Broadband effort begins in Callaway County

Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon, second from left, joins a groundbreaking ceremony Wednesday outside the Millersburg Christian Church for the start of Socket Telecom's construction of a fiber optic broadband network in Callaway County. With the governor, from left, are Joe Ridenhour of Ridenhour Construction Co. of Jefferson City; George Pfenenger, Socket chief executive officer; and Carson Coffman, Socket president.
Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon, second from left, joins a groundbreaking ceremony Wednesday outside the Millersburg Christian Church for the start of Socket Telecom's construction of a fiber optic broadband network in Callaway County. With the governor, from left, are Joe Ridenhour of Ridenhour Construction Co. of Jefferson City; George Pfenenger, Socket chief executive officer; and Carson Coffman, Socket president.

MILLERSBURG, Mo. - Gov. Jay Nixon predicted Wednesday the launch of fiber optic high-speed Internet service will promote business and improve the quality of life of many Callaway County residents.

Nixon participated in Wednesday's Millersburg groundbreaking of Socket Telecom's fiber optic broadband network in Callaway County.

Nixon said Socket participates in Missouri's MoBroadbandNow initiative.

The $16.6 million grant for the project came from federal stimulus funds approved by Congress originally in 2009. Socket must repay the $7.1 million USDA loan.