COOPERATIVE REBORN

OEC Fiber proudly takes its roots from the rich history of cooperatives. Born from the legacy of OEC in 2018, it shares the values and expectations of cooperatives nationwide.

Among the many values forming the foundation of cooperatives, commitment to improving lives traces back over 80 years when local individuals pioneered rural electrification in Oklahoma. Many cooperatives started with just a few people banding together to make life better for themselves and those around them.

In the 1930s, rural areas faced challenges in accessing electricity. Larger power companies hesitated to bring them electricity due to the lack of profitability. Imagine what life would look like without electricity–no lights or refrigeration and only wood-burning stoves to cook with or heat your home. It was a difficult existence.

Farmers from Cleveland and McClain counties decided they wanted better. This led to the birth of Oklahoma Intra-County Electric Cooperative on Jan. 12, 1937, later renamed OEC.

Fast forward to the present, internet access has become the essential utility of the current century that electricity was in the last. With internet access, families can enhance their lives working and learning from home, virtual medical appointments. The list goes on.

Yet, not everyone enjoys the blessing of equal access to this life-changing service. Even in Norman, Oklahoma’s third-largest city, some families lacked home internet access. This was unacceptable.

The cooperative spirit rose once again to address the community’s needs. OEC conducted a feasibility study in 2017 to see what it would take to bring internet service to their members. OEC Fiber initiated construction in April 2018 and connected the first subscriber to the internet in February 2019. What was supposed to take five to seven years took a fraction of the time expected to establish service.

Today, OEC Fiber embodies the same commitment to community, proudly serving over 38,000 subscribers. OEC Fiber goes the extra mile to ensure everyone can have the internet access they need. Drawing inspiration from the rich history and core principles of cooperatives, OEC Fiber positioned itself at the forefront of a rapidly growing movement, making life better for all Oklahomans.

To learn more about OEC and OEC Fiber's history, watch The Power of Connection video at link.okcoop.org/powerofconnection