Bandera Electric Coop (BEC)

Dear Neighbors, I hope your New Year has been good thus far. I am writing with news regarding our effort to bring fiber optics to our community. Recently, I was contacted by Bandera Electric Cooperative (BEC) after they learned about our community petition and I subsequent met with Tim Landes (BEC Telecommunications Specialist). My meeting with Tim was very informative. He explained the concept arose from BEC’s interest in using fiber optics to create a “smart grid” that will allow substations to communicate with headquarters in real-time. He added, the government is encouraging entities like BEC to provide high speed Internet to rural communities. Following are additional highlights of our conversation: •BEC is conducting a fiber optic pilot program in Bandera, TX. They have received strong interest and anticipate it will be rolled out to Pipe Creek in the near future. •The BEC Board of Directors is 100% behind this initiative Tim explained BEC was pleasantly surprised to learn of our petition effort (especially with over 200 signatories). He agreed our petition shows our desire to bring fiber optic services to our community; however, BEC is genuinely interested in receiving additional feedback from us. Tim gladly provided contact information for his BEC colleagues who are directly involved with their fiber optic program and asked me to encourage the community to write to them expressing your interest in fiber optic service. Your note need not be lengthy but it is important that your voice be heard, so please take a moment to email one or more of the following BEC representatives; please consider copying me (gary_m_gonzales@yahoo.com) on the email: William (Bill) Hetherington, General Manager b.hetherington@banderaelectric.com Brian Brockel, Manager of Strategic Products and Services b.brockel@banderaelectric.com Richard McDonald, Manager of Information Technology r.mcdonald@banderaelectric.com Tim Landes, Telecommunications Specialist t.landes@banderaelectric.com We are going to schedule an informational meeting with BEC for the benefit of the community. Please send me an email at gary_m_gonzales@yahoo.com if you are interested in attending. As usual, additional information will be forthcoming as we continue the effort to bring fiber optics to our community. Kind Regards, Gary Gary Gonzales 210.287.2897