Socket Telecom officials plan to work on future broadband upgrades in Central Missouri after completing projects in St. Martins thanks to state money dedicated for broadband expansion.
Construction began at select St. Martins locations in August after Gov. Mike Parson announced several places around the state would receive money through Missouri's Emergency Broadband Investment Program. The program reimbursed providers for work to connect residents in unserved or under-served areas with high-speed internet.
Socket received $15,840 to construct a fiber network to the Meadowbrook neighborhood in St. Martins to provide new access to nine households. Socket also got $31,828 to construct a fiber network to the Verdant Lane neighborhood to provide new access to 19 households.
Parson announced a second round of broadband funding in October, which allowed Socket to construct a fiber-to-the-home network to the neighborhood bounded by Westchase Lane, Summerhill Drive and Summerhill Ridge with the assistance of $12,672. The project will provide new access to five households.
A second St. Martins project allowed Socket to construct a fiber-to-the-home network to the neighborhood west of U.S. 50 near Twin Oaks and Clarose Drive in St. Martins with the assistance of $106,866. The project provided new access to up to 40 households.
"The first customers from those projects were connected to our fiber-optic network by the end of October," said Adam Voight, Socket manager of marketing and consumer sales. "We were able to offer fiber internet with speeds up to 1 gig, phone, and TV service. All area mainline construction was completed by the end of last year.
"Many homes are up and running now, while others are currently being scheduled for home installation," Voight continued. "Currently we pass 257 of the 451 households within St. Martins, which is providing high-speed internet access to approximately 650 people."
Voight said Socket is looking for the next areas to expand service in the Jefferson City area.
"The more homes in an area that express interest, the more likely we will evaluate the area for future expansion," Voight said.