Socket Fiber Enters Agreement with Bays-ET
September, 21, 2026
Socket Fiber Enters Agreement with Bays-ET and Accelerates Fiber Expansion to Reach More Than 8,000 Homes and Businesses in Franklin County.
Combination of existing Bays-ET fiber infrastructure and ongoing network construction expands access to high-speed fiber internet across Franklin County.
Socket Fiber announces it has entered into an agreement with Bays-ET that will accelerate fiber network expansion across Franklin County and extend access to high-speed fiber internet to thousands of additional homes and businesses.
The agreement brings together Bays-ET’s existing fiber network and Socket’s ongoing construction projects to create a larger, more connected fiber footprint serving Pacific, Gray Summit, Villa Ridge, St. Clair, and surrounding communities. Once construction is complete, the combined network will provide more than 8,000 homes and businesses access to Socket’s 100% fiber-optic network with symmetrical speeds up to 10 Gbps.
“Franklin County continues to be an important growth area for Socket, and this agreement allows us to expand our reach even faster,” said Carson Coffman, President of Socket Fiber. “By combining the strong foundation already established by Bays-ET with the significant fiber construction project currently underway, we can connect more homes and businesses while continuing to invest in the communities we serve.”
As part of the agreement, Chris Bay, owner of Bays-ET, which already serves a portion of Pacific and surrounding communities, will join Socket Fiber as Area Manager. Chris will oversee local network operations and support the continued expansion of fiber infrastructure throughout Franklin County.
“Socket and Bays have worked together for more than a decade, making this a natural next step for both organizations,” said Coffman. “Chris brings valuable local knowledge, strong community relationships, and a shared commitment to delivering exceptional service. We’re excited to welcome him to the Socket team.”
Construction is already underway across multiple Franklin County communities, with additional expansion planned in the months ahead. The combination of existing Bays-ET infrastructure and Socket’s ongoing buildout efforts will accelerate the availability of fiber internet throughout the region while creating opportunities to serve even more homes and businesses in the future.
“I’m excited about what this means for the communities we serve,” said Chris Bay. “By joining forces with Socket, we can build on the work that’s already been done and bring fiber internet to even more families and businesses across Franklin County.”
Socket continues to invest in expanding fiber infrastructure across Missouri, Illinois and Tennessee, delivering reliable, locally supported internet service that helps communities grow and stay connected.
About Socket Fiber
Founded more than 30 years ago, Socket Fiber is a Missouri-based fiber internet provider headquartered in Columbia, Missouri. Serving communities across Missouri, Illinois, and Tennessee, Socket delivers fiber internet, voice, and business connectivity solutions over a 100% fiber-optic network. The company remains committed to local service, network reliability, and expanding broadband access throughout the communities it serves.
About Bays-ET
Bays-ET has served Franklin County and surrounding communities for many years, providing technology and connectivity solutions while helping expand access to fiber infrastructure for local residents and businesses.
MEDIA CONTACT
Elaine Partridge
VP of Marketing Operations
elaine.partridge@corp.socket.net
573-481-2768