north arkansas electric cooperative edition
Operation Round Up® scholarships given to 18 recent graduates The North Arkansas Electric Cooperative Board of Directors has approved the expansion of NEXT’s fiber-to-the-home network to all of the cooperative’s territory. NAEC formed the telecommunications subsidiary NEXT, Powered by NAEC in November 2015 to provide internet with speeds of up to one gigabit to three pilot areas in Baxter and Fulton counties. “The pilot project was a great success,” CEO Mel Coleman said. “We exceeded our goal of subscribers, and many have shared with us the benefits true broadband internet has brought to their families and businesses.” NAEC serves more than 36,600 member accounts across almost 5,000 miles of line. NEXT internet as well as phone and television services should reach all of them in approximately five years. The fiber-to-the-home network will be built in phases. Work is under way to determine which areas will be included in Phase Two. Potential subscribers in Phase Two will be mailed a packet on NEXT’s services once they can subscribe. “We hear daily from members wanting high-speed internet and the economic and educational benefits it can bring,” Coleman said. “We are excited to be our members’ local source for reliable, affordable broadband internet moving forward.” As NEXT construction progresses, check www.naeci.com/next and www.facebook.com/NEXTbyNAEC for updates.
NEXT, Powered by NAEC Internet Basic (Up to 100 Mbps)
$49.95
Advanced (Up to 1 Gbps)
$79.95
NEXT offers unlimited data with no throttling. Download and upload speeds are the same. Prices above are for residential subscribers. Prices and packages are subject to change.
22
AUGUST 2018
NORTH ARKANSAS ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE
IMAGES: CHRIS HICKMAN; ISTOCK/THE_CORNER
NEXT fiber expanding to all NAEC members
The member-supported Operation Round Up® program awarded 18 scholarships to recent high school graduates. Receiving a $1,000 scholarship to attend Arkansas State University-Mountain Home are: Matty Dillard, Norfork High School; Megan Hiles, Calico Rock High School; and Destiny White, Viola High School. Receiving a $1,000 scholarship to attend Ozarka College are: Mesa Barger, Melbourne High School; Abigail Brindley, Mammoth Spring High School; and Abby Greer, Salem High School. Receiving a $1,000 scholarship to attend the university of their choosing are: Jared Alexander, Mammoth Spring High School; Sydney Brown, Calico Rock High School; Ragan Burris, Highland High School; Lenise Byrd, Izard County Consolidated High School; Alexa Darracq, Mountain Home High School; Caleb Davis, Calico Rock High School; Luke Foreman, Mountain Home High School; Hope Menendez, Mountain Home High School; Katelynn Miller, Highland High School; Elizabeth Pounds, Cave City High School; Allison Shands, Cave City High School; and Sydnie Zimmer, Mountain Home High School.
Teens explore nation’s capital on Youth Tour
Above: From left, Madeline Newman, Callie May, Chad Henry and Tabitha Switzer visit the White House during the 2018 Youth Tour.
my co-op
Teenagers from Arkansas’ 17 electric cooperatives explored the nation’s capital June 8-14 on the Youth Tour. The all-expense-paid trip is often billed as “the experience of a lifetime.” NAEC delegate Madeline Newman’s highlights included watching the Changing of the Guard at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington National Cemetery, visiting the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum and touring the Washington National Cathedral. She described Youth Tour as eye-opening and encouraged juniors to apply for the 2019 trip. “I think everyone should explore the sites and learn more about our nation’s capital so that they can better understand them,” Newman said. The application for the 2019 Youth Tour will be posted at www.naeci.com by Feb. 1.
Left: NAEC’s Youth Tour delegates explore Mount Vernon, George Washington’s Virginia home.
North Arkansas Electric Cooperative offices will be closed Monday, Sept. 3, in observance of Labor Day. Crews will be on call in the event of an outage. If you experience an outage, please report it by calling 870-895-3221 or using NAEC’s app.
NORTH ARKANSAS ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE
23