For 86 years, JCE Co-op has served its members, expanding into three business units, including broadband. A decade ago, the co-op identified the need to transition from fixed wireless to a full fiber network across its service territory. With internal electrical crews committed to other projects, JCE required a qualified partner to support the broadband buildout.
According to Mike Casper, President and CEO of JCE Co-op, safety and cultural alignment were key factors in the selection process. “I met with Tim McCulloch, Wolf Line’s founder, to discuss my build and needs. Safety is the number one core value at every co-op and Wolf Line exudes that type of culture as well,” said Mike Casper, JCE Co-op President and CEO. He said that Wolf Line’s proposal offered the best contract value, winning them the work. “And now they’ve been here with us since 2019.”
Since 2019, Wolf Line has supported the buildout of more than 1,400[1] miles of fiber infrastructure for JCE. Scope of work includes placement and installation of ADSS fiber optic cable, aerial construction including service drops, underground construction, splicing resources, and support of in-house crews. Wolf Line is currently engaged under a Rural Utility Service 515 contract and continues to provide engineering and construction support through full deployment.
JCE now serves more than 7,000 broadband members, with plans to expand service to over 15,000. The network’s overall take rate ranges from 60–70%, with some areas exceeding 90%.
“When you go through your contractor vetting and selection process, it’s critical to understand up front who you will be working with, because, ultimately, that contractor becomes an extension of your co-op,” observed Casper. “We found that Wolf Line’s strengths and values meshed perfectly with JCE’s; their unmatched efficiency provided us with the best value, while their heavy emphasis on safety was perfectly aligned with ours.”
[1] JCE statistics are current as of March 2025
