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In November 1935, PP — a not-for-profit cooperative — was created by its members to provide life-changing electricity to their farms and homes. Back then, the co-op powered rural areas where other big companies said it wasn’t profitable; PP met a need when no one else would.

Today, the problem is modern connectivity: work, video streaming, gaming, home devices, and nearly every aspect of life in this digital age requires quality internet. Data shows that nearly 70% of PP's membership (especially those in rural areas) is unserved or underserved when it comes to high-speed, reliable internet. This should not be a luxury only available to those in cities.

Just as we did in the 1930s, we strive to improve our members’ quality of life by providing a crucial service. We see the need and are stepping up to fill it.

“As a utility, we experience daily frustrations due to a lack of connectivity,” said said CEO Randy Price. “Without reliable and affordable broadband, everyone’s quality of life is impacted.”

“Concern for Community” is 1 of our 7 Cooperative Principles and the lifeblood behind this decision. Providing high-speed, reliable fiber internet will support economic development efforts locally, lead to higher rates of new business formation, allow for improved remote healthcare, and increase job opportunities for area residents, especially for increasingly popular remote work. When the community prospers, the co-op wins.

Residential and commercial members who are currently unserved or underserved, and who express interest will be the priority for connection. Paulding Putnam (PP) has nearly 14,000 members across 7 counties in NW Ohio and NE Indiana — and growing. Our progress will be determined by the amount of member interest in an area.

Non-member communities in need outside of the PP territory may be added if the co-op determines it is financially feasible.

Fiber is considered the “gold standard” of broadband connections. The term fiber-optic internet, or just “fiber,” refers to bringing internet service to your home or business with ultra-thin strands of glass fibers bundled inside an insulated casing. The fibers transmit data using light pulses instead of electric currents. Unlike the copper wire of phone or cable connections, or the wireless signals of satellite connections, the data transmitted over fiber-optic cables is coming to you at the speed of light! PP plans to provide residential internet speeds up to 1 gig; commercial businesses may request more.

Planning, design, and engineering will take place in 2025 and 2026. By fall 2025, our first member was installed with life-changing fiber internet service. We aim to complete our member system by 2028. Non-member communities may take as long as 2030, depending on area interest and financial feasibility. Other unforeseen factors may impact these plans, but the co-op will keep the public informed throughout the process via our website, magazines, email newsletters, and social media.

The internet and electric sides of the business will remain separate. Electric members will not see their rates increase due to the fiber internet efforts.

However, all members will see the benefit of connecting our substations using fiber technology. This will allow PP to detect and restore power outages more quickly and provide more accurate data to the membership with improved communication between equipment. All members will benefit from a smarter, stronger, more connected electric grid.

Follow Paulding Putnam on social media, watch for your monthly co-op magazine, and read the monthly email newsletter to stay informed of progress and receive timely updates. To be added to our newsletter list, please email marketing. All other questions can be directed to member services.