Everything you need to know about WAVE Rural Connect.
About WAVE Rural Connect
For technical support, please call (888) 212-7626 or email.
Wave Rural Connect, LLC. is the telecommunications subsidiary of Arkansas Valley Electric Cooperative. We are bringing fiber services, including ultra-fast gigabit Internet and fiber VOIP telephone services, to the River Valley region.
Today, many areas do not have access to broadband internet — and some have no access at all. Like Arkansas Valley Electric Cooperative (AVECC) did with electricity in 1937, Wave Rural Connect will provide the power of high-speed internet to Western Arkansas and Eastern Oklahoma.
AVECC uses fiber-optic cable for communication and automation between their substations and system to increase the reliability and accuracy of the electric service to members.
Due to the expanded capacity of fiber-optic transmission, Wave Rural Connect can offer high-speed services over much of the same fiber AVECC uses for automation.
Wave Rural Connect, LLC. is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Arkansas Valley Electric Cooperative Corporation (AVECC). As a separate company, Wave Rural Connect is therefore managed separately from the cooperative. Wave Rural Connect was created to benefit our membership and the cooperative by providing proper broadband services to members and eventually will be expanded to customers outside AVECC membership.
This project will not impact electric rates. AVECC owns the fiber and will utilize the fiber for electric smart-grid management. Wave Rural Connect is a self-sufficient company and will cover all the costs of fiber through revenues received.
Wave Rural Connect will announce openings on social media, email, and send a mailer package with details and pricing when fiber service is ready in your area.
You can also check availability on our signup page, where you can see service areas and the schedule phases. Even if our service is not yet available in your area, enter your information, and we will contact you when your area is ready for Wave Rural Connect services.
Internet
Fiber refers to the use of fiber-optic cable to transport data. Fiber-optic cable is a flexible glass filament that transmits light as a method of data transport.
Wave Rural Connect uses cutting-edge Gigabit Passive Optical Network (GPON) technology that brings fiber-optics and the data they transport into your home. GPON is the most efficient technology for delivering streaming video content and online applications with virtually limitless bandwidth.
GPON systems drive the bursts of light through fibers at much faster speeds than traditional copper lines. This technology literally moves at the speed of light. Some of our competitors utilize fiber in their systems that only go to the curb, and the final connection to the home is copper lines, resulting in much slower speeds.
Wave Rural Connect will bring Fiber To The Home (FTTH).
Broadband commonly refers to high-speed internet access that is always on, faster, and has a wider range of frequencies than traditional dial-up access. Broadband services delivered over fiber-optic networks provide voice, data, video, and other digital services at the fastest speeds available to both consumers and businesses.
No. Use as much data as you want with no caps or throttling (intentional slowing of internet speed).
You are not required to provide any equipment for internet service, and there is no fee for the ONT device. However, our Managed WiFi and Ultimate WiFi services include an Optical Network Terminal (ONT) that also has WiFi routing capability (Managed $7 per month / Ultimate $11 per month).
You must use the Optical Network Terminal (ONT) as the modem. The standard ONT functions as a modem that translates the light signals to standard data formats. You may use a 3rd-party wireless router if you prefer.
Awesome Tip: If you choose our Managed WiFi service, you are provided with an ONT that is a modem/Wi-Fi router combination.
Managed Wi-Fi (Managed Wireless) provides remote troubleshooting, a Wi-Fi 6 router, multi-layer virus and malware protection, and network management via our WAVE Connect app.
For $7 per month, we will provide a combination modem/Wi-Fi router and then maintain updates and security.
Without Managed Wireless, you will be provided with an ONT that functions as a modem-only, and you must supply your Wi-Fi router and maintain its settings and firmware updates on your own.
Support calls not resulting from a failure of our equipment or services could require a $50 service fee.
WAVE Rural Connect also offers Ultimate Wi-Fi for $11 per month. This service offers even more features than Managed Wi-Fi.
Ultimate Wi-Fi provides all the services of Managed Wi-Fi and adds next-level control of your home network.
For $11 per month, you can control Wi-Fi permissions and settings for People, Devices, and Rooms. Parental controls, block websites, and set usage limits. Multi-layer malware and virus security.
Service issue insurance; receive up to 6 service calls a year without charge.
The Patio Package is our outdoor Wi-Fi services and products. Outdoor Mesh is a Wi-Fi range extender designed to work outdoors and push your Internet experience to your yard, pool, and garden, way in the corner!
Yes. Equipment should be returned to the closest Arkansas Valley Electric Cooperative office. All equipment must be returned within 7 days of the disconnect date. Unreturned equipment or damage may result in fees of up to $250 per unreturned item.
We will never sell your information to third parties. For more information, see our Privacy Policy.
Wave Rural Connect will not provide email service. If you need a new email address, we recommend creating an account with one of the many high-quality email providers.
Read our Why We Don’t Offer Email article, which explains the decision not to offer email hosting.
100 Mbps, 300 Mbps, and Gigabit are maximum capacities. Speeds may be slower based on users accessing the line at the same time or using WiFi access. Gigabit speeds are “best-effort” and not guaranteed.
Telephone
Our Voice Over Internet Protocol (VOIP) phone service is over a fiber network; it provides crystal-clear communication with no lag. We offer our phone service at very competitive rates, and discounts are available if you bundle with other Wave Rural Connect services. Unlike many other phone providers, we will not charge any fees that aren’t mandated.
Yes. Phone-only service requires an initial $199 installation fee.
Yes. There is a 2-voice line capacity per Optical Network Terminal (ONT) that is installed.
You will be able to keep your phone number in most cases.
Yes. VOIP functions the same as a standard voice line and will not inhibit the use of facsimile machines. The supplied Optical Network Terminal (ONT) has 2 phone ports, so you won’t have to switch between your phone and fax.
Getting Started/Signing Up
All Arkansas Valley Electric Cooperative members will be eligible to receive service. You can review our phase map. Any zone that is in color is live, and gray areas are future Phases and Zones.
We do offer services outside AVECC membership based on Federal and state funding methods. We release these on an ad-hoc basis as funding is released, so we can build out the areas. Expressions of interest on our signup site help us plan for any possible expansion outside planned and funded areas—even if your area is not on the official list, show your interest today.
The construction schedule is based on:
- Density
- Total cost
- Cost per home or business passed
- Number of potential subscribers in the area
- Cooperative communication needs
- AVECC and Wave Rural Connect office locations
- Revenue projections
- Federal or state funding options
When you are eligible to sign up, you may do so in 1 of 4 ways:
Website:
- Go to our Signup Page and fill out the contact and account details.
- Our Customer Support team will reach out to you to confirm your details and take your order and get your installation scheduled.
Mailer: When service is ready for ordering in your area, you will receive a packet in the mail with details about the service and a signup form. You can fill out the form and mail it to us or bring it to any AVECC location.
Phone: Call (833) 4WAVERC ((833) 492-8372)
Arkansas Valley Electric Cooperative Offices:
Ozark Headquarters Office
208 South 17th Street
PO Box 77
Ozark, AR 72949
Waldron District Office
1908 South Main
PO Box 9
Waldron, AR 72958
Pocola, OK. District Office
1302 South Pocola Boulevard
PO Box 490
Pocola, OK 74902
Van Buren District Office
5600 North Highway 59
PO Box 6967
Van Buren, AR 72956
Even if our service is not yet available in your area, you can enter your information, and we will contact you when your area is ready for Wave Rural Connect services. Feel free to sign up, even if you are not an Arkansas Valley Electric Cooperative member; you can sign up to show interest. If enough interest is shown in an area, it could be a candidate for expansion.
At this time, our order system is an intake-based system. If your order has already been placed for more than a few days, it is best to call us at (833) 492-8372 to make changes. If you already have active service, it is faster to call or email us, as you will get a live representative during business hours.
Yes. Current members may call our member service center at:
- (833) 4WAVERC ((833) 492-8372)
- It is faster to use the online Registration Form at WAVE Rural Connect.
We plan to offer Wave Rural Connect to all AVECC members before considering whether to expand outside the AVECC coverage area. You may fill out our Registration Form and we will confirm whether your area is served on on in our plans to. If services are not planned for your area, we will put you on a list to notify id or when service is available.
If you live in an apartment, call us at (833) 492-8372, as your complex may require authorization for a WAVE installation.
If you live in a rented house or your complex does not have an access agreement with WAVE Rural Connect, you will need permission from your landlord to have the installation performed.
You can download our Landlord Authority letter, have it filled out by you and your landlord, then mail it in with your signup form or talk to a Member Service Representative for more information at (844) 492-8372.
Installation
Once you have signed up for your service package online, by mail, or by phone, we will contact you to schedule a date for the in-home installation.
Yes, you or a legal resident of the home over the age of 18 must be present for the scheduled in-home installation to verify your selections and choose where to place the equipment.
You must remain on the premises until the installation is completed. If you need to leave during an in-home installation, our technician will need to reschedule the remainder of the installation.
You do not need to be home for the fiber connection installation to the exterior of the home.
Details on our Installation Process.
Yes, the installation team will enter your home to install the fiber optic cable and necessary equipment.
Billing
Your bill for Wave Rural Connect services will be mailed in the same envelope as your Arkansas Valley Electric Cooperative bill. You can choose to pay both bills with the same payment. You must include the stubs for both accounts, or the full amount will be applied to your AVECC bill.
Note: If you already have an automatic bank draft set up for your electric account with AVECC, you still must contact us to add WAVE Rural Connect billing to your automated setup.
For more billing information, see the AVECC Ways to Pay page.
Billing for Wave Rural Connect services will begin once the installation is completed and all services have been turned on. All services are billed 1 month ahead. This means that if you receive a bill in April, it will be for services to be received in May.
All bills for Wave Rural Connect services are paid in advance. Example: if paying in July, you are paying for the month of August.
Your first bill will include:
- Any installation charges not paid up front
- The monthly amount for the first 2 months
- The pro-rated amount is based on your installation date and when your electric/WAVE bills arrive
- Taxes and regulatory fees
Yes, there will be a late fee assessed on the account if the payment is not made on the original due date.
For most residential and business internet there is no contract.
For more complicated installations or custom business needs, there may be a required contract term of 12 months or more, commencing on the date Service is made available. Thereafter, the term shall automatically renew on a month-to-month basis at WAVE’s then-current monthly pricing and fees.
Our standard residential and business services have no contract and those have no cancellation fee. Subscribers may cancel Service at any time.
If a Subscriber has a special build or custom service there is usually a contract for these services. Canceling Service at any time during the contract period usually incurs an early cancellation fee, equal to the remainder of the term multiplied by the agreed monthly service fee.
For our standard residential and business services you may add or change your service tiers. Changes within the same service tier will incur no charges and can be applied in the same day, most of the time.
If you have a customized build or service plan a new contract may be required if additional installation or construction at the service location is required for any upgrades of service.
Yes. Wave offers a Seasonal Hold option for $9.99 per month.
For hold periods totaling less than 6 months in a calendar year, you can pay $9.99 per month. All services will be set to a hold status and will not function while held. You will not need to return equipment and can call us at any time during business hours to reactivate services. Reactivation is usually the same day.
For periods totaling more than 6 months in a calendar year:
- A full service disconnect would be required.
- All equipment would need to be returned to an Arkansas Valley Electric Cooperative office.
- A $25 reconnect fee and/or a $50 truck roll fee may be charged.