A New Year

A New Milestone for Eastex

As we turn the page to 2026, I’m filled with gratitude and pride for what our Eastex family has accomplished together. The past year was 1 of remarkable progress—1 that truly demonstrated the strength, dedication, and heart of our employees across every department and exchange.

In 2025, our crews worked through the heat, the storms, and the miles of East Texas roads to bring fiber broadband closer to every Eastex member. Construction teams continued the final phases of our multiyear fiber network upgrade, technicians kept service calls running smoothly, and our customer service and office staff ensured that every new connection came with the personal care that defines Eastex. From the field to the front desk, every employee played a part in moving this cooperative forward.

That effort—years in the making—is about to culminate in something extraordinary. This year, Eastex Telephone Cooperative will reach a milestone that few rural cooperatives have achieved: Every member location across our service area will have access to a fiber broadband connection. This accomplishment represents not just faster internet, but a stronger, more connected future for our communities. Fiber means opportunity for students learning from home, for businesses competing globally from small-town main streets, and for families streaming, working, and living without limits.

Reaching this point has taken careful planning, significant investment, and a shared belief that rural East Texas deserves the best technology available. Our board of directors, management team, and employees have never lost sight of that mission. Together, we’ve invested nearly $300,000,000 over the past decade to make sure Eastex’s network is built to last for generations.

As we celebrate this milestone year, our commitment doesn’t end; it evolves. Eastex will continue to innovate, improve our member experience, and deliver the reliability and hometown service you’ve come to trust. From modernizing customer tools to expanding our retail service options, 2026 will be another year of progress grounded in the same cooperative values that started it all in 1950.

To our employees, thank you for your dedication, craftsmanship, and pride in your work. To our members, thank you for your loyalty, patience, and partnership as we’ve built this future together.

Here’s to 2026—a year of fiber for all, connection without compromise, and pride in what we’ve built together right here in East Texas.