BARC Connects Celebrates 5,000th Connection!

BARC Connects fiber broadband is celebrating a huge milestone last month of 5,000 customers connected to its world-class fiber broadband services.

BARC Connects is a wholly-owned broadband subsidiary of BARC Electric Cooperative, providing fiber-to-the-premise service, including high-speed internet and phone, to Virginia consumers in Bacova, Brattons Run, Bustleburg, Cornwall, Effinger, Estaline, Fairfield, Falling Springs, Glasgow, Hot Springs, Lexington and Warm Springs.

BARC Connects broke ground on the project in 2017 and began mainline construction building infrastructure to bring world-class internet service to the communities the co-op serves. BARC Connects began connecting consumers in early 2018 and continue connecting both traditional electric service consumers and non-BARC electric consumers with dependable broadband service that previously only existed in densely populated metropolitan areas.

BARC Connects celebrated the company’s achievement with it’s 5,000th customer, Fern Plecker, a small business owner in Bath County. Plecker owns The Hairstyling Shop in Hot Springs, Va. “The Hairstyling Shop is very excited to have great internet,” says Plecker. “BARC Connects has been good to us.”

Camp Mont Shenandoah business manager, Katie Stites, says, “BARC Connects provides reliable, first-class service so that Camp Mont Shenandoah can continue to provide a bright future for generations of young women.”

The Virginia Horse Center, located in Lexington, Va., has recently partnered with BARC Connects. Manager Matt Crookshanks says that having BARC Connects high-speed internet has allowed their shows to better utilize iPads for faster scoring and live streams.

According to Ecco Adesso Vineyards, BARC Connects has supported the family business since its inception in 2020. As a farm winery with on-site vineyard cottages, reliable high-speed internet is crucial for operations and providing guests with excellent service.

Philip Clayton, of Lexington, said in 2015, “I learned that phase one of construction would come near, but miss our small neighborhood on House Mountain. I immediately started calling, emailing and physically visiting our neighbors. I was able to obtain 53 potential households that indicated they would be interested. Modifications of the initial map of construction we made to include our neighborhood. We’ve enjoyed high-speed internet and phone service since 2019 and have been very pleased with both!”

Maggie Anderson, of Millboro, said “We are so lucky to live in BARC country. Moving here from California (where you wait for everything, have to make appointments weeks in advance, and things cost an arm and a leg), I love my BARC. We get quality, high-speed internet for a fraction of the cost in other areas. If you call on the phone, you get tech support and customer service quickly and efficiently. I feel we matter as customers, and they strive to provide us with the best.”

BARC Connects CEO Bill Buchanan says, “BARC Connects has achieved this milestone through the power of this strong community, our entire team, and partnerships working together to connect and transform the lives of rural Virginia. We are grateful to our loyal customers and businesses for their support and trust in BARC Connects.”