Fiber-optic internet
Future internet build plans
Tipmont’s mission is to provide essential services where the private sector doesn’t or won’t. The goal of Tipmont’s fiber-optic service was to provide broadband access where no other options exist.
As we completed our internet service builds to places without broadband access, we began evaluating remaining areas with existing broadband service. The future internet build plans for Tipmont’s fiber-optic service depend on several variables.
Evaluating remaining areas
At its 2017 Annual Meeting, Tipmont announced plans to build and offer state-of-the-art residential fiber-optic internet service. Thanks in large part to state and federal grant funding, the project was able to focus its efforts in rural areas most in need — areas with limited or no broadband service. The grant funding also helped accelerate the original project timeline from eight years to four.
Many of the remaining areas, or zones, are already served by an existing broadband provider. In some cases, the provider is a fiber-optic broadband provider.
Building in areas with existing broadband service
Tipmont’s future internet build plans in already-served areas depends on several variables, including:
- Initial infrastructure build costs (which can also necessitate electric infrastructure upgrades to support the fiber-optic lines)
- Homeowner interest in Tipmont internet service
- HOA interest in Tipmont internet service
Connection Conversations
Beginning in late 2023, Tipmont worked to ascertain interest levels in areas with existing broadband service. We called this campaign “Connection Conversations.”
The campaign revealed a variety of opinions, including:
- Many residents are satisfied with their existing broadband provider.
- Many residents wished to avoid the temporary disruption of yards and property that comes with fiber-optic infrastructure installation.
As a co-op, Tipmont operates as a not-for-profit, meaning we seek to “break even.” To recoup the fiber-optic infrastructure installation costs, we need a certain take rate, or number of internet service subscribers, in each zone.
Most of the applicable zones did not achieve that response level in the Connection Conversations campaign.
Pricing and competition
Residential broadband service is a highly competitive business.
Some national providers use predatory pricing, hidden fees and sales gimmicks to lure customers.
Tipmont does not do this and has no desire to compete in this manner.
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) now requires that all internet service providers (ISPs) provide broadband labels to current and potential customers. These standardized labels show a provider’s actual monthly price versus the advertised price.
Tipmont’s labels are always easy to find on our website: tipmont.com/broadband-labels
Future builds
Ultimately, the decision to build the fiber-optic service to additional areas comes down to Tipmont’s ability to recover its installation costs and operate at cost.
If a neighborhood has a large number of residents who want Tipmont internet, please contact us.
Search your address
Search our interactive map to find out if Tipmont internet is available at your address.
Construction
New fiber zone construction is typically about a six-month process from start to finish.
Easements
An easement grants utility companies permission to access privately owned property to build, access and maintain utility infrastructure.
What is broadband?
In 2024, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) defined broadband as an always-on internet service with minimum speeds of 100 Mbps download and 20 Mbps upload. By comparison, Tipmont’s lowest service package is 350 Mbps download and upload.
This definition of broadband determines whether an area is considered served, underserved, or unserved and eligible for grant funding to assist with the high cost of infrastructure builds.
connection conversations
Frequently Asked Questions
Our original commitment was to ensure every Tipmont member has access to broadband. After building internet service to the unserved areas of our electric service territory, many of the remaining areas, or zones, are already served by an existing broadband provider.
Many neighborhood residents may be satisfied with their existing provider and / or do not want the temporary disruption of yards and property that comes with fiber-optic installation. It would not be a wise use of Tipmont’s cooperative resources to build fiber-optic service in areas where few residents would take the service.
Mainly, you and your neighbors. You can get started by taking our fiber-optic service interest survey. We’ll take the data from that survey and begin discussions with involved members and neighborhood leadership.
In 2024, the Federal Communication Commission (FCC) defined broadband as always-on internet service with minimum speeds of 100 Mbps download and 20 Mbps upload. By comparison, Tipmont’s lowest service package is 350 Mbps download and upload.
This definition of broadband determines whether an area is considered served, underserved, or unserved and eligible for grant funding to assist with the high cost of infrastructure builds.
While we can make assumptions based on available data, we don’t have an accurate way to know what internet speeds are actually being delivered to your home. The speed test data will help us identify the actual internet speeds being delivered to your home by your current provider.
PLEASE NOTE: It’s important to take the speed test using your home internet service under the following conditions:
- Using a wired connection to your router, if possible.
- If no wired connection is available, ensuring the device you’re taking the survey on is close to your home internet router.
- Ensuring no other devices are using your home internet connection when you take the speed test.
No. Your survey data will remain private to Tipmont and will not be shared with any third parties. We may share overall, neighborhood-level results with your neighbors and neighborhood leadership. We will not share individual results unless expressly granted permission.
The fiber cable will follow the same path as the existing electric infrastructure. If you currently have underground electric service, your fiber-optic cable will be buried in the same location. If your electric service is overhead, the fiber-optic cable will run overhead, adjacent to the electric wire.
In high-population-density areas such as residential neighborhoods, we bury our lines as much as possible for both aesthetic and reliability benefits. The process of burying lines requires digging and trenching through yards. We hire professional landscaping crews to repair the damage. Depending on the time of year the work is done, the landscaping repairs may not be completed for several months.
Our build order was determined by grant funding we received from state and federal sources. In most cases, the grant funding required those builds to be completed within a 24-month window. If your area did not receive grant funding, it was because broadband was determined to already be available or another provider already received funding to build in your area.
That is a determination Tipmont will make on a case-by-case basis with each neighborhood. Our goal will always be to deliver the service with no contracts or installation fees.
If you live in Tippecanoe County, we have built in areas outside of our electric service territory in the county, thanks to grant funding from the County Commissioners.
For more information on this service, please visit tcfiber.wintek.com.
If you live in a split subdivision where half of your neighborhood is served by a different electric provider, we encourage you to express your interest by taking the survey on this website.
