Socket held a ceremony Wednesday, October 19, to celebrate the groundbreaking of its fiber-to-the-home network in rural Boone and Callway Counties.
  
The event was held at the Millersburg Christian Church, the site of one of Socket's huts to house equipment for the new network.
 
Missouri Governor Jay Nixon praised the project and other efforts to expand broadband throughout Missouri.
 
"Through our state and local partnership, area schools, courthouses, hospitals, public safety agencies and libraries across the state soon will be able to provide faster, more reliable Internet service," Governor Nixon said. "Students in the biggest cities to the smallest towns will have access to the same next-generation learning tools. Missouri businesses, whether at the forefront of innovation or in a storefront on Main Street, will be able to grow, succeed and prosper. Missouri broadband is a step in the right direction, and together, we're moving forward."
  
Construction crews have already begun boring holes for conduit piping that will house the fiber-optic cable. The first customers should be activated before the end of the year. 
 
Learn more about Socket's rural fiber project and sign up for ongoing updates at www.socket.net/fiber.
 
View a news release from Governor Jay Nixon's office about the ceremony.
 
View news coverage from KOMU, KRCG, the Fulton Sun, the Columbia Tribune and the Columbia Missourian.
 
View photos from the event on Socket's Facebook page.