The community will be getting a chance on Thursday, Sept. 6 at 6 p.m. to view what exciting new technology the Russellville Electric Plant Board (EPB) has been working towards the past few years.

An Open House/Customer Appreciation Day is being held, to not only present the EPB’s state-of-the-art fiber optic project, but also to allow customers to meet and greet those who make it all happen from supplying the electricity to turn on your lights to now supplying the technology to turn on your computer and receive high-speed Internet service and turn on your television to receive fiber optic cable service.

The Electric Plant Board will be hosting the Logan County Chamber Networking Hour at 7:30 a.m. that morning in the meeting room at its new facility located on Fourth Street in Russellville. At 8 a.m. there will be a ribbon cutting ceremony held to officially kick off the EPB’s new fiber optic system.

The celebration will continue later that evening from 6-8 p.m. when Fourth and Breathitt Streets in Russellville will be closed off to allow for a night of fun, food and festivities being offered by the EPB.

Kim Reeves, office manager for the Electric Plant Board said they were very excited to be able to show the public what the EPB has been working on and how it will effect the community. “We are planning to have lots of fun and we want the community to join us,” said Reeves.

There will be grilled hamburgers and ice cream from Chaneys Dairy Barn, all free. There will be lots of games for the children as well as an inflatable slide and face painting.

The EPB has been hosting an enrollment challenge for the last 50 days and anyone that has signed up for service during that time will be eligible to win a 47 inch TV, an iPad 2, and a digital home phone service. There will also be numerous door prizes for everyone to be eligible to win throughout the night.

“We are having live music from Chris Kramer,” said Reeves, along with tours of the new multi-million dollar building which houses the fiber optic equipment. This building can withstand a category 2 storm.

“If you haven’t already, you will be able to sign up for service with us this night as well,” said Reeves. Also, those who attend will be able to meet the line crews and other employees of the EPB. “This is an Electric Plant Board event where customers will be able to meet all those who work in the areas of our business,” Reeves added.

“We’ve already had a couple of groups in and tours with some kids,” said Reeves, adding there will be professionals on-hand during the open house to explain about the new equipment and how it works.

The fiber optics deliver broadband services, including video, voice and data. The use of fiber optic cable virtually “future proofs” the EPB’s system to be able to deliver these services with the greatest quality and reliably. Coaxial cable and twisted copper, while great for the one service they were designed to deliver, they have proven to be limiting factors in the delivery of all of these services together through the same cable. Fiber, using light, has proven to deliver the highest quality images, clearest voice and fastest data speeds.

The technology for video, voice and data has changed drastically over the last few years, but unfortunately the citizens of Russellville have not been able to utilize all of the benefits due to the limits of the antiquated infrastructure in place today. As of now, there is nothing on the market that compares to fiber optic cable and its ability to deliver these new and higher technical services. Whether it’s, digital or high-definition TV today or 3-D TV tomorrow it can be delivered over fiber. If you need 1MBs or 6 MBs speed today or 100 MBs or higher tomorrow, it can be delivered over fiber.