Dickson Electric Broadband nears first customers. Here's how to know it's ready.

The first fiber optic cable for residential internet from the new Dickson Electric Broadband division will be laid down in about a month, according to DES officials.

Also in about 30 days, Dickson Electric will post an online map detailing where and when DES internet will be available, said Ronnie Sagar, director of broadband operations.

Sagar said the DES website will also have a "join the list" option for interested customers.

What are next steps?

Sagar said the broadband team has set up an expected timeline for the project. That team recently added George Benjamin, who has 15 years industry experience, as broadband operations manager.

“His attitude, his experience and his deep wealth of knowledge in all things broadband services and fiber network make George an extremely valuable asset to this important project,” Sagar said.

DES Broadband is also working with Logicom as project manager and Ervin Cable Construction for design and engineering.

In the next two weeks, Sagar said, DES will organize its engineering fielding team. By the end of March, he expects the fiber line construction crews to be ready.

As the cable is laid down, Sagar said the team will be working on “critical steps” such as “hubsite upfitting and direct internet access as well as our core network topology.”

“This process will take several months and is a critical step in order to provide services to our first customers later in the year,” Sagar said.

Where are first broadband locations?

The first customers will be in Dickson Electric’s rural northwest service territory as is required by the more than $860,000 state grant the utility received in September. The grant states that the funds include setting up broadband in Houston County.

“As we are working to connect those first customers, we will simultaneously have crews working in multiple areas as we have been and remain committed to reaching customers across rural and urban areas during each phase of the scope of the project,” Sagar said. "There’s still a lot to be done, but we are working every day on making sure this project rolls out to our communities as quickly and as efficiently as possible."

Background

Dickson Electric Broadband finalized its business plan in late October 2021 after years of discussion among citizens and local leaders.

“The process to get to where we are has been a long journey,” said DES General Manager Gillespie at the time.

The state comptroller’s office, the Dickson City Council and the Dickson County Commission approved establishing the DES broadband division in the months that followed.

Also Monday, the Dickson County Commission discussed a resolution supporting the plan. The resolution is expected to be presented at the commission’s Feb. 21 meeting.

DES Broadband

For more information, go online to dicksonelectric.com/fiber20/.

More:'We just need it.' Citizens speak publicly on Dickson Electric broadband.

This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Here's how to know Dickson Electric Broadband is ready for customers