I'm excited to provide you with an update on Fybe, our broadband subsidiary formerly known as Roanoke Connect, in this edition of "The Power Pulse." As we continue our journey to provide reliable and affordable services to our cooperative's community, our member-owners' engagement is paramount to our success. This year has marked an exciting transformation for both Roanoke Cooperative and Fybe. We've rebranded both entities to better serve you and meet the evolving needs of our community.
Fybe's undertaking is to ensure universal broadband access within our cooperative's footprint. This includes not only areas served by Roanoke Cooperative but also some cities and towns beyond our traditional electric service territory. So far, grant funding and areas with higher population density have played a crucial role in expanding our services to member-owners. These factors enable us to bring universal access to some very remote locations among Roanoke Cooperative’s member-owners, fulfilling our commitment to serve all our member-owners, regardless of their location.
Currently, Fybe is able to serve nearly 7,000 homes and businesses, including 2,700 of our member-owners. We are actively working to sign up as many of these individuals as possible for our services.
We've already completed builds in Halifax and Northampton Counties, as well as the southwestern end of Bertie County, including the Town of Windsor. Our ongoing work includes Gates County, eastern Northampton County, Western Hertford County, the Town of Halifax, and the Town of Edenton. Once these projects are complete, we will be able to serve over 29,000 homes and businesses, including 9,000 of Roanoke Cooperative's member-owners. These locations are expected to be serviceable before June 2024, and we'll be working diligently to ensure widespread adoption of Fybe’s services.
Looking ahead, our planned deployment forecast includes expansion projects in unserved areas that impact our member-owners throughout the remainder of this year and 2024. Fybe remains committed to bringing universal broadband to our member-owners before the end of 2025.
Fybe offers internet and phone bundles, with phone service priced at just $25/month, including unlimited local and long-distance features, along with 18 calling features. Our broadband service includes a Gig service, the fastest internet available, and a 100 Mbps service to meet a wide range of household broadband connectivity needs.
I'm also excited to share that Fybe participates in the Affordable Connectivity Program, an FCC benefit program aimed at ensuring income-qualified households have access to broadband. This program offers a monthly discount of up to $30 for internet service and a one-time discount of up to $100 for purchasing a laptop, desktop computer, or tablet.
For our member-owners, Fybe's broadband service will enable the use of smart grid devices in your homes and businesses. We currently have programs offering credits to member-owners who have registered smart thermostats and water heater control devices, supporting our efforts to optimize the electrical grid and save on energy costs.
In closing, I want to emphasize that our goal is to make everyone aware of Fybe's services and ensure that all our community members have access to reliable, affordable broadband. We're here to serve you, our valued member-owners, and ensure that your connectivity needs are met in this digital age.
For more information, check out gofybe.com today.
Sincerely,
Marshall Cherry
President and CEO