomorrow from 10 am to 6 pm to sign up or ask questions.   We will be in the Fellowship Hall, 3652 State Hwy Z, Gordonville, Mo. Don't get left behind!

3:39PM March 05, 2019

From 10 am to 6 pm Thursday, GoSEMO Fiber will be at Zion United Methodist Church Fellowship Hall, 3652 State Hwy Z, Gordonville, Mo. The church is 3.5 miles west on Hwy Z from the 25 junction at Gordonville. Come see us.

2:11PM February 25, 2019

SEMO Electric Cooperative's fiber build-out continues to move forward. There are four substations complete, meaning fiber-fast Internet services are available. No data caps, no throttling, no contracts. Call 877-430-5418 to enroll. 

11:38AM February 07, 2019

During the Association of Missouri’s Electric Cooperatives 13th Annual State Legislative Conference in February at Jefferson City, our grassroots team met with legislators to express the importance of legislative support for rural electric cooperative values and infrastructure funding for fiber-fast Internet. 

1:41PM January 23, 2019

GoSEMO Fiber is having Open Houses at 7 pm, Thursday, January 24 and at 9 am, Saturday, January 26 at Rick Aufdenberg Farm - 1725 State Highway F, Jackson, Mo. We appreciate the Aufdenberg family for hosting the events. We will answer questions about when to expect fiber in your home.

2:11PM January 12, 2019

What is Co-op 101? SEMO Electric member-owners get an opportunity to hold a strand of fiber, touch a fuse barrel or see our inventory barcoding system. We discuss the cooperative business model; provide insights about SEMO Electric and GoSEMO Fiber; and provide a tour of the facility. Plus, you can experience our Fast-Fiber Internet. Join us at our office in Sikeston (1/2 mile south of Walmart).

7:21PM January 08, 2019

Congratulations to Brooke in Bloomfield, Missouri, for being SEMO Electric Cooperative’s 1,000th fiber-fast Internet subscriber. Who will be the 2,000th? We appreciate your support as we work to make people’s lives better. No throttling. No data caps. No limits. No contracts. Call us at 877-430-5418. 

2:10PM January 07, 2019

If you are a member-consumer of SEMO Electric Cooperative, fiber-fast Internet is headed your way. We are currently on substation number four of 16. Here is the process: 

4:27PM December 15, 2018

GoSEMO FIber will soon connect its 1,000th subscriber. Who will it be? Don't get left behind. $50 for up to 100 Mbps with no contracts, unlimited data and no data caps.  Call us at 877-430-5418 or click on shop services. 

11:41AM December 04, 2018

SCAM ALERT: If you receive a strange call offering technical support services for a fee, don’t give the caller your personal information. If you are unsure, hang up and dial our number directly at 877-430-5418. Thank you.

4:03PM November 27, 2018

An Elf. Popcorn. Jolly. Who knows what else? Get the Christmas spirit at GoSEMO Fiber’s Open House from 4 pm to 7 pm, Wednesday, November 28 in downtown Bloomfield.

3:00PM November 21, 2018

The fiber hut for the Tilsit Substation has arrived. FIber construction will soon begin. 

5:14PM November 13, 2018

A GoSEMO Fiber Open House is set for 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Monday, November 19 at SEMO Electric Cooperative's office at Sikeston (1/2 mile south of Walmart). Come play, surf and test drive GoSEMO's HDTV. 

5:27PM October 31, 2018

Congratulations to the community and SEMO Electric Cooperative's member-owners! We have surpassed 3,000 supporters for GoSEMO Fiber!

“We are making people’s lives better with electricity and fiber-fast Internet,” said Team SEMO’s Becky Ivester. “One year ago, we are just getting our plans in place. Now, we are serving hundreds with fiber-fast Internet and HDTV.” GoSEMO Fiber is available for installation to SEMO Electric’s members served from the Advance, Bloomfield and Miner substations. For SEMO Electric residential member-consumers, GoSEMO Fiber’s Internet service plans are simple: $50 a month for up to 100 Mpbs or $80 a month for up to one gig. No contracts. Unlimited data. “Don’t get left behind,” Ivester said. “Stop by our offices or visit GoSEMOFiber.com for a complete list of service plans for Internet, HDTV and phone. Our subscribers really love the service.” SEMO Electric has free 24/7 Wi-Fi hotspots available outside the temporary offices in Advance and Bloomfield and outside the cooperative’s regular offices in Bloomfield and Sikeston.

6:10PM October 25, 2018

Thank you to the community for the turnout at GoSEMO Fiber's Bloomfield Open House. SEMO Electric Cooperative's fiber project is a community project - we are making people's lives better! 

6:36PM October 22, 2018

Grand Opening Day for our Bloomfield Substation area is October 23, 2018 from 5:30 a.m. until 7 p.m.  Visit us at the Buck Building, 202 Prairie Street (north of old courthouse) in Bloomfield, Mo., to learn more about fiber-fast internet, view our television programming and learn more about crystal-clear phone service.

10:11PM October 17, 2018

SEMO Electric Cooperative's GoSEMO Fiber office opens in Bloomfield. The office will regularly be open on Tuesdays, but for the next several weeks the office in downtown Bloomfield will be open Tuesday-Thursday. Plus, there is now free 24/7 community Wi-Fi in downtown Bloomfield. Give it a try! 

10:54AM October 11, 2018

9:26AM October 10, 2018

Team SEMO’s Brad Milam shows Castor River Farms’ Johnny Hunter II (left) and John Neeley (right) several strands of fiber inside SEMO Electric Cooperative’s fiber network operations center. A strand of fiber is thin and feels much like a human hair or horse’s mane.

A broadband system, versus wireless or coaxial-cable systems, is being built to provide fiber-fast internet for homes, farms and businesses.

Milam said fiber's speed is not connected to its size because fiber relies on light instead of electricity to transmit data, which facilitates much faster Internet connections that are capable of handling higher bandwidth.

5:35PM October 05, 2018

Shh... the date is still a secret. 

6:05PM September 17, 2018

The GoSEMO Fiber train is quickly rolling along as we make people's lives better with fiber-fast internet. 500 subscribers in less than one year. 

6:12PM September 04, 2018

We experienced a disruption to television services over the holiday weekend. The issue stems from a failing piece of equipment (a core router) that is slated for replacement by our TV provider.

Sometimes we find ourselves in situations where we are forced to choose between two bad options. In this instance, it was whether to interrupt service during prime viewing hours (and Cardinals’ games) or see if it would hold through the long weekend. We barely made it.

To enhance service, the replacement is scheduled for midnight tonight. GoSEMO TV subscribers will be without service on all channels during the migration. The process of migrating everything to the new router is slated to take from midnight to 6 am. While we don’t plan for it to, if it runs longer, we will continue until the new system is in place.

6:05PM September 04, 2018

Our fiber team worked over the weekend to make repairs to damaged fiber from a shotgun blast east of Advance. The cost will likely be more than $10,000 when completed. Fiber service were interrupted for some of the  GoSEMO Fiber subscribers in the Painton, Perkins and Oran area. Please do not shoot birds off of the fiber lines.

9:27AM September 04, 2018

We are proud to support the community of Advance. The parade was a fun event for Team SEMO and GoSEMO Fiber.

8:53AM September 04, 2018

We are proud to support the communities we serve. Making lives better! 

6:44PM August 27, 2018

Hello GoSEMO Fiber subscribers. Make sure you tune in for the Showtime (channel 450) free preview between Friday, August 31 and Monday, September 3, 2018. Plus, catch 13 live football games via the free preview opportunity for PAC 12 (channel 319) from August 28 through September 17, 2018.

3:01PM August 17, 2018

Be our guest. SEMO Electric Cooperative’s fiber is making people’s lives better. We are working hard to bring fiber to all our members. Come learn from 4 pm to 7 pm on Monday, August 20 at Sikeston (1/2 mile south of Walmart). Share the news.

2:27PM August 12, 2018

Don't forget about GoSEMO Fiber TV's streaming option through Watch TVEverywhere.  This service allows you to stream some of your favorite channels and subscribed programing to your smartphone, laptop, tablet, etc.  If you have an internet connection, you can stream with Watch TVEverywhere.  It's a FREE service available to our Video subscribers.  Contact our Subscriber Care Team for details at 877.430.5418.

10:29PM August 08, 2018

We will be at the Advance office from 3 pm to 7pm Thursday (August 9) answering questions, registering and signing up subscribers to our Fiber-fast internet, HD TV and crystal clear phones service. Bring your phone and/or laptop and experience the fiber-fast internet for yourself or play a game on the PlayStation. You can view our HD TV plans on one of our televisions. We will have popcorn and water waiting on you.

7:04AM July 31, 2018

Teresa Bailey - notjustamarinewife.com - shared her experience with our GoSEMO Fiber's fiber-fast internet.  Her family recently moved from St. Louis to southeast Missouri.

5:30PM July 25, 2018

With the goal of making people’s lives better, SEMO Electric Cooperative launched GoSEMO Fiber to provide fiber internet, HDTV and phone services to its members.  And installations are taking place for members served by the Advance and Miner substations. 

“We have built a fiber network from the ground up to make people’s lives better,” says Team SEMO’s Sean Vanslyke. “With the speed and reliability of fiber, our member-consumers may compete with the world in business and agriculture or simply stream a movie without buffering.

“It is important that our member-consumers realize that GoSEMO Fiber is not Charter. GoSEMO Fiber is not SEMO Communications. GoSEMO Fiber is not Spectrum. GoSEMO is owned by SEMO Electric,” says Vanslyke. “We are local. We will be there after the installation takes place.”

Team SEMO has invested thousands of extra hours building the fiber network, while keeping the lights on, during the past few months.

“We have worked hard to be prudent because the project is $40 million,” Vanslyke said. “Team SEMO is dedicated to providing electricity and fiber to member-consumers. I am proud of the work that has been done. However, with 2,600 miles of line we have a lot of work to do. We appreciate the support we are receiving from our members.”

12:14PM June 28, 2018

Big day for SEMO Electric Cooperative’s GoSEMOFiber.com project as antennas were installed at the Anniston Substation. Testing will now take place over the next few days. These are just two more steps in our journey to bring fiber-fast Internet and HDTV to you and southeast Missouri.

9:58AM June 12, 2018

Team SEMO’s Loyd Rice, Becky Ivester, and intern Katie Christian had the privilege of discussing the GoSEMO Fiber project with local radio star Cousin Carl on 106.1 Pure Country. Through their visit with Cousin Carl, they educated listeners on the benefits of fiber optic internet for rural southeast Missouri and the phases of the GoSEMO Fiber project. 

“Fiber optic internet is crucial to southeast Missouri,” says Team SEMO’s Becky Ivester. “Especially for those who want to work from home, take online courses, stream online television, etc. As a cooperative, we make the people of southeast Missouri our priority. That includes giving them the internet service necessary for day-to-day life, and we are so glad we got to discuss that on Cousin Carl’s radio show.”

The group shared with Cousin Carl that construction in Miner is complete, construction in Advance is almost completed, and construction in Bloomfield is underway. Cousin Carl says he hopes his house in Morely will be included in the phases of the fiber-optic project because fiber-fast internet is an incredible opportunity for southeast Missouri. To find if your home is eligible for fiber-fast internet through GoSEMO Fiber, visit gosemofiber.com. Thank you, Cousin Carl, for inviting Team SEMO to your show and for supporting the GoSEMO Fiber project.

        

9:47AM June 12, 2018

GoSEMO Fiber has teamed up with Highland Cabling to provide professional installation of our fiber-fast internet to your home. Our installers, Chris, Clint, Bart and Brett, are the ones who will come to your home for flagging, planning, and the installation of your fiber-fast internet. The team has years of experience with installation and are excited to meet and work with our GoSEMO Fiber family. We appreciate Highland Cabling’s contributions to bring fiber-fast internet to southeast Missouri.

11:38PM May 31, 2018

Join us at our GoSEMO Fiber Open House tomorrow at the old City Hall, 308 W Gabriel Street, Advance, Mo. We are improving people’s lives with fiber-fast Internet by SEMO Electric Cooperative.

3:52PM May 17, 2018

With over 600 people in attendance, fiber-to-the-home was the top topic as SEMO Electric Cooperative held its annual meeting on May 14 at the Miner Convention Center. Member-consumers flooded the fiber breakout room to ask about timelines and service packages. 

"The members are really excited about fiber," said Team SEMO's Sean Vanslyke. "They want to experience what urban areas seem to have - fiber-fast internet."

1:11PM April 21, 2018

• Home installations are occurring in the Miner area.  
• Splicing trailers are in Advance. 
• Make ready crews are working in Bloomfield.  

Help zones reach their goals by continuing to share the project in your community.

• Tell your neighbors, family and friends to visit gosemofiber.com to preregister or place an order in our Miner and Advance areas.  
• Log into your account at gosemofiber.com to send emails to your contacts or to share us on Facebook or Twitter.
• Follow us on Facebook to keep up with the most current progress and events.  Share our posts to your wall.
  

8:12AM April 13, 2018

Congratulations to the Simmons family on being our 100th fiber-fast install today!  Thank you for allowing us to serve your internet needs. Enjoy your fiber-fast internet!

12:58PM April 09, 2018

What is the most asked questioned at GoSEMO Fiber?  "When can I get fiber-fast Internet at my home?"  We completely understand the question. 

Because rural southeast Missouri has gone so long without fiber optic services, you are eager to experience our fiber-fast internet.  We appreciate everyone waiting patiently as we build a fiber communication network from scratch. 

We are pushing hard by simultaneously managing numerous new process and construction issues. Our challenges include weather, locates, road crossings permits, shipping delays, etc.  It takes time and effort, but we have come a long way in 12 months as members in Miner are now enjoying fiber-fast internet!

Here is a simple outline of the process to provide you with fiber-fast internet:

1. Design and engineer the fiber network route
2. Complete make-ready work to prepare existing power poles for fiber construction
3. Pull fiber overhead and underground from the substation to selected areas
4. Splice and test the fiber network
5. You sign up to receive fiber internet (online or in our Sikeston, Mo office)
6. Initial planning visit at your home, farm or and business (This visit can take up to 30 minutes. They will place a flag where the network interface device should be placed based on your needs.)
7. Locates
8. Install fiber service to the outside of your home, farm or and business (A crew will run the drop line from the main line to your home either underground or aerial, normally the same way the electric has been run to the home.  This crew will also install the network interface device (NID) box on the side of your home.)
9. Install fiber service inside your home, farm or and business for fiber internet (We will schedule a convenient time for a technician to come to your home to connect you to the network.  This installation can take 1-3 hours depending on the number of services connected.  Our technicians are highly trained and will guide you through your fiber install.)  
10. You enjoy the GoSEMO Fiber experience ( Sit back and enjoy your new fiber-fast speed.)
11. You encourage neighbors and others to sign up

Your experience with our service depends on several factors.  Older computers, routers and other equipment are not always equipped to handle the higher speeds that GoSEMO Fiber offers.  You may need to consider some upgrades to maximize your fiber experience.  The service plan you order is the actual speed received in port one of your optical network terminal (ONT) that is installed in your home.

If you have any questions, please email us at gosemofiber.com or call us at 877.430.5418. Thank you

1:16PM March 24, 2018

If you are curious about SEMO Electric Cooperative or GoSEMO Fiber and want to know what it takes to deliver energy or fiber to your home, farm or business, watch for upcoming Co-op 101 sessions.

What is Co-op 101? SEMO Electric member-owners get an opportunity to hold a strand of fiber, touch a fuse barrel or see our inventory barcoding system. We discuss the cooperative business model; provide insights about SEMO Electric and GoSEMO Fiber; and provide a tour of the facility. Plus, you can experience our fiber-fast Internet.

1:06PM March 24, 2018

Come learn, play and sign up for fiber-fast Internet at our open house from 8:30 am to 11 am today at our office 1/2 mile south of Walmart in Sikeston. gosemofiber.com

11:12PM March 14, 2018

Exciting things are happening at GoSEMO! We are hooking up new subscribers in the Miner area. $50 for 100 Mpbs. $80 for Plus 100 (up to one gig). Unlimited data.

6:29PM February 22, 2018

How would you like to stream video on 11 devices simultaneously? We did it! We are burning the midnight oil as we work on the fiber network for GoSEMO Fiber. It takes time to build a Gig fiber system from the ground up. But, it will be worth the wait.

3:17PM February 12, 2018

Fiber 101: What’s an ONT? The Optical Network Terminal (ONT) is the device known as the home gateway, which is installed in the home and connected via fiber from the outside of the home. The gateway includes four Ethernet ports and a dual-band Wi-Fi network. The ONT provides gigabit speed broadband data, supporting high definition television and voice service. It offers managed Wi-Fi, which is required for wireless set-top boxes for HDTV.  

10:17PM February 05, 2018

Here’s a behind the scenes look at the fiber warehouse for our gosemofiber.com project. So far, more than 250,000 feet of fiber and 240 of ~450 taps (provides fiber connectivity to homes) have been installed for the first construction phase in Miner. It takes about two hours to prep, install and slice each tap. It appears we are in the top of the eighth inning as we build the fiber Gig network from the ground up.  Thank you for the patience and support. Thanks to Ervin Cable Construction for the partnership.

2:14PM January 25, 2018

Loyd Rice of GoSEMO Fiber spoke to members of the Business Network International (BNI) business group at Sikeston, Mo. Rice updated BNI on the status of the project and how broadband will create economic growth in southeast Missouri.

6:44PM January 24, 2018

SEMO Electric Cooperative and other electric cooperatives met with the Federal Communications Commission’s Chairman Ajit Pai and Staff to discuss the Connect America Fund Phase II, which could provide up to $650 million over 10 years for broadband services for rural Missouri. We appreciate the FCC’s time and focus on the issue and look forward to participating in the auction.

CAF-II is part of the Commission’s reform and modernization of its universal service support programs. CAF-II will use competitive bidding to efficiently support the deployment of networks providing both voice and broadband service, thereby expanding broadband availability to millions more unserved Americans. https://www.fcc.gov/connect-america-fund-phase-ii-auction.

7:54PM January 20, 2018

Despite cold temps, Team SEMO had a busy week keeping the lights on and pushing forward with gosemofiber.com. We are working to 1) complete fiber subscriber enrollment processes; 2) establish prepay billing methods; 3) develop web and phone support procedures; 4) finalize TV packages and channel lists; 5) erect several IT servers for substation connectivity; 6) test residential optical network terminals; and 7) enhance relationships with partners such as Crowdfiber. The rocket fuel has been purchased and it will soon be loaded for takeoff. What an exciting time as we bring broadband to rural Missouri!

5:58PM January 17, 2018

Team SEMO completed two test fiber drops - the process to get fiber to the outside of a home - in Miner. We will soon complete the installation inside the homes and test our Gig fiber network. Team SEMO is making great progress as the GoSEMOFiber.com project started less than 10 months ago. We appreciate the help from expert partners Conexon, Ervin Cable Construction, National Information Solutions Cooperative, Crowdfiber and several others.

6:52PM January 08, 2018

On the 80th Birthday of SEMO Electric Cooperative, the cooperative's Board of Directors attended Camp GoSEMO Fiber to learn about the fiber installation process and witness the first residential test fiber drop and install.  Directors spent several hours in the classroom, onsite at a member's residence and toured the fiber transmission hut at Miner, Mo.  The purpose of the training was to educate directors about the overall fiber process. The directors made the financial decision to move forward with SEMO Electric's GoSEMO Fiber project. A 60-month, $40 million undertaking to bring broadband to member-owners in rural southeast Missouri. The articles of incorporation of what would become SEMO Electric Cooperative were filed on January 8, 1938, with the recorder of deeds in Benton, Mo. It was the beginning of the effort to bring electricity to member-owners in rural southeast Missouri.   

4:52PM December 22, 2017

Ervin Cable Construction and A & H Communications are splicing fiber to prepare fiber drop locations for home installations in Miner, Mo.   In this video, A & H is pulling one fiber strand from a fiber buffer tube and connecting into the splice box (in total, there are 96 strands of fiber within eight fiber tubes).   The splice work allows one fiber strand to connect to the network interface device (NID) on the side of the house and then into the home for GoSEMO Fiber.

12:56PM December 20, 2017

GoSEMO Fiber took a big step as we fired up our edge router inside the network operations center (NOC) at The Hut in Sikeston,, Mo. An edge router is a specialized router residing at the edge or boundary of a network. This router ensures the connectivity of its network with external networks, a wide area network or the Internet. In our case, connections to STL and the world. 

12:07PM December 18, 2017

Thank you Advance Public Schools, Advance, Mo., for hosting GoSEMO and SEMO Electric in your high school gym last Friday. 

We rocked in getting nearly 100 new supporters preregistered for the fastest fiber-to-the-home internet coming to southeast Missouri.

We are just as excited as you are to bring speed and service to you. Keep sharing GoSEMO with your friends and family.

6:21PM December 11, 2017

Dennis and Tom with Charles Industries visited SEMO Electric Cooperative to share best practices and train Team SEMO on the use of above-grade pedestals for GoSEMO Fiber's underground fiber installations.  

Charles Fiber Distribution Point™ (CFDP) and Buried Distribution Optical (BDO) pedestals provide environmental protection for above-grade fiber splice points and are a critical part of many broadband construction projects. 

Founded in 1968, Charles is a privately-held, diversified manufacturing and technology company with corporate headquarters in the Schaumburg Towers of Schaumburg, Illinois (western suburb of Chicago) and five U.S. based manufacturing centers, including Canton, Mo. 

11:35AM December 08, 2017

Sho-Me Technologies' Mark Keeling, chief technology officer, presented an overview of Sho-Me’s fiber capabilities to SEMO Electric Cooperative's Board of Directors. SEMO Electric selected Sho-Me Technologies, LLC, to provide its fiber interconnection to major “Telco Hotels” in Missouri cities like St. Louis, Kansas City and Springfield. These interconnections create a pathway to anywhere in the world for internet connectivity. Sho-Me Technologies was selected after several rounds of interviews with various providers.

We have already made the fiber connection between Sho-Me's fiber hut in Sikeston and SEMO Electric's fiber hut in Sikeston. The buildings are less than 20 feet apart.

Team SEMO visited Sho-Me’s headquarters and network operations center at Marshfield, Mo., to affirm the technology co-op’s focus on reliability. Sho-Me Technologies is a subsidiary of Sho-Me Power Electric Cooperative in Marshfield, Mo.  Sho-Me Technologies operates an advanced optical network in Missouri. What began as an upgrade to the extensive internal communications network has now grown to encompass over 4,200 miles of fiber optic connectivity. With over 120 Points of Presence, including one at SEMO Electric’s office in Sikeston, Sho-Me Technologies boasts the highest coverage of optical bandwidth in the area.

9:44AM December 04, 2017

Team SEMO made a visit to Barry Electric Cooperative, which is offering fiber services through goBEC in Cassville, Mo., to experience its process for signing up new subscribers for fiber broadband services. We continue to learn and share from other cooperatives as we work on finalizing the process to offer fiber services for phase one in Miner, Mo. We are just as focused on GoSEMO Fiber as we are on SEMO Electric to safely, competitively and reliably provide fiber broadband services to subscribers. We are excited to enhance the quality of life in southeast Missouri.

4:12PM December 01, 2017

Bailey White with CrowdFiber conducted a training session with Team SEMO regarding member-subscriber relationship management. CrowdFiber's software platform features integrated applications for Team SEMO to engage and educate members. Plus, the cloud-based system allows subscribers to preregister and complete the fiber sign up process at gosemofiber.com. 

6:08PM November 28, 2017

We reached 1,100 registered supporters today. Plus, we scheduled the first test fiber-to--the-home installation for the week of December 18 in Miner, Mo. This will give us an opportunity to refine the home installation process and test the fiber network. The GoSEMO Fiber rocket is starting to fly. 

5:36PM November 27, 2017

There are many, many steps in the process to bring Gigabit Fiber Internet service to SEMO Electric Cooperative’s member-owners. Like a kid on Christmas, we get excited about the little things. For example, fiber optic cable, electrical wiring and equipment racks were installed at SEMO Electric's network operations center (NOC) inside The Hut today at Sikeston.

This is a big step in connecting to the national fiber network and in building SEMO Electric’s fiber ring, which will connect SEMO Electric's substations into a high-speed fiber backbone. Think of the substation ring as a redundant, ring-shaped backbone network, through which we can route broadband traffic. The ring is essential for reliability for the fiber-to-the-home project.  There is still a lot of work to finish, but we are moving forward.

6:22PM November 22, 2017

As part of SEMO Electric’s GoSEMO Fiber project, we are making changes to the member services’ area in our Sikeston office. On the eve of Thanksgiving, we made some final decisions to provide adequate office space to conduct electric and fiber transactions with members and subscribers. Plus, we will have a demonstration zone for you to experience Gig Internet and HD TV.  Please excuse the mess at the office as we work on GoSEMO Fiber and continue to provide safe, reliable and affordable electricity in southeast Missouri. Have a blessed Thanksgiving weekend. 

9:14AM November 16, 2017

Team SEMO has been working on the fiber ring, which will connect SEMO Electric's substations into a fiber backbone. Think of our substation ring as a redundant, ring-shaped backbone network, through which we can route broadband traffic in either direction if there is an outage on the line. The substations are then our jumping off points to build laterals and service drops to connect homes, farms and businesses.  The process is similar to our electric delivery system. So getting the substations connected with fiber is the first order of business. Our fiber huts in Sikeston, Miner and Dogwood have been delivered and we are starting to install the electronic equipment. We have 14 more fiber huts that need to be delivered and prepared to complete the fiber ring.

7:10PM November 13, 2017

Today, we surpassed 1,000 registered supporters.  We reached this milestone with virtually no paid advertising. Just word-of-mouth. Thank you for your support as we work through the process of design, make-ready, construction and service drops to bring broadband to rural southeast Missouri. 

1:07PM November 10, 2017

Team SEMO and SEMO Electric Cooperative’s fiber contractors Conexon and Ervin Cable Construction (ECC) continue to work on Phase One design, make-ready and construction in the Miner area.

Team SEMO has been working on the fiber ring, which will connect SEMO Electric's substations into a fiber backbone. Think of our substation ring as a redundant, ring-shaped backbone network, through which we can route broadband traffic in either direction if there is an outage on the line. The substations are then our jumping off points to build laterals and service drops to connect homes, farms and businesses.  The process is similar to our electric delivery system. So getting the substations connected with fiber is the first order of business. Our fiber huts in Sikeston, Miner and Dogwood have been delivered and we are starting to install the electronic equipment. We have 14 more fiber huts that need to be delivered and prepared to complete the fiber ring.

To date, EEC crews have 30 miles of strand and nearly five miles of fiber in the air for the Miner area backbone. Once we get the backbone, we will start to work on service drops to homes, farms and businesses in January.

Like you, we are excited about the project. We are being prudent as we move forward to ensure a quality network build so that our infrastructure can reliably deliver Internet, TV and voice services to you. Thank you for your excitement and patience.

6:47PM October 27, 2017

Another step in the process to bring broadband to southeast Missouri…

Racks to hold electronic equipment to operate SEMO Electric Cooperative's network operations center (NOC) – The NOC inside The Hut – for electricity and fiber are starting to arrive. Engineers will begin full assembly soon. We put the The Hut’s back-up generator in-service this week.  The fiber building for Miner’s substation will be delivered next week so we can start work on the fiber ring.  

6:36AM October 24, 2017

Members of Team SEMO shared SEMO Electric Cooperative’s broadband plans with the Scott County Commission in Benton, Mo. SEMO Electric’s phase one construction is underway near Miner, Mo, which is in Scott and Mississippi counties.

The County Commission is responsible for the administration of the county's government which includes: setting the annual budget and payment of expenditures, all county property, conducting the county's business in cooperation with the various county officeholders and departments.

1:26PM October 22, 2017

Tammy R. was our 700^th  supporter to register her interest in GoSEMO Fiber. Momentum is growing for broadband in rural southeast Missouri. Your patience is appreciated as this is a big project with many steps. Please see previous updates.

While it may be a few months or 60 months before GoSEMO Fiber reaches your home or business, be cautious not to sign or verbally agree to a long-term contract with other service providers who may not offer speed of light service with simple pricing with no gimmicks or tricks. As a cooperative, our business model is simply different – simply better.

1:02AM October 22, 2017

We have installed nearly 100,000 feet of strand, which the fiber will be attached, to power poles in and around Miner, Mo. We have poured concrete pads for fiber buildings at two substations. On Monday, the backup generator for the network operations center – The Hut – will be put in-service at Sikeston.  We expect to announce the full lineup of services in the coming weeks and anticipate connecting some Miner-area homes in late January.

7:03PM October 17, 2017

During a six hour productive board meeting on Monday, we made some key strategic decisions for our gosemofiber.com project. We will soon announce construction phases and pricing details. Plus,  United Fiber's David shared Missouri's United Electric Cooperative, Inc.'s fiber success story. We are learning from our co-op peers as we work to bring broadband to southeast Missouri.

2:13PM October 12, 2017

A few members from Team SEMO made a visit to Ozarks Electric Cooperative, which is offering fiber services through OzarksGo, LLC, in Fayetteville, Ark., to learn best practices for scheduling and installing fiber inside a home or business for internet, HDTV and phone services.  As we continue our phase one construction in Miner, Mo., we are focused on becoming the industry-leader for broadband services in southeast Missouri.

3:57PM October 06, 2017

Source: West Plains Daily Quill

Wednesday morning, patrons of Missouri’s Eighth Congressional District filed into the West Plains Civic Center theater, many from outside of Howell County, to listen to a discussion on rural broadband internet access with Federal Communications Commissions Chair Ajit Pai.

The gathering, promoted by Eighth District Rep. Jason Smith as a roundtable discussion, was well-attended. About 200 seats in the theater were filled with constituents and representatives of local governments and industries. Some dressed professionally, while others still wore their farm clothes, having rushed to the civic center from their rural homes.

A panel of speakers representing different local sectors impacted by the rural broadband issue shared concerns, observations and solutions they’ve managed to improvise to work with or around limited rural access.

Loyd Rice of SEMO Electric Cooperative in Sikeston spoke of his co-op’s GoSEMO fiber initiative it is preparing to launch. GoSEMO was formed to build a fiber-optic network with a two-fold purpose. First, it would improve the co-op’s own automation capabilities and reliable electric service, and second it would further the co-op’s goal of powering communities and empowering members.

11:18AM October 06, 2017

SEMO Electric Cooperative has selected Sho-Me Technologies, LLC to provide its fiber interconnection to major “Telco Hotels” in Missouri cities like St. Louis, Kansas City and Springfield.  These interconnections create a pathway to anywhere in the world for connectivity. The agreement with Sho-Me is another step in SEMO Electric's journey to provide triple play services to its members.

Sho-Me Technologies was selected after several rounds of interviews with various providers. In addition, Team SEMO visited Sho-Me’s headquarters and network operations center at Marshfield, Mo., to affirm the technology company’s focus on redundancy and reliability.

Sho-Me Technologies is a subsidiary of Sho-Me Power Electric Cooperative in Marshfield, MO.  Sho-Me Technologies operates an advanced optical network in Missouri. What began as an upgrade to the extensive internal communications network has now grown to encompass over 4,200 miles of fiber optic connectivity. With over 120 Points of Presence, including one at SEMO Electric’s office in Sikeston, Sho-Me Technologies boasts the highest coverage of optical bandwidth in the area.

8:18AM September 28, 2017

For our member-owners in the Miner area, progress continues on our first phase to provide fiber internet within the next four months. More than five miles of 23 total miles of strand has been pulled. Once we pull the strand, crews will come back and attach the fiber. Plus,  the concrete pad for Miner’s fiber hut, which allows connectivity to SEMO’s other substations, to our Sikeston HQ and to our regional and national broadband partners, was poured today.

7:41PM September 26, 2017

KFVS - Around 11,000 SEMO Electric Co-op customers will get high-speed internet. The company began a five-phase project and said they'll offer the fastest internet in the area.

SEMO Electric said this comes 80 years after the company first ran electricity to these same communities.

"Well, I think our board of directors looked at it just like the early providers of rural electricity did," said Rick Faulkner, president of SEMO Electric Co-op. "Nobody else would do it and we think we can and that's what we wanted to do, the board decided that was the decision we needed to make."

This is phase one of the project. It affects customers in Miner, Advance and Bloomfield.

3:47PM September 23, 2017

As part of SEMO Electric Cooperative’s new network operations center (NOC), a 53,000 pound hut was delivered and placed on its pad. The Hut will house the co-op's electronics for electricity and fiber operations. The cost for the prep work, pad and The Hut, from CellSite Solutions, is around $35,000. 

Team SEMO is working with CellSite Solutions to procure about 18 of these buildings. SEMO Electric needs one building at each of its substations to connect the fiber network.

The Hut is another step in SEMO Electric Cooperative's journey to provide triple play services to its members.

5:25PM September 08, 2017

After several meetings and a visit to Momentum Telecom’s call center in Cartersville, Georgia, GoSEMO has partnered with Momentum Telecom to provide white label voice and phone services to GoSEMO subscribers. Additionally, Momentum Telecom will help provide 24/7 call center services to assist subscribers with internet connectivity issues.

Momentum Telecom, a leading hosted VoIP, broadband services and unified communications provider, offers smart, customizable cloud solutions to direct subscribers and more than 500 partners nationwide. Momentum Telecom delivers superior quality products backed by a geo-redundant network with industry-leading uptime and best-in-business customer service.  Headquartered in Birmingham, AL, Momentum Telecom has additional offices in Kennesaw, GA, Lexington, KY, Atlanta, GA, Cartersville, GA, Philadelphia, PA, Vancouver, Canada and Belarus. Learn more at https://momentumtelecom.com/

The partnership is another step in SEMO Electric Cooperative's journey to provide triple play services to its members. 

4:40PM September 05, 2017

We made a quick visit to CrowdFiber to learn about their software to help SEMO Electric Cooperative utilize real-time, multi-dimensional analysis tools to plan and respond to the fiber market and run what-if scenarios to help deploy the cooperative’s capital most effectively. The process has some similarities to the electric business. In addition, CrowdFiber will eventually help reach new subscribers through social media, zone-based email and neighbor-to-neighbor direct mail.  

To date, nearly 600 supporters have registered at gosemofiber.com. The first build-out of SEMO Electric’s fiber network begins September 11 for member-owners served by the Miner substation. Once the fiber is pulled or plowed, it will take about four to five months before homes, farms and businesses will be wired and connected for fiber internet.

6:32PM August 30, 2017

Randy Laird & Sons Concrete Contractors poured the pad for SEMO Electric Cooperative’s main fiber communication shelter for its broadband project. This is just one step of hundreds of steps the co-op is taking to bring broadband services to southeast Missouri. The concrete shelter will safeguard sensitive fiber equipment from the surrounding environment and is designed to be resistant against all types of weather, from high heat to harsh rain, and they are built to last for years to come, even with little maintenance and upkeep. Ultimately, the co-op will purchase and utilize 18 communication shelters for fiber connectivity between offices and substations.

5:04PM August 22, 2017

Through a competitive bidding process, SEMO Electric Cooperative selected Ervin Cable Construction (ECC), LLC, to build its area-wide, multi-million dollar fiber-optic network to connect substations and provide broadband services such as fiber internet to homes, farms and businesses in southeast Missouri.

ECC, with corporate offices in Sturgis, Kentucky, began business in 1980 as a small construction company. Based on steady growth and continued reinvestment in its company, ECC has grown to build/upgrade over 15,000 miles of plant over the past few years projects.

SEMO Electric and ECC met on August 18 for a pre-construction meeting to outline details. Construction to install fiber-optic cable will begin on September 11 in the Miner area. ECC’s trucks will display signage to indicate that ECC is working on behalf of SEMO Electric.

Construction will begin by building the network, followed by bringing fiber to actual homes, farms and businesses. Once we have the fiber to the home, farm or business, we will schedule an install to actually install the service inside the home or business. Installation will include all wiring and a powerful Wi-Fi router. From the first step until service is installed, you can expect the process to take four to five months.

Here is a simple outline of the process to provide you with fiber internet service:

1. Design and engineer the fiber network route
2. Complete make-ready work to prepare existing power poles for fiber construction
3. Pull fiber overhead and underground from the substation to selected areas
4. Splice and test the fiber network
5. You sign up to receive fiber internet
6. Install fiber service to the outside of your home, farm or and business
7. Install fiber service inside your home, farm and business for fiber internet
8. You enjoy the GoSEMO Fiber experience
9. You encourage neighbors and others to sign up

4:59PM August 22, 2017

SEMO Electric Cooperative's CEO Sean Vanslyke attended legislative day at the Missouri State Fair to participate in a broadband round table with Senator Claire McCaskill. He also attended a Missouri Farm Bureau broadband news conference with Senator Roy Blunt, Governor Eric Greitens and MO Electric Co-ops' Barry Hart. SEMO Electric is speaking to lawmakers about its broadband initiative, which, when finished, will provide fiber internet to its service territory

11:58AM August 16, 2017

500 Supporters Registered!

Wikipedia says a dream is a succession of images, ideas, emotions and sensations. We had a high-speed dream and it is becoming a reality.

And momentum is growing.

• More than 500 people have registered at gosemofiber to support the co-op’s mission of providing broadband services such as fiber internet.
• Make-ready work (which means to prepare the electric poles for the addition of fiber) is well underway for members served by the Miner substation.
• Fiber design work for Miner is nearly complete.  Once we complete the design, it will take about three months to install the fiber. We expect fiber construction to begin in September.

The dream of high-speed internet for SEMO Electric Cooperative’s member-owners is quickly becoming a reality as we take small steps.   

6:47PM August 07, 2017

For consumers in rural Missouri, this news isn't a surpise, but it is a good lesson on why SEMO Electric Cooperative is moving foward with GoSEMO Fiber.  

"The internet is not a luxury.  

Last year a federal court defined it as a basic utility like running water or electricity, but in rural areas across America, high-speed internet often ends at the county line.

Just 3 percent of people in urban areas lack access to broadband, but in rural areas, 35 percent of people have no access.

That's about 22 million Americans." 

View the CBS News report to learn more about fiber-to-the-home.  https://www.cbsnews.com/videos/why-does-much-of-rural-america-still-lack-access-to-high-speed-internet/

5:33PM August 03, 2017

On Wednesday, August 2, 2017, U.S. Senator Roy Blunt (Mo.), a member of the Senate Commerce Committee, spoke on the Senate floor to recognize August as “Rural Broadband Month” and highlight the importance of expanding high-speed internet to rural Missouri. We appreciate Senator Blunt's support of SEMO Electric Cooperative's GoSEMO Fiber project.  Team SEMO has have several conversations regarding rural broadband with Senator Blunt and his staff in Missouri and Washington, D.C.  Please let Senator Blunt know you appreciate his support of broadband for rural Missouri. 

4:16PM July 21, 2017

Team SEMO’s Sean Vanslyke was invited to participate in Missouri Farm Bureau's Rural Broadband Working Group meeting in Jefferson City, Mo. Governor Eric Greitens and Director of Agriculture Chris Chinn both spoke at the event and encouraged the group to seek ways for broadband services to be provided to more Missouri families, farms and businesses. Vanslyke was able to meet privately with Greitens and Chinn to share SEMO Electric’s GoSEMO Fiber plan. Learn about the Missouri Department of Agriculture's MORE initiative, which aims to connect every last mile of Missouri to high-speed internet: Agriculture.Mo.Gov/more

3:39AM July 08, 2017

As we gear up for Phase 1 fiber construction, the first step is to prepare the electric system for the fiber deployment. This effort is commonly referred to as "make -ready" work. It entails replacing poles that may be too short, adding new guy wires and making lots of other adjustments so that SEMO Electric Cooperative's fiber-optic cable can be attached in a safe and efficient manner near the power lines. We are excited to announce that the first make-ready work was completed this week northeast of Miner, Mo. 

4:09PM June 29, 2017

In the baseball world, a triple play (denoted as TP in baseball statistics) is the rare act of making three outs during the same continuous play. Triple plays happen infrequently – there have been 711 triple plays in Major League Baseball from 1876 through June 1, 2017.

In the technology world, a triple play is a bundle of three services for your home or business. Typically, the three services include fiber internet, high definition television and digital phone.

As we develop our Triple Play services for SEMO Electric Cooperative’s member-owners, we appreciate our cooperative family for sharing best practices. Team SEMO will leverage the knowledge of other rural electric cooperatives that have fiber-to-the-home (FTTH) experience so we protect co-op ratepayers and the financial integrity of the electric cooperative.

Here are two examples of Missouri co-ops making a difference in their communities:

Ralls County Electric Cooperative’s (RCEC), based in New London, Mo., CEO Lynn Hodges presented FTTH to SEMO Electric Cooperative’s board of directors in early 2017. In April, a group from SEMO Electric visited RECE. In 2003, RECE formed Ralls Technologies. Today, Ralls Technologies provides triple play services in rural northeast Missouri over fiber optic cable.

Callaway Electric Cooperative (CEC), based in Fulton, Mo., invited us for a visit in February. CEC formed Callabyte Technology to provide triple play services to homes and businesses in rural central Missouri. The company kicked off with a FTTH pilot project in the fall of 2015. The pilot was a success and they continue to expand.

12:08PM June 23, 2017

This week we held an all-employee (Team SEMO) meeting to provide GoSEMO updates. We discussed customer care, construction, technology infrastructure, finance, billing and the development of partnerships.  Since the board approved the first phase on March 22, we have spent numerous hours learning from others and organizing the business.

We have started to engage with various vendors and equipment suppliers. In some cases, there is a four-month lead time on equipment. Besides working on our first construction phase, we are developing flow charts and process maps for customer and member care. 

12:29PM June 21, 2017

SEMO Electric Cooperative has contracted Conexon to design and manage the construction of a fiber to the home (FTTH) network for smart grid and the delivery of broadband to SEMO Electric’s members and other subscribers. Therefore, a Request for Proposal (RFP) has been developed to solicit proposals and pricing from various fiber construction companies to build the segments for Phase 1 of the project.  Contractors performing well on Phase 1 will have the opportunity to extend the construction contract into future phases at SEMO Electric’s discretion.

Contractors are invited to submit a proposal for the SEMO Electric’s Fiber Construction project in accordance with the requirements set forth in the RFP. If a contractor wishes to bid, a letter of intent must be submitted to Conexon in writing, fax, or e-mail no later than July 1, 2017.  The letter of intent is not binding but will greatly assist SEMO Electric in planning for proposal evaluation.  SEMO Electric will not accept proposals if the letter of intent is not filed within the specified time period.

The original and/or electronic proposal must be received not later than 5 p.m., July 6, 2017, or the proposal will otherwise be disqualified.  We anticipate that the provider whose proposal is the best solution for this project will be selected by July 11, 2017. We will notify all providers, whether they are disqualified or unsuccessful. Upon notification, the contract negotiation with the winning bidder(s) will begin immediately.  Contract negotiations are scheduled to be completed by July 25, 2017 and construction scheduled to start by August 4, 2017.

For all questions or to request a RFP, please email Conexon at randy@conexon.us

4:52PM June 16, 2017

We made a visit to Co-Mo Electric Cooperative’s Co-Mo Connect facilities in Tipton, Mo., to learn best practices for providing internet, HD TV and phone services. Co-Mo Electric was one of the first electric cooperatives in the nation to offer broadband services to its members. As we work towards our construction phase, we are gaining knowledge from our cooperative family so we can deliver fast and reliable service to you.

11:54AM June 09, 2017

Confucius said “It does not matter how slowly you go as long as you do not stop.” We are taking the necessary little steps to bring broadband to southeast Missouri. SEMO Electric Cooperative’s team continues work on fiber design specifications, accounting and billing processes, and a construction RFP to ultimately install more than 2,600 miles of fiber. There are many steps in our journey, but we moving forward.

Hey, Hey! We passed a small milestone this week as word of mouth has pushed more than 200 people to show their interest in our mission at gosemofiber.com. Let’s keep it going. Help us spread the word and let people know we need their support.

3:31PM June 02, 2017

Fiber-to-the-home means that a fiber optic cable, which carries internet, TV and telephone services, runs directly into your home. How is this different from what you may have now? It's pretty simple. Most likely, your current provider uses fiber optic cable, but only reaching a pedestal or hub in your neighborhood. Maybe even farther away.

Then, a copper wire carries service to a box on the outside of your home, and then to ports/jacks inside, where you connect your devices. This is where significant internet speed and reliability is lost. Fiber optic cables are made of glass and contain many strands, which makes the capacity almost limitless. Copper cables have been around more than 100 years and aren’t built for today’s needs. They are also susceptible to signal deterioration due to age and environmental conditions.

In a FTTH network, the fiber optic cable runs into your home and directly to a device called an optical network terminal (ONT). The ONT then provides service directly to your devices via wired or wireless connection. There is no changing of wires or cables during this process. So, in essence, you're getting game-changing internet speeds, full HD television and crystal clear phone reception, through a single cable, directly into your home and to your devices.

4:36PM May 25, 2017

We can’t wait to bring fast, reliable Internet and other premium services to southeast Missouri. We also know that you probably have a lot of questions about GoSEMO Fiber. Please see these FAQs, which can hopefully give you a better understanding of what this offering all about.

On Monday, SEMO Electric Cooperative’s board received a GoSEMO Fiber update and approved operating agreements between SEMO Electric and GoSEMO for fiber construction and fiber lease. In addition, the board reviewed fiber design work for the first phase. It will take several months before construction will start, but construction make-ready design efforts are underway. Make-ready is the shorthand for making a utility pole ready for new attachments.

9:50AM May 19, 2017

What makes fiber-optic special? Curious? Just watch the first few minutes of this video. 

4:52PM May 17, 2017

The Miner Convention Center served as the host site for SEMO Electric Cooperative’s annual meeting on May 15. To the excitement of those in attendance, SEMO Electric’s President Rick Faulkner announced that the board approved a plan to install fiber-optic cable to connect substations and offices to increase the reliability of electric service to members. Plus, if all goes well, he said the plan is to provide fiber-to-the-home (high-speed internet) for the cooperative’s members.

“It may take several years, but we will take it one step at a time,” Faulkner said. “Much like we did with electricity in 1938, we’re going to provide real, affordable broadband for rural residents in southeast Missouri.”

During the business meeting, four directors – Myron Hawes, Dicky Hanor, Dennis Fowler and James Deneke – were elected to the cooperative’s board to serve three year terms to help guide SEMO Electric’s strategic direction. Prior to the business meeting, entertainer Maggie Thorn sang original songs and some old favorites to the large crowd as they snacked on popcorn.

9:52PM May 14, 2017

We are working on a plan to deliver fiber internet service to SEMO Electric Cooperative members, and we're thrilled to get things started. But just how fast will our advanced technology allow us to make your online world?

With either our 100 Mbps or 1 Gbps plans, you will:

• Transfer data over the internet faster than you can write data to a thumb drive.
• Play games seamlessly.
• Download and upload files, photos and videos at incredible speeds.
• Video conference with excellent quality.
• Improve your online experience for multiple users and devices connected simultaneously to your network.
• Stream videos, movies and TV shows in HD with little to no delays or buffering.

It's exciting technology, and we're glad to bring it to you.

3:08PM May 11, 2017

During a special board meeting of the Board of Directors of SEMO Electric Cooperative, Inc., on March 22, 2017, the board conducted a final review of the fiber to the home feasibility study and held a discussion regarding fiber construction. Then, the board unanimously voted to move forward with phase one of the fiber plan.

By connecting substations and offices with fiber-optic cable, the Cooperative will create an intelligent grid that will provide it with more down line automation capabilities, ultimately increasing the reliability of electric service to members. Also, this endeavor falls in line with the Cooperative’s purpose - “powering communities and empowering members.”

Broadband is the electricity of the 1930s and 1940s. Remember, in 1930, fewer than 10% of farms had access to electricity. In 2016, 53% of Americans lack access to broadband. Much like the Cooperative did with electricity in 1938, the Cooperative is going to provide real, affordable broadband to southeast Missouri.

Since the Cooperative serves more than 2,600 miles of line, this will take some time. The entire build out will take several years. The approved plan is to begin with a portion of the territory and build out from there. Only the first phase was approved by the board.

While the Cooperative is not ready to announce its first build location, it anticipates starting with substations in Advance, Bloomfield and Miner. A number of factors are considered to help decide the build-out order. Those factors include density, total cost, cost per home or business passed, number of potential subscribers, cooperative communication needs, office locations and revenue projections. The Cooperative will evaluate the success of each phase as the business moves forward. The Cooperative asks members to be patient as it works on fiber design for route maps, infrastructure make-ready needs, splicing diagrams and construction schedules.