Your local electric cooperative, Meriwether Lewis Electric Cooperative (MLEC), launched MLConnect in August 2018. MLEC has been delivering safe, affordable, reliable electricity to this area since 1939. We are not-for-profit and owned by the members we serve.
Just like MLEC, MLConnect, LLC is a non-profit, wholly-owned subsidiary of MLEC. It will provide advanced communication solutions like high-speed internet and telephone services through a broadband fiber network to members in each of the counties MLEC serves: Hickman, Houston, Humphreys, Lewis and Perry.
Fiber optics is the latest technology in providing broadband services. It is considered future-proof, meaning that the fiber we install today will be able to handle increased data loads as the need for more and more speed grows.
Fiber technology makes it possible to deliver speeds up to 10 Gig (10,000 megabits per second or 10,000 Mbps). Speeds are only limited by the connected electronics that “light” the actual fiber. MLConnect’s system can easily provide 10 Gig service.
Fiber is more reliable than other types of networks such as DSL and satellite, by being less prone to interference and complications from lightning and other natural elements
Broadband will be available to all MLEC members in Hickman, Houston, Humphreys, Lewis and Perry counties, including those more rural areas other providers have overlooked. Click here learn more!
First, register your interest with us! No obligation to buy, but it gives us a way to contact you when installations begin in your area. At the appropriate time, you will be contacted by an MLConnect representative about processing your order. Watch for announcements on our website, social media pages, and local news outlets. Learn more here!
It is watching videos or TV programs and playing games online. There on-demand streaming like Netflix, Amazon Prime, or Hulu, where you can watch what you want whenever your want. And, there is live streaming which is watching or listening to live programming like you have on your cable or satellite service, except it is coming to you over the internet. You might even watch your local high school games over the internet.
Streaming enables you to watch content on your smart phone, tablet, laptop or smart TV. Have an older TV? You can use a media player such as AppleTV, Roku, or a game console to convert the Internet signal to a TV signal. (You will need a media player for each older TV you want to use.)
Home and business phone services with MLConnect are VoIP. This technology allows you to make voice calls using a broadband Internet connection instead of a regular (or analog) phone line. You can keep your current number and take advantage of services such as call waiting, call forwarding, voicemail, voicemail to text, RoboCall blocking, three-way calling, and caller ID.
MLConnect is building its 100 percent fiber network in phases as MLEC works on its smart grid capabilities in each county. The plan will have crews working in multiple counties at one time, so not all homes/businesses will be eligible for broadband service at the same time.
Our goal is to complete construction in all five counties by the end of 2022. Of course, with the amount of interest, weather, COVID-19, and other variables, in-home/business installations will take a bit longer.
Phase 1 (in and around the cities) construction is finished and in-home/business installations are ongoing.
Phase 2 (Rural Areas of Houston & Humphreys Counties) construction began in October 2019 and is expected to finish early in 2021. It utilizes a Tennessee Economic and Community Development grant received for rural Humphreys County to bring broadband. Installations for a specific design area (section) begins as construction finishes. A Tennessee Emergency Broadband Fund grant was also received for Houston County. We are grateful for each grant opportunity and the impact it has on our overall project timeline and expenses.
Phase 3 construction (Rural areas of Lewis and Perry Counties) is set to begin in December 2020. It will begin in Perry County with the help of a Tennessee Economic and Community Development Broadband Accessibility grant. Installations are expected to begin around April 2021.
Phase 4 (Rural Areas of Hickman County) construction is anticipated to begin in October 2021 and finish by the end of 2022, meeting MLEC's original goal of completing construction in 4 years.
MLEC and MLConnect are committed to making broadband an option for ALL - yes all - MLEC members. It is not a matter of "if" but "when" we will reach everyone. Realistically, installations will be ongoing because we can't be everywhere at once.
What phase are you in?
- If not registered on our website, click here and enter your address, select “residential” or “commercial” and then “Search For My Address.” The next screen will show your ZONE.
- FOR ANY PHASE, pick products you are interested in and click “Submit.” (Not an obligation to buy, but it gives us a way to contact you when we are working in your area.) Then, at the appropriate time, an MLConnect representative will contact you to process your order.
INTERACTIVE MAP COMING SOON! You'll be able to enter your address and see your phase. For Phases already under construction, the estimated date for when installations will begin will also be shown.
Building in phases is the most efficient, fastest way to serve the majority of our customers. It takes advantage of equipment and resources MLEC already had in place and builds out from our core. We anticipate being able to complete the entire construction project in four phases.
To register your interest (not an obligation to buy) and be notified when we are in your area, register here!
MLConnect provides customers free in-home/business standard installation. Service can come to your home overhead or underground depending on your electric service. (Construction/delivery of fiber to the home/business is not included in installation. Fees may apply if standard length of line is exceeded.) Contact local MLEC office for details.
Click HERE to see our standard installation.
MLConnect utilizes quality equipment and service. Click HERE to learn more about our residential gateways.
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No. MLConnect, LLC is a non-profit, wholly-owned subsidiary of MLEC. It will be a self-sustaining business. Funds from MLEC cannot be used to subsidize broadband services, and MLEC is regulated by the Tennessee Valley Authority.
MLEC’s existing fiber network (backbone) connects our offices and substations to support technology making the delivery of electricity more resilient, affordable and reliable. It is also being used to help MLEC create a more efficient electric grid to meet future power needs and innovations.
As a benefit, the fiber has the capacity to carry much more information than is used by MLEC. MLConnect will lease space on this fiber to be able to provide service to MLEC members who choose MLConnect as their internet/telephone programming provider.
This partnership makes better use of MLEC's investment in our fiber network.