Broadband - America's Electric Cooperatives

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url(https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/broadband440.jpg); background-size: cover; background-repeat: no-repeat; background-position: top center;"> <div class="darken" aria-hidden="true"></div> <div class="container"> <div class="row"> <div class="col-md-12"> <div class="issue-policy--hero"> <header class="issue-policy--hero_header"> <small class="issue-policy--hero_label"><a href="https://www.electric.coop/issues-and-policy">All Issues</a></small> <h1 class="issue-policy--hero_title">Broadband</h1> </header> <section class="issue-policy--hero_information"> <div class="issue-policy--hero_information-description"> More than 250 electric cooperatives are deploying or developing plans to deliver broadband service to their consumers, creating new ways for rural communities to live, learn and earn. </div> </section> </div> </div> </div> </div> </section> <section class="issue-policy--wws"> <div class="container"> <div class="row"> <div class="col-md-12"> <div class="issue-policy--wws_content"> <header> <h3 class="issue-policy--wws_title">Where we <strong>stand</strong></h3> </header> <div class="issue-policy--wws_stance"> Expanding rural broadband access remains a significant bipartisan objective. Electric co-ops are working with policymakers to improve broadband maps, better identify unserved and underserved communities, and successfully bridge the digital divide. NRECA supports increased federal funding for rural broadband, improvements in data collection and mapping, and an increase in the minimum definition of broadband speed to 100/100 Mbps. </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </section> <section class="issue-policy--impact"> <div class="container"> <div class="row"> <div class="col-md-12"> <div class="issue-policy--impact_content"> <header> <h3 class="issue-policy--impact_title">Digging deeper</h3> </header> <div class="issue-policy--impact_list"> <div class="issue-policy--impact_item"> <h4 class="impact_title">Pole attachments</h4> <div class="impact_description"> Congress exempted electric co-ops from federal regulations governing the attachment of cable, telecommunications and broadband service equipment to existing utility poles. Co-op pole attachment rates are cost-based and locally regulated. This protects critical power equipment while ensuring the co-op can work with interested attachers to help bring these services to local consumer-members. Congress should maintain this exemption. </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </section> <section class="container ">  <div class="row"> <div class="col-md-12"> <div class="timeline"> <header class="stripe-header"> <h2 class="stripe">Explore This Issue</h2> </header> <div class="timeline-periods"> <div class="timeline-phase"> <div class="timeline-date"> <h2><strong>November</strong> 2024</h2> </div> <div class="timeline-digest"> <div class="timeline-article "> <div class="timeline-article-info"> <h3><a class="modal-link" data-article="timeline-modal-12383" data-toggle="modal" data-target="#timeline-modal">Let There Be Fiber: Co-op Staffer Leads Volunteers to Connect Bible Camp </a> </h3> <p>“Camp was a place where I learned volunteering is where I get the most joy.” </p> <a class="read-more modal-link timeline-modal-12383" data-article="timeline-modal-12383" data-toggle="modal" data-target="#timeline-modal" > Read the story <span class="arrow"><i class="ci-long-arrow-right"></i></span> </a> </div> <div class="timeline-article-image" style="background-image: url(https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Cody-SE-SK-JC-at-Welcome-Center.jpg)"> </div> </div> <div class="timeline-article "> <div class="timeline-article-info"> <h3><a class="modal-link" data-article="timeline-modal-12352" data-toggle="modal" data-target="#timeline-modal">America’s Electric Co-ops Ready to Work with Trump Administration, New Congress to Strengthen Rural Communities</a> </h3> <p>ARLINGTON, Va. – National Rural Electric Cooperative Association CEO Jim Matheson issued the following statement on the election results. “We congratulate President Trump on his election, and we look forward to working with him and Congress on a pro-energy agenda that protects affordability and reliability,” Matheson said. “America is at an energy crossroads and the reliability of […]</p> <a class="read-more modal-link timeline-modal-12352" data-article="timeline-modal-12352" data-toggle="modal" data-target="#timeline-modal" > Read the press release <span class="arrow"><i class="ci-long-arrow-right"></i></span> </a> </div> </div> </div>  </div> <div class="timeline-phase"> <div class="timeline-date"> <h2><strong>October</strong> 2024</h2> </div> <div class="timeline-digest"> <div class="timeline-article "> <div class="timeline-article-info"> <h3><a class="modal-link" data-article="timeline-modal-12251" data-toggle="modal" data-target="#timeline-modal">Oklahoma Co-op Tests 50-Gig Broadband at Sac and Fox Nation Home</a> </h3> <p>“Fiber has made a real difference in how we operate as a tribe.” </p> <a class="read-more modal-link timeline-modal-12251" data-article="timeline-modal-12251" data-toggle="modal" data-target="#timeline-modal" > Read the story <span class="arrow"><i class="ci-long-arrow-right"></i></span> </a> </div> </div> <div class="timeline-article "> <div class="timeline-article-info"> <h3><a class="modal-link" data-article="timeline-modal-12123" data-toggle="modal" data-target="#timeline-modal">Broadband Partnership Sets ‘Sterling Example’ of Sixth Co-op Principle</a> </h3> <p>An electric co-op partnership in Virginia is getting broadband delivered fast. </p> <a class="read-more modal-link timeline-modal-12123" data-article="timeline-modal-12123" data-toggle="modal" data-target="#timeline-modal" > Read the story <span class="arrow"><i class="ci-long-arrow-right"></i></span> </a> </div> <div class="timeline-article-image" style="background-image: url(https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/wood-hewa-FireFlyComm.jpg)"> </div> </div> </div>  </div> <div class="timeline-phase"> <div class="timeline-date"> <h2><strong>September</strong> 2024</h2> </div> <div class="timeline-digest"> <div class="timeline-article "> <div class="timeline-article-info"> <h3><a class="modal-link" data-article="timeline-modal-11938" data-toggle="modal" data-target="#timeline-modal">Oklahoma Co-op Wins National Broadband Awards for Speed, Member Support</a> </h3> <p>OEC Fiber’s national recognition shows electric co-ops are top rural broadband providers.</p> <a class="read-more modal-link timeline-modal-11938" data-article="timeline-modal-11938" data-toggle="modal" data-target="#timeline-modal" > Read the story <span class="arrow"><i class="ci-long-arrow-right"></i></span> </a> </div> <div class="timeline-article-image" style="background-image: url(https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/oec-broadband-square.jpg)"> </div> </div> </div>  </div> <div class="timeline-phase"> <div class="timeline-date"> <h2><strong>August</strong> 2024</h2> </div> <div class="timeline-digest"> <div class="timeline-article "> <div class="timeline-article-info"> <h3><a class="modal-link" data-article="timeline-modal-11863" data-toggle="modal" data-target="#timeline-modal">Along Those Lines: In Small-Town Illinois, Co-op Broadband Makes a World of Difference</a> </h3> <p>JCE Co-op's fiber internet has ushered in a wave of new homeowners and businesses. </p> <a class="read-more modal-link timeline-modal-11863" data-article="timeline-modal-11863" data-toggle="modal" data-target="#timeline-modal" > Read the story <span class="arrow"><i class="ci-long-arrow-right"></i></span> </a> </div> <div class="timeline-article-image" style="background-image: url(https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/Along_Those_Lines_logo_1x1.jpg)"> </div> </div> </div>  </div> <div class="timeline-phase"> <div class="timeline-date"> <h2><strong>July</strong> 2024</h2> </div> <div class="timeline-digest"> <div class="timeline-article "> <div class="timeline-article-info"> <h3><a class="modal-link" data-article="timeline-modal-11760" data-toggle="modal" data-target="#timeline-modal">‘Well On Our Way’: Alabama Co-op Middle-Mile Network Celebrates First Customer</a> </h3> <p>The Alabama Fiber Network is officially open for business.</p> <a class="read-more modal-link timeline-modal-11760" data-article="timeline-modal-11760" data-toggle="modal" data-target="#timeline-modal" > Read the story <span class="arrow"><i class="ci-long-arrow-right"></i></span> </a> </div> <div class="timeline-article-image" style="background-image: url(https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/DSC06120.jpg)"> </div> </div> </div>  </div> <div class="timeline-phase"> <div class="timeline-date"> <h2><strong>May</strong> 2024</h2> </div> <div class="timeline-digest"> <div class="timeline-article "> <div class="timeline-article-info"> <h3><a class="modal-link" data-article="timeline-modal-11583" data-toggle="modal" data-target="#timeline-modal">Zero to 40,000: Arkansas Co-op Hits Broadband Milestone </a> </h3> <p>“When the future asks for it, we're ready.”</p> <a class="read-more modal-link timeline-modal-11583" data-article="timeline-modal-11583" data-toggle="modal" data-target="#timeline-modal" > Read the story <span class="arrow"><i class="ci-long-arrow-right"></i></span> </a> </div> </div> </div>  </div> <div class="timeline-phase"> <div class="timeline-date"> <h2><strong>April</strong> 2024</h2> </div> <div class="timeline-digest"> <div class="timeline-article "> <div class="timeline-article-info"> <h3><a class="modal-link" data-article="timeline-modal-11488" data-toggle="modal" data-target="#timeline-modal">End of Affordable Connectivity Program Will Hurt Broadband Deployment</a> </h3> <p>April is the last month of full funding for a $14 billion affordable broadband program.</p> <a class="read-more modal-link timeline-modal-11488" data-article="timeline-modal-11488" data-toggle="modal" data-target="#timeline-modal" > Read the story <span class="arrow"><i class="ci-long-arrow-right"></i></span> </a> </div> <div class="timeline-article-image" style="background-image: url(https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/acp-rollup.jpg)"> </div> </div> <div class="timeline-article "> <div class="timeline-article-info"> <h3><a class="modal-link" data-article="timeline-modal-11486" data-toggle="modal" data-target="#timeline-modal">Legislative Conference Attendees Hit Capitol Hill With Messaging on Co-ops’ Top Policy Issues</a> </h3> <p>Top issues for co-ops include the EPA power plant rule and funding for the New ERA program.</p> <a class="read-more modal-link timeline-modal-11486" data-article="timeline-modal-11486" data-toggle="modal" data-target="#timeline-modal" > Read the story <span class="arrow"><i class="ci-long-arrow-right"></i></span> </a> </div> <div class="timeline-article-image" style="background-image: url(https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/legconf-hamill-rollup.jpg)"> </div> </div> <div class="timeline-article "> <div class="timeline-article-info"> <h3><a class="modal-link" data-article="timeline-modal-11386" data-toggle="modal" data-target="#timeline-modal">‘We Will Save Lives’: Electric Co-op Offers Free Wi-Fi to First Responders </a> </h3> <p>“We are actually looking our members in the eyes and they're saying thank you for this.” </p> <a class="read-more modal-link timeline-modal-11386" data-article="timeline-modal-11386" data-toggle="modal" data-target="#timeline-modal" > Read the story <span class="arrow"><i class="ci-long-arrow-right"></i></span> </a> </div> <div class="timeline-article-image" style="background-image: url(https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/IMG_6790-ScottHendrix-TomBigBeeFiber.jpg)"> </div> </div> </div>  </div> <div class="timeline-phase"> <div class="timeline-date"> <h2><strong>March</strong> 2024</h2> </div> <div class="timeline-digest"> <div class="timeline-article "> <div class="timeline-article-info"> <h3><a class="modal-link" data-article="timeline-modal-11313" data-toggle="modal" data-target="#timeline-modal">Electric Co-ops: FCC’s Vote to Increase Broadband Benchmark a Step in Right Direction, More Work Needed</a> </h3> <p>ARLINGTON, Va. – National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA) CEO Jim Matheson today issued the following statement after the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) voted to increase broadband benchmark speeds from 25/3 megabits per second to 100/20 Mbps. “The Commission’s vote is a step in the right direction but still falls short of meeting the needs […]</p> <a class="read-more modal-link timeline-modal-11313" data-article="timeline-modal-11313" data-toggle="modal" data-target="#timeline-modal" > Read the press release <span class="arrow"><i class="ci-long-arrow-right"></i></span> </a> </div> </div> </div>  </div> <div class="timeline-phase"> <div class="timeline-date"> <h2><strong>February</strong> 2024</h2> </div> <div class="timeline-digest"> <div class="timeline-article "> <div class="timeline-article-info"> <h3><a class="modal-link" data-article="timeline-modal-11229" data-toggle="modal" data-target="#timeline-modal">Matheson: Millions May Lose Broadband If Affordable Connectivity Program Ends</a> </h3> <p>Affordable Connectivity Program to expire in April if additional funding isn't provided.</p> <a class="read-more modal-link timeline-modal-11229" data-article="timeline-modal-11229" data-toggle="modal" data-target="#timeline-modal" > Read the story <span class="arrow"><i class="ci-long-arrow-right"></i></span> </a> </div> <div class="timeline-article-image" style="background-image: url(https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/bb-acp-letter-rollup.jpg)"> </div> </div> </div>  </div> <div class="timeline-phase"> <div class="timeline-date"> <h2><strong>January</strong> 2024</h2> </div> <div class="timeline-digest"> <div class="timeline-article "> <div class="timeline-article-info"> <h3><a class="modal-link" data-article="timeline-modal-11160" data-toggle="modal" data-target="#timeline-modal">Q&A: Electric Co-ops’ Legislative and Regulatory Priorities for 2024</a> </h3> <p>NRECA will advocate for co-ops on a wide range of issues, from broadband to supply chain.</p> <a class="read-more modal-link timeline-modal-11160" data-article="timeline-modal-11160" data-toggle="modal" data-target="#timeline-modal" > Read the story <span class="arrow"><i class="ci-long-arrow-right"></i></span> </a> </div> <div class="timeline-article-image" style="background-image: url(https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/GettyImages-1176430158-rollup.jpg)"> </div> </div> </div>  </div> <div class="timeline-phase"> <div class="timeline-date"> <h2><strong>November</strong> 2023</h2> </div> <div class="timeline-digest"> <div class="timeline-article "> <div class="timeline-article-info"> <h3><a class="modal-link" data-article="timeline-modal-11079" data-toggle="modal" data-target="#timeline-modal">Along Those Lines: Middle-Mile Muddle</a> </h3> <p>Hear from NRECA's Katie Culleton as well as Steven Bandy, general manager of OzarksGo.</p> <a class="read-more modal-link timeline-modal-11079" data-article="timeline-modal-11079" data-toggle="modal" data-target="#timeline-modal" > Read the story <span class="arrow"><i class="ci-long-arrow-right"></i></span> </a> </div> <div class="timeline-article-image" style="background-image: url(https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/Along_Those_Lines_logo_1x1.jpg)"> </div> </div> <div class="timeline-article "> <div class="timeline-article-info"> <h3><a class="modal-link" data-article="timeline-modal-11045" data-toggle="modal" data-target="#timeline-modal">Matheson: Grant Rules Should Prioritize Quality Broadband for Rural Areas</a> </h3> <p>When rural areas needed broadband, “the electric cooperative is the one that stepped up.”</p> <a class="read-more modal-link timeline-modal-11045" data-article="timeline-modal-11045" data-toggle="modal" data-target="#timeline-modal" > Read the story <span class="arrow"><i class="ci-long-arrow-right"></i></span> </a> </div> </div> </div>  </div> <div class="timeline-phase"> <div class="timeline-date"> <h2><strong>September</strong> 2023</h2> </div> <div class="timeline-digest"> <div class="timeline-article "> <div class="timeline-article-info"> <h3><a class="modal-link" data-article="timeline-modal-10904" data-toggle="modal" data-target="#timeline-modal">Electric Co-ops Applaud Confirmation of Anna Gomez to the Federal Communications Commission</a> </h3> <p>ARLINGTON, Va. – National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA) CEO Jim Matheson today issued the following statement on the confirmation of Anna Gomez to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). “We look forward to working with Commissioner Gomez to advance the needs of rural communities,” said Matheson. “Commissioner Gomez has extensive experience both in the public […]</p> <a class="read-more modal-link timeline-modal-10904" data-article="timeline-modal-10904" data-toggle="modal" data-target="#timeline-modal" > Read the press release <span class="arrow"><i class="ci-long-arrow-right"></i></span> </a> </div> </div> </div>  </div> <div class="timeline-phase"> <div class="timeline-date"> <h2><strong>June</strong> 2023</h2> </div> <div class="timeline-digest"> <div class="timeline-article "> <div class="timeline-article-info"> <h3><a class="modal-link" data-article="timeline-modal-10722" data-toggle="modal" data-target="#timeline-modal">NRECA Applauds Major Rural Broadband Milestone</a> </h3> <p>ARLINGTON, Va. – National Rural Electric Cooperative Association CEO Jim Matheson today applauded the allocation of $42.5 billion in rural broadband funding to the states. The funding is known as the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) Program and was included in the bipartisan infrastructure law. “Efforts to bridge the digital divide began nearly 25 […]</p> <a class="read-more modal-link timeline-modal-10722" data-article="timeline-modal-10722" data-toggle="modal" data-target="#timeline-modal" > Read the press release <span class="arrow"><i class="ci-long-arrow-right"></i></span> </a> </div> </div> <div class="timeline-article "> <div class="timeline-article-info"> <h3><a class="modal-link" data-article="timeline-modal-10709" data-toggle="modal" data-target="#timeline-modal">NRECA CEO to Congress: Improve Broadband Programs Crucial to Rural America</a> </h3> <p>More than 200 electric cooperatives are involved in efforts to deploy rural broadband.</p> <a class="read-more modal-link timeline-modal-10709" data-article="timeline-modal-10709" data-toggle="modal" data-target="#timeline-modal" > Read the story <span class="arrow"><i class="ci-long-arrow-right"></i></span> </a> </div> <div class="timeline-article-image" style="background-image: url(https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Rural-Broadband-Senate-Jim-04-1.jpg)"> </div> </div> <div class="timeline-article "> <div class="timeline-article-info"> <h3><a class="modal-link" data-article="timeline-modal-10699" data-toggle="modal" data-target="#timeline-modal">Leapfrogging the Competition: Mississippi Cooperative Delivers XGS-PON Broadband</a> </h3> <p>“We didn’t want to face a rip-and-replace within the first five years of our build.” </p> <a class="read-more modal-link timeline-modal-10699" data-article="timeline-modal-10699" data-toggle="modal" data-target="#timeline-modal" > Read the story <span class="arrow"><i class="ci-long-arrow-right"></i></span> </a> </div> <div class="timeline-article-image" style="background-image: url(https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/xgs-pon-rollup.jpg)"> </div> </div> </div>  </div> <div class="timeline-phase"> <div class="timeline-date"> <h2><strong>May</strong> 2023</h2> </div> <div class="timeline-digest"> <div class="timeline-article "> <div class="timeline-article-info"> <h3><a class="modal-link" data-article="timeline-modal-10619" data-toggle="modal" data-target="#timeline-modal">Co-op Leader to Congress: Broadband Is Key to Rural Economic Development</a> </h3> <p>Consumers are demanding faster internet speeds in rural areas, a co-op leader told senators.</p> <a class="read-more modal-link timeline-modal-10619" data-article="timeline-modal-10619" data-toggle="modal" data-target="#timeline-modal" > Read the story <span class="arrow"><i class="ci-long-arrow-right"></i></span> </a> </div> <div class="timeline-article-image" style="background-image: url(https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/Jesse-Shekelton-02-square.jpg)"> </div> </div> </div>  </div> <div class="timeline-phase"> <div class="timeline-date"> <h2><strong>April</strong> 2023</h2> </div> <div class="timeline-digest"> <div class="timeline-article "> <div class="timeline-article-info"> <h3><a class="modal-link" data-article="timeline-modal-10540" data-toggle="modal" data-target="#timeline-modal">NRECA: Congress Should Reform Permitting to Reduce Broadband Costs, Delays</a> </h3> <p>NRECA told Congress that federal permitting for broadband is protracted and too expensive.</p> <a class="read-more modal-link timeline-modal-10540" data-article="timeline-modal-10540" data-toggle="modal" data-target="#timeline-modal" > Read the story <span class="arrow"><i class="ci-long-arrow-right"></i></span> </a> </div> <div class="timeline-article-image" style="background-image: url(https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/capitol-dome.jpg)"> </div> </div> <div class="timeline-article "> <div class="timeline-article-info"> <h3><a class="modal-link" data-article="timeline-modal-10533" data-toggle="modal" data-target="#timeline-modal">‘Transforming Lives’: Co-op Makes 20K Broadband Connections in 52 Months</a> </h3> <p>20K broadband connections in four years at peak cost $3 million a week in infrastructure.</p> <a class="read-more modal-link timeline-modal-10533" data-article="timeline-modal-10533" data-toggle="modal" data-target="#timeline-modal" > Read the story <span class="arrow"><i class="ci-long-arrow-right"></i></span> </a> </div> <div class="timeline-article-image" style="background-image: url(https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/cvec-broadband-1.jpg)"> </div> </div> <div class="timeline-article "> <div class="timeline-article-info"> <h3><a class="modal-link" data-article="timeline-modal-10530" data-toggle="modal" data-target="#timeline-modal">Rep. Bob Latta: Rural Connectivity ‘Is Everybody’s Issue’</a> </h3> <p>“We want to make sure people who live in rural areas can live there and survive.”</p> <a class="read-more modal-link timeline-modal-10530" data-article="timeline-modal-10530" data-toggle="modal" data-target="#timeline-modal" > Read the story <span class="arrow"><i class="ci-long-arrow-right"></i></span> </a> </div> <div class="timeline-article-image" style="background-image: url(https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/latta.jpg)"> </div> </div> <div class="timeline-article "> <div class="timeline-article-info"> <h3><a class="modal-link" data-article="timeline-modal-10525" data-toggle="modal" data-target="#timeline-modal">What Electric Co-ops Need From Policymakers to Close the Digital Divide</a> </h3> <p>The electric co-op approach is part of the solution to universal broadband connectivity. </p> <a class="read-more modal-link timeline-modal-10525" data-article="timeline-modal-10525" data-toggle="modal" data-target="#timeline-modal" > Read the story <span class="arrow"><i class="ci-long-arrow-right"></i></span> </a> </div> <div class="timeline-article-image" style="background-image: url(https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/PDEC-Help-No-Internet2-pemiscot-dunklin.jpg)"> </div> </div> <div class="timeline-article "> <div class="timeline-article-info"> <h3><a class="modal-link" data-article="timeline-modal-10527" data-toggle="modal" data-target="#timeline-modal">Top Policymakers Address Electric Co-op Leaders at NRECA’s Legislative Conference</a> </h3> <p>Federal funds to help interested co-ops build clean energy projects will soon be available.</p> <a class="read-more modal-link timeline-modal-10527" data-article="timeline-modal-10527" data-toggle="modal" data-target="#timeline-modal" > Read the story <span class="arrow"><i class="ci-long-arrow-right"></i></span> </a> </div> <div class="timeline-article-image" style="background-image: url(https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/2023-Legislative-Conference-homepage.jpg)"> </div> </div> </div>  </div> <div class="timeline-phase"> <div class="timeline-date"> <h2><strong>February</strong> 2023</h2> </div> <div class="timeline-digest"> <div class="timeline-article "> <div class="timeline-article-info"> <h3><a class="modal-link" data-article="timeline-modal-10270" data-toggle="modal" data-target="#timeline-modal">Electric Co-op Lands $47 Million From Missouri ARPA Funds for Broadband</a> </h3> <p>It is “not that we had pretty letterhead. It’s just that we made the case” for broadband.</p> <a class="read-more modal-link timeline-modal-10270" data-article="timeline-modal-10270" data-toggle="modal" data-target="#timeline-modal" > Read the story <span class="arrow"><i class="ci-long-arrow-right"></i></span> </a> </div> <div class="timeline-article-image" style="background-image: url(https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/WhiteRiverConnect.jpg)"> </div> </div> </div>  </div> <div class="timeline-phase"> <div class="timeline-date"> <h2><strong>January</strong> 2023</h2> </div> <div class="timeline-digest"> <div class="timeline-article "> <div class="timeline-article-info"> <h3><a class="modal-link" data-article="timeline-modal-10186" data-toggle="modal" data-target="#timeline-modal">Along Those Lines: What It Takes for Electric Co-ops to Enter the Broadband Space</a> </h3> <p>Hear from co-op experts on what it takes to plan, build and run a broadband business.</p> <a class="read-more modal-link timeline-modal-10186" data-article="timeline-modal-10186" data-toggle="modal" data-target="#timeline-modal" > Read the story <span class="arrow"><i class="ci-long-arrow-right"></i></span> </a> </div> <div class="timeline-article-image" style="background-image: url(https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/Along_Those_Lines_logo_1x1.jpg)"> </div> </div> <div class="timeline-article "> <div class="timeline-article-info"> <h3><a class="modal-link" data-article="timeline-modal-10151" data-toggle="modal" data-target="#timeline-modal">Co-op CEO: New Farm Bill Should Prioritize Broadband for Rural America</a> </h3> <p>The Farm Bill will authorize funding to help electric co-ops provide rural broadband service.</p> <a class="read-more modal-link timeline-modal-10151" data-article="timeline-modal-10151" data-toggle="modal" data-target="#timeline-modal" > Read the story <span class="arrow"><i class="ci-long-arrow-right"></i></span> </a> </div> <div class="timeline-article-image" style="background-image: url(https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/20230113-Farm-Show-Listening-Session-011.jpg)"> </div> </div> <div class="timeline-article "> <div class="timeline-article-info"> <h3><a class="modal-link" data-article="timeline-modal-10107" data-toggle="modal" data-target="#timeline-modal">Q&A: Electric Co-ops’ Top Policy Priorities for 2023</a> </h3> <p>NRECA is working to shape a new Farm Bill that will have a big impact on rural America.</p> <a class="read-more modal-link timeline-modal-10107" data-article="timeline-modal-10107" data-toggle="modal" data-target="#timeline-modal" > Read the story <span class="arrow"><i class="ci-long-arrow-right"></i></span> </a> </div> <div class="timeline-article-image" style="background-image: url(https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/legislative-priorities-2023-rollup.jpg)"> </div> </div> </div>  </div> <div class="timeline-phase"> <div class="timeline-date"> <h2><strong>October</strong> 2022</h2> </div> <div class="timeline-digest"> <div class="timeline-article "> <div class="timeline-article-info"> <h3><a class="modal-link" data-article="timeline-modal-9931" data-toggle="modal" data-target="#timeline-modal">Alabama Awards $82.4M to Electric Co-ops for Broadband Middle Mile</a> </h3> <p>Electric co-ops form the Fiber Utility Network to build broadband middle-mile in Alabama.</p> <a class="read-more modal-link timeline-modal-9931" data-article="timeline-modal-9931" data-toggle="modal" data-target="#timeline-modal" > Read the story <span class="arrow"><i class="ci-long-arrow-right"></i></span> </a> </div> <div class="timeline-article-image" style="background-image: url(https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/alabama-broadband-100322-rollup.jpg)"> </div> </div> </div>  </div> <div class="timeline-phase"> <div class="timeline-date"> <h2><strong>September</strong> 2022</h2> </div> <div class="timeline-digest"> <div class="timeline-article "> <div class="timeline-article-info"> <h3><a class="modal-link" data-article="timeline-modal-9829" data-toggle="modal" data-target="#timeline-modal">Tennessee Awards $198 Million to Electric Co-ops to Build Rural Broadband</a> </h3> <p>Tennessee enjoys “a historic day for electric co-ops and the communities we serve.” </p> <a class="read-more modal-link timeline-modal-9829" data-article="timeline-modal-9829" data-toggle="modal" data-target="#timeline-modal" > Read the story <span class="arrow"><i class="ci-long-arrow-right"></i></span> </a> </div> <div class="timeline-article-image" style="background-image: url(https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/tennessee-broadband.jpg)"> </div> </div> </div>  </div> <div class="timeline-phase"> <div class="timeline-date"> <h2><strong>July</strong> 2022</h2> </div> <div class="timeline-digest"> <div class="timeline-article "> <div class="timeline-article-info"> <h3><a class="modal-link" data-article="timeline-modal-9636" data-toggle="modal" data-target="#timeline-modal">Along Those Lines: Introducing NRECA Broadband</a> </h3> <p>NRECA leaders discuss what went into the decision to form NRECA Broadband and where it’s headed.</p> <a class="read-more modal-link timeline-modal-9636" data-article="timeline-modal-9636" data-toggle="modal" data-target="#timeline-modal" > Read the story <span class="arrow"><i class="ci-long-arrow-right"></i></span> </a> </div> <div class="timeline-article-image" style="background-image: url(https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/Along_Those_Lines_logo_1x1.jpg)"> </div> </div> <div class="timeline-article "> <div class="timeline-article-info"> <h3><a class="modal-link" data-article="timeline-modal-9624" data-toggle="modal" data-target="#timeline-modal">NRECA Broadband Launches to Boost Telecom Advocacy and Resources</a> </h3> <p>NRECA Broadband gives co-ops a “united voice in Washington” to vie with big telecom. </p> <a class="read-more modal-link timeline-modal-9624" data-article="timeline-modal-9624" data-toggle="modal" data-target="#timeline-modal" > Read the story <span class="arrow"><i class="ci-long-arrow-right"></i></span> </a> </div> <div class="timeline-article-image" style="background-image: url(https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/svec-broadband.jpg)"> </div> </div> </div>  </div> <div class="timeline-phase"> <div class="timeline-date"> <h2><strong>April</strong> 2022</h2> </div> <div class="timeline-digest"> <div class="timeline-article "> <div class="timeline-article-info"> <h3><a class="modal-link" data-article="timeline-modal-9407" data-toggle="modal" data-target="#timeline-modal">Alabama Co-op Partners With Trade School to Train Fiber Techs, Lineworkers</a> </h3> <p>Cullman EC gave $80,000 so broadband and lineworker students can train with the latest gear.</p> <a class="read-more modal-link timeline-modal-9407" data-article="timeline-modal-9407" data-toggle="modal" data-target="#timeline-modal" > Read the story <span class="arrow"><i class="ci-long-arrow-right"></i></span> </a> </div> <div class="timeline-article-image" style="background-image: url(https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/CareerDay-Cullman-EC.jpg)"> </div> </div> </div>  </div> <div class="timeline-phase"> <div class="timeline-date"> <h2><strong>March</strong> 2022</h2> </div> <div class="timeline-digest"> <div class="timeline-article "> <div class="timeline-article-info"> <h3><a class="modal-link" data-article="timeline-modal-9347" data-toggle="modal" data-target="#timeline-modal">New Mexico Co-op Expanding Broadband to All Zuni Nation Members by Summer</a> </h3> <p>Zuni Nation works with Continental Divide Electric to deploy universal broadband.</p> <a class="read-more modal-link timeline-modal-9347" data-article="timeline-modal-9347" data-toggle="modal" data-target="#timeline-modal" > Read the story <span class="arrow"><i class="ci-long-arrow-right"></i></span> </a> </div> <div class="timeline-article-image" style="background-image: url(https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/CDE7602.jpg)"> </div> </div> </div>  </div> <div class="timeline-phase"> <div class="timeline-date"> <h2><strong>February</strong> 2022</h2> </div> <div class="timeline-digest"> <div class="timeline-article "> <div class="timeline-article-info"> <h3><a class="modal-link" data-article="timeline-modal-9247" data-toggle="modal" data-target="#timeline-modal">Co-ops in Georgia Awarded $130M in Rescue Plan Broadband Grants</a> </h3> <p>Georgia electric co-op pursued ARPA grants to meet “the need our members have for broadband.”</p> <a class="read-more modal-link timeline-modal-9247" data-article="timeline-modal-9247" data-toggle="modal" data-target="#timeline-modal" > Read the story <span class="arrow"><i class="ci-long-arrow-right"></i></span> </a> </div> <div class="timeline-article-image" style="background-image: url(https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/DiversePower-Ga-7-rollup.jpg)"> </div> </div> </div>  </div> <div class="timeline-phase"> <div class="timeline-date"> <h2><strong>January</strong> 2022</h2> </div> <div class="timeline-digest"> <div class="timeline-article "> <div class="timeline-article-info"> <h3><a class="modal-link" data-article="timeline-modal-9149" data-toggle="modal" data-target="#timeline-modal">Electric Co-op Finds Three Ways to Deliver Broadband to Rural Residents</a> </h3> <p>A perfect example of co-ops being flexible for the most efficient broadband solution.</p> <a class="read-more modal-link timeline-modal-9149" data-article="timeline-modal-9149" data-toggle="modal" data-target="#timeline-modal" > Read the story <span class="arrow"><i class="ci-long-arrow-right"></i></span> </a> </div> <div class="timeline-article-image" style="background-image: url(https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/EMPOWER.jpg)"> </div> </div> <div class="timeline-article "> <div class="timeline-article-info"> <h3><a class="modal-link" data-article="timeline-modal-9117" data-toggle="modal" data-target="#timeline-modal">NRECA Works to Achieve More Legislative Gains for Co-ops in 2022</a> </h3> <p>NRECA will work to pass direct-pay incentives and RUS loan repricing bills for co-ops.</p> <a class="read-more modal-link timeline-modal-9117" data-article="timeline-modal-9117" data-toggle="modal" data-target="#timeline-modal" > Read the story <span class="arrow"><i class="ci-long-arrow-right"></i></span> </a> </div> <div class="timeline-article-image" style="background-image: url(https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/USCapitol-snow2.jpg)"> </div> </div> <div class="timeline-article "> <div class="timeline-article-info"> <h3><a class="modal-link" data-article="timeline-modal-9101" data-toggle="modal" data-target="#timeline-modal">Four Virginia Electric Co-ops Win $162M for Universal Broadband Efforts</a> </h3> <p>Millions for broadband in Virginia gives electric co-op “the ability to close the deal.” </p> <a class="read-more modal-link timeline-modal-9101" data-article="timeline-modal-9101" data-toggle="modal" data-target="#timeline-modal" > Read the story <span class="arrow"><i class="ci-long-arrow-right"></i></span> </a> </div> <div class="timeline-article-image" style="background-image: url(https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/EMPOWER-IMG_9995-rollup.jpg)"> </div> </div> </div>  </div> <div class="timeline-phase"> <div class="timeline-date"> <h2><strong>December</strong> 2021</h2> </div> <div class="timeline-digest"> <div class="timeline-article "> <div class="timeline-article-info"> <h3><a class="modal-link" data-article="timeline-modal-9044" data-toggle="modal" data-target="#timeline-modal">Electric Co-ops Applaud Confirmation of Jessica Rosenworcel as FCC Chair</a> </h3> <p>ARLINGTON, Va. – National Rural Electric Cooperative Association CEO Jim Matheson today issued the following statement on the confirmation of Jessica Rosenworcel to lead the Federal Communications Commission (FCC): “The FCC has a critical role in the federal government’s efforts to expeditiously bring affordable and reliable broadband service to every rural American family and business. […]</p> <a class="read-more modal-link timeline-modal-9044" data-article="timeline-modal-9044" data-toggle="modal" data-target="#timeline-modal" > Read the press release <span class="arrow"><i class="ci-long-arrow-right"></i></span> </a> </div> </div> </div>  </div> <div class="timeline-phase"> <div class="timeline-date"> <h2><strong>November</strong> 2021</h2> </div> <div class="timeline-digest"> <div class="timeline-article "> <div class="timeline-article-info"> <h3><a class="modal-link" data-article="timeline-modal-9020" data-toggle="modal" data-target="#timeline-modal">FCC Chair Visits Georgia Co-ops: ‘We Need to Get ‘100% of Americans Online’</a> </h3> <p>FCC chairwoman and senator take part in broadband roundtable with Georgia electric co-ops.</p> <a class="read-more modal-link timeline-modal-9020" data-article="timeline-modal-9020" data-toggle="modal" data-target="#timeline-modal" > Read the story <span class="arrow"><i class="ci-long-arrow-right"></i></span> </a> </div> <div class="timeline-article-image" style="background-image: url(https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/111221-FCC-chair-25.jpg)"> </div> </div> <div class="timeline-article "> <div class="timeline-article-info"> <h3><a class="modal-link" data-article="timeline-modal-8845" data-toggle="modal" data-target="#timeline-modal">House Passes Infrastructure Bill With Billions for Broadband, Energy R&D</a> </h3> <p>The $1.2 trillion bill includes $550 billion in new spending.</p> <a class="read-more modal-link timeline-modal-8845" data-article="timeline-modal-8845" data-toggle="modal" data-target="#timeline-modal" > Read the story <span class="arrow"><i class="ci-long-arrow-right"></i></span> </a> </div> <div class="timeline-article-image" style="background-image: url(https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/UCCapitol-Fall-story.jpg)"> </div> </div> </div>  </div> <div class="timeline-phase"> <div class="timeline-date"> <h2><strong>October</strong> 2021</h2> </div> <div class="timeline-digest"> <div class="timeline-article "> <div class="timeline-article-info"> <h3><a class="modal-link" data-article="timeline-modal-8896" data-toggle="modal" data-target="#timeline-modal">Electric Co-ops Welcome USDA Changes to the ReConnect Broadband Funding Program</a> </h3> <p>ARLINGTON, Va. – National Rural Electric Cooperative Association CEO Jim Matheson today applauded U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Tom Vilsack and the department’s Rural Utilities Service (RUS) for making much-needed changes to the ReConnect broadband program for its third round of funding. USDA will begin accepting ReConnect round three applications on November 24 for […]</p> <a class="read-more modal-link timeline-modal-8896" data-article="timeline-modal-8896" data-toggle="modal" data-target="#timeline-modal" > Read the press release <span class="arrow"><i class="ci-long-arrow-right"></i></span> </a> </div> </div> </div>  </div> <div class="timeline-phase"> <div class="timeline-date"> <h2><strong>September</strong> 2021</h2> </div> <div class="timeline-digest"> <div class="timeline-article "> <div class="timeline-article-info"> <h3><a class="modal-link" data-article="timeline-modal-8819" data-toggle="modal" data-target="#timeline-modal">‘Broadband Living Room’ Showcases the Benefits of Being Connected</a> </h3> <p>Governor praises PGEC “for a job well done” in providing broadband to an unserved county.</p> <a class="read-more modal-link timeline-modal-8819" data-article="timeline-modal-8819" data-toggle="modal" data-target="#timeline-modal" > Read the story <span class="arrow"><i class="ci-long-arrow-right"></i></span> </a> </div> <div class="timeline-article-image" style="background-image: url(https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/BBLivingroomPGECRuralBAND20210824.jpg)"> </div> </div> <div class="timeline-article "> <div class="timeline-article-info"> <h3><a class="modal-link" data-article="timeline-modal-8781" data-toggle="modal" data-target="#timeline-modal">FCC Commissioner: Electric Co-ops Play ‘Major Role’ in Rural Broadband</a> </h3> <p>Electric co-ops offer “an effective model” for broadband access to underserved areas.</p> <a class="read-more modal-link timeline-modal-8781" data-article="timeline-modal-8781" data-toggle="modal" data-target="#timeline-modal" > Read the story <span class="arrow"><i class="ci-long-arrow-right"></i></span> </a> </div> <div class="timeline-article-image" style="background-image: url(https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Ozarks-FCC-commish2-IMG9421.jpg)"> </div> </div> </div>  </div> <div class="timeline-phase"> <div class="timeline-date"> <h2><strong>August</strong> 2021</h2> </div> <div class="timeline-digest"> <div class="timeline-article "> <div class="timeline-article-info"> <h3><a class="modal-link" data-article="timeline-modal-8625" data-toggle="modal" data-target="#timeline-modal">Electric Co-op Steps Up to Plate With Broadband for the Field of Dreams</a> </h3> <p>Electric co-op delivers broadband to MLB’s Field of Dreams game and knocks it outta the park. </p> <a class="read-more modal-link timeline-modal-8625" data-article="timeline-modal-8625" data-toggle="modal" data-target="#timeline-modal" > Read the story <span class="arrow"><i class="ci-long-arrow-right"></i></span> </a> </div> <div class="timeline-article-image" style="background-image: url(https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/MVEC-FOD2021_2.jpg)"> </div> </div> <div class="timeline-article "> <div class="timeline-article-info"> <h3><a class="modal-link" data-article="timeline-modal-8565" data-toggle="modal" data-target="#timeline-modal">ReConnect Broadband Grants a ‘Game-Changer’ for Electric Co-ops</a> </h3> <p>Financing rural broadband “was holding us back from providing this crucial service.” </p> <a class="read-more modal-link timeline-modal-8565" data-article="timeline-modal-8565" data-toggle="modal" data-target="#timeline-modal" > Read the story <span class="arrow"><i class="ci-long-arrow-right"></i></span> </a> </div> <div class="timeline-article-image" style="background-image: url(https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/MTE-United-rollup.jpg)"> </div> </div> <div class="timeline-article "> <div class="timeline-article-info"> <h3><a class="modal-link" data-article="timeline-modal-8518" data-toggle="modal" data-target="#timeline-modal">Bipartisan Infrastructure Bill Includes Billions for Broadband, EVs, Energy R&D</a> </h3> <p>Co-ops would be able to participate in a new $42.5 billion broadband grant program. </p> <a class="read-more modal-link timeline-modal-8518" data-article="timeline-modal-8518" data-toggle="modal" data-target="#timeline-modal" > Read the story <span class="arrow"><i class="ci-long-arrow-right"></i></span> </a> </div> <div class="timeline-article-image" style="background-image: url(https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/Capitol-summer-infrastructure-rollup.jpg)"> </div> </div> <div class="timeline-article "> <div class="timeline-article-info"> <h3><a class="modal-link" data-article="timeline-modal-8527" data-toggle="modal" data-target="#timeline-modal">Electric Co-ops Applaud Bipartisan Infrastructure Package, Stress Continued Needs of Rural Communities</a> </h3> <p>The National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA) today praised senators for passing a bipartisan infrastructure deal that helps electric cooperatives address several critical issues, while noting that additional assistance is needed to support rural communities.</p> <a class="read-more modal-link timeline-modal-8527" data-article="timeline-modal-8527" data-toggle="modal" data-target="#timeline-modal" > Read the press release <span class="arrow"><i class="ci-long-arrow-right"></i></span> </a> </div> </div> </div>  </div> <div class="timeline-phase"> <div class="timeline-date"> <h2><strong>June</strong> 2021</h2> </div> <div class="timeline-digest"> <div class="timeline-article "> <div class="timeline-article-info"> <h3><a class="modal-link" data-article="timeline-modal-8400" data-toggle="modal" data-target="#timeline-modal">NRECA to Congress: Be Bold in Funding Broadband That Meets Future Demand</a> </h3> <p>An estimated 35% of rural Americans don’t have access to broadband from any provider.</p> <a class="read-more modal-link timeline-modal-8400" data-article="timeline-modal-8400" data-toggle="modal" data-target="#timeline-modal" > Read the story <span class="arrow"><i class="ci-long-arrow-right"></i></span> </a> </div> <div class="timeline-article-image" style="background-image: url(https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/Broadband-BARC-scaled.jpg)"> </div> </div> <div class="timeline-article "> <div class="timeline-article-info"> <h3><a class="modal-link" data-article="timeline-modal-8395" data-toggle="modal" data-target="#timeline-modal">Commerce Secretary Sees ‘Mississippi Miracle’ of Rural Broadband at Co-op</a> </h3> <p>“Where we started and where we are in less than a year is part of the ‘Mississippi miracle.’”</p> <a class="read-more modal-link timeline-modal-8395" data-article="timeline-modal-8395" data-toggle="modal" data-target="#timeline-modal" > Read the story <span class="arrow"><i class="ci-long-arrow-right"></i></span> </a> </div> </div> </div>  </div> <div class="timeline-phase"> <div class="timeline-date"> <h2><strong>May</strong> 2021</h2> </div> <div class="timeline-digest"> <div class="timeline-article "> <div class="timeline-article-info"> <h3><a class="modal-link" data-article="timeline-modal-8253" data-toggle="modal" data-target="#timeline-modal">Treasury Guidance on Broadband Funds Leans Toward High Speeds, Low Prices</a> </h3> <p>COVID-19 relief funds may cover broadband deployment costs from March 3 of this year through 2024.</p> <a class="read-more modal-link timeline-modal-8253" data-article="timeline-modal-8253" data-toggle="modal" data-target="#timeline-modal" > Read the story <span class="arrow"><i class="ci-long-arrow-right"></i></span> </a> </div> <div class="timeline-article-image" style="background-image: url(https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/TIPMONT-A-fiber-contractor-hangs-fiber-lines-outside-of-BAttle-Ground-Indiana-1.jpg)"> </div> </div> </div>  </div> <div class="timeline-phase"> <div class="timeline-date"> <h2><strong>April</strong> 2021</h2> </div> <div class="timeline-digest"> <div class="timeline-article "> <div class="timeline-article-info"> <h3><a class="modal-link" data-article="timeline-modal-8199" data-toggle="modal" data-target="#timeline-modal">Vice President Harris Praises Electric Co-ops’ Rural Broadband Leadership</a> </h3> <p>VP brings attention to electric co-op broadband “as a model for our country.”</p> <a class="read-more modal-link timeline-modal-8199" data-article="timeline-modal-8199" data-toggle="modal" data-target="#timeline-modal" > Read the story <span class="arrow"><i class="ci-long-arrow-right"></i></span> </a> </div> </div> <div class="timeline-article "> <div class="timeline-article-info"> <h3><a class="modal-link" data-article="timeline-modal-8183" data-toggle="modal" data-target="#timeline-modal">NRECA Urges Release of COVID-19 Relief Funds Without Local Restrictions</a> </h3> <p>NRECA notes that Congress intentionally provided broad latitude on how best to use these funds.</p> <a class="read-more modal-link timeline-modal-8183" data-article="timeline-modal-8183" data-toggle="modal" data-target="#timeline-modal" > Read the story <span class="arrow"><i class="ci-long-arrow-right"></i></span> </a> </div> <div class="timeline-article-image" style="background-image: url(https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/REC_Fiber.jpg)"> </div> </div> <div class="timeline-article "> <div class="timeline-article-info"> <h3><a class="modal-link" data-article="timeline-modal-8172" data-toggle="modal" data-target="#timeline-modal">A Historic Connection: Choptank Ceremony Honors Electricity and Broadband Firsts</a> </h3> <p>“If we didn’t have the pandemic, we’d probably have a party.” </p> <a class="read-more modal-link timeline-modal-8172" data-article="timeline-modal-8172" data-toggle="modal" data-target="#timeline-modal" > Read the story <span class="arrow"><i class="ci-long-arrow-right"></i></span> </a> </div> <div class="timeline-article-image" style="background-image: url(https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/ChoptankFiber30-scaled.jpg)"> </div> </div> <div class="timeline-article "> <div class="timeline-article-info"> <h3><a class="modal-link" data-article="timeline-modal-8157" data-toggle="modal" data-target="#timeline-modal">Broadband ‘Vital to Survival’ of Rural America, Co-op CEO Tells Congress</a> </h3> <p>Electric co-ops can use federal broadband money most efficiently, a co-op CEO told lawmakers.</p> <a class="read-more modal-link timeline-modal-8157" data-article="timeline-modal-8157" data-toggle="modal" data-target="#timeline-modal" > Read the story <span class="arrow"><i class="ci-long-arrow-right"></i></span> </a> </div> </div> <div class="timeline-article "> <div class="timeline-article-info"> <h3><a class="modal-link" data-article="timeline-modal-8162" data-toggle="modal" data-target="#timeline-modal">Matheson: Co-ops to Lobby Congress on RUS Debt, Broadband, Incentivizing Innovation</a> </h3> <p>More than 1,500 co-op leaders will host online meetings with over 350 members of Congress.</p> <a class="read-more modal-link timeline-modal-8162" data-article="timeline-modal-8162" data-toggle="modal" data-target="#timeline-modal" > Read the story <span class="arrow"><i class="ci-long-arrow-right"></i></span> </a> </div> <div class="timeline-article-image" style="background-image: url(https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/GettyImages-1297672676-scaled.jpg)"> </div> </div> <div class="timeline-article "> <div class="timeline-article-info"> <h3><a class="modal-link" data-article="timeline-modal-8154" data-toggle="modal" data-target="#timeline-modal">1,500 Electric Co-op Leaders Convene Virtual Fly-ins; Grassley Earns Distinguished Service Award</a> </h3> <p>ARLINGTON, Va. – More than 1,500 electric cooperative CEOs and other co-op representatives will take co-op priorities to Capitol Hill April 19-23 for the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association’s (NRECA) Legislative Conference and congressional visits. The conference and meetings with lawmakers will be conducted virtually. “Because they are built by and belong to the communities […]</p> <a class="read-more modal-link timeline-modal-8154" data-article="timeline-modal-8154" data-toggle="modal" data-target="#timeline-modal" > Read the press release <span class="arrow"><i class="ci-long-arrow-right"></i></span> </a> </div> </div> <div class="timeline-article "> <div class="timeline-article-info"> <h3><a class="modal-link" data-article="timeline-modal-8146" data-toggle="modal" data-target="#timeline-modal">How the Biden Administration Can Close the Digital Divide</a> </h3> <p>Broadband affordability and adoption remain key to serving the unserved. </p> <a class="read-more modal-link timeline-modal-8146" data-article="timeline-modal-8146" data-toggle="modal" data-target="#timeline-modal" > Read the story <span class="arrow"><i class="ci-long-arrow-right"></i></span> </a> </div> <div class="timeline-article-image" style="background-image: url(https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/PBEC-Ruralband-IMG_3594-scaled.jpg)"> </div> </div> <div class="timeline-article "> <div class="timeline-article-info"> <h3><a class="modal-link" data-article="timeline-modal-8144" data-toggle="modal" data-target="#timeline-modal">Sen. Mark Warner Commends Electric Co-ops for Taking on Rural Broadband</a> </h3> <p>Rural broadband “needs to be an economic justice issue,” senator says during co-op visit.</p> <a class="read-more modal-link timeline-modal-8144" data-article="timeline-modal-8144" data-toggle="modal" data-target="#timeline-modal" > Read the story <span class="arrow"><i class="ci-long-arrow-right"></i></span> </a> </div> <div class="timeline-article-image" style="background-image: url(https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/BARC-Warner-3IMG_4821.jpg)"> </div> </div> <div class="timeline-article "> <div class="timeline-article-info"> <h3><a class="modal-link" data-article="timeline-modal-8123" data-toggle="modal" data-target="#timeline-modal">NRECA Asks FCC to Ensure RDOF Defaults Don’t Leave Rural Areas Stranded</a> </h3> <p>Protracted RDOF defaults may cost communities billions in other public aid for rural broadband.</p> <a class="read-more modal-link timeline-modal-8123" data-article="timeline-modal-8123" data-toggle="modal" data-target="#timeline-modal" > Read the story <span class="arrow"><i class="ci-long-arrow-right"></i></span> </a> </div> <div class="timeline-article-image" style="background-image: url(https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/tipmont-fiber-spool-new-jersey.jpg)"> </div> </div> </div>  </div> <div class="timeline-phase"> <div class="timeline-date"> <h2><strong>March</strong> 2021</h2> </div> <div class="timeline-digest"> <div class="timeline-article "> <div class="timeline-article-info"> <h3><a class="modal-link" data-article="timeline-modal-8111" data-toggle="modal" data-target="#timeline-modal">NRECA Statement on Biden Infrastructure Plan, Electric Co-op Priorities</a> </h3> <p>ARLINGTON, Va. – National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA) CEO Jim Matheson today issued the following statement on the inclusion of electric cooperative policy priorities in the Biden administration’s infrastructure proposal. “We’re encouraged to see electric co-op priorities reflected in President Biden’s infrastructure proposal,” Matheson said. “As we plan for a future that depends on […]</p> <a class="read-more modal-link timeline-modal-8111" data-article="timeline-modal-8111" data-toggle="modal" data-target="#timeline-modal" > Read the press release <span class="arrow"><i class="ci-long-arrow-right"></i></span> </a> </div> </div> <div class="timeline-article "> <div class="timeline-article-info"> <h3><a class="modal-link" data-article="timeline-modal-8102" data-toggle="modal" data-target="#timeline-modal">Keeping Fast Company: Electric Co-op Ranks With Top Innovative Businesses</a> </h3> <p>“This is the right thing to do for our members,” BARC says of its carbon-neutral goal.</p> <a class="read-more modal-link timeline-modal-8102" data-article="timeline-modal-8102" data-toggle="modal" data-target="#timeline-modal" > Read the story <span class="arrow"><i class="ci-long-arrow-right"></i></span> </a> </div> <div class="timeline-article-image" style="background-image: url(https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/barc-fast-march-2021.jpg)"> </div> </div> <div class="timeline-article "> <div class="timeline-article-info"> <h3><a class="modal-link" data-article="timeline-modal-8100" data-toggle="modal" data-target="#timeline-modal">NRECA and NRTC Urge FCC to Ensure RDOF Winners Can Deliver Rural Broadband</a> </h3> <p>One LEO satellite bidder lacks voice service, which is required of RDOF winners, NRECA told the FCC.</p> <a class="read-more modal-link timeline-modal-8100" data-article="timeline-modal-8100" data-toggle="modal" data-target="#timeline-modal" > Read the story <span class="arrow"><i class="ci-long-arrow-right"></i></span> </a> </div> <div class="timeline-article-image" style="background-image: url(https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/tipmont-crews-indiana-rdof.jpg)"> </div> </div> <div class="timeline-article "> <div class="timeline-article-info"> <h3><a class="modal-link" data-article="timeline-modal-8070" data-toggle="modal" data-target="#timeline-modal">Pulling Out All the Stops: Colorado Co-op Connects Students to Broadband</a> </h3> <p>Within 10 days, a co-op answers a school district’s broadband plea for struggling students.</p> <a class="read-more modal-link timeline-modal-8070" data-article="timeline-modal-8070" data-toggle="modal" data-target="#timeline-modal" > Read the story <span class="arrow"><i class="ci-long-arrow-right"></i></span> </a> </div> <div class="timeline-article-image" style="background-image: url(https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/Century_Mobile_Chris_1.jpg)"> </div> </div> <div class="timeline-article "> <div class="timeline-article-info"> <h3><a class="modal-link" data-article="timeline-modal-8064" data-toggle="modal" data-target="#timeline-modal">NRECA: $1 Billion Program Must Deliver Best Possible Broadband on Tribal Lands</a> </h3> <p>NRECA says a tribal broadband program must ensure a minimum data speed of 100 megabits per second. </p> <a class="read-more modal-link timeline-modal-8064" data-article="timeline-modal-8064" data-toggle="modal" data-target="#timeline-modal" > Read the story <span class="arrow"><i class="ci-long-arrow-right"></i></span> </a> </div> <div class="timeline-article-image" style="background-image: url(https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/mojave-electric-march-2021.jpg)"> </div> </div> </div>  </div> <div class="timeline-phase"> <div class="timeline-date"> <h2><strong>February</strong> 2021</h2> </div> <div class="timeline-digest"> <div class="timeline-article "> <div class="timeline-article-info"> <h3><a class="modal-link" data-article="timeline-modal-8044" data-toggle="modal" data-target="#timeline-modal">‘Boy, I Want To See That’: Broadband History From a Mississippi Porch</a> </h3> <p>Broadband from her electric co-op to her family farm means longer visits by her grandchildren.</p> <a class="read-more modal-link timeline-modal-8044" data-article="timeline-modal-8044" data-toggle="modal" data-target="#timeline-modal" > Read the story <span class="arrow"><i class="ci-long-arrow-right"></i></span> </a> </div> <div class="timeline-article-image" style="background-image: url(https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/Dixie-Electric-KatherineCole-IMG_0010.jpg)"> </div> </div> <div class="timeline-article "> <div class="timeline-article-info"> <h3><a class="modal-link" data-article="timeline-modal-8019" data-toggle="modal" data-target="#timeline-modal">Along Those Lines: The Ins and Outs of the FCC’s Biggest Rural Broadband Auction</a> </h3> <p>Co-op experts break down how the RDOF works and outline concerns about unproven technologies. </p> <a class="read-more modal-link timeline-modal-8019" data-article="timeline-modal-8019" data-toggle="modal" data-target="#timeline-modal" > Read the story <span class="arrow"><i class="ci-long-arrow-right"></i></span> </a> </div> <div class="timeline-article-image" style="background-image: url(https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/Along_Those_Lines_logo_1x1.jpg)"> </div> </div> <div class="timeline-article "> <div class="timeline-article-info"> <h3><a class="modal-link" data-article="timeline-modal-8024" data-toggle="modal" data-target="#timeline-modal">NRECA Asks Federal Agency for More Rural-Friendly Rules for Broadband Grants</a> </h3> <p>Grant rules may allow areas where broadband projects fall short to be stuck with poor service.</p> <a class="read-more modal-link timeline-modal-8024" data-article="timeline-modal-8024" data-toggle="modal" data-target="#timeline-modal" > Read the story <span class="arrow"><i class="ci-long-arrow-right"></i></span> </a> </div> <div class="timeline-article-image" style="background-image: url(https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/IMG_8925.jpg)"> </div> </div> <div class="timeline-article "> <div class="timeline-article-info"> <h3><a class="modal-link" data-article="timeline-modal-7978" data-toggle="modal" data-target="#timeline-modal">NRECA Sends Concerns to FCC About $9.2 Billion Rural Broadband Auction</a> </h3> <p>RDOF winners that fail “will put people in rural America in substandard service for a long time.”</p> <a class="read-more modal-link timeline-modal-7978" data-article="timeline-modal-7978" data-toggle="modal" data-target="#timeline-modal" > Read the story <span class="arrow"><i class="ci-long-arrow-right"></i></span> </a> </div> <div class="timeline-article-image" style="background-image: url(https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/rdof-clark-feb-2021.jpg)"> </div> </div> </div>  </div> <div class="timeline-phase"> <div class="timeline-date"> <h2><strong>January</strong> 2021</h2> </div> <div class="timeline-digest"> <div class="timeline-article "> <div class="timeline-article-info"> <h3><a class="modal-link" data-article="timeline-modal-7956" data-toggle="modal" data-target="#timeline-modal">Members of Congress Urge FCC to Vet Provider Promises on Rural Broadband</a> </h3> <p>NRECA fears broadband providers with winning bids at the RDOF auction can’t keep promises.</p> <a class="read-more modal-link timeline-modal-7956" data-article="timeline-modal-7956" data-toggle="modal" data-target="#timeline-modal" > Read the story <span class="arrow"><i class="ci-long-arrow-right"></i></span> </a> </div> </div> <div class="timeline-article "> <div class="timeline-article-info"> <h3><a class="modal-link" data-article="timeline-modal-7924" data-toggle="modal" data-target="#timeline-modal">Broadband ‘One Buck Deal’: Georgia Co-ops’ Pole Fee Wins Unanimous Approval</a> </h3> <p>Georgia EMC strikes a “one buck deal” on pole attachments to get rural broadband.</p> <a class="read-more modal-link timeline-modal-7924" data-article="timeline-modal-7924" data-toggle="modal" data-target="#timeline-modal" > Read the story <span class="arrow"><i class="ci-long-arrow-right"></i></span> </a> </div> <div class="timeline-article-image" style="background-image: url(https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/broadband-pole-attachment.jpg)"> </div> </div> </div>  </div> <div class="timeline-phase"> <div class="timeline-date"> <h2><strong>December</strong> 2020</h2> </div> <div class="timeline-digest"> <div class="timeline-article "> <div class="timeline-article-info"> <h3><a class="modal-link" data-article="timeline-modal-7900" data-toggle="modal" data-target="#timeline-modal">Electric Co-ops Win $1.6 Billion in FCC Rural Broadband Auction</a> </h3> <p>NRECA is analyzing results of the FCC broadband auction and its impact on electric co-op members. </p> <a class="read-more modal-link timeline-modal-7900" data-article="timeline-modal-7900" data-toggle="modal" data-target="#timeline-modal" > Read the story <span class="arrow"><i class="ci-long-arrow-right"></i></span> </a> </div> <div class="timeline-article-image" style="background-image: url(https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/lineworkers-rdof-december-2020.jpg)"> </div> </div> </div>  </div> <div class="timeline-phase"> <div class="timeline-date"> <h2><strong>November</strong> 2020</h2> </div> <div class="timeline-digest"> <div class="timeline-article "> <div class="timeline-article-info"> <h3><a class="modal-link" data-article="timeline-modal-7749" data-toggle="modal" data-target="#timeline-modal">What Biden’s Victory Means for Electric Cooperatives</a> </h3> <p>Biden’s agenda will be complicated by a divided Congress.</p> <a class="read-more modal-link timeline-modal-7749" data-article="timeline-modal-7749" data-toggle="modal" data-target="#timeline-modal" > Read the story <span class="arrow"><i class="ci-long-arrow-right"></i></span> </a> </div> <div class="timeline-article-image" style="background-image: url(https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/election-2020-getty.jpg)"> </div> </div> </div>  </div> <div class="timeline-phase"> <div class="timeline-date"> <h2><strong>October</strong> 2020</h2> </div> <div class="timeline-digest"> <div class="timeline-article "> <div class="timeline-article-info"> <h3><a class="modal-link" data-article="timeline-modal-7705" data-toggle="modal" data-target="#timeline-modal">Electric Co-ops Win Nearly $64M in Latest ReConnect Broadband Funding</a> </h3> <p>Jo-Carroll Energy wins $14 million ReConnect broadband grant to brighten rural communities’ future. </p> <a class="read-more modal-link timeline-modal-7705" data-article="timeline-modal-7705" data-toggle="modal" data-target="#timeline-modal" > Read the story <span class="arrow"><i class="ci-long-arrow-right"></i></span> </a> </div> <div class="timeline-article-image" style="background-image: url(https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/JOCARROLLEnergyIMG_9142.jpg)"> </div> </div> <div class="timeline-article "> <div class="timeline-article-info"> <h3><a class="modal-link" data-article="timeline-modal-7678" data-toggle="modal" data-target="#timeline-modal">190 Electric Co-ops Qualify to Bid at FCC’s $16 Billion Broadband Auction</a> </h3> <p>Winning bidders will receive funds over a 10-year period to deploy broadband.</p> <a class="read-more modal-link timeline-modal-7678" data-article="timeline-modal-7678" data-toggle="modal" data-target="#timeline-modal" > Read the story <span class="arrow"><i class="ci-long-arrow-right"></i></span> </a> </div> <div class="timeline-article-image" style="background-image: url(https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/JOCARROLL-Energy-broadband.jpg)"> </div> </div> </div>  </div> <div class="timeline-phase"> <div class="timeline-date"> <h2><strong>September</strong> 2020</h2> </div> <div class="timeline-digest"> <div class="timeline-article "> <div class="timeline-article-info"> <h3><a class="modal-link" data-article="timeline-modal-7610" data-toggle="modal" data-target="#timeline-modal">FCC Recognizes Co-op’s Senior2Senior Internet Skills Program</a> </h3> <p>Pandemic makes “reliable online access even more critical to the elderly” in rural America.</p> <a class="read-more modal-link timeline-modal-7610" data-article="timeline-modal-7610" data-toggle="modal" data-target="#timeline-modal" > Read the story <span class="arrow"><i class="ci-long-arrow-right"></i></span> </a> </div> <div class="timeline-article-image" style="background-image: url(https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/fcc-sr2sr.jpg)"> </div> </div> <div class="timeline-article "> <div class="timeline-article-info"> <h3><a class="modal-link" data-article="timeline-modal-7592" data-toggle="modal" data-target="#timeline-modal">Back to (Virtual) School: Co-op Broadband Helps Keep Students Connected</a> </h3> <p>Students in remote communities connect with teachers and classmates thanks to co-op broadband.</p> <a class="read-more modal-link timeline-modal-7592" data-article="timeline-modal-7592" data-toggle="modal" data-target="#timeline-modal" > Read the story <span class="arrow"><i class="ci-long-arrow-right"></i></span> </a> </div> <div class="timeline-article-image" style="background-image: url(https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/broadban-chromebook.jpg)"> </div> </div> <div class="timeline-article "> <div class="timeline-article-info"> <h3><a class="modal-link" data-article="timeline-modal-7585" data-toggle="modal" data-target="#timeline-modal">Indiana Awards Electric Co-ops $36 Million to Build Broadband in Unserved Areas</a> </h3> <p>Tipmont REMC will connect more than 2,200 homes and businesses with $16 million in state grants. </p> <a class="read-more modal-link timeline-modal-7585" data-article="timeline-modal-7585" data-toggle="modal" data-target="#timeline-modal" > Read the story <span class="arrow"><i class="ci-long-arrow-right"></i></span> </a> </div> <div class="timeline-article-image" style="background-image: url(https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/tipmont-indiana-broadband.jpg)"> </div> </div> <div class="timeline-article "> <div class="timeline-article-info"> <h3><a class="modal-link" data-article="timeline-modal-7503" data-toggle="modal" data-target="#timeline-modal">Tennessee Co-ops Win $40 Million in State COVID-19 Broadband Grants</a> </h3> <p>For the unserved rural electric co-op member, broadband in their home is “literally life-changing.”</p> <a class="read-more modal-link timeline-modal-7503" data-article="timeline-modal-7503" data-toggle="modal" data-target="#timeline-modal" > Read the story <span class="arrow"><i class="ci-long-arrow-right"></i></span> </a> </div> <div class="timeline-article-image" style="background-image: url(https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Holston-IMG_2999.jpg)"> </div> </div> </div>  </div> <div class="timeline-phase"> <div class="timeline-date"> <h2><strong>July</strong> 2020</h2> </div> <div class="timeline-digest"> <div class="timeline-article "> <div class="timeline-article-info"> <h3><a class="modal-link" data-article="timeline-modal-7361" data-toggle="modal" data-target="#timeline-modal">Mississippi Co-op Wins $16M Broadband Grant From USDA ReConnect Program</a> </h3> <p>A “historic day” for a Mississippi co-op building a $60 million rural broadband network.</p> <a class="read-more modal-link timeline-modal-7361" data-article="timeline-modal-7361" data-toggle="modal" data-target="#timeline-modal" > Read the story <span class="arrow"><i class="ci-long-arrow-right"></i></span> </a> </div> <div class="timeline-article-image" style="background-image: url(https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Construction-SDT-TVIfiber-scaled.jpg)"> </div> </div> </div>  </div> <div class="timeline-phase"> <div class="timeline-date"> <h2><strong>June</strong> 2020</h2> </div> <div class="timeline-digest"> <div class="timeline-article "> <div class="timeline-article-info"> <h3><a class="modal-link" data-article="timeline-modal-7259" data-toggle="modal" data-target="#timeline-modal">New Mexico Co-op Gives Free Broadband Connections to Struggling Students</a> </h3> <p>Kit Carson says free broadband connections to homes with school children is good business.</p> <a class="read-more modal-link timeline-modal-7259" data-article="timeline-modal-7259" data-toggle="modal" data-target="#timeline-modal" > Read the story <span class="arrow"><i class="ci-long-arrow-right"></i></span> </a> </div> <div class="timeline-article-image" style="background-image: url(https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/Kit-Carson-Photo.jpg)"> </div> </div> </div>  </div> <div class="timeline-phase"> <div class="timeline-date"> <h2><strong>May</strong> 2020</h2> </div> <div class="timeline-digest"> <div class="timeline-article "> <div class="timeline-article-info"> <h3><a class="modal-link" data-article="timeline-modal-7126" data-toggle="modal" data-target="#timeline-modal">Co-op Schools Seniors on Internet as it Builds Out Broadband</a> </h3> <p>Too old for the internet? An electric co-op’s broadband subsidiary tests its mission to serve.</p> <a class="read-more modal-link timeline-modal-7126" data-article="timeline-modal-7126" data-toggle="modal" data-target="#timeline-modal" > Read the story <span class="arrow"><i class="ci-long-arrow-right"></i></span> </a> </div> <div class="timeline-article-image" style="background-image: url(https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/broadband-seniors-may-2020.jpg)"> </div> </div> </div>  </div> <div class="timeline-phase"> <div class="timeline-date"> <h2><strong>April</strong> 2020</h2> </div> <div class="timeline-digest"> <div class="timeline-article "> <div class="timeline-article-info"> <h3><a class="modal-link" data-article="timeline-modal-7011" data-toggle="modal" data-target="#timeline-modal">‘A Blessing’: Co-ops Deliver Free Public Wi-Fi Hotspots During COVID-19</a> </h3> <p>The free broadband hotspots that co-ops are offering include a barbecue restaurant parking lot. </p> <a class="read-more modal-link timeline-modal-7011" data-article="timeline-modal-7011" data-toggle="modal" data-target="#timeline-modal" > Read the story <span class="arrow"><i class="ci-long-arrow-right"></i></span> </a> </div> <div class="timeline-article-image" style="background-image: url(https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/Broadband-REC-hotspot.jpg)"> </div> </div> <div class="timeline-article "> <div class="timeline-article-info"> <h3><a class="modal-link" data-article="timeline-modal-7003" data-toggle="modal" data-target="#timeline-modal">Along Those Lines: Keeping Crews and Members Safe, Powered and Connected During the Pandemic</a> </h3> <p>Electric co-op leaders discuss safety measures to keep power on and members connected to broadband.</p> <a class="read-more modal-link timeline-modal-7003" data-article="timeline-modal-7003" data-toggle="modal" data-target="#timeline-modal" > Read the story <span class="arrow"><i class="ci-long-arrow-right"></i></span> </a> </div> <div class="timeline-article-image" style="background-image: url(https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/Along_Those_Lines_logo_1x1.jpg)"> </div> </div> <div class="timeline-article "> <div class="timeline-article-info"> <h3><a class="modal-link" data-article="timeline-modal-6958" data-toggle="modal" data-target="#timeline-modal">Video: Co-op Broadband Enhances Education, Local Economy in Rural Virginia</a> </h3> <p>Co-op connects residents, schools, businesses to opportunities they’d never had access to before.</p> <a class="read-more modal-link timeline-modal-6958" data-article="timeline-modal-6958" data-toggle="modal" data-target="#timeline-modal" > Read the story <span class="arrow"><i class="ci-long-arrow-right"></i></span> </a> </div> <div class="timeline-article-image" style="background-image: url(https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/Mountain-View-Elementary.jpg)"> </div> </div> <div class="timeline-article "> <div class="timeline-article-info"> <h3><a class="modal-link" data-article="timeline-modal-6982" data-toggle="modal" data-target="#timeline-modal">Co-op Leaders Add Their Voice to FCC Precision Agriculture Effort</a> </h3> <p>Precision agriculture brings greater efficiency to farm tasks like seeding, fertilizing and watering.</p> <a class="read-more modal-link timeline-modal-6982" data-article="timeline-modal-6982" data-toggle="modal" data-target="#timeline-modal" > Read the story <span class="arrow"><i class="ci-long-arrow-right"></i></span> </a> </div> <div class="timeline-article-image" style="background-image: url(https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/precision-ag-april-2020.jpg)"> </div> </div> <div class="timeline-article "> <div class="timeline-article-info"> <h3><a class="modal-link" data-article="timeline-modal-6969" data-toggle="modal" data-target="#timeline-modal">NRECA Seeks Federal Relief for Co-ops as Members Struggle to Pay Bills</a> </h3> <p>Co-ops need loans and consumers need broadband access during the pandemic, NRECA told Congress.</p> <a class="read-more modal-link timeline-modal-6969" data-article="timeline-modal-6969" data-toggle="modal" data-target="#timeline-modal" > Read the story <span class="arrow"><i class="ci-long-arrow-right"></i></span> </a> </div> <div class="timeline-article-image" style="background-image: url(https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/US-Capitol-rotunda.jpg)"> </div> </div> <div class="timeline-article "> <div class="timeline-article-info"> <h3><a class="modal-link" data-article="timeline-modal-6967" data-toggle="modal" data-target="#timeline-modal">Illinois Co-op Wins $2 Million USDA Community Connect Grant for Broadband</a> </h3> <p>Jo-Carroll Energy will use the grant to deliver broadband to 420 homes in rural Illinois.</p> <a class="read-more modal-link timeline-modal-6967" data-article="timeline-modal-6967" data-toggle="modal" data-target="#timeline-modal" > Read the story <span class="arrow"><i class="ci-long-arrow-right"></i></span> </a> </div> <div class="timeline-article-image" style="background-image: url(https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/joe-carroll-broadband.jpg)"> </div> </div> </div>  </div> <div class="timeline-phase"> <div class="timeline-date"> <h2><strong>March</strong> 2020</h2> </div> <div class="timeline-digest"> <div class="timeline-article "> <div class="timeline-article-info"> <h3><a class="modal-link" data-article="timeline-modal-6947" data-toggle="modal" data-target="#timeline-modal">Co-op Speeds Broadband Connection to Clinic for COVID-19 Testing</a> </h3> <p>In a show of commitment to community, co-op delivers broadband to clinic under tight deadline.</p> <a class="read-more modal-link timeline-modal-6947" data-article="timeline-modal-6947" data-toggle="modal" data-target="#timeline-modal" > Read the story <span class="arrow"><i class="ci-long-arrow-right"></i></span> </a> </div> <div class="timeline-article-image" style="background-image: url(https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/covid-broadband-ninestar-1.jpg)"> </div> </div> <div class="timeline-article "> <div class="timeline-article-info"> <h3><a class="modal-link" data-article="timeline-modal-6932" data-toggle="modal" data-target="#timeline-modal">Co-op Broadband Providers Pledge to Sustain Low-Income Service as Pandemic Hardships Increase</a> </h3> <p>How co-op broadband providers are keeping communities connected during COVID-19 pandemic.</p> <a class="read-more modal-link timeline-modal-6932" data-article="timeline-modal-6932" data-toggle="modal" data-target="#timeline-modal" > Read the story <span class="arrow"><i class="ci-long-arrow-right"></i></span> </a> </div> <div class="timeline-article-image" style="background-image: url(https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/barc-school-broadband.jpg)"> </div> </div> <div class="timeline-article "> <div class="timeline-article-info"> <h3><a class="modal-link" data-article="timeline-modal-6924" data-toggle="modal" data-target="#timeline-modal">Co-op Aid Included in Coronavirus Relief Bill</a> </h3> <p>The Department of Agriculture has also eased RUS loan requirements for co-ops.</p> <a class="read-more modal-link timeline-modal-6924" data-article="timeline-modal-6924" data-toggle="modal" data-target="#timeline-modal" > Read the story <span class="arrow"><i class="ci-long-arrow-right"></i></span> </a> </div> <div class="timeline-article-image" style="background-image: url(https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/capitol-covid-19-march-24.jpg)"> </div> </div> <div class="timeline-article "> <div class="timeline-article-info"> <h3><a class="modal-link" data-article="timeline-modal-6891" data-toggle="modal" data-target="#timeline-modal">Congress Passes Bill to Improve Broadband Mapping Data</a> </h3> <p>The bill could help co-ops get broadband grants by showing which rural areas need service most.</p> <a class="read-more modal-link timeline-modal-6891" data-article="timeline-modal-6891" data-toggle="modal" data-target="#timeline-modal" > Read the story <span class="arrow"><i class="ci-long-arrow-right"></i></span> </a> </div> <div class="timeline-article-image" style="background-image: url(https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/Broadband-Mapping-Bill-march2020.jpg)"> </div> </div> <div class="timeline-article "> <div class="timeline-article-info"> <h3><a class="modal-link" data-article="timeline-modal-6889" data-toggle="modal" data-target="#timeline-modal">NRECA CEO Jim Matheson Applauds Passage of the Broadband DATA Act</a> </h3> <p>Arlington, Va. – National Rural Electric Cooperative Association CEO Jim Matheson today applauded congressional passage of S. 1822, the Broadband DATA Act. “Bridging the digital divide is impossible without accurate service maps showing who has broadband access and who doesn’t,” Matheson said. “The Broadband DATA Act charts a course for a more connected rural America […]</p> <a class="read-more modal-link timeline-modal-6889" data-article="timeline-modal-6889" data-toggle="modal" data-target="#timeline-modal" > Read full statement <span class="arrow"><i class="ci-long-arrow-right"></i></span> </a> </div> </div> </div>  </div> <div class="timeline-phase"> <div class="timeline-date"> <h2><strong>February</strong> 2020</h2> </div> <div class="timeline-digest"> <div class="timeline-article "> <div class="timeline-article-info"> <h3><a class="modal-link" data-article="timeline-modal-6830" data-toggle="modal" data-target="#timeline-modal">Matheson to NARUC: Talk to Co-ops About Serving Underserved Communities, Broadband</a> </h3> <p>From food banks to broadband, co-ops serve the underserved, NRECA’s Matheson tells NARUC. </p> <a class="read-more modal-link timeline-modal-6830" data-article="timeline-modal-6830" data-toggle="modal" data-target="#timeline-modal" > Read the story <span class="arrow"><i class="ci-long-arrow-right"></i></span> </a> </div> <div class="timeline-article-image" style="background-image: url(https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/matheson-naruc-thumb.jpg)"> </div> </div> <div class="timeline-article "> <div class="timeline-article-info"> <h3><a class="modal-link" data-article="timeline-modal-6806" data-toggle="modal" data-target="#timeline-modal">FCC Chairman Gets Firsthand Look at Rural Broadband Efforts in Michigan</a> </h3> <p>FCC Chairman Ajit Pai gets “fully engaged” in rural broadband build by a Michigan co-op.</p> <a class="read-more modal-link timeline-modal-6806" data-article="timeline-modal-6806" data-toggle="modal" data-target="#timeline-modal" > Read the story <span class="arrow"><i class="ci-long-arrow-right"></i></span> </a> </div> <div class="timeline-article-image" style="background-image: url(https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/pai-fcc-michigan-broadband-1.jpg)"> </div> </div> </div>  </div> <div class="timeline-phase"> <div class="timeline-date"> <h2><strong>January</strong> 2020</h2> </div> <div class="timeline-digest"> <div class="timeline-article "> <div class="timeline-article-info"> <h3><a class="modal-link" data-article="timeline-modal-6780" data-toggle="modal" data-target="#timeline-modal">Electric Co-ops Support FCC Broadband Auction Rules</a> </h3> <p>ARLINGTON, Va. – National Rural Electric Cooperative Association CEO Jim Matheson applauded today’s vote by the Federal Communication Commission (FCC) to approve rules for the Rural Development Opportunity Fund (RDOF) reverse auction for broadband projects.   “America’s electric co-ops are optimistic that the auction rules will lead to meaningful expansion of broadband access in rural America,” Matheson said. “We appreciate the commissioners’ […]</p> <a class="read-more modal-link timeline-modal-6780" data-article="timeline-modal-6780" data-toggle="modal" data-target="#timeline-modal" > Read the press release <span class="arrow"><i class="ci-long-arrow-right"></i></span> </a> </div> </div> </div>  </div> <div class="timeline-phase"> <div class="timeline-date"> <h2><strong>December</strong> 2019</h2> </div> <div class="timeline-digest"> <div class="timeline-article "> <div class="timeline-article-info"> <h3><a class="modal-link" data-article="timeline-modal-6701" data-toggle="modal" data-target="#timeline-modal">Congress Passes RURAL Act, Preserves Co-ops’ Tax-Exempt Status</a> </h3> <p>RURAL Act is retroactive to 2018 tax year, protecting co-ops that have already accepted grants.</p> <a class="read-more modal-link timeline-modal-6701" data-article="timeline-modal-6701" data-toggle="modal" data-target="#timeline-modal" > Read the story <span class="arrow"><i class="ci-long-arrow-right"></i></span> </a> </div> <div class="timeline-article-image" style="background-image: url(https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/GettyImages-641131888-rural-act.jpg)"> </div> </div> </div>  </div> <div class="timeline-phase"> <div class="timeline-date"> <h2><strong>November</strong> 2019</h2> </div> <div class="timeline-digest"> <div class="timeline-article "> <div class="timeline-article-info"> <h3><a class="modal-link" data-article="timeline-modal-6677" data-toggle="modal" data-target="#timeline-modal">Electric Co-op Acquiring Phone Co-op to Pool Broadband Resources for Members</a> </h3> <p>An electric co-op acquires a phone co-op as the missing puzzle piece for deploying broadband. </p> <a class="read-more modal-link timeline-modal-6677" data-article="timeline-modal-6677" data-toggle="modal" data-target="#timeline-modal" > Read the story <span class="arrow"><i class="ci-long-arrow-right"></i></span> </a> </div> <div class="timeline-article-image" style="background-image: url(https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/MEC-BB-ReConnect-LaVoy.jpg)"> </div> </div> <div class="timeline-article "> <div class="timeline-article-info"> <h3><a class="modal-link" data-article="timeline-modal-6658" data-toggle="modal" data-target="#timeline-modal">Co-op Voices, Part 2: How Losing Tax-Exempt Status Would Hurt Rural America</a> </h3> <p>If co-ops lose their tax-exempt status, leaders say they may be forced to raise rates for members. </p> <a class="read-more modal-link timeline-modal-6658" data-article="timeline-modal-6658" data-toggle="modal" data-target="#timeline-modal" > Read the story <span class="arrow"><i class="ci-long-arrow-right"></i></span> </a> </div> <div class="timeline-article-image" style="background-image: url(https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/storm-rural-act-november.jpg)"> </div> </div> </div>  </div> <div class="timeline-phase"> <div class="timeline-date"> <h2><strong>October</strong> 2019</h2> </div> <div class="timeline-digest"> <div class="timeline-article "> <div class="timeline-article-info"> <h3><a class="modal-link" data-article="timeline-modal-6592" data-toggle="modal" data-target="#timeline-modal">Q&A: Senate’s Lead RURAL Act Sponsors Discuss Their Strategy for Passage</a> </h3> <p>More than a third of the U.S. Senate has now signed on to co-sponsor the RURAL Act.</p> <a class="read-more modal-link timeline-modal-6592" data-article="timeline-modal-6592" data-toggle="modal" data-target="#timeline-modal" > Read the story <span class="arrow"><i class="ci-long-arrow-right"></i></span> </a> </div> <div class="timeline-article-image" style="background-image: url(https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/rural-act-october-capitol-getty-thumb.jpg)"> </div> </div> <div class="timeline-article "> <div class="timeline-article-info"> <h3><a class="modal-link" data-article="timeline-modal-6586" data-toggle="modal" data-target="#timeline-modal">Ag Secretary Spotlights a Co-op With First ReConnect Broadband Grant</a> </h3> <p>Forked Deer EC says ReConnect grant will help deliver broadband to “forgotten America.”</p> <a class="read-more modal-link timeline-modal-6586" data-article="timeline-modal-6586" data-toggle="modal" data-target="#timeline-modal" > Read the story <span class="arrow"><i class="ci-long-arrow-right"></i></span> </a> </div> <div class="timeline-article-image" style="background-image: url(https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/teca-broadband.jpg)"> </div> </div> <div class="timeline-article "> <div class="timeline-article-info"> <h3><a class="modal-link" data-article="timeline-modal-6584" data-toggle="modal" data-target="#timeline-modal">Appalachian Co-ops Get $9.6 Million for Broadband in Hard-Hit Coal Country</a> </h3> <p>Appalachian Regional Commission expects funds to go a long way toward helping rural economies.</p> <a class="read-more modal-link timeline-modal-6584" data-article="timeline-modal-6584" data-toggle="modal" data-target="#timeline-modal" > Read the story <span class="arrow"><i class="ci-long-arrow-right"></i></span> </a> </div> <div class="timeline-article-image" style="background-image: url(https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/DSC_0042.jpg)"> </div> </div> <div class="timeline-article "> <div class="timeline-article-info"> <h3><a class="modal-link" data-article="timeline-modal-6527" data-toggle="modal" data-target="#timeline-modal">Co-op CEO to Congress: Help Expand Rural Broadband by Passing RURAL Act</a> </h3> <p>Co-ops’ ability to expand broadband service could be limited unless Congress changes the tax code.</p> <a class="read-more modal-link timeline-modal-6527" data-article="timeline-modal-6527" data-toggle="modal" data-target="#timeline-modal" > Read the story <span class="arrow"><i class="ci-long-arrow-right"></i></span> </a> </div> <div class="timeline-article-image" style="background-image: url(https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/BroadbandHearing.jpg)"> </div> </div> </div>  </div> <div class="timeline-phase"> <div class="timeline-date"> <h2><strong>September</strong> 2019</h2> </div> <div class="timeline-digest"> <div class="timeline-article "> <div class="timeline-article-info"> <h3><a class="modal-link" data-article="timeline-modal-6447" data-toggle="modal" data-target="#timeline-modal">NRECA Urges Congress to Include Crucial Data in Broadband Mapping Bill</a> </h3> <p>NRECA CEO Jim Matheson says any broadband mapping bill should include easy way to challenge data.</p> <a class="read-more modal-link timeline-modal-6447" data-article="timeline-modal-6447" data-toggle="modal" data-target="#timeline-modal" > Read the story <span class="arrow"><i class="ci-long-arrow-right"></i></span> </a> </div> <div class="timeline-article-image" style="background-image: url(https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/Broadband-VA-mapping.jpg)"> </div> </div> <div class="timeline-article "> <div class="timeline-article-info"> <h3><a class="modal-link" data-article="timeline-modal-6350" data-toggle="modal" data-target="#timeline-modal">With State Greenlight, Four Co-ops in Mississippi Enter Broadband Space</a> </h3> <p>Electric co-ops react to a state law lifting uncertainty on delivering rural broadband in Mississippi. </p> <a class="read-more modal-link timeline-modal-6350" data-article="timeline-modal-6350" data-toggle="modal" data-target="#timeline-modal" > Read the story <span class="arrow"><i class="ci-long-arrow-right"></i></span> </a> </div> <div class="timeline-article-image" style="background-image: url(https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/mississippi-broadband.jpg)"> </div> </div> </div>  </div> <div class="timeline-phase"> <div class="timeline-date"> <h2><strong>August</strong> 2019</h2> </div> <div class="timeline-digest"> <div class="timeline-article "> <div class="timeline-article-info"> <h3><a class="modal-link" data-article="timeline-modal-6280" data-toggle="modal" data-target="#timeline-modal">Q&A: How Co-op Priorities Are Faring in Congress This Year</a> </h3> <p>Congress has less than two months of legislative days left this year to pass co-op priorities.</p> <a class="read-more modal-link timeline-modal-6280" data-article="timeline-modal-6280" data-toggle="modal" data-target="#timeline-modal" > Read the story <span class="arrow"><i class="ci-long-arrow-right"></i></span> </a> </div> <div class="timeline-article-image" style="background-image: url(https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/congress-cap.jpg)"> </div> </div> </div>  </div> <div class="timeline-phase"> <div class="timeline-date"> <h2><strong>July</strong> 2019</h2> </div> <div class="timeline-digest"> <div class="timeline-article "> <div class="timeline-article-info"> <h3><a class="modal-link" data-article="timeline-modal-6262" data-toggle="modal" data-target="#timeline-modal">Indiana Co-op Leverages Fiber Network for Health Care, Economic Growth</a> </h3> <p>In Indiana, a co-op uses fiber to improve health care and grow a local economy.</p> <a class="read-more modal-link timeline-modal-6262" data-article="timeline-modal-6262" data-toggle="modal" data-target="#timeline-modal" > Read the story <span class="arrow"><i class="ci-long-arrow-right"></i></span> </a> </div> <div class="timeline-article-image" style="background-image: url(https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/REDLGIndianaAEC-july.jpg)"> </div> </div> <div class="timeline-article "> <div class="timeline-article-info"> <h3><a class="modal-link" data-article="timeline-modal-6245" data-toggle="modal" data-target="#timeline-modal">‘We’re All in This Together’: Va. Governor Commends Co-ops’ Broadband Efforts</a> </h3> <p>Virginia governor says co-ops “absolutely” have a role in his priority for universal broadband. </p> <a class="read-more modal-link timeline-modal-6245" data-article="timeline-modal-6245" data-toggle="modal" data-target="#timeline-modal" > Read the story <span class="arrow"><i class="ci-long-arrow-right"></i></span> </a> </div> <div class="timeline-article-image" style="background-image: url(https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/cvec-virginia-ralph-northram.jpg)"> </div> </div> <div class="timeline-article "> <div class="timeline-article-info"> <h3><a class="modal-link" data-article="timeline-modal-6151" data-toggle="modal" data-target="#timeline-modal">A Texas Triple Play: Bandera Offers Members Solar, Storage and Broadband</a> </h3> <p>Co-op’s broadband, solar arms launched as result of responses to customer satisfaction surveys. </p> <a class="read-more modal-link timeline-modal-6151" data-article="timeline-modal-6151" data-toggle="modal" data-target="#timeline-modal" > Read the story <span class="arrow"><i class="ci-long-arrow-right"></i></span> </a> </div> <div class="timeline-article-image" style="background-image: url(https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/bandera-solar-commericial-1.jpg)"> </div> </div> </div>  </div> <div class="timeline-phase"> <div class="timeline-date"> <h2><strong>June</strong> 2019</h2> </div> <div class="timeline-digest"> <div class="timeline-article "> <div class="timeline-article-info"> <h3><a class="modal-link" data-article="timeline-modal-6144" data-toggle="modal" data-target="#timeline-modal">Co-op Leader Testifies to Congress About Faulty Federal Broadband Data</a> </h3> <p>An Iowa co-op may have to pay back 23% of its broadband grant because of inaccurate federal data.</p> <a class="read-more modal-link timeline-modal-6144" data-article="timeline-modal-6144" data-toggle="modal" data-target="#timeline-modal" > Read the story <span class="arrow"><i class="ci-long-arrow-right"></i></span> </a> </div> <div class="timeline-article-image" style="background-image: url(https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/stelpflug-broadband.jpg)"> </div> </div> <div class="timeline-article "> <div class="timeline-article-info"> <h3><a class="modal-link" data-article="timeline-modal-6118" data-toggle="modal" data-target="#timeline-modal">New State Laws Clear Hurdles for Co-ops That Choose to Pursue Broadband</a> </h3> <p>Laws in Alabama, North Carolina give electric co-ops legal certainty to enter the broadband space.</p> <a class="read-more modal-link timeline-modal-6118" data-article="timeline-modal-6118" data-toggle="modal" data-target="#timeline-modal" > Read the story <span class="arrow"><i class="ci-long-arrow-right"></i></span> </a> </div> </div> </div>  </div> <div class="timeline-phase"> <div class="timeline-date"> <h2><strong>May</strong> 2019</h2> </div> <div class="timeline-digest"> <div class="timeline-article "> <div class="timeline-article-info"> <h3><a class="modal-link" data-article="timeline-modal-6076" data-toggle="modal" data-target="#timeline-modal">Tennessee Tried-and-True: Making Broadband Work for Members the Co-op Way</a> </h3> <p>Tennessee co-op pitches broadband to its members the same way it pitched electricity 80 years ago. </p> <a class="read-more modal-link timeline-modal-6076" data-article="timeline-modal-6076" data-toggle="modal" data-target="#timeline-modal" > Read the story <span class="arrow"><i class="ci-long-arrow-right"></i></span> </a> </div> <div class="timeline-article-image" style="background-image: url(https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/gibson-broadband-JHaskins.jpg)"> </div> </div> <div class="timeline-article "> <div class="timeline-article-info"> <h3><a class="modal-link" data-article="timeline-modal-6065" data-toggle="modal" data-target="#timeline-modal">Co-op Wins $51 Million for Broadband Networks Before Groundbreaking</a> </h3> <p>How a Pennsylvania co-op garnered $51 million for its broadband venture before breaking ground. </p> <a class="read-more modal-link timeline-modal-6065" data-article="timeline-modal-6065" data-toggle="modal" data-target="#timeline-modal" > Read the story <span class="arrow"><i class="ci-long-arrow-right"></i></span> </a> </div> <div class="timeline-article-image" style="background-image: url(https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/tri-county-broadband-may-2019.jpg)"> </div> </div> <div class="timeline-article "> <div class="timeline-article-info"> <h3><a class="modal-link" data-article="timeline-modal-6041" data-toggle="modal" data-target="#timeline-modal">FCC Appoints NRECA’s Matheson to Broadband Deployment Advisory Committee</a> </h3> <p>NRECA CEO Jim Matheson will be advocating for the needs of rural communities on the FCC's Broadband Deployment Advisory Committee. </p> <a class="read-more modal-link timeline-modal-6041" data-article="timeline-modal-6041" data-toggle="modal" data-target="#timeline-modal" > Read the press release <span class="arrow"><i class="ci-long-arrow-right"></i></span> </a> </div> </div> <div class="timeline-article "> <div class="timeline-article-info"> <h3><a class="modal-link" data-article="timeline-modal-6027" data-toggle="modal" data-target="#timeline-modal">New Georgia Law Makes Clear That Electric Co-ops Can Enter the Broadband Space</a> </h3> <p>New law clears way for Georgia co-ops to explore broadband and access federal funds.</p> <a class="read-more modal-link timeline-modal-6027" data-article="timeline-modal-6027" data-toggle="modal" data-target="#timeline-modal" > Read the story <span class="arrow"><i class="ci-long-arrow-right"></i></span> </a> </div> <div class="timeline-article-image" style="background-image: url(https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/georgia-emc-broadband.jpg)"> </div> </div> <div class="timeline-article "> <div class="timeline-article-info"> <h3><a class="modal-link" data-article="timeline-modal-6018" data-toggle="modal" data-target="#timeline-modal">NRECA Urges FCC to Advance $20 Billion Auction to Deliver Broadband to Rural America</a> </h3> <p>NRECA wants to ensure co-ops can bid for $20 billion in federal funds for broadband in 2020.</p> <a class="read-more modal-link timeline-modal-6018" data-article="timeline-modal-6018" data-toggle="modal" data-target="#timeline-modal" > Read the story <span class="arrow"><i class="ci-long-arrow-right"></i></span> </a> </div> <div class="timeline-article-image" style="background-image: url(https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/broadband877.jpg)"> </div> </div> </div>  </div> <div class="timeline-phase"> <div class="timeline-date"> <h2><strong>April</strong> 2019</h2> </div> <div class="timeline-digest"> <div class="timeline-article "> <div class="timeline-article-info"> <h3><a class="modal-link" data-article="timeline-modal-5805" data-toggle="modal" data-target="#timeline-modal">Easement Clarity Would Help Texas Co-ops Deliver Broadband</a> </h3> <p>A south-central Texas co-op delivering broadband asks state lawmakers to address easement issue.</p> <a class="read-more modal-link timeline-modal-5805" data-article="timeline-modal-5805" data-toggle="modal" data-target="#timeline-modal" > Read the story <span class="arrow"><i class="ci-long-arrow-right"></i></span> </a> </div> <div class="timeline-article-image" style="background-image: url(https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/gvec-broadband-april-2019.jpg)"> </div> </div> </div>  </div> <div class="timeline-phase"> <div class="timeline-date"> <h2><strong>March</strong> 2019</h2> </div> <div class="timeline-digest"> <div class="timeline-article "> <div class="timeline-article-info"> <h3><a class="modal-link" data-article="timeline-modal-5647" data-toggle="modal" data-target="#timeline-modal">At USDA Forum, NRECA Chief Economist Details Local Impact of Rural Broadband Gap</a> </h3> <p>When rural communities lack broadband access, what is the cost to the people who live there?</p> <a class="read-more modal-link timeline-modal-5647" data-article="timeline-modal-5647" data-toggle="modal" data-target="#timeline-modal" > Read the story <span class="arrow"><i class="ci-long-arrow-right"></i></span> </a> </div> <div class="timeline-article-image" style="background-image: url(https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/broadband-march-2019.jpg)"> </div> </div> </div>  </div> <div class="timeline-phase"> <div class="timeline-date"> <h2><strong>February</strong> 2019</h2> </div> <div class="timeline-digest"> <div class="timeline-article "> <div class="timeline-article-info"> <h3><a class="modal-link" data-article="timeline-modal-5554" data-toggle="modal" data-target="#timeline-modal">Mississippi Law Frees Co-ops to Pursue Broadband, but Cost, Density Issues Remain</a> </h3> <p>New state law lifts legal risk for electric co-ops to pursue broadband, yet other hurdles remain.</p> <a class="read-more modal-link timeline-modal-5554" data-article="timeline-modal-5554" data-toggle="modal" data-target="#timeline-modal" > Read the story <span class="arrow"><i class="ci-long-arrow-right"></i></span> </a> </div> <div class="timeline-article-image" style="background-image: url(https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/Mississippi-statewide-broadband-Bill-Signing.jpg)"> </div> </div> <div class="timeline-article "> <div class="timeline-article-info"> <h3><a class="modal-link" data-article="timeline-modal-5531" data-toggle="modal" data-target="#timeline-modal">NRECA’s Matheson on SOTU: Find Common Ground, Work Together for Needs of Rural America</a> </h3> <p>“Rural America is counting on policymakers to find common ground and work together to address the needs of rural communities — needs that transcend politics and demand compromise and collaboration,” said NRECA CEO Jim Matheson.</p> <a class="read-more modal-link timeline-modal-5531" data-article="timeline-modal-5531" data-toggle="modal" data-target="#timeline-modal" > Read the press release <span class="arrow"><i class="ci-long-arrow-right"></i></span> </a> </div> </div> <div class="timeline-article "> <div class="timeline-article-info"> <h3><a class="modal-link" data-article="timeline-modal-5518" data-toggle="modal" data-target="#timeline-modal">Co-op Fiber and Drone Capability Improve Safety on a Georgia Mountain Pass</a> </h3> <p>How a Georgia co-op built broadband in the peaks of the Appalachian Trail aided by a drone. </p> <a class="read-more modal-link timeline-modal-5518" data-article="timeline-modal-5518" data-toggle="modal" data-target="#timeline-modal" > Read the story <span class="arrow"><i class="ci-long-arrow-right"></i></span> </a> </div> <div class="timeline-article-image" style="background-image: url(https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/BRMEMC-Georgia-Broadband-Drone-thumb.jpg)"> </div> </div> </div>  </div> <div class="timeline-phase"> <div class="timeline-date"> <h2><strong>January</strong> 2019</h2> </div> <div class="timeline-digest"> <div class="timeline-article "> <div class="timeline-article-info"> <h3><a class="modal-link" data-article="timeline-modal-5446" data-toggle="modal" data-target="#timeline-modal">Six Electric Co-op Policy Priorities for the New Congress</a> </h3> <p>From broadband to tax policy, a look at co-op policy priorities for the 116th Congress.</p> <a class="read-more modal-link timeline-modal-5446" data-article="timeline-modal-5446" data-toggle="modal" data-target="#timeline-modal" > Read the story <span class="arrow"><i class="ci-long-arrow-right"></i></span> </a> </div> <div class="timeline-article-image" style="background-image: url(https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/capitol-square.jpg)"> </div> </div> </div>  </div> <div class="timeline-phase"> <div class="timeline-date"> <h2><strong>December</strong> 2018</h2> </div> <div class="timeline-digest"> <div class="timeline-article "> <div class="timeline-article-info"> <h3><a class="modal-link" data-article="timeline-modal-5423" data-toggle="modal" data-target="#timeline-modal">Farm Bill Advances Electric Co-op Interests in Rural Development, Broadband</a> </h3> <p>Read how the Farm Bill will boost rural broadband with $350 million for low-density, unserved areas.</p> <a class="read-more modal-link timeline-modal-5423" data-article="timeline-modal-5423" data-toggle="modal" data-target="#timeline-modal" > Read the story <span class="arrow"><i class="ci-long-arrow-right"></i></span> </a> </div> <div class="timeline-article-image" style="background-image: url(https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/John-Lowery-RE-Photo-Challenge.jpg)"> </div> </div> <div class="timeline-article "> <div class="timeline-article-info"> <h3><a class="modal-link" data-article="timeline-modal-5422" data-toggle="modal" data-target="#timeline-modal">America’s Electric Cooperatives Applaud USDA Rural Broadband Pilot Program</a> </h3> <p>NRECA CEO Jim Matheson welcomed an announcement by the U.S. Department of Agriculture on the launch of its e-Connectivity pilot program established by Congress.</p> <a class="read-more modal-link timeline-modal-5422" data-article="timeline-modal-5422" data-toggle="modal" data-target="#timeline-modal" > Read the press release <span class="arrow"><i class="ci-long-arrow-right"></i></span> </a> </div> </div> <div class="timeline-article "> <div class="timeline-article-info"> <h3><a class="modal-link" data-article="timeline-modal-5386" data-toggle="modal" data-target="#timeline-modal">NRECA: FCC’s Broadband Deployment Advisory Committee Missed an Opportunity to Improve Rural Broadband Access</a> </h3> <p>“Existing federal programs have failed to close the digital divide and the BDAC missed an opportunity to offer meaningful solutions to expand broadband access in rural America,” said NRECA CEO Jim Matheson.</p> <a class="read-more modal-link timeline-modal-5386" data-article="timeline-modal-5386" data-toggle="modal" data-target="#timeline-modal" > Read the press release <span class="arrow"><i class="ci-long-arrow-right"></i></span> </a> </div> </div> </div>  </div> <div class="timeline-phase"> <div class="timeline-date"> <h2><strong>November</strong> 2018</h2> </div> <div class="timeline-digest"> <div class="timeline-article "> <div class="timeline-article-info"> <h3><a class="modal-link" data-article="timeline-modal-5329" data-toggle="modal" data-target="#timeline-modal">Matheson: ‘We Want the Consumer to Have Real Broadband’</a> </h3> <p>NRECA CEO Jim Matheson tells business strategists co-ops want members to have real broadband.</p> <a class="read-more modal-link timeline-modal-5329" data-article="timeline-modal-5329" data-toggle="modal" data-target="#timeline-modal" > Read the story <span class="arrow"><i class="ci-long-arrow-right"></i></span> </a> </div> <div class="timeline-article-image" style="background-image: url(https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/matheson-bloomberg-thumb.jpg)"> </div> </div> <div class="timeline-article "> <div class="timeline-article-info"> <h3><a class="modal-link" data-article="timeline-modal-5267" data-toggle="modal" data-target="#timeline-modal">Along Those Lines, Episode 2: Can Electric Co-ops Bridge the Digital Divide?</a> </h3> <p>Latest podcast episode looks at the role of co-ops in being part of the rural broadband solution.</p> <a class="read-more modal-link timeline-modal-5267" data-article="timeline-modal-5267" data-toggle="modal" data-target="#timeline-modal" > Read the story <span class="arrow"><i class="ci-long-arrow-right"></i></span> </a> </div> <div class="timeline-article-image" style="background-image: url(https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/Along_Those_Lines_logo_1x1.jpg)"> </div> </div> </div>  </div> <div class="timeline-phase"> <div class="timeline-date"> <h2><strong>October</strong> 2018</h2> </div> <div class="timeline-digest"> <div class="timeline-article "> <div class="timeline-article-info"> <h3><a class="modal-link" data-article="timeline-modal-5190" data-toggle="modal" data-target="#timeline-modal">Arkansas Co-ops Point to Power Success to Promote Broadband Technology</a> </h3> <p>In the 20th century, co-ops brought power to the countryside, and now they’re bringing broadband.</p> <a class="read-more modal-link timeline-modal-5190" data-article="timeline-modal-5190" data-toggle="modal" data-target="#timeline-modal" > Read the story <span class="arrow"><i class="ci-long-arrow-right"></i></span> </a> </div> <div class="timeline-article-image" style="background-image: url(https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/LB-and-Duane-and-Group.jpg)"> </div> </div> <div class="timeline-article "> <div class="timeline-article-info"> <h3><a class="modal-link" data-article="timeline-modal-5176" data-toggle="modal" data-target="#timeline-modal">On the Front Lines of the Digital Divide: Co-ops Push for Better Broadband</a> </h3> <p>An $8 million grant is whittled to $56,000. How electric co-ops must innovate to deliver broadband.</p> <a class="read-more modal-link timeline-modal-5176" data-article="timeline-modal-5176" data-toggle="modal" data-target="#timeline-modal" > Read the story <span class="arrow"><i class="ci-long-arrow-right"></i></span> </a> </div> <div class="timeline-article-image" style="background-image: url(https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/BroadbandPanel8.jpg)"> </div> </div> </div>  </div> <div class="timeline-phase"> <div class="timeline-date"> <h2><strong>September</strong> 2018</h2> </div> <div class="timeline-digest"> <div class="timeline-article "> <div class="timeline-article-info"> <h3><a class="modal-link" data-article="timeline-modal-4660" data-toggle="modal" data-target="#timeline-modal">5 Takeaways From NRECA’s Study on the Value of Broadband for Consumer-Members</a> </h3> <p>NRECA research finds lack of rural broadband internet costs about $70 billion in lost value.</p> <a class="read-more modal-link timeline-modal-4660" data-article="timeline-modal-4660" data-toggle="modal" data-target="#timeline-modal" > Read the story <span class="arrow"><i class="ci-long-arrow-right"></i></span> </a> </div> <div class="timeline-article-image" style="background-image: url(https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/CVEC22-broadband.jpg)"> </div> </div> <div class="timeline-article "> <div class="timeline-article-info"> <h3><a class="modal-link" data-article="timeline-modal-4659" data-toggle="modal" data-target="#timeline-modal">Rural Communities Losing $68 Billion in Economic Value Due to Digital Divide, New NRECA Study Finds</a> </h3> <p>The new report investigates the cost of the digital divide and the growing economic advantages to America’s rural communities.</p> <a class="read-more modal-link timeline-modal-4659" data-article="timeline-modal-4659" data-toggle="modal" data-target="#timeline-modal" > Read the press release <span class="arrow"><i class="ci-long-arrow-right"></i></span> </a> </div> </div> </div>  </div> <div class="timeline-phase"> <div class="timeline-date"> <h2><strong>August</strong> 2018</h2> </div> <div class="timeline-digest"> <div class="timeline-article "> <div class="timeline-article-info"> <h3><a class="modal-link" data-article="timeline-modal-4634" data-toggle="modal" data-target="#timeline-modal">Electric Co-ops Get a Big Boost for Rural Broadband Efforts in FCC Auction</a> </h3> <p>Learn more about the electric co-op winners in the FCC's Connect America Fund II auction.</p> <a class="read-more modal-link timeline-modal-4634" data-article="timeline-modal-4634" data-toggle="modal" data-target="#timeline-modal" > Read the story <span class="arrow"><i class="ci-long-arrow-right"></i></span> </a> </div> <div class="timeline-article-image" style="background-image: url(https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/fcc-auction-rural-broadband-lineworker-thumb.jpg)"> </div> </div> <div class="timeline-article "> <div class="timeline-article-info"> <h3><a class="modal-link" data-article="timeline-modal-4638" data-toggle="modal" data-target="#timeline-modal">Indiana Broadband: State Commits $100M; New Study Shows Value of High-Speed Access</a> </h3> <p>Indiana will invest $100 million to develop high-speed internet access in its sparsely populated counties.</p> <a class="read-more modal-link timeline-modal-4638" data-article="timeline-modal-4638" data-toggle="modal" data-target="#timeline-modal" > Read the story <span class="arrow"><i class="ci-long-arrow-right"></i></span> </a> </div> <div class="timeline-article-image" style="background-image: url(https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/purdue-rural-broadband.jpg)"> </div> </div> <div class="timeline-article "> <div class="timeline-article-info"> <h3><a class="modal-link" data-article="timeline-modal-4616" data-toggle="modal" data-target="#timeline-modal">FCC Approves $250 million for 32 Electric Cooperatives to Provide Rural Broadband</a> </h3> <p>The winning electric cooperatives will collectively receive $220 million over 10 years to help defray the costs of deploying broadband in unserved areas.</p> <a class="read-more modal-link timeline-modal-4616" data-article="timeline-modal-4616" data-toggle="modal" data-target="#timeline-modal" > Read the press release <span class="arrow"><i class="ci-long-arrow-right"></i></span> </a> </div> </div> <div class="timeline-article "> <div class="timeline-article-info"> <h3><a class="modal-link" data-article="timeline-modal-4567" data-toggle="modal" data-target="#timeline-modal">NRECA Concerns Remain for FCC Broadband Panel’s State Model Code</a> </h3> <p>How should states treat co-ops in broadband deployment? FCC panel offers troublesome recommendations.</p> <a class="read-more modal-link timeline-modal-4567" data-article="timeline-modal-4567" data-toggle="modal" data-target="#timeline-modal" > Read the story <span class="arrow"><i class="ci-long-arrow-right"></i></span> </a> </div> <div class="timeline-article-image" style="background-image: url(https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/broadband-state-model.jpg)"> </div> </div> </div>  </div> <div class="timeline-phase"> <div class="timeline-date"> <h2><strong>July</strong> 2018</h2> </div> <div class="timeline-digest"> <div class="timeline-article "> <div class="timeline-article-info"> <h3><a class="modal-link" data-article="timeline-modal-4541" data-toggle="modal" data-target="#timeline-modal">Electric Co-ops Advocate Top Three Farm Bill Priorities for Conference Committee</a> </h3> <p>The House and Senate each passed versions of the Farm Bill are seeking to reach a compromise.</p> <a class="read-more modal-link timeline-modal-4541" data-article="timeline-modal-4541" data-toggle="modal" data-target="#timeline-modal" > Read the story <span class="arrow"><i class="ci-long-arrow-right"></i></span> </a> </div> <div class="timeline-article-image" style="background-image: url(https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/EauClaire_Solar12.jpg)"> </div> </div> <div class="timeline-article "> <div class="timeline-article-info"> <h3><a class="modal-link" data-article="timeline-modal-4440" data-toggle="modal" data-target="#timeline-modal">Matheson Urges RUS, Broadband Support in Compromise Farm Bill</a> </h3> <p>NRECA urges Farm Bill compromise between House and Senate.</p> <a class="read-more modal-link timeline-modal-4440" data-article="timeline-modal-4440" data-toggle="modal" data-target="#timeline-modal" > Read the story <span class="arrow"><i class="ci-long-arrow-right"></i></span> </a> </div> <div class="timeline-article-image" style="background-image: url(https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/farm-bill-july-2018.jpg)"> </div> </div> </div>  </div> <div class="timeline-phase"> <div class="timeline-date"> <h2><strong>June</strong> 2018</h2> </div> <div class="timeline-digest"> <div class="timeline-article "> <div class="timeline-article-info"> <h3><a class="modal-link" data-article="timeline-modal-4394" data-toggle="modal" data-target="#timeline-modal">NRECA Applauds House Farm Bill’s Support for Electric Co-op Priorities</a> </h3> <p>“The House bill includes critical support for expanded rural broadband access and improved rural economic development programs used by electric co-ops to improve the quality of life in their communities," NRECA CEO Jim Matheson said.</p> <a class="read-more modal-link timeline-modal-4394" data-article="timeline-modal-4394" data-toggle="modal" data-target="#timeline-modal" > Read the press release <span class="arrow"><i class="ci-long-arrow-right"></i></span> </a> </div> </div> </div>  </div> <div class="timeline-phase"> <div class="timeline-date"> <h2><strong>May</strong> 2018</h2> </div> <div class="timeline-digest"> <div class="timeline-article "> <div class="timeline-article-info"> <h3><a class="modal-link" data-article="timeline-modal-4307" data-toggle="modal" data-target="#timeline-modal">NRECA to Senate: Oppose Rural Broadband Restrictions; Seek USDA Grants, Loans</a> </h3> <p>Expanding broadband access should be key element in Farm Bill.</p> <a class="read-more modal-link timeline-modal-4307" data-article="timeline-modal-4307" data-toggle="modal" data-target="#timeline-modal" > Read the story <span class="arrow"><i class="ci-long-arrow-right"></i></span> </a> </div> <div class="timeline-article-image" style="background-image: url(https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/fiber-optics-broadband-thumb.jpg)"> </div> </div> <div class="timeline-article "> <div class="timeline-article-info"> <h3><a class="modal-link" data-article="timeline-modal-4274" data-toggle="modal" data-target="#timeline-modal">Missouri, Tennessee Pass Easement Laws Helpful to Rural Broadband</a> </h3> <p>Electric co-ops pursuing broadband internet access turn to grassroots for easement help.</p> <a class="read-more modal-link timeline-modal-4274" data-article="timeline-modal-4274" data-toggle="modal" data-target="#timeline-modal" > Read the story <span class="arrow"><i class="ci-long-arrow-right"></i></span> </a> </div> <div class="timeline-article-image" style="background-image: url(https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/broadband-easements-thumb.jpg)"> </div> </div> <div class="timeline-article "> <div class="timeline-article-info"> <h3><a class="modal-link" data-article="timeline-modal-4240" data-toggle="modal" data-target="#timeline-modal">Making Way for 5G</a> </h3> <p>The next generation of wireless communications could present weighty challenges for co-ops.</p> <a class="read-more modal-link timeline-modal-4240" data-article="timeline-modal-4240" data-toggle="modal" data-target="#timeline-modal" > Read the story <span class="arrow"><i class="ci-long-arrow-right"></i></span> </a> </div> <div class="timeline-article-image" style="background-image: url(https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/5GArray.jpg)"> </div> </div> <div class="timeline-article "> <div class="timeline-article-info"> <h3><a class="modal-link" data-article="timeline-modal-4236" data-toggle="modal" data-target="#timeline-modal">Broadband and the Opioid Epidemic: The Power of Connection in Rural America</a> </h3> <p>USDA's Anne Hazlett writes about broadband as a critical tool in battling opioid misuse. </p> <a class="read-more modal-link timeline-modal-4236" data-article="timeline-modal-4236" data-toggle="modal" data-target="#timeline-modal" > Read the story <span class="arrow"><i class="ci-long-arrow-right"></i></span> </a> </div> <div class="timeline-article-image" style="background-image: url(https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/20180201-rd-pjk-0088_toned_40087260252_o.jpg)"> </div> </div> <div class="timeline-article "> <div class="timeline-article-info"> <h3><a class="modal-link" data-article="timeline-modal-4227" data-toggle="modal" data-target="#timeline-modal">Co-op Broadband Brightens Future of Rural Alabama</a> </h3> <p>What an electric co-op can deliver to a low-income town with a little help from USDA: broadband.</p> <a class="read-more modal-link timeline-modal-4227" data-article="timeline-modal-4227" data-toggle="modal" data-target="#timeline-modal" > Read the story <span class="arrow"><i class="ci-long-arrow-right"></i></span> </a> </div> <div class="timeline-article-image" style="background-image: url(https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/Tombigbeesquare.png)"> </div> </div> </div>  </div> <div class="timeline-phase"> <div class="timeline-date"> <h2><strong>April</strong> 2018</h2> </div> <div class="timeline-digest"> <div class="timeline-article "> <div class="timeline-article-info"> <h3><a class="modal-link" data-article="timeline-modal-4148" data-toggle="modal" data-target="#timeline-modal">Digital Divide: How Can the ‘Uneven Landscape’ of Broadband Access Be Fixed?</a> </h3> <p>NRECA CEO Jim Matheson offers recommendations at a national listening forum. </p> <a class="read-more modal-link timeline-modal-4148" data-article="timeline-modal-4148" data-toggle="modal" data-target="#timeline-modal" > Read the story <span class="arrow"><i class="ci-long-arrow-right"></i></span> </a> </div> <div class="timeline-article-image" style="background-image: url(https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/broadband877.jpg)"> </div> </div> <div class="timeline-article "> <div class="timeline-article-info"> <h3><a class="modal-link" data-article="timeline-modal-4128" data-toggle="modal" data-target="#timeline-modal">Secretary Perdue, Chairman Pai to join Stakeholders for Rural Broadband Forum</a> </h3> <p>The “E-Connectivity Forum” is the kickoff event for a series of regional conversations designed to gather insights into solutions for bridging the digital divide.</p> <a class="read-more modal-link timeline-modal-4128" data-article="timeline-modal-4128" data-toggle="modal" data-target="#timeline-modal" > Read the press release <span class="arrow"><i class="ci-long-arrow-right"></i></span> </a> </div> </div> <div class="timeline-article "> <div class="timeline-article-info"> <h3><a class="modal-link" data-article="timeline-modal-4125" data-toggle="modal" data-target="#timeline-modal">While Rural Prosperity Is Making Headlines, Co-ops Can Keep Heat on Congress</a> </h3> <p>What electric co-ops can do while Congress considers rural infrastructure and broadband.</p> <a class="read-more modal-link timeline-modal-4125" data-article="timeline-modal-4125" data-toggle="modal" data-target="#timeline-modal" > Read the story <span class="arrow"><i class="ci-long-arrow-right"></i></span> </a> </div> <div class="timeline-article-image" style="background-image: url(https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/LCinfrastructuresquare.jpg)"> </div> </div> <div class="timeline-article "> <div class="timeline-article-info"> <h3><a class="modal-link" data-article="timeline-modal-4122" data-toggle="modal" data-target="#timeline-modal">Key Takeaways: Senators Laud Work of Co-ops</a> </h3> <p>Key senators address NRECA’s 2018 Legislative Conference in Washington.</p> <a class="read-more modal-link timeline-modal-4122" data-article="timeline-modal-4122" data-toggle="modal" data-target="#timeline-modal" > Read the story <span class="arrow"><i class="ci-long-arrow-right"></i></span> </a> </div> <div class="timeline-article-image" style="background-image: url(https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/capitolsquare.jpg)"> </div> </div> <div class="timeline-article "> <div class="timeline-article-info"> <h3><a class="modal-link" data-article="timeline-modal-4120" data-toggle="modal" data-target="#timeline-modal">Electric Co-ops Applaud Rural Development, Broadband Provisions of House Farm Bill</a> </h3> <p>“The Farm Bill is an essential tool to strengthen rural America and drive our nation’s economy,” NRECA CEO Jim Matheson said. “Provisions in the House Farm Bill will enable electric cooperatives to continue improving the quality of life in America’s communities."</p> <a class="read-more modal-link timeline-modal-4120" data-article="timeline-modal-4120" data-toggle="modal" data-target="#timeline-modal" > Read the press release <span class="arrow"><i class="ci-long-arrow-right"></i></span> </a> </div> </div> <div class="timeline-article "> <div class="timeline-article-info"> <h3><a class="modal-link" data-article="timeline-modal-4103" data-toggle="modal" data-target="#timeline-modal">Matheson: Member Advocacy Vital for Policy Success</a> </h3> <p>NRECA CEO tells co-op leaders at the Legislative Conference what’s coming up in Washington. </p> <a class="read-more modal-link timeline-modal-4103" data-article="timeline-modal-4103" data-toggle="modal" data-target="#timeline-modal" > Read the story <span class="arrow"><i class="ci-long-arrow-right"></i></span> </a> </div> <div class="timeline-article-image" style="background-image: url(https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/mathesonrollup.jpg)"> </div> </div> <div class="timeline-article "> <div class="timeline-article-info"> <h3><a class="modal-link" data-article="timeline-modal-4096" data-toggle="modal" data-target="#timeline-modal">Perdue Addresses Co-op Leaders on ‘Seismic Shift’ of Rural Broadband</a> </h3> <p>Get ready for “seismic shift” in rural America as broadband takes hold, Agriculture secretary says.</p> <a class="read-more modal-link timeline-modal-4096" data-article="timeline-modal-4096" data-toggle="modal" data-target="#timeline-modal" > Read the story <span class="arrow"><i class="ci-long-arrow-right"></i></span> </a> </div> <div class="timeline-article-image" style="background-image: url(https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/2018-nreca-leg-conf-sonny-perdue.jpg)"> </div> </div> </div>  </div> <div class="timeline-phase"> <div class="timeline-date"> <h2><strong>March</strong> 2018</h2> </div> <div class="timeline-digest"> <div class="timeline-article "> <div class="timeline-article-info"> <h3><a class="modal-link" data-article="timeline-modal-4055" data-toggle="modal" data-target="#timeline-modal">How the Federal Spending Bill Helps Electric Co-ops</a> </h3> <p>Several electric co-op priorities are included in the federal spending bill.</p> <a class="read-more modal-link timeline-modal-4055" data-article="timeline-modal-4055" data-toggle="modal" data-target="#timeline-modal" > Read the story <span class="arrow"><i class="ci-long-arrow-right"></i></span> </a> </div> <div class="timeline-article-image" style="background-image: url(https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/spendingbill877.jpg)"> </div> </div> <div class="timeline-article "> <div class="timeline-article-info"> <h3><a class="modal-link" data-article="timeline-modal-4044" data-toggle="modal" data-target="#timeline-modal">House-Passed Omnibus Advances Electric Co-op Priorities</a> </h3> <p>“House passage of this bill is a positive step for America’s electric cooperatives as we work to enhance the quality of life in rural communities across the nation,” NRECA CEO Jim Matheson said.</p> <a class="read-more modal-link timeline-modal-4044" data-article="timeline-modal-4044" data-toggle="modal" data-target="#timeline-modal" > Read the press release <span class="arrow"><i class="ci-long-arrow-right"></i></span> </a> </div> </div> <div class="timeline-article "> <div class="timeline-article-info"> <h3><a class="modal-link" data-article="timeline-modal-4040" data-toggle="modal" data-target="#timeline-modal">Electric Cooperatives Applaud Rural Broadband Funding in Omnibus Spending Bill</a> </h3> <p>Electric cooperatives applauded congressional action to allocate $600 million to the U.S. Department of Agriculture for rural broadband grants and loans.</p> <a class="read-more modal-link timeline-modal-4040" data-article="timeline-modal-4040" data-toggle="modal" data-target="#timeline-modal" > Read the press release <span class="arrow"><i class="ci-long-arrow-right"></i></span> </a> </div> </div> </div>  </div> <div class="timeline-phase"> <div class="timeline-date"> <h2><strong>February</strong> 2018</h2> </div> <div class="timeline-digest"> <div class="timeline-article "> <div class="timeline-article-info"> <h3><a class="modal-link" data-article="timeline-modal-3794" data-toggle="modal" data-target="#timeline-modal">Budget Proposal a Mixed Bag for Co-ops</a> </h3> <p>Trump's FY19 budget proposal offers deep cuts in LIHEAP, REDLG and a selloff of PMA assets</p> <a class="read-more modal-link timeline-modal-3794" data-article="timeline-modal-3794" data-toggle="modal" data-target="#timeline-modal" > Read the story <span class="arrow"><i class="ci-long-arrow-right"></i></span> </a> </div> <div class="timeline-article-image" style="background-image: url(https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/GettyImages-515835492-body.jpg)"> </div> </div> <div class="timeline-article "> <div class="timeline-article-info"> <h3><a class="modal-link" data-article="timeline-modal-3767" data-toggle="modal" data-target="#timeline-modal">Budget Deal Extends Energy Tax Credits</a> </h3> <p>Budget deal has tax credits co-ops can use for carbon capture and storage, geothermal and nuclear.</p> <a class="read-more modal-link timeline-modal-3767" data-article="timeline-modal-3767" data-toggle="modal" data-target="#timeline-modal" > Read the story <span class="arrow"><i class="ci-long-arrow-right"></i></span> </a> </div> <div class="timeline-article-image" style="background-image: url(https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/2018-budget-carbon-capture-and-storage.jpg)"> </div> </div> <div class="timeline-article "> <div class="timeline-article-info"> <h3><a class="modal-link" data-article="timeline-modal-3771" data-toggle="modal" data-target="#timeline-modal">Electric Cooperatives Encouraged by Trump’s Rural Infrastructure Emphasis</a> </h3> <p>"The president’s proposal to improve and expand rural energy, broadband, and surface transportation will help rural communities adapt and thrive in the modern American economy," said NRECA CEO Jim Matheson.</p> <a class="read-more modal-link timeline-modal-3771" data-article="timeline-modal-3771" data-toggle="modal" data-target="#timeline-modal" > Read the press release <span class="arrow"><i class="ci-long-arrow-right"></i></span> </a> </div> </div> <div class="timeline-article "> <div class="timeline-article-info"> <h3><a class="modal-link" data-article="timeline-modal-3760" data-toggle="modal" data-target="#timeline-modal">Electric Co-op Leader Takes Helm of RUS</a> </h3> <p>A co-op veteran steeped in efficiency, ingenuity and rural roots takes the helm of USDA's RUS.</p> <a class="read-more modal-link timeline-modal-3760" data-article="timeline-modal-3760" data-toggle="modal" data-target="#timeline-modal" > Read the story <span class="arrow"><i class="ci-long-arrow-right"></i></span> </a> </div> <div class="timeline-article-image" style="background-image: url(https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/KenJohnson-CoMo-2.jpg)"> </div> </div> </div>  </div> <div class="timeline-phase"> <div class="timeline-date"> <h2><strong>January</strong> 2018</h2> </div> <div class="timeline-digest"> <div class="timeline-article "> <div class="timeline-article-info"> <h3><a class="modal-link" data-article="timeline-modal-3711" data-toggle="modal" data-target="#timeline-modal">Perdue Outlines Farm Bill Priorities</a> </h3> <p>What could the Farm Bill do to facilitate electric co-ops and rural broadband?</p> <a class="read-more modal-link timeline-modal-3711" data-article="timeline-modal-3711" data-toggle="modal" data-target="#timeline-modal" > Read the story <span class="arrow"><i class="ci-long-arrow-right"></i></span> </a> </div> <div class="timeline-article-image" style="background-image: url(https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/cjc1_20180125125344935-header.jpg)"> </div> </div> <div class="timeline-article "> <div class="timeline-article-info"> <h3><a class="modal-link" data-article="timeline-modal-3705" data-toggle="modal" data-target="#timeline-modal">NRECA Welcomes Secretary Perdue’s Comments on the Farm Bill and Rural Economic Development</a> </h3> <p>“We are pleased that Secretary Perdue recognizes the vital role of rural development in this year’s Farm Bill," said NRECA CEO Jim Matheson.</p> <a class="read-more modal-link timeline-modal-3705" data-article="timeline-modal-3705" data-toggle="modal" data-target="#timeline-modal" > Read the press release <span class="arrow"><i class="ci-long-arrow-right"></i></span> </a> </div> </div> <div class="timeline-article "> <div class="timeline-article-info"> <h3><a class="modal-link" data-article="timeline-modal-3666" data-toggle="modal" data-target="#timeline-modal">Trump Task Force: Broadband Vital to Rural America</a> </h3> <p>A White House task force report finds broadband key to lifting sagging economy in rural America.</p> <a class="read-more modal-link timeline-modal-3666" data-article="timeline-modal-3666" data-toggle="modal" data-target="#timeline-modal" > Read the story <span class="arrow"><i class="ci-long-arrow-right"></i></span> </a> </div> <div class="timeline-article-image" style="background-image: url(https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/IMG_20180108_154609.jpg)"> </div> </div> <div class="timeline-article "> <div class="timeline-article-info"> <h3><a class="modal-link" data-article="timeline-modal-3655" data-toggle="modal" data-target="#timeline-modal">Electric Co-ops Look Forward to Working with Administration to Promote Rural Economic Development</a> </h3> <p>NRECA CEO Jim Matheson applauded recommendations by a White House Interagency Task Force on Agriculture and Rural Prosperity to jump start the rural American economy. The task force was created in April by President Trump.</p> <a class="read-more modal-link timeline-modal-3655" data-article="timeline-modal-3655" data-toggle="modal" data-target="#timeline-modal" > Read the press release <span class="arrow"><i class="ci-long-arrow-right"></i></span> </a> </div> </div> </div>  </div> <div class="timeline-phase"> <div class="timeline-date"> <h2><strong>November</strong> 2017</h2> </div> <div class="timeline-digest"> <div class="timeline-article "> <div class="timeline-article-info"> <h3><a class="modal-link" data-article="timeline-modal-3514" data-toggle="modal" data-target="#timeline-modal">Charting a New Broadband Course</a> </h3> <p>With a major legal hurdle cleared, broadband takes a big step forward at an Indiana co-op.</p> <a class="read-more modal-link timeline-modal-3514" data-article="timeline-modal-3514" data-toggle="modal" data-target="#timeline-modal" > Read the story <span class="arrow"><i class="ci-long-arrow-right"></i></span> </a> </div> <div class="timeline-article-image" style="background-image: url(https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/Jackson-County-Broadband-aec.jpg)"> </div> </div> </div>  </div> <div class="timeline-phase"> <div class="timeline-date"> <h2><strong>October</strong> 2017</h2> </div> <div class="timeline-digest"> <div class="timeline-article "> <div class="timeline-article-info"> <h3><a class="modal-link" data-article="timeline-modal-3370" data-toggle="modal" data-target="#timeline-modal">TEDx Talk: Broadband for Barns</a> </h3> <p>Equal access to rural broadband is focus of local TEDx talk by Wheat Belt PPD’s Tim Lindahl.</p> <a class="read-more modal-link timeline-modal-3370" data-article="timeline-modal-3370" data-toggle="modal" data-target="#timeline-modal" > Read the story <span class="arrow"><i class="ci-long-arrow-right"></i></span> </a> </div> <div class="timeline-article-image" style="background-image: url(https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/TEDxTalk-v1.jpg)"> </div> </div> </div>  </div> <div class="timeline-phase"> <div class="timeline-date"> <h2><strong>September</strong> 2017</h2> </div> <div class="timeline-digest"> <div class="timeline-article "> <div class="timeline-article-info"> <h3><a class="modal-link" data-article="timeline-modal-3332" data-toggle="modal" data-target="#timeline-modal">NRECA Applauds Proposed Investment in Rural Broadband</a> </h3> <p>NRECA CEO Jim Matheson applauded a proposal by House and Senate Democrats to invest $40 billion to expand broadband access in rural communities across the nation.</p> <a class="read-more modal-link timeline-modal-3332" data-article="timeline-modal-3332" data-toggle="modal" data-target="#timeline-modal" > Read the press release <span class="arrow"><i class="ci-long-arrow-right"></i></span> </a> </div> </div> <div class="timeline-article "> <div class="timeline-article-info"> <h3><a class="modal-link" data-article="timeline-modal-3277" data-toggle="modal" data-target="#timeline-modal">Why Broadband Isn’t Like 1930s Electrification</a> </h3> <p>Think providing broadband today is like providing electricity in 1937? Think again.</p> <a class="read-more modal-link timeline-modal-3277" data-article="timeline-modal-3277" data-toggle="modal" data-target="#timeline-modal" > Read the story <span class="arrow"><i class="ci-long-arrow-right"></i></span> </a> </div> <div class="timeline-article-image" style="background-image: url(https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/Curtis-Wynn.jpg)"> </div> </div> </div>  </div> <div class="timeline-phase"> <div class="timeline-date"> <h2><strong>August</strong> 2017</h2> </div> <div class="timeline-digest"> <div class="timeline-article "> <div class="timeline-article-info"> <h3><a class="modal-link" data-article="timeline-modal-2939" data-toggle="modal" data-target="#timeline-modal">Mo. Co-ops Seek More Broadband</a> </h3> <p>Electric co-ops in Missouri are working with elected officials to increase broadband access.</p> <a class="read-more modal-link timeline-modal-2939" data-article="timeline-modal-2939" data-toggle="modal" data-target="#timeline-modal" > Read the story <span class="arrow"><i class="ci-long-arrow-right"></i></span> </a> </div> <div class="timeline-article-image" style="background-image: url(https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/McCaskill-Vanslykeimage004.jpg)"> </div> </div> </div>  </div> <div class="timeline-phase"> <div class="timeline-date"> <h2><strong>July</strong> 2017</h2> </div> <div class="timeline-digest"> <div class="timeline-article "> <div class="timeline-article-info"> <h3><a class="modal-link" data-article="timeline-modal-2824" data-toggle="modal" data-target="#timeline-modal">Helping Rural America Helps All Americans</a> </h3> <p>Leaving rural America behind would be a mistake for the entire nation, NRECA’s vice president says.</p> <a class="read-more modal-link timeline-modal-2824" data-article="timeline-modal-2824" data-toggle="modal" data-target="#timeline-modal" > Read the story <span class="arrow"><i class="ci-long-arrow-right"></i></span> </a> </div> <div class="timeline-article-image" style="background-image: url(https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/AEC_8152_51969.jpg)"> </div> </div> <div class="timeline-article "> <div class="timeline-article-info"> <h3><a class="modal-link" data-article="timeline-modal-2820" data-toggle="modal" data-target="#timeline-modal">Testimony of Curtis Wynn at House Committee on Agriculture</a> </h3> <p>Curtis Wynn is President and CEO of Roanoke Electric Cooperative. His testimony was given before the House Committee on Agriculture on July 19, 2017.</p> <a class="read-more modal-link timeline-modal-2820" data-article="timeline-modal-2820" data-toggle="modal" data-target="#timeline-modal" > Read summary <span class="arrow"><i class="ci-long-arrow-right"></i></span> </a> </div> </div> </div>  </div> <div class="timeline-phase"> <div class="timeline-date"> <h2><strong>June</strong> 2017</h2> </div> <div class="timeline-digest"> <div class="timeline-article "> <div class="timeline-article-info"> <h3><a class="modal-link" data-article="timeline-modal-2740" data-toggle="modal" data-target="#timeline-modal">Broadband ‘Essential’ to Rural America</a> </h3> <p>It’s not just Netflix. Broadband can improve the economy and well-being of rural America.</p> <a class="read-more modal-link timeline-modal-2740" data-article="timeline-modal-2740" data-toggle="modal" data-target="#timeline-modal" > Read the story <span class="arrow"><i class="ci-long-arrow-right"></i></span> </a> </div> <div class="timeline-article-image" style="background-image: url(https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/Allendorf-smallbizsubcommitteeIMG_9821.jpg)"> </div> </div> </div>  </div> <div class="timeline-phase"> <div class="timeline-date"> <h2><strong>May</strong> 2017</h2> </div> <div class="timeline-digest"> <div class="timeline-article "> <div class="timeline-article-info"> <h3><a class="modal-link" data-article="timeline-modal-2562" data-toggle="modal" data-target="#timeline-modal">Delta-Montrose Electric Association Launches Elevate Fiber and Wins National Communication Competition</a> </h3> <p>Delta-Montrose is the 2017 recipient of the Edgar F. Chesnutt Award for Best Total Communication Program, the highest honor in the Spotlight on Excellence Awards program.</p> <a class="read-more modal-link timeline-modal-2562" data-article="timeline-modal-2562" data-toggle="modal" data-target="#timeline-modal" > Read the press release <span class="arrow"><i class="ci-long-arrow-right"></i></span> </a> </div> </div> </div>  </div> <div class="timeline-phase"> <div class="timeline-date"> <h2><strong>April</strong> 2017</h2> </div> <div class="timeline-digest"> <div class="timeline-article "> <div class="timeline-article-info"> <h3><a class="modal-link" data-article="timeline-modal-2524" data-toggle="modal" data-target="#timeline-modal">NRECA Applauds Creation of Rural America Task Force</a> </h3> <p>“We appreciate President Trump recognizing the need to prioritize rural American families and businesses,” said NRECA CEO Jim Matheson.</p> <a class="read-more modal-link timeline-modal-2524" data-article="timeline-modal-2524" data-toggle="modal" data-target="#timeline-modal" > Read the press release <span class="arrow"><i class="ci-long-arrow-right"></i></span> </a> </div> </div> <div class="timeline-article "> <div class="timeline-article-info"> <h3><a class="modal-link" data-article="timeline-modal-2367" data-toggle="modal" data-target="#timeline-modal">Matheson Named to Broadband Panel</a> </h3> <p>NRECA CEO Jim Matheson will play a key role in advising the FCC on broadband deployment.</p> <a class="read-more modal-link timeline-modal-2367" data-article="timeline-modal-2367" data-toggle="modal" data-target="#timeline-modal" > Read the press release <span class="arrow"><i class="ci-long-arrow-right"></i></span> </a> </div> </div> </div>  </div> <div class="timeline-phase"> <div class="timeline-date"> <h2><strong>March</strong> 2017</h2> </div> <div class="timeline-digest"> <div class="timeline-article "> <div class="timeline-article-info"> <h3><a class="modal-link" data-article="timeline-modal-2255" data-toggle="modal" data-target="#timeline-modal">Making the Rural Broadband Case</a> </h3> <p>How can the Farm Bill help connect rural America through broadband?</p> <a class="read-more modal-link timeline-modal-2255" data-article="timeline-modal-2255" data-toggle="modal" data-target="#timeline-modal" > Read the story <span class="arrow"><i class="ci-long-arrow-right"></i></span> </a> </div> <div class="timeline-article-image" style="background-image: url(https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/chastain.jpg)"> </div> </div> </div>  </div> <div class="timeline-phase"> <div class="timeline-date"> <h2><strong>February</strong> 2017</h2> </div> <div class="timeline-digest"> <div class="timeline-article "> <div class="timeline-article-info"> <h3><a class="modal-link" data-article="timeline-modal-2156" data-toggle="modal" data-target="#timeline-modal">NRECA Statement on President Trump’s Joint Address to Congress</a> </h3> <p>“A vibrant rural economy is critical to America’s success in the 21st century. Co-ops are proud to serve as the engines of economic development in their communities—providing the affordable and reliable power that drives innovation, expands opportunity, and empowers millions of families and businesses," NRECA CEO Jim Matheson said.</p> <a class="read-more modal-link timeline-modal-2156" data-article="timeline-modal-2156" data-toggle="modal" data-target="#timeline-modal" > Read the press release <span class="arrow"><i class="ci-long-arrow-right"></i></span> </a> </div> </div> <div class="timeline-article "> <div class="timeline-article-info"> <h3><a class="modal-link" data-article="timeline-modal-2038" data-toggle="modal" data-target="#timeline-modal">Scaling the Digital Divide</a> </h3> <p>Prohibited from developing broadband, electric co-ops in Tennessee are hopeful about new plan.</p> <a class="read-more modal-link timeline-modal-2038" data-article="timeline-modal-2038" data-toggle="modal" data-target="#timeline-modal" > Read the story <span class="arrow"><i class="ci-long-arrow-right"></i></span> </a> </div> <div class="timeline-article-image" style="background-image: url(https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/tennessee-gov-haslam-thumb.jpg)"> </div> </div> <div class="timeline-article "> <div class="timeline-article-info"> <h3><a class="modal-link" data-article="timeline-modal-2015" data-toggle="modal" data-target="#timeline-modal">NRECA Supports Rural Broadband Call</a> </h3> <p>NRECA backs an effort on Capitol Hill to seek Trump Administration support for rural broadband.</p> <a class="read-more modal-link timeline-modal-2015" data-article="timeline-modal-2015" data-toggle="modal" data-target="#timeline-modal" > Read the press release <span class="arrow"><i class="ci-long-arrow-right"></i></span> </a> </div> </div> </div>  </div> <div class="timeline-phase"> <div class="timeline-date"> <h2><strong>September</strong> 2016</h2> </div> <div class="timeline-digest"> <div class="timeline-article "> <div class="timeline-article-info"> <h3><a class="modal-link" data-article="timeline-modal-1374" data-toggle="modal" data-target="#timeline-modal">RUS Administrator on Electric Co-ops</a> </h3> <p>Brandon McBride talks about the past, present and future relationship with his agency.</p> <a class="read-more modal-link timeline-modal-1374" data-article="timeline-modal-1374" data-toggle="modal" data-target="#timeline-modal" > Read the story <span class="arrow"><i class="ci-long-arrow-right"></i></span> </a> </div> <div class="timeline-article-image" style="background-image: url(https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/Regionals-RUS-Brandon-McBride.jpg)"> </div> </div> <div class="timeline-article "> <div class="timeline-article-info"> <h3><a class="modal-link" data-article="timeline-modal-1725" data-toggle="modal" data-target="#timeline-modal">Co-op Bringing Fastest Internet to Rural Oklahoma</a> </h3> <p>Close to 90 percent of Mayes County, Okla., residents are without access to high-speed internet. In neighboring Delaware County, 75 percent lack broadband service.</p> <a class="read-more modal-link timeline-modal-1725" data-article="timeline-modal-1725" data-toggle="modal" data-target="#timeline-modal" > Read the story <span class="arrow"><i class="ci-long-arrow-right"></i></span> </a> </div> </div> <div class="timeline-article "> <div class="timeline-article-info"> <h3><a class="modal-link" data-article="timeline-modal-1724" data-toggle="modal" data-target="#timeline-modal">Co-op Enters Fiber Broadband Business</a> </h3> <p>Internet service at the highest speed available will zoom through rural Colorado this winter as the latest fiber broadband company set up by an electric cooperative gets members connected.</p> <a class="read-more modal-link timeline-modal-1724" data-article="timeline-modal-1724" data-toggle="modal" data-target="#timeline-modal" > Read the story <span class="arrow"><i class="ci-long-arrow-right"></i></span> </a> </div> </div> <div class="timeline-article "> <div class="timeline-article-info"> <h3><a class="modal-link" data-article="timeline-modal-1723" data-toggle="modal" data-target="#timeline-modal">Tiny Town to Join Gigabit Cities with Co-op Help</a> </h3> <p>An Arkansas hamlet that housed World War II ammunition personnel soon will join an elite list of U.S. locales with the highest internet speed available, thanks in large part to their electric cooperative.</p> <a class="read-more modal-link timeline-modal-1723" data-article="timeline-modal-1723" data-toggle="modal" data-target="#timeline-modal" > Read the story <span class="arrow"><i class="ci-long-arrow-right"></i></span> </a> </div> </div> <div class="timeline-article "> <div class="timeline-article-info"> <h3><a class="modal-link" data-article="timeline-modal-1722" data-toggle="modal" data-target="#timeline-modal">Co-ops Seek Close of Digital Divide</a> </h3> <p>Closing the “digital divide” is rising on electric cooperatives’ to-do list, but building broadband networks will require federal coordination and financial assistance.</p> <a class="read-more modal-link timeline-modal-1722" data-article="timeline-modal-1722" data-toggle="modal" data-target="#timeline-modal" > Read the story <span class="arrow"><i class="ci-long-arrow-right"></i></span> </a> </div> </div> </div>  </div> </div> <div class="modal right fade" id="timeline-modal" tabindex="-1" role="dialog" aria-labelledby="timeline-modal-label"> <div class="modal-dialog"> <div class="modal-content"> <div class="modal-body"> <button type="button" class="close timeline-close" data-dismiss="modal" aria-label="Close"><span aria-hidden="true" class="ci-times-circle"></span></button>  <section id="timeline-modal-12383" class="timeline-issues-article hidden"> <div class="jumbotron hero article bg-image" style="background-image: url('');"></div>  <article class="single"> <div class="container">  <div class="row"> <header class="col-md-12"> <div class="article-header"> <small class="article-category"> <a href="https://www.electric.coop/issues-and-policy/broadband">Broadband</a> </small> <h1 class="article-title">Let There Be Fiber: Co-op Staffer Leads Volunteers to Connect Bible Camp </h1> <h3 class="article-subtitle"></h3> </div> </header> </div>  <div class="row"> <section class="col-md-3"> <div class="article-meta"> <div class="row"> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-date"> <span>Published</span>November 18, 2024 </div> </div> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-author"> <span>Author</span> Cathy Cash </div> </div> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-share">  <div class="social-share post"> <ul class="social"> <li><a class="facebook-share" href="https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=&title=" target="_blank"></a></li> <li><a class="twitter-share" href="https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?source=&text=&via=NRECANews " target="_blank"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewBox="0 0 512 512"><path d="M389.2 48h70.6L305.6 224.2 487 464H345L233.7 318.6 106.5 464H35.8L200.7 275.5 26.8 48H172.4L272.9 180.9 389.2 48zM364.4 421.8h39.1L151.1 88h-42L364.4 421.8z"/></svg></a></li> <li><a class="linkedin-share" href="http://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=&title=&summary=" target="_blank"></a></li> </ul> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </section> <section class="col-md-9"> <div class="article-content">  <figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img fetchpriority="high" decoding="async" width="1024" height="768" src="https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Cody-SE-SK-JC-at-Welcome-Center.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-12384" srcset="https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Cody-SE-SK-JC-at-Welcome-Center.jpg 1024w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Cody-SE-SK-JC-at-Welcome-Center-300x225.jpg 300w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Cody-SE-SK-JC-at-Welcome-Center-768x576.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Volunteers led by Meeker Cooperative’s Josh Carlson (far right) use donated equipment and materials to build a fiber broadband backbone for Lake Beauty Bible Camp in central Minnesota. (Photo Courtesy: Meeker Cooperative)  </figcaption></figure> <p>Lake Beauty Bible Camp in central Minnesota is where Josh Carlson learned the value of giving back. Now the cooperative broadband installation supervisor is coming full circle, helping build a fiber-optic network for the popular retreat with donations and volunteers. </p> <p>“Camp was a place where I learned that volunteering is where I get the most joy,” said Carlson, who joined Litchfield-based <a href="https://www.meeker.coop/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Meeker Cooperative Light and Power Association</a> four years ago. “I really appreciate what camp did for me.” </p> <p>Surrounded by deep forest, the buildings, dorms, cabins and offices that dot the 616-acre camp are far beyond the service territory of Meeker and its broadband arm, Vibrant.  </p> <p>But when a local telephone co-op won a state grant to serve the remote area, Carlson wanted to make sure LBBC had everything it needed to get connected quickly and as cheaply as possible. </p> <p>He leaned on his co-op experience and planned a fiber backbone to connect the entire campus with a single hookup. Then he reached out to his list of friends and industry contacts, who responded with offers of donated material and muscle. </p> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" width="1024" height="768" src="https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Cody-Big-Rock2-1024x768.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-12385" srcset="https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Cody-Big-Rock2-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Cody-Big-Rock2-300x225.jpg 300w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Cody-Big-Rock2-768x576.jpg 768w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Cody-Big-Rock2.jpg 1200w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Volunteers lent their time, equipment and muscle to dig trenches to lay fiber for a network to connect Lake Beauty Bible Camp to broadband internet once a service provider arrives to the wooded retreat in central Minnesota. (Photo Courtesy: Meeker Cooperative) </figcaption></figure> <p>A contractor lent his vibratory plow to place in the ground duct that was donated by a vendor. A skilled utilities locator volunteered weekends to ensure the team avoided underground services. A national manufacturer committed 8,000 feet of fiber cable with 48- and 12-count strands for the entire network. A service station in Willmar that subscribes to Vibrant will buy the 14 fiber termination boxes for connecting the camp buildings.   </p> <p>No connection date has been set by the telco, but the bulk of the prep work is already done. Once the fiber arrives, volunteers will pull it through the ducts into buildings and splice it for lighting. </p> <p>“I just wanted to get ahead of the game and get ready,” Carlson said. “The snowball effect really helped bring a lot of people together saying, ‘Yeah, I’m in.’” </p> <p>The broadband service will be limited to the camp’s 20 staffers, 16 of whom reside there full-time. There will be no public Wi-Fi, but strategic uses of the technology for conferences at the camp are being considered.  </p> <p>“The camp’s motto is, ‘A place set apart,’” Carlson said. “We want people to engage with each other, build relationships, have conversations. But business still needs to get done. Staff members need to be able to connect. Their quality of life will be enhanced.” </p> <p>As a board member of the camp, which is supported by 61 churches, Carlson says it’s his “personal passion” to find ways to sustain LBBC, which serves about 2,200 children, families and seniors each year. </p> <p>“One of the ways is to find volunteers or find new revenue by gifts,” he said. “We all have relationships. How are we going to leverage those relationships to do, to be honest, the Lord’s work?”  </p> <p><em>Cathy Cash is a staff writer for NRECA.</em></p> </div> </section> </div> <div class="row"> <div class="col-md-12"> <section class="timeline-article-footer"> <small>Next in the Issue</small> <a class="article-next-post" data-next-article="timeline-modal-12352" title="America’s Electric Co-ops Ready to Work with Trump Administration, New Congress to Strengthen Rural Communities">America’s Electric Co-ops Ready to Work with Trump Administration, New Congress to Strengthen Rural Communities <span class="arrow"><i class="ci-long-arrow-right"></i></span></a> </section> </div> </div> </div> </article>  </section>  <section id="timeline-modal-12352" class="timeline-issues-article hidden"> <div class="jumbotron hero article bg-image" style="background-image: url('');"></div>  <article class="single"> <div class="container">  <div class="row"> <header class="col-md-12"> <div class="article-header"> <small class="article-category"> <a href="https://www.electric.coop/issues-and-policy/broadband">Broadband</a> </small> <h1 class="article-title">America’s Electric Co-ops Ready to Work with Trump Administration, New Congress to Strengthen Rural Communities</h1> <h3 class="article-subtitle"></h3> </div> </header> </div>  <div class="row"> <section class="col-md-3"> <div class="article-meta"> <div class="row"> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-date"> <span>Published</span>November 6, 2024 </div> </div> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-author"> <span>Author</span> Media Relations </div> </div> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-share">  <div class="social-share post"> <ul class="social"> <li><a class="facebook-share" href="https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=&title=" target="_blank"></a></li> <li><a class="twitter-share" href="https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?source=&text=&via=NRECANews " target="_blank"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewBox="0 0 512 512"><path d="M389.2 48h70.6L305.6 224.2 487 464H345L233.7 318.6 106.5 464H35.8L200.7 275.5 26.8 48H172.4L272.9 180.9 389.2 48zM364.4 421.8h39.1L151.1 88h-42L364.4 421.8z"/></svg></a></li> <li><a class="linkedin-share" href="http://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=&title=&summary=" target="_blank"></a></li> </ul> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </section> <section class="col-md-9"> <div class="article-content">  <p><strong>ARLINGTON, Va.</strong> – National Rural Electric Cooperative Association CEO Jim Matheson issued the following statement on the election results.</p> <p>“We congratulate President Trump on his election, and we look forward to working with him and Congress on a pro-energy agenda that protects affordability and reliability,” Matheson said. “America is at an energy crossroads and the reliability of the electric grid hangs in the balance. Critical generation resources are being retired faster than they can be reliably replaced. At the same time, electricity demand is skyrocketing as power-hungry data centers and new manufacturing facilities come online. Smart energy policies that keep the lights on are more important than ever.”</p> <p>Among electric co-ops’ ongoing policy priorities:</p> <ul class="wp-block-list"> <li><strong>Safeguarding Electric Reliability. </strong>Protecting the electric grid from increasing threats to reliability, such as the Environmental Protection Agency’s <a href="https://www.electric.coop/supreme-court-epa-power-plant-rule-stay-decision-leaves-serious-reliability-threat-unchecked">Power Plant Rule</a>.</li> </ul> <ul class="wp-block-list"> <li><strong>Reforming Federal Permitting. </strong><a href="https://www.electric.coop/co-op-leader-to-congress-permitting-reform-crucial-to-meeting-power-demand">Modernizing and streamlining</a> the federal permitting and siting process in a manner that eliminates excessive regulatory burdens and ensures more predictable and timely decisions from federal agencies.</li> </ul> <ul class="wp-block-list"> <li><strong>Enhancing Wildfire Protection. </strong>Passage of legislation such as the <a href="https://www.electric.coop/electric-co-ops-applaud-house-passage-of-fix-our-forests-act">Fix Our Forests Act (H.R. 8790)</a> that includes crucial improvements to grid hardening and wildfire mitigation procedures that will help co-ops better address wildfire hazards on utility rights-of-way.</li> </ul> <ul class="wp-block-list"> <li><strong>Protecting the Lower Snake River Dams. </strong>Preserving the Lower Snake River dams, which provide a critical source of <a href="https://www.spokesman.com/stories/2024/feb/28/cathy-mcmorris-rodgers-and-jim-matheson-lower-snak/">reliable and affordable carbon-free electricity</a> in the Pacific Northwest.</li> </ul> <ul class="wp-block-list"> <li><strong>Defending Direct Pay. </strong>Maintaining direct pay tax credits, which <a href="https://www.electric.coop/house-passes-direct-pay-incentives-for-co-ops">provide direct federal payments</a> to electric co-ops when they deploy new energy technologies, including carbon capture, nuclear, energy storage, renewables and more.</li> </ul> <ul class="wp-block-list"> <li><strong>Maintaining New ERA Funding. </strong>Protecting <a href="https://www.electric.coop/second-round-of-usda-new-era-funding-showcases-electric-co-op-innovation">funding for innovative energy projects</a> from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Empowering Rural America (“New ERA”) Program.</li> </ul> <ul class="wp-block-list"> <li><strong>Promoting Infrastructure Modernization. </strong>Improving the nation’s <a href="https://www.electric.coop/nreca-rural-electric-utilities-consortium-selected-for-transmission-infrastructure-funding">electric infrastructure</a>, including transmission facilities critical to maintaining a reliable electric grid.</li> </ul> <ul class="wp-block-list"> <li><strong>Deploying Rural Broadband. </strong>Delivering quality, affordable broadband to rural communities through programs such as the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (<a href="https://www.electric.coop/nreca-applauds-major-rural-broadband-milestone">BEAD</a>) Program.</li> </ul> <p><em>The National Rural Electric Cooperative Association is the national trade association representing nearly 900 local electric cooperatives. From growing suburbs to remote farming communities, electric co-ops serve as engines of economic development for 42 million Americans across 56 percent of the nation’s landscape. As local businesses built by the consumers they serve, electric cooperatives have meaningful ties to rural America and invest $15 billion annually in their communities.</em></p> <p class="has-text-align-center"><em>-###-</em></p> </div> </section> </div> <div class="row"> <div class="col-md-12"> <section class="timeline-article-footer"> <small>Next in the Issue</small> <a class="article-next-post" data-next-article="timeline-modal-12251" title="Oklahoma Co-op Tests 50-Gig Broadband at Sac and Fox Nation Home">Oklahoma Co-op Tests 50-Gig Broadband at Sac and Fox Nation Home <span class="arrow"><i class="ci-long-arrow-right"></i></span></a> </section> </div> </div> </div> </article>  </section>  <section id="timeline-modal-12251" class="timeline-issues-article hidden"> <div class="jumbotron hero article bg-image" style="background-image: url('');"></div>  <article class="single"> <div class="container">  <div class="row"> <header class="col-md-12"> <div class="article-header"> <small class="article-category"> <a href="https://www.electric.coop/issues-and-policy/broadband">Broadband</a> </small> <h1 class="article-title">Oklahoma Co-op Tests 50-Gig Broadband at Sac and Fox Nation Home</h1> <h3 class="article-subtitle"></h3> </div> </header> </div>  <div class="row"> <section class="col-md-3"> <div class="article-meta"> <div class="row"> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-date"> <span>Published</span>October 15, 2024 </div> </div> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-author"> <span>Author</span> Cathy Cash </div> </div> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-share">  <div class="social-share post"> <ul class="social"> <li><a class="facebook-share" href="https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=&title=" target="_blank"></a></li> <li><a class="twitter-share" href="https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?source=&text=&via=NRECANews " target="_blank"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewBox="0 0 512 512"><path d="M389.2 48h70.6L305.6 224.2 487 464H345L233.7 318.6 106.5 464H35.8L200.7 275.5 26.8 48H172.4L272.9 180.9 389.2 48zM364.4 421.8h39.1L151.1 88h-42L364.4 421.8z"/></svg></a></li> <li><a class="linkedin-share" href="http://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=&title=&summary=" target="_blank"></a></li> </ul> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </section> <section class="col-md-9"> <div class="article-content">  <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" width="1024" height="683" src="https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/centranet-2-1024x683.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-12253" srcset="https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/centranet-2-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/centranet-2-300x200.jpg 300w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/centranet-2-768x512.jpg 768w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/centranet-2.jpg 1500w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Centranet, the broadband arm of Central Rural Electric Cooperative, is the first to test 50 gigabits per second at a tribal nation home in Oklahoma. (Photo Courtesy: Centranet)</figcaption></figure> <p>Centranet, the broadband subsidiary of <a href="https://mycentral.coop/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Central Rural Electric Cooperative</a>, has become the first provider to test the fastest residential internet speed—50 gigabits per second—at a tribal nation home in rural Oklahoma.</p> <p>On Oct. 8, <a href="https://www.centranetfiber.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Centranet</a> announced it has connected a member of the Sac and Fox Nation to its fiber network using Nokia’s Lightspan MF access platform as part of a technology showcase. The live demonstration included load testing at the member’s house to prove viability of the connection.</p> <p>“Bringing high-speed broadband to the Sac and Fox Nation, as well as other tribes and underserved areas has been a priority for us,” said Mark Prather, president of fiber and technology at the Stillwater-based co-op, which has built 3,300 miles of fiber in the past three years.</p> <p>“This project is about more than just technology. It’s about ensuring that everyone in our community has the tools and opportunities they need to thrive in today’s digital world.”</p> <p>Sac and Fox Nation recently won a $35.8 million grant from the National Telecommunications and Information Administration’s Tribal Broadband Connectivity Program for Centranet to deploy gigabit internet service throughout its lands east of Oklahoma City. In August, the co-op and the nation broke ground on the first of four projects that are targeted for completion in 2026.</p> <p>“We pursued this grant to enhance the availability and the viability for our tribal members to access fiber optic opportunities, not just now, but in the future,” said Randle Carter, the principal chief of Sac and Fox Nation.</p> <p>Just five years ago, the tribal community endured lethargic 12/3 megabits per second speeds through copper lines.</p> <p>“Fiber has made a real difference in how we operate as a tribe,” said the nation’s IT director, Boyd Cummings. “Home health care has been impossible up until now. We are hoping that fiber internet in our rural areas will make a difference for our tribal members here in central Oklahoma.”</p> <p>Established in 2020, Centranet provides fiber internet access to more than 10,000 rural households in north-central Oklahoma. In addition to the Sac and Fox Nation, the co-op also delivers broadband to members of the Iowa Tribe of Oklahoma. </p> <p>“Eighty-six years ago, Central Rural Electric Cooperative lit up homes in rural Oklahoma by bringing them electricity. Today we bring light to these rural and tribal homes through fiber optic cables providing world-class broadband service,” said Sachin Gupta, Centranet vice president of business and technology strategies.</p> <p>“This pilot demonstration marks a significant milestone for our ability to close the digital divide for rural and Indigenous communities with the fastest internet speed available globally.”</p> <p><em>Cathy Cash is a staff writer for NRECA.</em></p> </div> </section> </div> <div class="row"> <div class="col-md-12"> <section class="timeline-article-footer"> <small>Next in the Issue</small> <a class="article-next-post" data-next-article="timeline-modal-12123" title="Broadband Partnership Sets ‘Sterling Example’ of Sixth Co-op Principle">Broadband Partnership Sets ‘Sterling Example’ of Sixth Co-op Principle <span class="arrow"><i class="ci-long-arrow-right"></i></span></a> </section> </div> </div> </div> </article>  </section>  <section id="timeline-modal-12123" class="timeline-issues-article hidden"> <div class="jumbotron hero article bg-image" style="background-image: url('');"></div>  <article class="single"> <div class="container">  <div class="row"> <header class="col-md-12"> <div class="article-header"> <small class="article-category"> <a href="https://www.electric.coop/issues-and-policy/broadband">Broadband</a> </small> <h1 class="article-title">Broadband Partnership Sets ‘Sterling Example’ of Sixth Co-op Principle</h1> <h3 class="article-subtitle"></h3> </div> </header> </div>  <div class="row"> <section class="col-md-3"> <div class="article-meta"> <div class="row"> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-date"> <span>Published</span>October 2, 2024 </div> </div> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-author"> <span>Author</span> Cathy Cash </div> </div> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-share">  <div class="social-share post"> <ul class="social"> <li><a class="facebook-share" href="https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=&title=" target="_blank"></a></li> <li><a class="twitter-share" href="https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?source=&text=&via=NRECANews " target="_blank"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewBox="0 0 512 512"><path d="M389.2 48h70.6L305.6 224.2 487 464H345L233.7 318.6 106.5 464H35.8L200.7 275.5 26.8 48H172.4L272.9 180.9 389.2 48zM364.4 421.8h39.1L151.1 88h-42L364.4 421.8z"/></svg></a></li> <li><a class="linkedin-share" href="http://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=&title=&summary=" target="_blank"></a></li> </ul> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </section> <section class="col-md-9"> <div class="article-content">  <p>Two electric cooperatives are teaming up to quickly deliver world-class broadband to at least 10,000 members in unserved and underserved communities in Virginia.</p> <div class="wp-block-image"> <figure class="alignright size-large is-resized"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="1024" src="https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/wood-hewa-FireFlyComm-1024x1024.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-12124" style="width:549px;height:auto" srcset="https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/wood-hewa-FireFlyComm-1024x1024.jpg 1024w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/wood-hewa-FireFlyComm-300x300.jpg 300w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/wood-hewa-FireFlyComm-150x150.jpg 150w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/wood-hewa-FireFlyComm-768x768.jpg 768w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/wood-hewa-FireFlyComm.jpg 1500w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Gary Wood, CEO of CVEC and Firefly Fiber Broadband (left), and John D. Hewa, REC president and CEO, flank the Firefly mascot, Flash. The two Virginia co-ops are working together to deliver high-speed internet to rural co-op members. (Photo Courtesy: Firefly Communications) </figcaption></figure></div> <p>Fredericksburg-based <a href="https://www.myrec.coop/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Rappahannock Electric Cooperative</a> is building a 2,100-mile fiber optic network across five counties in its electric service territory that Firefly Fiber BroadbandSM, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Lovingston-based <a href="https://www.mycvec.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Central Virginia Electric Cooperative</a>, is leasing to deliver fiber-to-the-home broadband.</p> <p>So far, nearly 6,000 homes have been connected since the co-ops began working together last spring, surpassing the halfway point of expected connections in the project in just over a year.</p> <p>“The partnership between Firefly and REC is a sterling example of the sixth cooperative principle, cooperation among cooperatives,” said Gary Wood, CEO of CVEC and Firefly.</p> <p>“REC has been an enthusiastic, energetic partner, and their ability to achieve a remarkable pace of make ready work and fiber placement has resulted in amazing connection numbers in a short time. The speed of deployment in the REC area is only possible due to the coordinated efforts of two committed cooperatives.”</p> <p>Firefly, now in its sixth year, delivers broadband with symmetrical data upload and download speeds of 100 megabits per second to 1 gigabit per second. It has about 33,000 subscribers.</p> <p>“We take great pride in our ongoing partnership with Firefly, which is delivering remarkable progress in expanding broadband access across five counties,” said John D. Hewa, REC’s president and CEO.</p> <p>Firefly recently acquired an additional 672 locations within REC service territory under a transfer agreement with another fiber broadband builder that originally had been awarded parts of Madison County through the Federal Communications Commission’s Rural Digital Opportunity Fund.</p> <p><em>Cathy Cash is a staff writer for NRECA.</em></p> </div> </section> </div> <div class="row"> <div class="col-md-12"> <section class="timeline-article-footer"> <small>Next in the Issue</small> <a class="article-next-post" data-next-article="timeline-modal-11938" title="Oklahoma Co-op Wins National Broadband Awards for Speed, Member Support">Oklahoma Co-op Wins National Broadband Awards for Speed, Member Support <span class="arrow"><i class="ci-long-arrow-right"></i></span></a> </section> </div> </div> </div> </article>  </section>  <section id="timeline-modal-11938" class="timeline-issues-article hidden"> <div class="jumbotron hero article bg-image" style="background-image: url('');"></div>  <article class="single"> <div class="container">  <div class="row"> <header class="col-md-12"> <div class="article-header"> <small class="article-category"> <a href="https://www.electric.coop/issues-and-policy/broadband">Broadband</a> </small> <h1 class="article-title">Oklahoma Co-op Wins National Broadband Awards for Speed, Member Support</h1> <h3 class="article-subtitle"></h3> </div> </header> </div>  <div class="row"> <section class="col-md-3"> <div class="article-meta"> <div class="row"> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-date"> <span>Published</span>September 11, 2024 </div> </div> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-author"> <span>Author</span> Cathy Cash </div> </div> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-share">  <div class="social-share post"> <ul class="social"> <li><a class="facebook-share" href="https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=&title=" target="_blank"></a></li> <li><a class="twitter-share" href="https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?source=&text=&via=NRECANews " target="_blank"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewBox="0 0 512 512"><path d="M389.2 48h70.6L305.6 224.2 487 464H345L233.7 318.6 106.5 464H35.8L200.7 275.5 26.8 48H172.4L272.9 180.9 389.2 48zM364.4 421.8h39.1L151.1 88h-42L364.4 421.8z"/></svg></a></li> <li><a class="linkedin-share" href="http://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=&title=&summary=" target="_blank"></a></li> </ul> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </section> <section class="col-md-9"> <div class="article-content">  <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="700" src="https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/oec-broadband-1024x700.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-11939" srcset="https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/oec-broadband-1024x700.jpg 1024w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/oec-broadband-300x205.jpg 300w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/oec-broadband-768x525.jpg 768w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/oec-broadband.jpg 1500w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">OEC Fiber, the broadband subsidiary of Oklahoma Electric Cooperative, has won national recognition for speed as a regional internet service provider and for its excellent service to its nearly 40,000 subscribers. (Photo Courtesy: OEC Fiber) </figcaption></figure> <p><a href="https://okcoop.org/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Oklahoma Electric Cooperative’s</a> broadband arm, which completed a 3,600-mile fiber build within four years, recently captured national awards for not only being the fastest internet service provider around but for thoroughly supporting its subscribers.</p> <p>Broadbandnow.com bestowed OEC Fiber with a <a href="https://broadbandnow.com/report/Digital-Inclusion-Awards" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">2024 Digital Inclusion Award for Digital Literacy</a> last month. The independent broadband research group earlier this summer ranked the Norman-based co-op subsidiary as fifth nationwide in <a href="https://broadbandnow.com/report/2024-provider-awards" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Fastest Real-World Speed category</a> for regional ISPs.</p> <p><a href="https://oecfiber.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">OEC Fiber</a> is closing in on 40,000 subscribers since its first connections in February 2019 across parts of seven central Oklahoma counties, where large for-profit competitors placed stakes.</p> <p>“OEC Fiber’s success further proves that America’s cooperatives are best positioned to provide high-speed internet to rural America,” NRECA Broadband Director Cliff Johnson said.</p> <p>“Not only do they provide superior service at an affordable cost, but they make significant investments in the local communities they serve—ensuring everyone is connected and no one is left behind.”</p> <p>OEC Fiber President David Goodspeed attributed the national recognition to the co-op’s teamwork and care for their customers at the end of the line.</p> <p>“We don’t work in silos,” he said. “It’s not about what individual teams want to do. We are all pulling in the same direction. Our leaders and their teams all work toward a common goal: Providing the best service possible to our subscribers.”</p> <p>That comprehensive service, support and education at no cost to the subscriber distinguished OEC Fiber, according to Broadband.now.</p> <p>“This proactive strategy, combined with their locally available support team, ensures that subscribers have immediate access to help while also empowering them with self-service options,” the organization said in its recognition of OEC Fiber.</p> <p>“By aligning their marketing and support teams under the same management, OEC Fiber maintains consistent communication and ensures that their marketing materials accurately reflect the needs and experiences of their subscribers, further enhancing the overall customer experience.”</p> <p><em>Cathy Cash is a staff writer for NRECA.</em></p> </div> </section> </div> <div class="row"> <div class="col-md-12"> <section class="timeline-article-footer"> <small>Next in the Issue</small> <a class="article-next-post" data-next-article="timeline-modal-11863" title="Along Those Lines: In Small-Town Illinois, Co-op Broadband Makes a World of Difference">Along Those Lines: In Small-Town Illinois, Co-op Broadband Makes a World of Difference <span class="arrow"><i class="ci-long-arrow-right"></i></span></a> </section> </div> </div> </div> </article>  </section>  <section id="timeline-modal-11863" class="timeline-issues-article hidden"> <div class="jumbotron hero article bg-image" style="background-image: url('');"></div>  <article class="single"> <div class="container">  <div class="row"> <header class="col-md-12"> <div class="article-header"> <small class="article-category"> <a href="https://www.electric.coop/issues-and-policy/broadband">Broadband</a> </small> <h1 class="article-title">Along Those Lines: In Small-Town Illinois, Co-op Broadband Makes a World of Difference</h1> <h3 class="article-subtitle"></h3> </div> </header> </div>  <div class="row"> <section class="col-md-3"> <div class="article-meta"> <div class="row"> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-date"> <span>Published</span>August 13, 2024 </div> </div> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-author"> <span>Author</span> NRECA </div> </div> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-share">  <div class="social-share post"> <ul class="social"> <li><a class="facebook-share" href="https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=&title=" target="_blank"></a></li> <li><a class="twitter-share" href="https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?source=&text=&via=NRECANews " target="_blank"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewBox="0 0 512 512"><path d="M389.2 48h70.6L305.6 224.2 487 464H345L233.7 318.6 106.5 464H35.8L200.7 275.5 26.8 48H172.4L272.9 180.9 389.2 48zM364.4 421.8h39.1L151.1 88h-42L364.4 421.8z"/></svg></a></li> <li><a class="linkedin-share" href="http://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=&title=&summary=" target="_blank"></a></li> </ul> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </section> <section class="col-md-9"> <div class="article-content">  <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="456" src="https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/podcastcollage-1024x456.png" alt="" class="wp-image-11864" srcset="https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/podcastcollage-1024x456.png 1024w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/podcastcollage-300x134.png 300w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/podcastcollage-768x342.png 768w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/podcastcollage.png 1213w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">On this month’s episode, hear from (clockwise from top left): Jim Baranski, co-founder of architecture firm BHMS; Jesse Shekleton, JCE Co-op director of broadband operations; Nate Greiner, founder of VR software company Design Mill Inc.; Mike Moran, Galena city administrator; Tracy Bauer, president and CEO of Midwest Medical Center; and JCE Co-op CEO Mike Casper. (Photos By: Jerry Mosemak/NRECA)</figcaption></figure> <p>Nestled along the upper Mississippi River and surrounded by farms and villages tucked into rolling hills, the town of Galena, Illinois, with its 200-year-old redbrick buildings, has charm to spare and regularly appears on national tourism lists as one of the top small towns to visit. </p> <p>Now, with the coming of high-speed internet, Galena is seeing a surge not only in tourism but in new residents. And the driver behind this trend is the local electric cooperative.</p> <div class="wp-block-image"> <figure class="alignright size-large is-resized"><a href="https://www.aflglobal.com/en/Company/Company-Profile/Connecting-America" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="322" src="https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/AFL-Logo-1024x322.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-11865" style="width:334px;height:auto" srcset="https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/AFL-Logo-1024x322.jpg 1024w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/AFL-Logo-300x94.jpg 300w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/AFL-Logo-768x241.jpg 768w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/AFL-Logo-1536x483.jpg 1536w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/AFL-Logo-2048x644.jpg 2048w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></a><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">This episode is sponsored by AFL.</figcaption></figure></div> <p><a href="https://jcecoop.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">JCE Co-op</a> took up broadband in 2009 to connect its advanced metering infrastructure. But as fixed wireless systems proved unreliable, the co-op in 2016 designated “future-proof” fiber as standard for all new buildouts. Co-op officials say the biggest impacts of their fiber build-out have been the broad value it’s brought to the communities they serve and a noticeable boost in the confidence and trust their members say they have in the co-op.</p> <p>In this special edition of Along Those Lines, in conjunction with the <a href="https://www.cooperative.com/remagazine/articles/pages/worth-moving-back-for.aspx" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">August RE Magazine cover story</a>, we hear from JCE Co-op leaders as well as residents of Galena who credit their improved quality of life and business success to the foresight and drive of the co-op’s broadband effort.</p> <p>Listen to the episode below:</p>  <iframe loading="lazy" src="//html5-player.libsyn.com/embed/episode/id/32559792/height/90/theme/custom/autoplay/no/autonext/no/thumbnail/yes/preload/no/no_addthis/no/direction/forward/render-playlist/no/custom-color/000000/" height="90" allowfullscreen webkitallowfullscreen mozallowfullscreen oallowfullscreen msallowfullscreen width="100%" scrolling="yes" class="iframe-class" frameborder="0"></iframe> <p></p> <p>You can also listen and subscribe to Along Those Lines on your preferred podcast service:<br><a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/along-those-lines/id1436857701?mt=2" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Apple Podcasts</a> | <a href="https://www.google.com/podcasts?feed=aHR0cDovL2Fsb25ndGhvc2VsaW5lcy5saWJzeW4uY29tL3Jzcw%3D%3D" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Google Podcasts</a> | <a href="https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/nreca/along-those-lines?refid=stpr" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Stitcher</a> | <a href="https://open.spotify.com/show/3W0inRR6llFNLxd1LOC5KV" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Spotify</a> | <a href="https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLpJntTwNLWwrKOA7eURFxf5FfNfVOqCSl" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">YouTube</a></p> <p><em>Find out more about <a href="https://www.electric.coop/podcast" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">NRECA’s podcast</a>. Questions or suggestions? Email us at <a href="mailto:AlongThoseLines@nreca.coop">AlongThoseLines@nreca.coop</a>.</em></p> </div> </section> </div> <div class="row"> <div class="col-md-12"> <section class="timeline-article-footer"> <small>Next in the Issue</small> <a class="article-next-post" data-next-article="timeline-modal-11760" title="‘Well On Our Way’: Alabama Co-op Middle-Mile Network Celebrates First Customer">‘Well On Our Way’: Alabama Co-op Middle-Mile Network Celebrates First Customer <span class="arrow"><i class="ci-long-arrow-right"></i></span></a> </section> </div> </div> </div> </article>  </section>  <section id="timeline-modal-11760" class="timeline-issues-article hidden"> <div class="jumbotron hero article bg-image" style="background-image: url('');"></div>  <article class="single"> <div class="container">  <div class="row"> <header class="col-md-12"> <div class="article-header"> <small class="article-category"> <a href="https://www.electric.coop/issues-and-policy/broadband">Broadband</a> </small> <h1 class="article-title">‘Well On Our Way’: Alabama Co-op Middle-Mile Network Celebrates First Customer</h1> <h3 class="article-subtitle"></h3> </div> </header> </div>  <div class="row"> <section class="col-md-3"> <div class="article-meta"> <div class="row"> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-date"> <span>Published</span>July 16, 2024 </div> </div> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-author"> <span>Author</span> Cathy Cash </div> </div> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-share">  <div class="social-share post"> <ul class="social"> <li><a class="facebook-share" href="https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=&title=" target="_blank"></a></li> <li><a class="twitter-share" href="https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?source=&text=&via=NRECANews " target="_blank"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewBox="0 0 512 512"><path d="M389.2 48h70.6L305.6 224.2 487 464H345L233.7 318.6 106.5 464H35.8L200.7 275.5 26.8 48H172.4L272.9 180.9 389.2 48zM364.4 421.8h39.1L151.1 88h-42L364.4 421.8z"/></svg></a></li> <li><a class="linkedin-share" href="http://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=&title=&summary=" target="_blank"></a></li> </ul> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </section> <section class="col-md-9"> <div class="article-content">  <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="575" src="https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/DSC06120-1024x575.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-11762" srcset="https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/DSC06120-1024x575.jpg 1024w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/DSC06120-300x169.jpg 300w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/DSC06120-768x431.jpg 768w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/DSC06120.jpg 1200w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey announced the official start of service of the Alabama Fiber Network and praised the AFN’s founding co-ops for working to connect rural communities statewide. (Photo By: Alabama Fiber Network)</figcaption></figure> <p>The <a href="https://www.alabamafibernetwork.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Alabama Fiber Network (AFN)</a> is officially open for business and ready to partner with fiber-to-the-home providers and community anchor institutions to deliver fast, reliable, affordable broadband internet service to every corner of the state. </p> <p>That’s the message eight electric cooperatives shared with Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey and other officials gathered July 10 in Cullman to light the middle-mile fiber broadband network and announce its first “last mile” customer, Sprout Fiber Internet, <a href="https://www.cullmanec.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Cullman Electric Cooperative’s</a> broadband subsidiary. </p> <p>“Achieving full connectivity is a marathon, not a sprint,” Ivey said. “But we are well on our way. It’s days like today where we can see our progress.”</p> <p>The <a href="https://www.electric.coop/alabama-awards-82-4m-to-electric-co-ops-for-broadband-middle-mile" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">co-ops began forming AFN in 2022</a> to serve as the middle-mile infrastructure to link their local networks to large telecommunication carriers and the internet. The network will ultimately stretch 5,000 miles across the state’s 67 counties. </p> <p>“Our goal is to connect Alabama to the future,” said Tom Stackhouse, AFN board chairman and president and CEO of <a href="https://caec.coop/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Central Alabama Electric Cooperative</a>, headquartered in Prattville. “Today’s event is a testament to our commitment for all Alabamians to have access to reliable, high-speed internet.” </p> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="683" src="https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/DSC1583-1024x683.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-11763" srcset="https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/DSC1583-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/DSC1583-300x200.jpg 300w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/DSC1583-768x512.jpg 768w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/DSC1583.jpg 1200w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Tom Stackhouse, AFN board chairman and president and CEO of Central Alabama Electric Cooperative, told the crowd that the co-ops formed the middle-mile network “for all Alabamians to have access to reliable, high-speed internet.” (Photo By: Alabama Fiber Network)<br></figcaption></figure> <p>AFN has received over $200 million so far in grants through the Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs and the Alabama Digital Expansion Authority. Impact analyses show that the network will create 4,112 construction jobs with a total economic impact of $657 million, AFN officials said.  </p> <p>“Increasing access throughout Alabama will enhance innovation and create new opportunities for education, health care, economic development and more,” said Terry Metze Jr., AFN CEO. </p> <p>NRECA CEO Jim Matheson congratulated the co-ops for building a middle-mile network that will deliver services that every small community needs to compete.  </p> <p>“As a modern-day necessity, broadband internet creates new ways to live, learn and earn in rural America,” said Matheson. “And from Muscle Shoals to Mobile, the Alabama Fiber Network will make a significant difference for rural Alabamians. Alabama’s future is brighter because of the work of cooperatives.”</p> <p>In addition to Central Alabama and Cullman Electric, co-ops and their subsidiaries forming the Prattville-based AFN are Talladega-based <a href="https://www.coosavalleyec.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Coosa Valley Electric Cooperative</a>, Andalusia-based <a href="https://covington.coop/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Covington Electric Cooperative</a>, Trinity-based <a href="https://www.jwemc.coop/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">JWEMC Communications LLC</a>, Stevenson-based <a href="https://www.naecoop.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">North Alabama Electric Cooperative</a>, Hamilton-based <a href="https://www.tombigbee.org/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Tombigbee Electric Cooperative</a>, and <a href="https://www.powersouth.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">PowerSouth Energy Cooperative</a>, the generation and transmission co-op based in Andalusia.</p> <p><em>Cathy Cash is a staff writer for NRECA.</em></p> </div> </section> </div> <div class="row"> <div class="col-md-12"> <section class="timeline-article-footer"> <small>Next in the Issue</small> <a class="article-next-post" data-next-article="timeline-modal-11583" title="Zero to 40,000: Arkansas Co-op Hits Broadband Milestone ">Zero to 40,000: Arkansas Co-op Hits Broadband Milestone <span class="arrow"><i class="ci-long-arrow-right"></i></span></a> </section> </div> </div> </div> </article>  </section>  <section id="timeline-modal-11583" class="timeline-issues-article hidden"> <div class="jumbotron hero article bg-image" style="background-image: url('');"></div>  <article class="single"> <div class="container">  <div class="row"> <header class="col-md-12"> <div class="article-header"> <small class="article-category"> <a href="https://www.electric.coop/issues-and-policy/broadband">Broadband</a> </small> <h1 class="article-title">Zero to 40,000: Arkansas Co-op Hits Broadband Milestone </h1> <h3 class="article-subtitle"></h3> </div> </header> </div>  <div class="row"> <section class="col-md-3"> <div class="article-meta"> <div class="row"> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-date"> <span>Published</span>May 22, 2024 </div> </div> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-author"> <span>Author</span> Cathy Cash </div> </div> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-share">  <div class="social-share post"> <ul class="social"> <li><a class="facebook-share" href="https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=&title=" target="_blank"></a></li> <li><a class="twitter-share" href="https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?source=&text=&via=NRECANews " target="_blank"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewBox="0 0 512 512"><path d="M389.2 48h70.6L305.6 224.2 487 464H345L233.7 318.6 106.5 464H35.8L200.7 275.5 26.8 48H172.4L272.9 180.9 389.2 48zM364.4 421.8h39.1L151.1 88h-42L364.4 421.8z"/></svg></a></li> <li><a class="linkedin-share" href="http://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=&title=&summary=" target="_blank"></a></li> </ul> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </section> <section class="col-md-9"> <div class="article-content">  <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="576" src="https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Pu2UPJY3-OzarksGo-1024x576.png" alt="" class="wp-image-11584" srcset="https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Pu2UPJY3-OzarksGo-1024x576.png 1024w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Pu2UPJY3-OzarksGo-300x169.png 300w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Pu2UPJY3-OzarksGo-768x432.png 768w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Pu2UPJY3-OzarksGo.png 1200w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">OzarksGo fetes customer No. 40,000 with free Apple AirPods and an iPad in Fayetteville, Arkansas. The broadband arm of Ozarks Electric Cooperative recently upgraded its system to XGS-PON technology that can deliver up to10-gigabit symmetrical service. (Photo By: OzarksGo) </figcaption></figure> <p>An Arkansas co-op broadband provider has gone from zero to 40,000 broadband subscribers in seven years and is still looking ahead to deliver the fastest speed anywhere. </p> <p><a href="https://www.ozarksgo.net/">OzarksGo</a>, the telecommunications subsidiary of Fayetteville, Arkansas-based <a href="https://www.ozarksecc.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Ozarks Electric Cooperative</a>, celebrated this milestone by giving free Apple AirPods and an iPad to the lucky family in a new suburb the co-op readied with fiber during its construction. </p> <p>“The kids were thrilled with their new devices,” said Steve Bandy, general manager of OzarksGo. “You can see that this service is going to be successfully used.” </p> <p>The broadband entity achieved this connection after recently completing a 14-month upgrade of its fiber network to XGS-PON technology, or 10-Gigabit Symmetrical Passive Optical Networks, the fastest residential internet speed in the industry today.  </p> <p>OzarksGo entered the gigabit realm in 2016 with GPON (Gigabyte Passive Optical Network) but within six years decided to invest in the next level for greater efficiency and bandwidth to meet members’ increasing needs.  </p> <p>“We’re doing the things that we need to do to keep our membership and customers happy,” he said. “So, when the future asks for it, we’re ready.” </p> <p>OzarksGo offers multiple internet speeds from 100 to 2,500 megabits per second with TV and phone. Bandy anticipates rolling out 5 Gbps later this year.  </p> <p>“We have the ability to go up to 10 gig in a home,” he said, noting that a lot of devices are not up to that speed. “It’s probably a little early to be able to have that multi-gig capability, but we’re prepared for it because we can already see it’s coming.” </p> <p>OzarksGo is fully deployed to serve all members of the cooperative, which serves nearly 90,000 members in five counties in Northwest Arkansas and four counties in Northeast Oklahoma. It expects almost 60,000 broadband subscribers within five years.  </p> <p>“We’re in an area that has no downturn,” Bandy said. “We’re seeing about a 3% meter growth on our cooperative side. As we build out these new subdivisions with the electric, fiber is going in with it.” </p> <p>The co-op has hired additional customer service and technical representatives to support the growth, he said. The biggest challenge is converting customers from a competing internet provider that advertises gigabit service.  </p> <p>“That’s where digital learning comes into play: Their gig is not like our gig,” said Bandy. “We are 100% fiber all the way from your living room to our data center. We have symmetrical service and more reliability. XGS has more resiliency. It helps us be able to grow and provide a better service.”   </p> <p>At times, the upgrade took the system down in the predawn hours, spurring calls from some subscribers who rely on OzarksGo to teach classes overseas and run other businesses from their homes.  </p> <p>“It really opened our eyes to what the benefits we have been able to provide to our community,” Bandy said. </p> <p><em>Cathy Cash is a staff writer for NRECA.</em></p> </div> </section> </div> <div class="row"> <div class="col-md-12"> <section class="timeline-article-footer"> <small>Next in the Issue</small> <a class="article-next-post" data-next-article="timeline-modal-11488" title="End of Affordable Connectivity Program Will Hurt Broadband Deployment">End of Affordable Connectivity Program Will Hurt Broadband Deployment <span class="arrow"><i class="ci-long-arrow-right"></i></span></a> </section> </div> </div> </div> </article>  </section>  <section id="timeline-modal-11488" class="timeline-issues-article hidden"> <div class="jumbotron hero article bg-image" style="background-image: url('');"></div>  <article class="single"> <div class="container">  <div class="row"> <header class="col-md-12"> <div class="article-header"> <small class="article-category"> <a href="https://www.electric.coop/issues-and-policy/broadband">Broadband</a> </small> <h1 class="article-title">End of Affordable Connectivity Program Will Hurt Broadband Deployment</h1> <h3 class="article-subtitle"></h3> </div> </header> </div>  <div class="row"> <section class="col-md-3"> <div class="article-meta"> <div class="row"> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-date"> <span>Published</span>April 30, 2024 </div> </div> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-author"> <span>Author</span> Molly Christian </div> </div> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-share">  <div class="social-share post"> <ul class="social"> <li><a class="facebook-share" href="https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=&title=" target="_blank"></a></li> <li><a class="twitter-share" href="https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?source=&text=&via=NRECANews " target="_blank"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewBox="0 0 512 512"><path d="M389.2 48h70.6L305.6 224.2 487 464H345L233.7 318.6 106.5 464H35.8L200.7 275.5 26.8 48H172.4L272.9 180.9 389.2 48zM364.4 421.8h39.1L151.1 88h-42L364.4 421.8z"/></svg></a></li> <li><a class="linkedin-share" href="http://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=&title=&summary=" target="_blank"></a></li> </ul> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </section> <section class="col-md-9"> <div class="article-content">  <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="853" src="https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/acp-story-1024x853.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-11491" srcset="https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/acp-story-1024x853.jpg 1024w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/acp-story-300x250.jpg 300w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/acp-story-768x640.jpg 768w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/acp-story.jpg 1500w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Broadband deployment efforts could suffer a blow as a federal program to subsidize internet service for low-income households is set to wind down. (Photo By: Jim McCarty)</figcaption></figure> <p>A <a href="https://www.electric.coop/matheson-millions-may-lose-broadband-if-affordable-connectivity-program-ends">federal program</a> that’s helped millions of low-income households afford the cost of high-speed internet service is about to run out of money, dampening efforts to provide broadband to all Americans.</p> <p>Due to robust demand, April is the last month that internet providers will receive full funding to aid qualifying households under the Federal Communications Commission’s Affordable Connectivity Program unless Congress provides additional support. ACP funding will be slashed by roughly half in May, and some providers are not planning to take partial reimbursements.</p> <p>“NRECA is disappointed that today marks the last fully funded month of the Affordable Connectivity Program, leaving millions of rural and low-income households without this important tool to help with the cost of broadband service,” NRECA CEO Jim Matheson said April 30.</p> <p>The $14 billion program provided a $30-per-month subsidy for eligible low-income households to help with the cost of their internet bills. Eligible households on tribal lands could receive up to $75 per month.</p> <p>The ACP has supported over 23 million households since its creation through the bipartisan infrastructure law of 2021, according to the FCC. Electric cooperatives serve 92% of the nation’s persistent poverty counties and are deploying broadband networks in many hard-to-reach parts of the country.</p> <p>“Internet service providers, including electric cooperatives, are embarking on a once-in-a-generation effort to build reliable broadband networks in some of the most challenging and expensive to reach parts of the country,” Matheson said. “Losing the ACP could jeopardize these efforts and undermines the goal of connecting all families with reliable, affordable broadband service.”</p> <p>NRECA conducted a survey in the summer of 2023 that showed strong participation in and support for ACP by member co-ops. At least 57% of respondents said ACP discounts resulted in new broadband customers that would not have otherwise subscribed for service.</p> <h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-nreca-staying-engaged">NRECA staying engaged</h3> <p>Although ACP is expiring, NRECA continues to engage with lawmakers and emphasize that broadband affordability is critical to adoption, particularly in high-cost, low-density rural areas.</p> <p>Michele Furlong, director of member engagement for Mount Gilead, Ohio-based <a href="https://www.consolidated.coop/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Consolidated Cooperative</a>, said the ACP enrollment process could be challenging but stressed the value of the program.</p> <p>“Being in a rural area—and we have some depressed areas in our service [territory]—that extra $30 does help out,” Furlong said.</p> <p>Brett Streby, director of communications and marketing for Boyne City, Michigan-based <a href="https://www.gtlakes.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Great Lakes Energy</a>, echoed Furlong’s comments.</p> <p>“Access to internet is becoming more and more a standard need. It’s not a convenience,” Streby said. “The availability of the ACP program opened this door and made it closer to realization for many who don’t have it.”</p> <p>If policymakers extend the program or create a new one, Streby also recommended a more streamlined enrollment process.</p> <p>“Some members explained the process for a subscriber to get enrolled in ACP was pretty clunky,” he said. “Simplifying that probably could have streamlined accessibility for a lot of our members.”</p> <p>For <a href="https://midsouthelectric.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">MidSouth Electric Co-op</a> in Navasota, Texas, the ACP helped defray costs for existing customers and generate some new internet subscribers, said Justin Stapleton, vice president of government relations. The co-op is considering adjustments to its base package as the program expires.</p> <p>“We’re looking at offering a more cost-effective ACP-related package to use even though the funding has expired,” he said.</p> <p><em>Molly Christian is a staff writer for NRECA.</em></p> </div> </section> </div> <div class="row"> <div class="col-md-12"> <section class="timeline-article-footer"> <small>Next in the Issue</small> <a class="article-next-post" data-next-article="timeline-modal-11486" title="Legislative Conference Attendees Hit Capitol Hill With Messaging on Co-ops’ Top Policy Issues">Legislative Conference Attendees Hit Capitol Hill With Messaging on Co-ops’ Top Policy Issues <span class="arrow"><i class="ci-long-arrow-right"></i></span></a> </section> </div> </div> </div> </article>  </section>  <section id="timeline-modal-11486" class="timeline-issues-article hidden"> <div class="jumbotron hero article bg-image" style="background-image: url('');"></div>  <article class="single"> <div class="container">  <div class="row"> <header class="col-md-12"> <div class="article-header"> <small class="article-category"> <a href="https://www.electric.coop/issues-and-policy/broadband">Broadband</a> </small> <h1 class="article-title">Legislative Conference Attendees Hit Capitol Hill With Messaging on Co-ops’ Top Policy Issues</h1> <h3 class="article-subtitle"></h3> </div> </header> </div>  <div class="row"> <section class="col-md-3"> <div class="article-meta"> <div class="row"> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-date"> <span>Published</span>April 26, 2024 </div> </div> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-author"> <span>Author</span> Erin Kelly </div> </div> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-share">  <div class="social-share post"> <ul class="social"> <li><a class="facebook-share" href="https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=&title=" target="_blank"></a></li> <li><a class="twitter-share" href="https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?source=&text=&via=NRECANews " target="_blank"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewBox="0 0 512 512"><path d="M389.2 48h70.6L305.6 224.2 487 464H345L233.7 318.6 106.5 464H35.8L200.7 275.5 26.8 48H172.4L272.9 180.9 389.2 48zM364.4 421.8h39.1L151.1 88h-42L364.4 421.8z"/></svg></a></li> <li><a class="linkedin-share" href="http://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=&title=&summary=" target="_blank"></a></li> </ul> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </section> <section class="col-md-9"> <div class="article-content">  <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="683" src="https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/legconf-hamill-1024x683.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-11482" srcset="https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/legconf-hamill-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/legconf-hamill-300x200.jpg 300w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/legconf-hamill-768x512.jpg 768w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/legconf-hamill.jpg 1500w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Wielding a shovel, Bobby Hamill, NRECA’s senior director of environmental policy, told co-op leaders at NRECA’s 2024 Legislative Conference that the Environmental Protection Agency “keeps digging us deeper and deeper into a reliability hole.” (Photo By: Denny Gainer/NRECA)</figcaption></figure> <p>As electric cooperative leaders headed to Capitol Hill as part of NRECA’s annual <a href="https://www.electric.coop/co-op-leaders-take-reliability-message-to-capitol-hill-federal-agencies">Legislative Conference</a>, they were equipped with key information about the four most pressing federal policy issues for co-ops: the EPA’s power plant rule, the Energy Department’s distribution transformer rule, USDA’s New ERA funding and utility pole attachments.</p> <p>In a briefing for attendees, NRECA experts outlined the following messages:</p> <h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-a-victory-on-distribution-transformers">A victory on distribution transformers</h3> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="683" src="https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/legconf-mitchell-1024x683.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-11483" srcset="https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/legconf-mitchell-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/legconf-mitchell-300x200.jpg 300w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/legconf-mitchell-768x512.jpg 768w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/legconf-mitchell.jpg 1500w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">NRECA Legislative Affairs Director Will Mitchell said strong lobbying efforts by co-ops were the key to success in getting the DOE to dramatically scale back a distribution transformer rule that would have made it difficult for co-ops to acquire the crucial equipment. (Photo By: Denny Gainer/NRECA)</figcaption></figure> <p>NRECA successfully convinced the Department of Energy to <a href="https://www.electric.coop/doe-finalizes-much-improved-standard-for-distribution-transformers">dramatically scale back a proposed rule</a> that would have made it difficult for co-ops to get the distribution transformers that are essential for them to modernize their systems and help communities recover from disasters.</p> <p>NRECA Legislative Affairs Director Will Mitchell said a key to this successful effort was co-op leaders lobbying their senators and House members on the issue. That led lawmakers from both parties to press the DOE to back off of its original proposal, which would have aggravated supply chain delays by forcing manufacturers to use hard-to-find amorphous steel for transformer cores. The final rule maintains the use of grain-oriented electrical steel and gives manufacturers more time to meet new efficiency standards.</p> <p>“It doesn’t always take a bill becoming law to achieve victory on Capitol Hill,” Mitchell said as he urged co-op leaders to thank the lawmakers who helped them. “The application of pressure through congressional oversight of a federal agency can be an extremely effective advocacy tool.”</p> <h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-opposing-the-epa-s-power-plant-rule">Opposing the EPA’s power plant rule</h3> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="683" src="https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/legconf-dahl-1024x683.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-11481" srcset="https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/legconf-dahl-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/legconf-dahl-300x200.jpg 300w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/legconf-dahl-768x512.jpg 768w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/legconf-dahl.jpg 1500w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Stacey Dahl, vice president of external affairs at Minnkota Power Cooperative in North Dakota, said “coal remains the heart and the backbone of our system.” She warned that the EPA power plant rule could cause blackouts during the region’s frigid winters and “devastate reliability.” (Photo By: Denny Gainer/NRECA)</figcaption></figure> <p>Holding a shovel, Bobby Hamill, NRECA’s senior director of environmental policy, said the Environmental Protection Agency “keeps digging us deeper and deeper into a reliability hole.” The final power plant rule, <a href="https://www.electric.coop/unlawful-unrealistic-unachievable-epa-releases-barrage-of-power-plant-rules">released on Thursday</a>, violates EPA’s statutory authority under the Clean Air Act as authorized by Congress, NRECA leaders said. “We believe it’s unlawful, unreasonable and unachievable,” said CEO Jim Matheson.</p> <p>Stacey Dahl, vice president of external affairs at <a href="https://www.minnkota.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Minnkota Power Cooperative</a> in North Dakota, said “coal remains the heart and the backbone of our system.” The EPA rule could cause blackouts during the region’s frigid winters, she warned. “It will devastate reliability.”</p> <h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-supporting-usda-s-new-era-funding">Supporting USDA’s New ERA funding</h3> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="683" src="https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/legconf-cooke-1024x683.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-11479" srcset="https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/legconf-cooke-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/legconf-cooke-300x200.jpg 300w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/legconf-cooke-768x512.jpg 768w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/legconf-cooke.jpg 1500w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">NRECA Legislative Affairs Director Jason Cooke told co-op leaders that “it is up to us” to defend the popular New ERA clean energy funding program for co-ops from threats by some members of Congress to take back part of the money to spend on other things. “Members of Congress need to hear from us that the program is worthwhile and should not be touched,” he said. (Photo By: Denny Gainer/NRECA)</figcaption></figure> <p>Electric co-ops won a big victory in the 2022 Inflation Reduction Act when Congress created a $9.7 billion voluntary grant and loan program designed specifically for them to purchase or build new clean energy systems. The Empowering Rural America program—known as New ERA—<a href="https://www.electric.coop/rus-administrator-co-ops-offer-amazing-proposals-for-new-era-funding">has proven popular with co-ops</a>, which have submitted letters of interest seeking a total of about $46 billion—five times the funding available.</p> <p>But the program has been targeted by lawmakers attempting to take back some of that money and use it for other things. “It’s up to us to defend the New ERA program,” said NRECA Legislative Affairs Director Jason Cooke. “Members of Congress need to hear from us that the program is worthwhile and should not be touched.”</p> <h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-fighting-unfair-pole-attachment-changes">Fighting unfair pole attachment changes</h3> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="683" src="https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/legconf-culleton-2-1024x683.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-11487" srcset="https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/legconf-culleton-2-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/legconf-culleton-2-300x200.jpg 300w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/legconf-culleton-2-768x512.jpg 768w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/legconf-culleton-2.jpg 1500w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Katie Culleton, NRECA’s legislative director for broadband, said proposals to give telecommunications companies access to co-ops’ electric poles could jeopardize public safety and the reliability of the power that co-ops provide. (Photo By: Denny Gainer/NRECA)</figcaption></figure> <p>NRECA is battling legislative and regulatory efforts by telecommunications companies to give them access to co-ops’ electric poles to string fiber for broadband. These proposals can jeopardize public safety and the reliability of the co-op’s pole distribution network, said Katie Culleton, NRECA’s legislative director for broadband. It also is seen as an attempt to force not-for-profit co-ops to subsidize the broadband deployment efforts of for-profit internet providers.</p> <p>“They have a lot of resources, and they try to label us as the bad guy,” said Hunter Robinson, CEO of <a href="https://www.mycentral.coop/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Central Rural Electric Cooperative</a> in Stillwater, Oklahoma. He said the co-op has discovered telecom companies attaching fiber lines to Central Rural’s poles without even telling the co-op. “Often, they’re just moving through our area, not really serving rural communities. Our members should not have to subsidize this.”</p> <p><em>Erin Kelly is a staff writer for NRECA.</em></p> </div> </section> </div> <div class="row"> <div class="col-md-12"> <section class="timeline-article-footer"> <small>Next in the Issue</small> <a class="article-next-post" data-next-article="timeline-modal-11386" title="‘We Will Save Lives’: Electric Co-op Offers Free Wi-Fi to First Responders ">‘We Will Save Lives’: Electric Co-op Offers Free Wi-Fi to First Responders <span class="arrow"><i class="ci-long-arrow-right"></i></span></a> </section> </div> </div> </div> </article>  </section>  <section id="timeline-modal-11386" class="timeline-issues-article hidden"> <div class="jumbotron hero article bg-image" style="background-image: url('');"></div>  <article class="single"> <div class="container">  <div class="row"> <header class="col-md-12"> <div class="article-header"> <small class="article-category"> <a href="https://www.electric.coop/issues-and-policy/broadband">Broadband</a> </small> <h1 class="article-title">‘We Will Save Lives’: Electric Co-op Offers Free Wi-Fi to First Responders </h1> <h3 class="article-subtitle"></h3> </div> </header> </div>  <div class="row"> <section class="col-md-3"> <div class="article-meta"> <div class="row"> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-date"> <span>Published</span>April 15, 2024 </div> </div> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-author"> <span>Author</span> Cathy Cash </div> </div> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-share">  <div class="social-share post"> <ul class="social"> <li><a class="facebook-share" href="https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=&title=" target="_blank"></a></li> <li><a class="twitter-share" href="https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?source=&text=&via=NRECANews " target="_blank"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewBox="0 0 512 512"><path d="M389.2 48h70.6L305.6 224.2 487 464H345L233.7 318.6 106.5 464H35.8L200.7 275.5 26.8 48H172.4L272.9 180.9 389.2 48zM364.4 421.8h39.1L151.1 88h-42L364.4 421.8z"/></svg></a></li> <li><a class="linkedin-share" href="http://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=&title=&summary=" target="_blank"></a></li> </ul> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </section> <section class="col-md-9"> <div class="article-content">  <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="768" src="https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/IMG_6790-ScottHendrix-TomBigBeeFiber-1024x768.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-11384" srcset="https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/IMG_6790-ScottHendrix-TomBigBeeFiber-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/IMG_6790-ScottHendrix-TomBigBeeFiber-300x225.jpg 300w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/IMG_6790-ScottHendrix-TomBigBeeFiber-768x576.jpg 768w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/IMG_6790-ScottHendrix-TomBigBeeFiber.jpg 1200w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Tombigbee CEO Scott Hendrix briefs a community group on how the co-op’s broadband arm will provide seamless backup Wi-Fi to first responders at no charge through its fiber network and the Calix SmartTown platform. (Photo Courtesy: Tombigbee) </figcaption></figure> <p>What started as an electric cooperative’s way to serve free Wi-Fi at high school football games for friends and neighbors in the stands will now not only change lives but save them.  </p> <p><a href="https://www.tombigbeefiber.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Tombigbee Fiber LLC</a>, the broadband arm of Tupelo, Mississippi-based <a href="https://www.tombigbeeelectric.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Tombigbee Electric Power Association</a>, is using <a href="https://www.calix.com/products/smartlife/smarttown.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Calix SmartTown™</a> to pioneer automatic Wi-Fi throughout its seven-county service territory for all first responders at no charge. </p> <p>Without wasting critical minutes struggling for internet access, first responders will be able to contact a hospital immediately with details of a medical emergency that’s on the way or quickly call for backup when a crime situation escalates in a remote area.  </p> <p>“Certainly, they have cellphones, but there are parts of rural Mississippi and other parts of this great country where those things just won’t work,” said Tombigbee CEO Scott Hendrix. “I would challenge any co-op that’s in the broadband business, if they have the potential of doing this, to do it. We want to make your life better and that’s the co-op spirit. I’m confident we will save lives.” </p> <p>The co-op this year began signing up nearly 70 organizations including rescue squads, law enforcement agencies, volunteer fire stations, game wardens, hospitals and others for the seamless Wi-Fi. Once signed up, their devices automatically log in wherever Tombigbee service is available. </p> <p>The co-op delivers broadband internet access and SmartTown connectivity to 23,000 homes and is installing about 250 SmartTown transmitters at volunteer fire departments, parks and gathering locations recommended by first responders.   </p> <div class="wp-block-image"> <figure class="alignright size-large is-resized"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="768" height="1024" src="https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/IMG_6781-TombigbeeMS-768x1024.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-11385" style="width:379px;height:auto" srcset="https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/IMG_6781-TombigbeeMS-768x1024.jpg 768w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/IMG_6781-TombigbeeMS-225x300.jpg 225w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/IMG_6781-TombigbeeMS-1152x1536.jpg 1152w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/IMG_6781-TombigbeeMS.jpg 1200w" sizes="(max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Tombigbee Fiber installed about 250 Calix SmartTown transmitters to work with its broadband network to give first responders free, automatic Wi-Fi across the co-op’s territory. (Photo Courtesy: Tombigbee) </figcaption></figure></div> <p>Hendrix said first responders expressed gratitude that the co-op would serve as “one more link in the chain to solve their communication problems at no cost.” </p> <p>“They all relayed that they knew of a spot where there was no connectivity and said this was going save lives,” he said. </p> <p>Tombigbee is the first customer of <a href="https://www.calix.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Calix</a> to employ the telecommunications software developer’s platform as a free, community-wide secure network for emergency public services, “and they made it happen fast,” said Michael Weening, Calix president and CEO. “We are proud to be their partner in helping to make the Mississippi communities they have served for 90+ years a safer place to live.” </p> <p>The co-op seized upon the idea after providing free Wi-Fi at nine high school football fields on Friday nights.  </p> <p>“It was a hit and made the grandmothers happy,” said Hendrix. “The people in the communities were amazed that they could get such a wonderful service, that they could communicate with their family and stream games. We<strong> </strong>did all this at no charge to the schools and that got us a little taste of what the community needed.” </p> <p>Tombigbee has invested more than $100 million to build its fiber broadband network and setting up the Wi-Fi network for first responders cost another $150,000, about what the co-op has spent on billboard campaigns, but with a great deal more impact, he said. </p> <p>“We are actually looking our members in the eyes and they’re saying thank you for this,” he said.  </p> <p>“We want to impact the community with the same spirit we had in 1933 to turn the lights on in rural Mississippi and change rural America. This is our way to give back, our way to change the area and make it better.” </p> <p><em>Cathy Cash is a staff writer for NRECA.</em></p> </div> </section> </div> <div class="row"> <div class="col-md-12"> <section class="timeline-article-footer"> <small>Next in the Issue</small> <a class="article-next-post" data-next-article="timeline-modal-11313" title="Electric Co-ops: FCC’s Vote to Increase Broadband Benchmark a Step in Right Direction, More Work Needed">Electric Co-ops: FCC’s Vote to Increase Broadband Benchmark a Step in Right Direction, More Work Needed <span class="arrow"><i class="ci-long-arrow-right"></i></span></a> </section> </div> </div> </div> </article>  </section>  <section id="timeline-modal-11313" class="timeline-issues-article hidden"> <div class="jumbotron hero article bg-image" style="background-image: url('');"></div>  <article class="single"> <div class="container">  <div class="row"> <header class="col-md-12"> <div class="article-header"> <small class="article-category"> <a href="https://www.electric.coop/issues-and-policy/broadband">Broadband</a> </small> <h1 class="article-title">Electric Co-ops: FCC’s Vote to Increase Broadband Benchmark a Step in Right Direction, More Work Needed</h1> <h3 class="article-subtitle"></h3> </div> </header> </div>  <div class="row"> <section class="col-md-3"> <div class="article-meta"> <div class="row"> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-date"> <span>Published</span>March 14, 2024 </div> </div> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-author"> <span>Author</span> Media Relations </div> </div> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-share">  <div class="social-share post"> <ul class="social"> <li><a class="facebook-share" href="https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=&title=" target="_blank"></a></li> <li><a class="twitter-share" href="https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?source=&text=&via=NRECANews " target="_blank"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewBox="0 0 512 512"><path d="M389.2 48h70.6L305.6 224.2 487 464H345L233.7 318.6 106.5 464H35.8L200.7 275.5 26.8 48H172.4L272.9 180.9 389.2 48zM364.4 421.8h39.1L151.1 88h-42L364.4 421.8z"/></svg></a></li> <li><a class="linkedin-share" href="http://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=&title=&summary=" target="_blank"></a></li> </ul> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </section> <section class="col-md-9"> <div class="article-content">  <p><strong>ARLINGTON, Va.</strong> – National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA) CEO Jim Matheson today issued the following statement after the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) voted to increase broadband benchmark speeds from 25/3 megabits per second to 100/20 Mbps.</p> <p>“The Commission’s vote is a step in the right direction but still falls short of meeting the needs of rural communities,” Matheson said. “Affordable and reliable broadband access creates new ways to live, learn and earn in rural America. Rural families and businesses should not be subjected to second class service simply because of their zip code.  </p> <p>“Consumer residential and business demands have already surpassed the benchmark approved today. With that in mind, the FCC should move to set future-proof benchmark speeds of at least 100/100 Mbps to ensure the broadband needs of rural communities can be met as demand continues to grow.”</p> <p>The prior benchmark of 25/3 Mbps was set nearly a decade ago, and demand for bandwidth has surged exponentially since then. NRECA <a href="https://www.cooperative.com/programs-services/government-relations/regulatory-issues/Pages/NRECA-Weighs-in-at-FCC-on-Broadband-Speeds.aspx">has long argued</a> that the FCC’s proposed 100/20 Mbps standard is inadequate, and that the FCC must adopt a broadband speed benchmark of at least 100/100 Mbps.</p> <p>The continued adoption of artificial intelligence, internet-based devices, telework practices, and the expanded use of applications supporting telehealth and online education will continue driving a need for even faster internet highways in the future.</p> <p><em>The National Rural Electric Cooperative Association is the national trade association representing nearly 900 local electric cooperatives. From growing suburbs to remote farming communities, electric co-ops serve as engines of economic development for 42 million Americans across 56 percent of the nation’s landscape. As local businesses built by the consumers they serve, electric cooperatives have meaningful ties to rural America and invest $15 billion annually in their communities.</em></p> <p class="has-text-align-center"><em>-###-</em></p> </div> </section> </div> <div class="row"> <div class="col-md-12"> <section class="timeline-article-footer"> <small>Next in the Issue</small> <a class="article-next-post" data-next-article="timeline-modal-11229" title="Matheson: Millions May Lose Broadband If Affordable Connectivity Program Ends">Matheson: Millions May Lose Broadband If Affordable Connectivity Program Ends <span class="arrow"><i class="ci-long-arrow-right"></i></span></a> </section> </div> </div> </div> </article>  </section>  <section id="timeline-modal-11229" class="timeline-issues-article hidden"> <div class="jumbotron hero article bg-image" style="background-image: url('');"></div>  <article class="single"> <div class="container">  <div class="row"> <header class="col-md-12"> <div class="article-header"> <small class="article-category"> <a href="https://www.electric.coop/issues-and-policy/broadband">Broadband</a> </small> <h1 class="article-title">Matheson: Millions May Lose Broadband If Affordable Connectivity Program Ends</h1> <h3 class="article-subtitle"></h3> </div> </header> </div>  <div class="row"> <section class="col-md-3"> <div class="article-meta"> <div class="row"> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-date"> <span>Published</span>February 6, 2024 </div> </div> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-author"> <span>Author</span> Cathy Cash </div> </div> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-share">  <div class="social-share post"> <ul class="social"> <li><a class="facebook-share" href="https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=&title=" target="_blank"></a></li> <li><a class="twitter-share" href="https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?source=&text=&via=NRECANews " target="_blank"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewBox="0 0 512 512"><path d="M389.2 48h70.6L305.6 224.2 487 464H345L233.7 318.6 106.5 464H35.8L200.7 275.5 26.8 48H172.4L272.9 180.9 389.2 48zM364.4 421.8h39.1L151.1 88h-42L364.4 421.8z"/></svg></a></li> <li><a class="linkedin-share" href="http://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=&title=&summary=" target="_blank"></a></li> </ul> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </section> <section class="col-md-9"> <div class="article-content">  <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="683" src="https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/bb-acp-leteter-1024x683.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-11230" srcset="https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/bb-acp-leteter-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/bb-acp-leteter-300x200.jpg 300w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/bb-acp-leteter-768x512.jpg 768w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/bb-acp-leteter.jpg 1200w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">NRECA’s Jim Matheson is urging Congress to save the FCC’s Affordable Connectivity Program, which helps low-income households obtain broadband. The program will deplete its funding in April. (Photo By: Casey Clark)</figcaption></figure> <p>NRECA CEO Jim Matheson is urging leaders in Congress to act quickly to save a federal program that helps millions of low-income families afford quality internet service.</p> <p>The Federal Communications Commission said its Affordable Connectivity Program will expire in April if additional funding is not provided. The ACP provides a monthly subsidy for qualified households to help with the cost of broadband service, mainly in economically challenged areas. Electric cooperatives serve 92% of the nation’s persistent poverty counties.</p> <p>“NRECA and its members are deeply committed to bridging the digital divide and connecting rural families and businesses with reliable and affordable high-speed internet, and the majority of NRECA members offering broadband participate in ACP,” Matheson told the lawmakers in a <a href="https://www.cooperative.com/programs-services/government-relations/regulatory-issues/Documents/Matheson Support for ACP Letter.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Feb. 5 letter</a>.</p> <p>“Ensuring that there is a consistent, dependable and effective low-income broadband program such as the ACP will allow rural providers to deliver the highest quality broadband service to their communities at an affordable price,” he said, noting that allowing the program to end will “jeopardize access to broadband services for millions.”</p> <p>The ACP provides monthly internet bill assistance of $30 to eligible low-income households. Those on tribal lands may qualify for $75 a month.</p> <p>“As more cooperatives and other internet service providers work to build broadband networks in hard-to-reach rural and low-income areas, affordability will become increasingly critical to adoption of these essential services,” Matheson said.</p> <p>A bipartisan group of lawmakers in the House and Senate have introduced the <a href="https://www.cooperative.com/programs-services/government-relations/regulatory-issues/Documents/Support ACP Extension Act.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Affordable Connectivity Program Extension Act</a> to provide funding for the ACP through the end of the year.</p> <p>Matheson asked the lawmakers to support passage of that bill or similar legislation to “provide important short-term clarity and certainty around the program while Congress works to address questions around the future of the program and develop a permanent funding solution.”</p> <p><em>NRECA Broadband is positioning co-ops as a crucial force in rural broadband. Visit <a href="https://www.cooperative.com/topics/telecommunications-broadband/nreca-broadband/Pages/default.aspx" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">cooperative.com/broadband</a> to learn more and sign up.</em></p> <p><em>Cathy Cash is a staff writer for NRECA.</em></p> </div> </section> </div> <div class="row"> <div class="col-md-12"> <section class="timeline-article-footer"> <small>Next in the Issue</small> <a class="article-next-post" data-next-article="timeline-modal-11160" title="Q&A: Electric Co-ops’ Legislative and Regulatory Priorities for 2024">Q&A: Electric Co-ops’ Legislative and Regulatory Priorities for 2024 <span class="arrow"><i class="ci-long-arrow-right"></i></span></a> </section> </div> </div> </div> </article>  </section>  <section id="timeline-modal-11160" class="timeline-issues-article hidden"> <div class="jumbotron hero article bg-image" style="background-image: url('');"></div>  <article class="single"> <div class="container">  <div class="row"> <header class="col-md-12"> <div class="article-header"> <small class="article-category"> <a href="https://www.electric.coop/issues-and-policy/broadband">Broadband</a> </small> <h1 class="article-title">Q&A: Electric Co-ops’ Legislative and Regulatory Priorities for 2024</h1> <h3 class="article-subtitle"></h3> </div> </header> </div>  <div class="row"> <section class="col-md-3"> <div class="article-meta"> <div class="row"> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-date"> <span>Published</span>January 12, 2024 </div> </div> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-author"> <span>Author</span> Erin Kelly </div> </div> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-share">  <div class="social-share post"> <ul class="social"> <li><a class="facebook-share" href="https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=&title=" target="_blank"></a></li> <li><a class="twitter-share" href="https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?source=&text=&via=NRECANews " target="_blank"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewBox="0 0 512 512"><path d="M389.2 48h70.6L305.6 224.2 487 464H345L233.7 318.6 106.5 464H35.8L200.7 275.5 26.8 48H172.4L272.9 180.9 389.2 48zM364.4 421.8h39.1L151.1 88h-42L364.4 421.8z"/></svg></a></li> <li><a class="linkedin-share" href="http://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=&title=&summary=" target="_blank"></a></li> </ul> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </section> <section class="col-md-9"> <div class="article-content">  <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="683" src="https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/GettyImages-1176430158-1024x683.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-11161" srcset="https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/GettyImages-1176430158-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/GettyImages-1176430158-300x200.jpg 300w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/GettyImages-1176430158-768x512.jpg 768w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/GettyImages-1176430158.jpg 1200w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">NRECA’s Government Relations team will be pushing to ensure that congressional legislation and federal regulations benefit electric co-ops and their consumer-members. (Photo By: Mike Perry/Getty Images)</figcaption></figure> <p>As the 2024 election year begins, an already divided Congress may well be struggling to reach consensus on crucial legislation while the Biden administration rushes to issue new federal regulations.</p> <p>That’s the climate that NRECA’s Government Relations team likely faces as it advocates on behalf of electric cooperatives on Capitol Hill, at the White House and with federal agencies.</p> <p>In a recent Q&A session, Louis Finkel, NRECA’s senior vice president of Government Relations, talked about how the association will work aggressively to ensure that new bills and regulations help not-for-profit co-ops continue to provide reliable, affordable electricity to their consumer-members.</p> <p><strong>Electric co-ops have begun winning awards for millions of dollars from the <a href="https://www.electric.coop/issues-and-policy/bipartisan-infrastructure-law">bipartisan infrastructure law</a> and the <a href="https://www.electric.coop/issues-and-policy/inflation-reduction-act">Inflation Reduction Act</a>, thanks to provisions that NRECA helped secure in those bills. Do you expect the flow of funding to co-ops to continue in a big way this year?</strong></p> <div class="wp-block-image"> <figure class="alignright size-full is-resized"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="300" height="450" src="https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/LFinkel5.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-11164" style="aspect-ratio:0.6666666666666666;width:203px;height:auto" srcset="https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/LFinkel5.jpg 300w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/LFinkel5-200x300.jpg 200w" sizes="(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Finkel</figcaption></figure></div> <p><strong>Finkel:</strong> First, the biggest issue before Congress this year is going to be funding the government, as it was last year. There is an ongoing tension between the Biden administration, Senate Democrats and House Republicans, with House Republicans wanting to cut funding in the bipartisan infrastructure law and the Inflation Reduction Act.</p> <p>As we sit here in January, Congress is still working on funding the government for the current fiscal year and then will have to quickly turn to funding for the next fiscal year.</p> <p>In that context, we continue to educate members of Congress about the value of new incentive programs designed to harden the grid and create greater resiliency in the face of a changing energy environment while looking for opportunities to solidify the reliable, affordable power that electric co-ops offer.</p> <p>Getting provisions that benefit co-ops into law was really important, but shaping the programs and the guidance that comes out of the federal agencies that implement them has been just as important.</p> <p>We have been engaged with the agencies to make sure that misguided agency interpretation does not undermine these programs and that they are implemented in the way that Congress intended them to be.</p> <p><strong>Congress is continuing to try to craft a new five-year <a href="https://www.electric.coop/issues-and-policy/farm-bill">Farm Bill</a> that could include crucial funding for co-op infrastructure projects, rural economic development and broadband. What are the prospects for its passage this year? And what is NRECA doing to help shape Farm Bill programs that benefit co-ops and their members?</strong></p> <p><strong>Finkel:</strong> Congress extended the current Farm Bill through the end of the year, which bought them some breathing room. There are some broad differences of opinion between the two parties on a range of programs—most of which don’t directly impact our co-ops.</p> <p>Our intent is to work with members on both sides of the aisle and in both chambers to reinforce the important role that the Rural Utilities Service programs play as a crucial resource for infrastructure and system improvements and routine maintenance—all with a focus of keeping the lights on. Healthy, strong RUS programs are an important resource for co-op communities throughout the country.</p> <p><strong>What are some of NRECA’s other legislative priorities for 2024?</strong></p> <p><strong>Finkel:</strong> Though we always have policy matters that we raise, oftentimes our message is driven by the congressional agenda, which could be really narrow this year.</p> <p>We will look for ways to continue to address supply chain difficulties to ensure co-ops can get transformers in a reasonable time frame, and we’ll push Congress to use some government resources to further alleviate supply chain woes.</p> <p>Congress is set to reauthorize the Water Resources Development Act, and in light of the recent developments in the Pacific Northwest and the administration’s backroom deal to undermine <a href="https://www.electric.coop/nearly-20000-co-op-members-urge-biden-to-preserve-snake-river-dams">dams on the lower Snake River</a>, we’ll be aggressively engaged to make sure there are no provisions in the bill to breach those dams.</p> <p>We’ll continue to push for legislation to <a href="https://www.electric.coop/issues-and-policy/permitting-reform">expedite permitting</a> and alleviate the endless litigation that stifles the construction of infrastructure as well as advocate for transmission policies that allocate costs to those that benefit the most.</p> <p>And related to <a href="https://www.electric.coop/issues-and-policy/broadband">broadband</a>, there continues to be noise about changing the nature of the pole attachment exemptions for electric cooperatives, mostly by other participants in the broadband industry. We continue to educate members of Congress about the importance of the Federal Communications Commission exemptions for our members and how our members and our service territories are different.</p> <p>With the recently installed Democratic majority at the FCC, we’ve seen a lot of proposals come forward, most notably one on net neutrality. NRECA is asking the FCC for <a href="https://www.cooperative.com/news/Pages/NRECA-Asks-FCC-for-Certain-Net-Neutrality-Exemptions-for-Electric-Co-ops.aspx" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">targeted compliance exemptions</a> for electric co-ops in any new net neutrality rules. Co-ops support net neutrality and treat all their broadband consumers equally, but excessive, onerous regulation could divert crucial investment away from the communities they serve.</p> <p><strong>NRECA has strongly opposed the <a href="https://www.electric.coop/issues-and-policy/epa-power-plant-rule">Environmental Protection Agency’s proposed power plant rule</a> as a threat to co-ops’ ability to provide reliable, affordable power. What can we expect to see on this front in 2024?</strong></p> <p><strong>Finkel:</strong> We expect to see a final rule in the spring, and we’ll continue to oppose the rule, which may very well result in litigation. We’ll continue to push back on the EPA’s overreach, which oversteps its statutory authority and hampers co-ops’ ability to provide reliable, affordable power.</p> <p>We’ll oppose this kind of overreach by any federal agency, whether it’s the EPA or any other agency. We’ll continue to aggressively raise concerns where necessary and embrace proposals where they make sense.</p> <p><strong>This is obviously a huge election year with both the presidential and congressional elections. Do the elections complicate NRECA’s efforts to achieve its legislative and regulatory priorities?</strong></p> <p><strong>Finkel:</strong> I don’t think it complicates our ability to achieve anything, but it complicates our ability to advance an agenda. With a divided Congress, it is already really hard to legislate, and even more so in an election year.</p> <p>On the regulatory side, new proposals are unlikely to get finalized within a year. So, most new regulations that get put forward now are just markers for the president to tell voters what is important to his administration.</p> <p>In that context, we will continue to oppose shortsighted policies and continue to support policies, both in Congress and in regulatory proposals, that serve the interests of our members and their consumer-members.</p> <p><em>Erin Kelly is a staff writer for NRECA.</em></p> </div> </section> </div> <div class="row"> <div class="col-md-12"> <section class="timeline-article-footer"> <small>Next in the Issue</small> <a class="article-next-post" data-next-article="timeline-modal-11079" title="Along Those Lines: Middle-Mile Muddle">Along Those Lines: Middle-Mile Muddle <span class="arrow"><i class="ci-long-arrow-right"></i></span></a> </section> </div> </div> </div> </article>  </section>  <section id="timeline-modal-11079" class="timeline-issues-article hidden"> <div class="jumbotron hero article bg-image" style="background-image: url('');"></div>  <article class="single"> <div class="container">  <div class="row"> <header class="col-md-12"> <div class="article-header"> <small class="article-category"> <a href="https://www.electric.coop/issues-and-policy/broadband">Broadband</a> </small> <h1 class="article-title">Along Those Lines: Middle-Mile Muddle</h1> <h3 class="article-subtitle"></h3> </div> </header> </div>  <div class="row"> <section class="col-md-3"> <div class="article-meta"> <div class="row"> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-date"> <span>Published</span>November 20, 2023 </div> </div> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-author"> <span>Author</span> NRECA </div> </div> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-share">  <div class="social-share post"> <ul class="social"> <li><a class="facebook-share" href="https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=&title=" target="_blank"></a></li> <li><a class="twitter-share" href="https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?source=&text=&via=NRECANews " target="_blank"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewBox="0 0 512 512"><path d="M389.2 48h70.6L305.6 224.2 487 464H345L233.7 318.6 106.5 464H35.8L200.7 275.5 26.8 48H172.4L272.9 180.9 389.2 48zM364.4 421.8h39.1L151.1 88h-42L364.4 421.8z"/></svg></a></li> <li><a class="linkedin-share" href="http://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=&title=&summary=" target="_blank"></a></li> </ul> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </section> <section class="col-md-9"> <div class="article-content">  <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="768" src="https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/middlemilepodcast-1024x768.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-11081" srcset="https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/middlemilepodcast-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/middlemilepodcast-300x225.jpg 300w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/middlemilepodcast-768x576.jpg 768w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/middlemilepodcast-1536x1152.jpg 1536w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/middlemilepodcast.jpg 2000w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Crews in Arkansas install a telecommunications hut at a substation as part of Diamond State Networks’ middle-mile broadband system. (Photo Courtesy: Craighead Electric)</figcaption></figure> <p>Over the past decade, as hundreds of billions of public dollars have been allocated to connect all Americans with reliable, affordable, high-speed internet access, most of the attention has been focused on building so-called “last mile” networks that connect homes and business to internet service providers. Less well-known is the “middle mile,” which connects local networks to the broader web—a particularly critical facet for rural areas located long distances from the main internet connection hubs.</p> <div class="wp-block-image"> <figure class="alignright size-large is-resized"><a href="https://tyndaleusa.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="901" src="https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Tyndalelogo-1-1024x901.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-11080" style="aspect-ratio:1.1365149833518313;width:313px;height:auto" srcset="https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Tyndalelogo-1-1024x901.jpg 1024w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Tyndalelogo-1-300x264.jpg 300w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Tyndalelogo-1-768x676.jpg 768w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Tyndalelogo-1-1536x1351.jpg 1536w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Tyndalelogo-1-2048x1802.jpg 2048w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></a><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">This episode is sponsored by Tyndale Company.</figcaption></figure></div> <p>As more and more electric cooperatives have gotten into the broadband space lately, many are finding it difficult to access reliable, affordable third-party middle-mile networks, and some of them are starting to take matters into their own hands.</p> <p>To help explain the current challenges with middle mile and how co-ops are responding, we’re joined by Katie Culleton, NRECA legislative affairs director, and Steven Bandy, general manager of <a href="https://www.ozarksgo.net/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">OzarksGo</a>, the broadband subsidiary of <a href="https://www.ozarksecc.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Ozarks Electric Cooperative</a> in Fayetteville, Arkansas.</p> <p>Listen to the episode below:</p>  <iframe loading="lazy" src="//html5-player.libsyn.com/embed/episode/id/28728078/height/90/theme/custom/autoplay/no/autonext/no/thumbnail/yes/preload/no/no_addthis/no/direction/forward/render-playlist/no/custom-color/000000/" height="90" allowfullscreen webkitallowfullscreen mozallowfullscreen oallowfullscreen msallowfullscreen width="100%" scrolling="yes" class="iframe-class" frameborder="0"></iframe> <p></p> <p>You can also listen and subscribe to Along Those Lines on your preferred podcast service:<br><a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/along-those-lines/id1436857701?mt=2" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Apple Podcasts</a> | <a href="https://www.google.com/podcasts?feed=aHR0cDovL2Fsb25ndGhvc2VsaW5lcy5saWJzeW4uY29tL3Jzcw%3D%3D" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Google Podcasts</a> | <a href="https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/nreca/along-those-lines?refid=stpr" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Stitcher</a> | <a href="https://open.spotify.com/show/3W0inRR6llFNLxd1LOC5KV" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Spotify</a> | <a href="https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLpJntTwNLWwrKOA7eURFxf5FfNfVOqCSl" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">YouTube</a></p> <h4 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-related-content"><strong>Related Content:</strong></h4> <ul class="wp-block-list"> <li><a href="https://www.cooperative.com/remagazine/articles/pages/co-ops-band-together-to-build-statewide-and-regional-middle-mile-networks.aspx" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Co-ops Band Together to Build Statewide and Regional Middle Mile Networks</a></li> </ul> <p><em>Find out more about <a href="https://www.electric.coop/podcast" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">NRECA’s podcast</a>. Questions or suggestions? Email us at <a href="mailto:AlongThoseLines@nreca.coop">AlongThoseLines@nreca.coop</a>.</em></p> </div> </section> </div> <div class="row"> <div class="col-md-12"> <section class="timeline-article-footer"> <small>Next in the Issue</small> <a class="article-next-post" data-next-article="timeline-modal-11045" title="Matheson: Grant Rules Should Prioritize Quality Broadband for Rural Areas">Matheson: Grant Rules Should Prioritize Quality Broadband for Rural Areas <span class="arrow"><i class="ci-long-arrow-right"></i></span></a> </section> </div> </div> </div> </article>  </section>  <section id="timeline-modal-11045" class="timeline-issues-article hidden"> <div class="jumbotron hero article bg-image" style="background-image: url('');"></div>  <article class="single"> <div class="container">  <div class="row"> <header class="col-md-12"> <div class="article-header"> <small class="article-category"> <a href="https://www.electric.coop/issues-and-policy/broadband">Broadband</a> </small> <h1 class="article-title">Matheson: Grant Rules Should Prioritize Quality Broadband for Rural Areas</h1> <h3 class="article-subtitle"></h3> </div> </header> </div>  <div class="row"> <section class="col-md-3"> <div class="article-meta"> <div class="row"> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-date"> <span>Published</span>November 6, 2023 </div> </div> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-author"> <span>Author</span> Cathy Cash </div> </div> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-share">  <div class="social-share post"> <ul class="social"> <li><a class="facebook-share" href="https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=&title=" target="_blank"></a></li> <li><a class="twitter-share" href="https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?source=&text=&via=NRECANews " target="_blank"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewBox="0 0 512 512"><path d="M389.2 48h70.6L305.6 224.2 487 464H345L233.7 318.6 106.5 464H35.8L200.7 275.5 26.8 48H172.4L272.9 180.9 389.2 48zM364.4 421.8h39.1L151.1 88h-42L364.4 421.8z"/></svg></a></li> <li><a class="linkedin-share" href="http://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=&title=&summary=" target="_blank"></a></li> </ul> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </section> <section class="col-md-9"> <div class="article-content">  <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> <div class="epyt-video-wrapper"><iframe loading="lazy" id="_ytid_32071" width="800" height="450" data-origwidth="800" data-origheight="450" data-relstop="1" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/zC7eGx-11OE?enablejsapi=1&autoplay=0&cc_load_policy=0&cc_lang_pref=&iv_load_policy=1&loop=0&modestbranding=1&rel=0&fs=1&playsinline=0&autohide=2&theme=dark&color=red&controls=1&" class="__youtube_prefs__ epyt-is-override no-lazyload" title="YouTube player" allow="fullscreen; accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen data-no-lazy="1" data-skipgform_ajax_framebjll=""></iframe></div> </div></figure> <p></p> <p>New national programs are helping electric cooperatives continue to deliver first-class, affordable rural broadband, and federal agencies should ensure that their funding rules support co-op efforts, <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zC7eGx-11OE">NRECA CEO Jim Matheson told an Axios virtual event</a>.</p> <p>Rural broadband deployments can be challenging and costly, so to make the economics work, policymakers may consider inferior technologies as “good enough for rural,” Matheson said.</p> <p>“We reject that kind of thinking. Every American should have access to high-quality broadband,” he said. “NRECA is working to make sure investments in broadband are not just good for today, but good for the future.”</p> <p>NRECA is encouraged that the $42.5 billion Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) Program supports scalable fiber networks as it gives tens of millions of dollars to states to aid communities lacking service, Matheson said.</p> <p>“It’s really important that we have technology that can accommodate the increasing demands for bandwidth,” he said.</p> <p>A minimum “build-to” standard of 100 megabits per second symmetrical for all federally funded projects also would go a long way, he said. Most co-op broadband is 100/100 Mbps or better, but co-ops often get outbid by large, for-profit competitors who install slower internet connections that leave rural families and businesses struggling.</p> <p>“Congress can play a key role in establishing that higher standard, which will ensure quality affordability and quality speed,” he said.</p> <p>Congress also needs to fund the Affordable Connectivity Program to keep broadband “affordable enough for people to use,” he said, noting that electric co-ops serve 92% of the country’s persistent-poverty counties.</p> <p>More than 200 co-ops are making big investments and building broadband networks with state-of-the-art fiber optics that can be scaled up for greater speed and access. Most entered the broadband business because no other provider would serve their members.</p> <p>Obstacles in rural areas make delivering broadband more expensive. They include sparse population where connections are miles apart, rugged terrain, harsh conditions, limited labor and chinks in the supply chain.</p> <p>“Electric cooperatives have that can-do attitude; they know rural America and know how to make it work in hard-to-serve areas,” Matheson said.</p> <p>“We are owned by the members we serve. Those members asked for broadband service because no one else is offering in those areas. So, the electric cooperative stepped up and said, ‘OK, we’re going to take care of this need.’ It’s a real exciting time in rural America.”</p> <p><em>Cathy Cash is a staff writer for NRECA.</em></p> </div> </section> </div> <div class="row"> <div class="col-md-12"> <section class="timeline-article-footer"> <small>Next in the Issue</small> <a class="article-next-post" data-next-article="timeline-modal-10904" title="Electric Co-ops Applaud Confirmation of Anna Gomez to the Federal Communications Commission">Electric Co-ops Applaud Confirmation of Anna Gomez to the Federal Communications Commission <span class="arrow"><i class="ci-long-arrow-right"></i></span></a> </section> </div> </div> </div> </article>  </section>  <section id="timeline-modal-10904" class="timeline-issues-article hidden"> <div class="jumbotron hero article bg-image" style="background-image: url('');"></div>  <article class="single"> <div class="container">  <div class="row"> <header class="col-md-12"> <div class="article-header"> <small class="article-category"> <a href="https://www.electric.coop/issues-and-policy/broadband">Broadband</a> </small> <h1 class="article-title">Electric Co-ops Applaud Confirmation of Anna Gomez to the Federal Communications Commission</h1> <h3 class="article-subtitle"></h3> </div> </header> </div>  <div class="row"> <section class="col-md-3"> <div class="article-meta"> <div class="row"> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-date"> <span>Published</span>September 7, 2023 </div> </div> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-author"> <span>Author</span> Media Relations </div> </div> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-share">  <div class="social-share post"> <ul class="social"> <li><a class="facebook-share" href="https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=&title=" target="_blank"></a></li> <li><a class="twitter-share" href="https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?source=&text=&via=NRECANews " target="_blank"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewBox="0 0 512 512"><path d="M389.2 48h70.6L305.6 224.2 487 464H345L233.7 318.6 106.5 464H35.8L200.7 275.5 26.8 48H172.4L272.9 180.9 389.2 48zM364.4 421.8h39.1L151.1 88h-42L364.4 421.8z"/></svg></a></li> <li><a class="linkedin-share" href="http://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=&title=&summary=" target="_blank"></a></li> </ul> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </section> <section class="col-md-9"> <div class="article-content">  <p><strong>ARLINGTON, Va.</strong> – National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA) CEO Jim Matheson today issued the following statement on the confirmation of Anna Gomez to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC).</p> <p>“We look forward to working with Commissioner Gomez to advance the needs of rural communities,” said Matheson. “Commissioner Gomez has extensive experience both in the public and the private sectors, and will bring a well-rounded perspective to the Commission and efforts to close the digital divide. We look forward to collaborating with her to ensure that all Americans have access to high-speed broadband at a reasonable price, regardless of their zip code.”</p> <p>More than 200 electric cooperatives are working to bring broadband to their rural communities through efforts that frequently mirror the push for rural electrification nearly 100 years ago. The cost of building and maintaining networks in sparsely populated areas with difficult terrain has been prohibitive for many for-profit providers. The FCC is an important partner in helping electric co-ops bridge the digital divide.</p> <p><em>The National Rural Electric Cooperative Association is the national trade association representing nearly 900 local electric cooperatives. From growing suburbs to remote farming communities, electric co-ops serve as engines of economic development for 42 million Americans across 56 percent of the nation’s landscape. As local businesses built by the consumers they serve, electric cooperatives have meaningful ties to rural America and invest $12 billion annually in their communities.</em></p> <p class="has-text-align-center"><em>-###-</em></p> </div> </section> </div> <div class="row"> <div class="col-md-12"> <section class="timeline-article-footer"> <small>Next in the Issue</small> <a class="article-next-post" data-next-article="timeline-modal-10722" title="NRECA Applauds Major Rural Broadband Milestone">NRECA Applauds Major Rural Broadband Milestone <span class="arrow"><i class="ci-long-arrow-right"></i></span></a> </section> </div> </div> </div> </article>  </section>  <section id="timeline-modal-10722" class="timeline-issues-article hidden"> <div class="jumbotron hero article bg-image" style="background-image: url('');"></div>  <article class="single"> <div class="container">  <div class="row"> <header class="col-md-12"> <div class="article-header"> <small class="article-category"> <a href="https://www.electric.coop/issues-and-policy/broadband">Broadband</a> </small> <h1 class="article-title">NRECA Applauds Major Rural Broadband Milestone</h1> <h3 class="article-subtitle"></h3> </div> </header> </div>  <div class="row"> <section class="col-md-3"> <div class="article-meta"> <div class="row"> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-date"> <span>Published</span>June 26, 2023 </div> </div> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-author"> <span>Author</span> Media Relations </div> </div> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-share">  <div class="social-share post"> <ul class="social"> <li><a class="facebook-share" href="https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=&title=" target="_blank"></a></li> <li><a class="twitter-share" href="https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?source=&text=&via=NRECANews " target="_blank"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewBox="0 0 512 512"><path d="M389.2 48h70.6L305.6 224.2 487 464H345L233.7 318.6 106.5 464H35.8L200.7 275.5 26.8 48H172.4L272.9 180.9 389.2 48zM364.4 421.8h39.1L151.1 88h-42L364.4 421.8z"/></svg></a></li> <li><a class="linkedin-share" href="http://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=&title=&summary=" target="_blank"></a></li> </ul> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </section> <section class="col-md-9"> <div class="article-content">  <p><strong>ARLINGTON, Va.</strong> – National Rural Electric Cooperative Association CEO Jim Matheson today applauded the allocation of $42.5 billion in rural broadband funding to the states. The funding is known as the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) Program and was included in the bipartisan infrastructure law.</p> <p>“Efforts to bridge the digital divide began nearly 25 years ago, yet millions of Americans remain sidelined and disconnected simply because of their zip code,” said Matheson. “In 2023, that’s unacceptable. Access to broadband creates new ways to live, learn and earn in rural America. These state allocations are a major milestone in the fight to finally make rural broadband a reality.”</p> <p>With the state allocations now announced, states can finalize their broadband plans and launch competitive grant programs to award the funds.</p> <p>More than 200 electric cooperatives are working to bring broadband to their rural communities. For many co-ops, their rural broadband deployment efforts mirror the rural electrification efforts nearly 100 years ago. The cost of building and maintaining networks in sparsely populated areas with difficult terrain has been prohibitive for many providers seeking to turn a profit.</p> <p><em>The National Rural Electric Cooperative Association is the national trade association representing nearly 900 local electric cooperatives. From growing suburbs to remote farming communities, electric co-ops serve as engines of economic development for 42 million Americans across 56 percent of the nation’s landscape. As local businesses built by the consumers they serve, electric cooperatives have meaningful ties to rural America and invest $12 billion annually in their communities.</em></p> <p class="has-text-align-center"><em>-###-</em></p> </div> </section> </div> <div class="row"> <div class="col-md-12"> <section class="timeline-article-footer"> <small>Next in the Issue</small> <a class="article-next-post" data-next-article="timeline-modal-10709" title="NRECA CEO to Congress: Improve Broadband Programs Crucial to Rural America">NRECA CEO to Congress: Improve Broadband Programs Crucial to Rural America <span class="arrow"><i class="ci-long-arrow-right"></i></span></a> </section> </div> </div> </div> </article>  </section>  <section id="timeline-modal-10709" class="timeline-issues-article hidden"> <div class="jumbotron hero article bg-image" style="background-image: url('');"></div>  <article class="single"> <div class="container">  <div class="row"> <header class="col-md-12"> <div class="article-header"> <small class="article-category"> <a href="https://www.electric.coop/issues-and-policy/broadband">Broadband</a> </small> <h1 class="article-title">NRECA CEO to Congress: Improve Broadband Programs Crucial to Rural America</h1> <h3 class="article-subtitle"></h3> </div> </header> </div>  <div class="row"> <section class="col-md-3"> <div class="article-meta"> <div class="row"> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-date"> <span>Published</span>June 21, 2023 </div> </div> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-author"> <span>Author</span> Erin Kelly </div> </div> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-share">  <div class="social-share post"> <ul class="social"> <li><a class="facebook-share" href="https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=&title=" target="_blank"></a></li> <li><a class="twitter-share" href="https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?source=&text=&via=NRECANews " target="_blank"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewBox="0 0 512 512"><path d="M389.2 48h70.6L305.6 224.2 487 464H345L233.7 318.6 106.5 464H35.8L200.7 275.5 26.8 48H172.4L272.9 180.9 389.2 48zM364.4 421.8h39.1L151.1 88h-42L364.4 421.8z"/></svg></a></li> <li><a class="linkedin-share" href="http://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=&title=&summary=" target="_blank"></a></li> </ul> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </section> <section class="col-md-9"> <div class="article-content">  <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="683" src="https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Rural-Broadband-Senate-Jim-04-1-1024x683.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-10715" srcset="https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Rural-Broadband-Senate-Jim-04-1-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Rural-Broadband-Senate-Jim-04-1-300x200.jpg 300w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Rural-Broadband-Senate-Jim-04-1-768x512.jpg 768w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Rural-Broadband-Senate-Jim-04-1.jpg 1200w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">NRECA CEO Jim Matheson testifies about the need to improve federal broadband programs for rural America at a June 21 hearing of the House Agriculture Committee. (Photo By: Jerry Mosemak/NRECA)</figcaption></figure> <p>Electric cooperatives need Congress to improve critical broadband programs to bring high-speed internet service to rural America, NRECA CEO Jim Matheson told a House panel Wednesday.</p> <p>More than 200 electric co-ops across the U.S. are <a href="https://www.electric.coop/issues-and-policy/broadband">deploying broadband or developing plans to do so</a>.</p> <p>“An affordable and reliable internet connection is critical for the growth and development of rural America,” Matheson told the House Agriculture Committee, which is crafting a new five-year <a href="https://www.electric.coop/issues-and-policy/farm-bill">Farm Bill</a> that will authorize broadband funding.</p> <p>“Broadband is no longer a luxury, but instead a necessity for business, education and health care access across the country,” he testified at a <a href="https://agriculture.house.gov/calendar/eventsingle.aspx?EventID=7656" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">hearing on closing the digital divide</a>. “Without these connections, families may choose not to return to the small towns where they grew up, businesses choose to locate elsewhere, and farmers struggle to access the latest technologies that help lower input costs and improve yields.”</p> <p>Matheson asked the committee to make key improvements to broadband programs at the U.S. Department of Agriculture as it develops the Farm Bill:</p> <ul class="wp-block-list"> <li>Make the ReConnect program permanent and easier to access.</li> <li>Provide robust funding for rural broadband through USDA.</li> <li>Prioritize symmetrical speeds and scalable networks in any future rounds of federal funding.</li> <li>Invest in middle mile infrastructure.</li> </ul> <p>Matheson noted that the committee last year advanced the Broadband Internet Connections for Rural America Act to make the ReConnect program permanent. ReConnect provides grants and loans to fund the construction, improvement or acquisition of facilities and equipment needed to provide broadband service in rural communities.</p> <p>As Congress continues to consider that bill and other legislation, co-ops have recommendations about what the focus should be, Matheson said.</p> <p>“Congress must prioritize scalable, future-proof networks in any future rounds of federal funding,” Matheson said. “Without the ability for networks to grow in response to increased bandwidth needs and consumer demands, the challenge of solving the broadband gap in rural America will persist.”</p> <p>He said the definition of an area that is unserved by broadband should be expanded to include communities that lack speeds of at least 100 megabits per second for both data uploads and downloads.</p> <p>“Building networks in low-density, hard-to-reach areas is challenging, but Congress must prioritize networks that can meet consumer demand and ensure that residents in these areas are able to receive quality service regardless of whether they are considered unserved or underserved,” Matheson said.</p> <p>He said the ReConnect program must be streamlined.</p> <p>“The ReConnect application process is time consuming and difficult,” Matheson said. “The submission portal is not user friendly, and some have commented that attempting to fill out the program application is like having a second job. For small providers with limited resources, this is incredibly challenging and can be prohibitive.”</p> <p>The <a href="https://www.cooperative.com/news/Pages/NRECA-Asks-Co-ops-to-Check-FCC-Broadband-Maps-Before-BEAD-Allocations-June-30.aspx" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">national broadband map</a> created by the Federal Communications Commission still does not accurately show which rural communities are receiving adequate service, he said.</p> <p>“Despite significant progress in improving the map’s accuracy over the past six months, it is clear that there are still discrepancies between what the map displays and the realities on the ground,” Matheson said. “The continued reliance on advertised speeds instead of actual speeds opens the door to gamesmanship with mapping data and could prevent rural areas from receiving a high-speed internet connection.”</p> <p><em>Erin Kelly is a staff writer for NRECA.</em></p> </div> </section> </div> <div class="row"> <div class="col-md-12"> <section class="timeline-article-footer"> <small>Next in the Issue</small> <a class="article-next-post" data-next-article="timeline-modal-10699" title="Leapfrogging the Competition: Mississippi Cooperative Delivers XGS-PON Broadband">Leapfrogging the Competition: Mississippi Cooperative Delivers XGS-PON Broadband <span class="arrow"><i class="ci-long-arrow-right"></i></span></a> </section> </div> </div> </div> </article>  </section>  <section id="timeline-modal-10699" class="timeline-issues-article hidden"> <div class="jumbotron hero article bg-image" style="background-image: url('');"></div>  <article class="single"> <div class="container">  <div class="row"> <header class="col-md-12"> <div class="article-header"> <small class="article-category"> <a href="https://www.electric.coop/issues-and-policy/broadband">Broadband</a> </small> <h1 class="article-title">Leapfrogging the Competition: Mississippi Cooperative Delivers XGS-PON Broadband</h1> <h3 class="article-subtitle"></h3> </div> </header> </div>  <div class="row"> <section class="col-md-3"> <div class="article-meta"> <div class="row"> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-date"> <span>Published</span>June 20, 2023 </div> </div> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-author"> <span>Author</span> Cathy Cash </div> </div> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-share">  <div class="social-share post"> <ul class="social"> <li><a class="facebook-share" href="https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=&title=" target="_blank"></a></li> <li><a class="twitter-share" href="https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?source=&text=&via=NRECANews " target="_blank"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewBox="0 0 512 512"><path d="M389.2 48h70.6L305.6 224.2 487 464H345L233.7 318.6 106.5 464H35.8L200.7 275.5 26.8 48H172.4L272.9 180.9 389.2 48zM364.4 421.8h39.1L151.1 88h-42L364.4 421.8z"/></svg></a></li> <li><a class="linkedin-share" href="http://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=&title=&summary=" target="_blank"></a></li> </ul> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </section> <section class="col-md-9"> <div class="article-content">  <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="683" src="https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/xgs-pon-1024x683.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-10700" srcset="https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/xgs-pon-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/xgs-pon-300x200.jpg 300w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/xgs-pon-768x512.jpg 768w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/xgs-pon.jpg 1200w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Mississippi’s ACE Fiber offers broadband at symmetrical speeds up to 10 gigabits, or XGS-PON, to all its co-op members and will soon deliver internet service outside its electric territory. (Photo By: ACE Fiber)</figcaption></figure> <p>Sean McGrath started streaming movies at home in northeast Mississippi 15 years ago. Now his teenage son plays virtual reality games at the speed of light. Fortunately, their electric cooperative is not only keeping up with their demands today but anticipating the broadband their quality of life will require tomorrow.</p> <p><a href="https://ace-power.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Alcorn County Electric Power Association</a>, based in Corinth, covers its entire 19,000-meter electric territory with internet service up to 10 gigabits per second through fiber-optic technology known as XGS-PON or 10-Gigabit Symmetrical Passive Optical Networks, considered the fastest residential internet speed within the industry today.</p> <p>“Every home in our territory is fiber-eligible,” said McGrath, chief financial officer of ACE Power, which began connecting members within 18 months of breaking ground on its fiber network in 2020. “We think that that’s a big, big selling point for our city, county and region. In fact, it’s been so successful that we are venturing off system.”</p> <p><a href="https://www.ace-fiber.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">ACE Fiber</a>, the co-op’s broadband arm, is preparing to pass fiber by another 10,500 homes and businesses in New Albany, about an hour south, and eyeing more residential connections around Blue Springs, home to Toyota Motor Manufacturing of Mississippi Inc.</p> <p>Within the co-op’s territory, mom and pop businesses are seeing a bump in online customers outside the state. And more members with ACE Fiber are working from home, including for Silicon Valley giants Google and Facebook, leaving “no doubt” that the economic uptick in portions of the county that were unserved or underserved stems from broadband, McGrath said.</p> <p>“It’s pretty amazing,” he said. “It’s a great selling point for rural Mississippi.”</p> <p>ACE Power’s 2020 decision to be an early deployer of XGS-PON was a matter of dollars and sense, applying to broadband the computer speed theory of Moore’s Law that transistors should be doubled on an integrated circuit every two years.</p> <p>“We didn’t want to have to face a rip-and-replace within the first five years of our build,” McGrath said.</p> <p>The co-op also compared the cost of installing 10-year-old GPON optimal network terminal (ONT) technology with the speedier XGS-PON.</p> <p>“The conclusion we came to was absolutely we can [afford XGS-PON], because what we can’t afford is when that customer wants to go from 1-gig to a 2-gig service, we’d have to roll a truck and change out that ONT, and now we don’t,” he said. “It’s already in the home.”</p> <p>Then there was the competition.</p> <p>The cable company offered download/upload service up to 200/20 megabits per second, but “had really neglected this area for some time,” McGrath said. “Because of that competition, we wanted to be able to offer speeds where we could incrementally leapfrog Comcast if they decided to go to a gig.”</p> <p>ACE Fiber offers three speed tiers, but about 70% of its 7,500 subscribers take 1- or 2-gigabit internet service.</p> <p>“It’s going to be probably another two or three years before we have to look at our speed tiers and start adjusting those and go up to a 10-gig tier,” he said.</p> <p>For electric co-ops just entering broadband or expanding their network, McGrath said he highly recommends going the XGS-PON route.</p> <p>“You want to be able to have something that differentiates you from the competition,” he said. “I would not hesitate to recommend that a co-op go XGS-PON at this point.”</p> <p>Access to unbeatable broadband is also key to growing a strong community with vibrant opportunities, McGrath said.</p> <p>“Growth is being able to provide a place where my kids can come back after they go to school and gain some employment,” he said. “Whether they’re working for a hometown company or whether they’re working from home for someone in Denver, Colorado, being able to do that and have those options I think is important.”</p> <p><em>Cathy Cash is a staff writer for NRECA.</em></p> </div> </section> </div> <div class="row"> <div class="col-md-12"> <section class="timeline-article-footer"> <small>Next in the Issue</small> <a class="article-next-post" data-next-article="timeline-modal-10619" title="Co-op Leader to Congress: Broadband Is Key to Rural Economic Development">Co-op Leader to Congress: Broadband Is Key to Rural Economic Development <span class="arrow"><i class="ci-long-arrow-right"></i></span></a> </section> </div> </div> </div> </article>  </section>  <section id="timeline-modal-10619" class="timeline-issues-article hidden"> <div class="jumbotron hero article bg-image" style="background-image: url('');"></div>  <article class="single"> <div class="container">  <div class="row"> <header class="col-md-12"> <div class="article-header"> <small class="article-category"> <a href="https://www.electric.coop/issues-and-policy/broadband">Broadband</a> </small> <h1 class="article-title">Co-op Leader to Congress: Broadband Is Key to Rural Economic Development</h1> <h3 class="article-subtitle"></h3> </div> </header> </div>  <div class="row"> <section class="col-md-3"> <div class="article-meta"> <div class="row"> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-date"> <span>Published</span>May 17, 2023 </div> </div> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-author"> <span>Author</span> Erin Kelly </div> </div> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-share">  <div class="social-share post"> <ul class="social"> <li><a class="facebook-share" href="https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=&title=" target="_blank"></a></li> <li><a class="twitter-share" href="https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?source=&text=&via=NRECANews " target="_blank"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewBox="0 0 512 512"><path d="M389.2 48h70.6L305.6 224.2 487 464H345L233.7 318.6 106.5 464H35.8L200.7 275.5 26.8 48H172.4L272.9 180.9 389.2 48zM364.4 421.8h39.1L151.1 88h-42L364.4 421.8z"/></svg></a></li> <li><a class="linkedin-share" href="http://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=&title=&summary=" target="_blank"></a></li> </ul> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </section> <section class="col-md-9"> <div class="article-content">  <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="683" src="https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/Jesse-Shekelton-02-1024x683.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-10622" srcset="https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/Jesse-Shekelton-02-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/Jesse-Shekelton-02-300x200.jpg 300w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/Jesse-Shekelton-02-768x512.jpg 768w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/Jesse-Shekelton-02.jpg 1200w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Jesse Shekleton, director of broadband operations at Jo-Carroll Energy in Illinois, testifies about the importance of broadband to rural communities at a Senate Agriculture subcommittee hearing on May 17. (Photo By: Jerry Mosemak/NRECA)</figcaption></figure> <p>Affordable, reliable broadband service is critical for the economic growth of rural communities throughout the nation, an Illinois electric cooperative leader told a Senate panel Wednesday.</p> <p>“Robust internet access allows students to get the educational resources they need, improves access to medical care in rural communities, and enables farmers to better leverage new technologies to improve crop yields,” Jesse Shekleton, director of broadband operations at <a href="https://www.jocarroll.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Jo-Carroll Energy</a>, told the Senate Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry Subcommittee on Rural Development and Energy <a href="https://www.agriculture.senate.gov/hearings/rural-broadband-connecting-our-communities-to-the-digital-economy" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">at a hearing</a> on rural broadband.</p> <p>“This connectivity is critical to fully participate in today’s internet-based economy, and many families and businesses will choose to locate elsewhere if robust internet access is unavailable in rural areas.”</p> <p>As Congress considers a new five-year Farm Bill, lawmakers “should prioritize scalable, future-proof networks in any future rounds of federal funding for broadband,” Shekleton said.</p> <p>“Consumer demands and needs for increased internet speeds continue to grow and are trending toward a need for multi-gigabit service by 2030,” he said.</p> <p>Shekleton also urged Congress to create flexible rules for rural broadband programs. He said Jo-Carroll Energy and other electric co-ops that provide high-speed internet service are often trying to tap into several federal and state funding programs at once to help them deploy broadband.</p> <p>“Areas currently unserved by broadband are expensive, and Congress should provide the flexibility to leverage multiple programs to offset some of the high costs of deployment so that providers are able to best meet the needs of those rural and remote areas,” he said.</p> <p>Jo-Carroll Energy, which is based in Elizabeth and serves about 20,000 consumer-members, launched a broadband arm, Sand Prairie Internet, in 2008. It initially offered a fixed wireless system but has since pivoted to a fiber-only network that is much more reliable, Shekleton said.</p> <p>“Fiber allows JCE to bring rural economic development and prosperity to our communities and enable robust opportunities for education, health care, and agriculture in northwestern Illinois,” he said.</p> <p>The fiber broadband connection has helped support recently opened businesses, including a local pharmacy and a convenience store that is the only place for residents of the small community to buy groceries.</p> <p>“It also is a draw for younger families, especially as many have transitioned to hybrid work or are considering the educational needs of their children,” Shekleton said.</p> <p>More than 80 years after electric co-ops partnered with the U.S. Department of Agriculture to bring electricity to rural America, co-ops are partnering with the agency again “to bring vital broadband service to those same areas,” he said.</p> <p>“As the committee considers the upcoming Farm Bill, JCE and the rest of our nation’s electric cooperatives look forward to working with you in our shared goal of connecting all Americans, no matter where they live, with a robust and reliable internet connection.”</p> <p><em>Erin Kelly is a staff writer for NRECA.</em></p> </div> </section> </div> <div class="row"> <div class="col-md-12"> <section class="timeline-article-footer"> <small>Next in the Issue</small> <a class="article-next-post" data-next-article="timeline-modal-10540" title="NRECA: Congress Should Reform Permitting to Reduce Broadband Costs, Delays">NRECA: Congress Should Reform Permitting to Reduce Broadband Costs, Delays <span class="arrow"><i class="ci-long-arrow-right"></i></span></a> </section> </div> </div> </div> </article>  </section>  <section id="timeline-modal-10540" class="timeline-issues-article hidden"> <div class="jumbotron hero article bg-image" style="background-image: url('');"></div>  <article class="single"> <div class="container">  <div class="row"> <header class="col-md-12"> <div class="article-header"> <small class="article-category"> <a href="https://www.electric.coop/issues-and-policy/broadband">Broadband</a> </small> <h1 class="article-title">NRECA: Congress Should Reform Permitting to Reduce Broadband Costs, Delays</h1> <h3 class="article-subtitle"></h3> </div> </header> </div>  <div class="row"> <section class="col-md-3"> <div class="article-meta"> <div class="row"> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-date"> <span>Published</span>April 24, 2023 </div> </div> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-author"> <span>Author</span> Cathy Cash </div> </div> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-share">  <div class="social-share post"> <ul class="social"> <li><a class="facebook-share" href="https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=&title=" target="_blank"></a></li> <li><a class="twitter-share" href="https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?source=&text=&via=NRECANews " target="_blank"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewBox="0 0 512 512"><path d="M389.2 48h70.6L305.6 224.2 487 464H345L233.7 318.6 106.5 464H35.8L200.7 275.5 26.8 48H172.4L272.9 180.9 389.2 48zM364.4 421.8h39.1L151.1 88h-42L364.4 421.8z"/></svg></a></li> <li><a class="linkedin-share" href="http://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=&title=&summary=" target="_blank"></a></li> </ul> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </section> <section class="col-md-9"> <div class="article-content">  <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="768" src="https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/capitol-dome-1024x768.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-10541" srcset="https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/capitol-dome-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/capitol-dome-300x225.jpg 300w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/capitol-dome-768x576.jpg 768w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/capitol-dome.jpg 1200w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">At a hearing last week, NRECA urged a House Energy and Commerce subcommittee to modernize federal permitting to facilitate electric co-ops and other broadband providers connecting homes and businesses in rural America. (Photo By: Andy Clement/Getty Images)</figcaption></figure> <p>NRECA urged Congress to reform federal permitting rules before billions of federal dollars become available for rural broadband and to reject for-profit internet providers’ calls to place electric cooperative poles under federal rate regulations.</p> <p>In testimony April 19 to the <a href="https://energycommerce.house.gov/events/communications-and-technology-subcommittee-legislative-hearing-breaking-barriers-streamlining-permitting-to-expedite-broadband-deployment" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Communications and Technology</a>, Louis Finkel, NRECA senior vice president for Government Relations, said the federal permitting process “takes too long, is too expensive, and is an impediment to the ability of broadband providers to meet the needs of their consumers and communities.”</p> <p>More than 200 electric co-ops in 39 states are currently delivering or partnering to deliver broadband to their members.</p> <p>With the $42.5 billion Broadband Equity, Access and Deployment Program and billions more in other funding coming available to close the digital divide, the hearing examined more than 30 proposals that focus on federal, state and local government barriers to rural broadband, such as permitting and reviews. It also touched on attaching communications equipment to utility poles.</p> <p>To make the most of these once-in-a generation funds, Finkel said, “this process must be modernized to give more certainty and predictability as electric cooperatives and other internet service providers build networks to connect homes and businesses in rural areas.”</p> <p>National Environmental Policy Act regulations, for instance, “present a significant challenge to rapid broadband deployment” because even co-ops with existing electric rights of way “must renegotiate…agreements with each state or federal agency, local jurisdiction, or private landowner, which can take years and can cost millions of dollars,” Finkel said.</p> <p>Finkel also told lawmakers that federal agencies must ensure the accuracy of broadband coverage maps before BEAD funds are released to providers to deploy broadband in unserved areas. “Congress must provide flexibility for states to use their own maps and local knowledge in addition to the new FCC maps when determining eligible locations for BEAD,” he said.</p> <p>On pole attachments, Congress should reject proposals to require the Federal Communications Commission regulated rate be used for access to co-op poles, Finkel said. He dismissed claims of unfair co-op pole attachment rates and explained that co-ops lease excess space on their poles to third parties, or even their own broadband subsidiary, “for a small fraction of the costs that co-ops have incurred to build and maintain these systems.”</p> <p>“The fees charged to attach to co-op poles reflect the unique geographic and demographic characteristics of each co-op’s service territories, which can vary from state to state and co-op to co-op.”</p> <p>NRECA, joined by American Public Power Association and the Utilities Technology Council, sent <a href="https://www.cooperative.com/programs-services/government-relations/Documents/APPA-NRECA-UTC-Letter-FAIR-Poles-Act.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">a letter to the House Energy and Commerce Committee leadership</a> on why nonprofit electric utilities should maintain their 1978 exemption from FCC rate regulations on pole attachments. Proposed legislation would effectively ask these utilities and their customers “to subsidize for-profit companies’ infrastructure buildout,” they said.</p> <p>“Congress has repeatedly recognized that federal pole attachment regulation is unnecessary for public power and electric cooperative pole owners, because they are owned by their customers, the same customers that would benefit from communications services provided over the facilities attached to their poles,” NRECA, APPA and UTC wrote the committee April 18.</p> <p>“Modifying or eliminating the exemption will not result in any significant increases in broadband deployment, adoption, and use. Instead, it will merely result in not-for-profit electric utility customers subsidizing for-profit telecommunications and cable companies.”</p> <p><em>Cathy Cash is a staff writer for NRECA.</em></p> </div> </section> </div> <div class="row"> <div class="col-md-12"> <section class="timeline-article-footer"> <small>Next in the Issue</small> <a class="article-next-post" data-next-article="timeline-modal-10533" title="‘Transforming Lives’: Co-op Makes 20K Broadband Connections in 52 Months">‘Transforming Lives’: Co-op Makes 20K Broadband Connections in 52 Months <span class="arrow"><i class="ci-long-arrow-right"></i></span></a> </section> </div> </div> </div> </article>  </section>  <section id="timeline-modal-10533" class="timeline-issues-article hidden"> <div class="jumbotron hero article bg-image" style="background-image: url('');"></div>  <article class="single"> <div class="container">  <div class="row"> <header class="col-md-12"> <div class="article-header"> <small class="article-category"> <a href="https://www.electric.coop/issues-and-policy/broadband">Broadband</a> </small> <h1 class="article-title">‘Transforming Lives’: Co-op Makes 20K Broadband Connections in 52 Months</h1> <h3 class="article-subtitle"></h3> </div> </header> </div>  <div class="row"> <section class="col-md-3"> <div class="article-meta"> <div class="row"> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-date"> <span>Published</span>April 21, 2023 </div> </div> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-author"> <span>Author</span> Cathy Cash </div> </div> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-share">  <div class="social-share post"> <ul class="social"> <li><a class="facebook-share" href="https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=&title=" target="_blank"></a></li> <li><a class="twitter-share" href="https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?source=&text=&via=NRECANews " target="_blank"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewBox="0 0 512 512"><path d="M389.2 48h70.6L305.6 224.2 487 464H345L233.7 318.6 106.5 464H35.8L200.7 275.5 26.8 48H172.4L272.9 180.9 389.2 48zM364.4 421.8h39.1L151.1 88h-42L364.4 421.8z"/></svg></a></li> <li><a class="linkedin-share" href="http://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=&title=&summary=" target="_blank"></a></li> </ul> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </section> <section class="col-md-9"> <div class="article-content">  <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="682" src="https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/cvec-broadband-1-1024x682.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-10534" srcset="https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/cvec-broadband-1-1024x682.jpg 1024w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/cvec-broadband-1-300x200.jpg 300w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/cvec-broadband-1-768x511.jpg 768w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/cvec-broadband-1.jpg 1200w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Central Virginia Electric Cooperative’s broadband subsidiary, Firely, has made more than 20,000 broadband connections in just over four years. (Photo Courtesy: Central Virginia Electric Cooperative)</figcaption></figure> <p>AFTON, Virginia—Don’t let the nearly 300-year-old house at the end of a three-mile-long gravel road in rural Virginia fool you. It’s got the fastest internet around as one of 20,000-plus broadband connections made by <a href="https://www.mycvec.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Central Virginia Electric Cooperative</a> in four years, a milestone recently marked by the co-op.</p> <p>“I have been released from buffer circle purgatory,” said Susan McSwain, the first resident of the house to get electricity from the co-op and broadband from its subsidiary, <a href="https://www.fireflyva.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Firefly</a>.</p> <p>“Having Firefly is like having a planetary library on my desk. It’s access to a world of wonder.”</p> <div class="wp-block-image"> <figure class="alignright size-full is-resized"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/cvec-broadband-susan-mcswain.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-10536" width="293" height="391" srcset="https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/cvec-broadband-susan-mcswain.jpg 600w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/cvec-broadband-susan-mcswain-225x300.jpg 225w" sizes="(max-width: 293px) 100vw, 293px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Firefly communications manager Melissa Gay with Susan McSwain (right), who lives in a 300-year-old house that finally has reliable high-speed internet access thanks to Firefly. (Photo Courtesy: Firefly)</figcaption></figure></div> <p>McSwain shared her story at the Arrington-based co-op’s April 5 celebration with 160 representatives from electric co-ops and co-op organizations and state agencies, state and federal lawmakers and CVEC’s partners that worked to get the job done, including <a href="https://www.calix.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Calix</a>, <a href="https://conexon.us/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Conexon</a>, <a href="https://www.graybar.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Graybar</a> and S&N Communications. Reps. Abigail Spanberger, D-Va., and Bob Good, R-Va., whose districts are served by CVEC, praised the co-op’s milestone and offered bipartisan support for rural broadband.</p> <p>“To connect 20,000 homes and businesses over four years, you are literally changing lives and communities,” said Good.</p> <p>The co-op’s fiber network now is available to 40,000 homes and businesses, 90% of which lack other options for broadband service, said Bruce Maurhoff, Firefly’s senior vice president and chief operating officer.</p> <p>“We placed 14.5 million feet of strand and lash fiber on poles and another 3 million feet in conduit underground,” he said. “That is enough fiber to reach from the first pole where we began in Appomattox all the way to Anchorage, Alaska. And we did it in 52 months.”</p> <p>The Firefly team described its $150 million trek, which began in 2018 and traveled through its 14-county electric territory, as ambitious as it was capital intensive.</p> <p>To prepare the system for fiber, CVEC performed make-ready work across its entire system of 4,500 miles of distribution line. The co-op replaced 5,738 poles—far above its typical 100 to 150 poles each year—and set 6,490 anchors. It rearranged equipment on tens of thousands of poles and installed 28 communication huts as network nodes, Maurhoff said.</p> <p>On the financial side, invoices more than doubled and lines of credit grew exponentially.</p> <p>“At peak times we could be paying more than $3 million a week for materials, construction or make-ready work,” said Tina Mallia, Firefly’s vice president and chief financial officer. “As you can imagine, a $150 million project in four years can really affect cash flow.”</p> <div class="wp-block-image"> <figure class="alignright size-large is-resized"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/cvec-broadband-3-1024x826.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-10535" width="363" height="293" srcset="https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/cvec-broadband-3-1024x826.jpg 1024w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/cvec-broadband-3-300x242.jpg 300w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/cvec-broadband-3-768x620.jpg 768w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/cvec-broadband-3.jpg 1200w" sizes="(max-width: 363px) 100vw, 363px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Firefly’s Bruce Maurhoff (left), Tina Mallia, Dennis Reece and Gary Wood pose with the broadband subsidiary’s mascot, Flash. (Photo Courtesy: VMDAEC)</figcaption></figure></div> <p>CVEC previously spent about $15 million per year on infrastructure, but during the last four years, fiber construction cost $35 million to $40 million annually, she said. The co-op’s lines of credit increased from $9.7 million with <a href="https://www.nrucfc.coop/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">National Rural Utilities Cooperative Finance Corp.</a> and $1 million with <a href="https://www.cobank.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">CoBank</a> to about $20 million from each lender.</p> <p>The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Rural Utilities Service Electric Program approved a $66 million loan to launch CVEC’s fiber venture. The co-op also won funds from the Federal Communications Commission’s Connect America Funds Auction and Rural Digital Opportunity Fund and USDA’s ReConnect program for rural broadband. Grants from the state and counties have also helped the co-op achieve its goal, Mallia said.</p> <p>“These are all important funds that allow us to provide this world-class service at affordable prices for our subscribers,” she said.</p> <p>The bottom line to winery manager Bill Tonkins is that the co-op’s delivery of broadband during the pandemic kept him in business. Tonkins manages Veritas, the vineyard where Firefly’s event took place</p> <p>“Firefly broadband helped Veritas survive COVID,” he said. “All of a sudden you had to order online. The point of sale became touch-free. Tastings were ordered through a QR code. We became a no-cash facility. All these things were possible due to having broadband.”</p> <p>Gary Wood, president and CEO of CVEC and Firefly, thanked the co-op’s board for making the decision to enter broadband despite the challenges and noted how Firefly has been embraced by the community</p> <p>“Transforming lives—that’s what we’re doing at Firefly in central Virginia,” he said.</p> <p><em>Cathy Cash is a staff writer for NRECA.</em></p> </div> </section> </div> <div class="row"> <div class="col-md-12"> <section class="timeline-article-footer"> <small>Next in the Issue</small> <a class="article-next-post" data-next-article="timeline-modal-10530" title="Rep. Bob Latta: Rural Connectivity ‘Is Everybody’s Issue’">Rep. Bob Latta: Rural Connectivity ‘Is Everybody’s Issue’ <span class="arrow"><i class="ci-long-arrow-right"></i></span></a> </section> </div> </div> </div> </article>  </section>  <section id="timeline-modal-10530" class="timeline-issues-article hidden"> <div class="jumbotron hero article bg-image" style="background-image: url('');"></div>  <article class="single"> <div class="container">  <div class="row"> <header class="col-md-12"> <div class="article-header"> <small class="article-category"> <a href="https://www.electric.coop/issues-and-policy/broadband">Broadband</a> </small> <h1 class="article-title">Rep. Bob Latta: Rural Connectivity ‘Is Everybody’s Issue’</h1> <h3 class="article-subtitle"></h3> </div> </header> </div>  <div class="row"> <section class="col-md-3"> <div class="article-meta"> <div class="row"> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-date"> <span>Published</span>April 18, 2023 </div> </div> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-author"> <span>Author</span> Cathy Cash </div> </div> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-share">  <div class="social-share post"> <ul class="social"> <li><a class="facebook-share" href="https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=&title=" target="_blank"></a></li> <li><a class="twitter-share" href="https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?source=&text=&via=NRECANews " target="_blank"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewBox="0 0 512 512"><path d="M389.2 48h70.6L305.6 224.2 487 464H345L233.7 318.6 106.5 464H35.8L200.7 275.5 26.8 48H172.4L272.9 180.9 389.2 48zM364.4 421.8h39.1L151.1 88h-42L364.4 421.8z"/></svg></a></li> <li><a class="linkedin-share" href="http://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=&title=&summary=" target="_blank"></a></li> </ul> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </section> <section class="col-md-9"> <div class="article-content">  <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="683" src="https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/latta-1024x683.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-10522" srcset="https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/latta-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/latta-300x200.jpg 300w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/latta-768x512.jpg 768w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/latta.jpg 1200w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Rep. Bob Latta, chairman of a key House subcommittee, told NRECA Broadband participants and guests gathered at the 2023 Legislative Conference that he understands the need to connect rural America without delays and high costs. (Photo By: Jerry Mosemak/NRECA)</figcaption></figure> <p>Rep. Bob Latta, R-Ohio, told a large <a href="https://www.cooperative.com/topics/telecommunications-broadband/nreca-broadband/Pages/default.aspx" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">NRECA Broadband</a> gathering that he knows the importance of high-speed internet to rural communities, how fast the technology advances and the role Congress must play in ensuring people served by electric cooperatives are not left behind when billions of dollars flow to bridge the digital divide.</p> <p>“Broadband is not a Republican issue; it’s not a Democratic issue; it’s not an independent issue,” Latta told the exclusive breakfast Tuesday at <a href="https://www.cooperative.com/conferences-education/meetings/legislative-conference/Pages/default.aspx" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">NRECA’s 2023 Legislative Conference</a>. “It’s everybody’s issue, and that’s why it’s important that we get the job done.”</p> <p>Latta chairs the House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Communications and Technology, where NRECA will bring electric co-op perspectives on broadband regulatory permitting reform and pole attachment issues in a hearing Wednesday. </p> <p>With the fast pace of broadband technology development, Latta said his committee must look far ahead when legislating rules and regulations.</p> <p>“We have to make sure we are getting the laws right,” he said. “This is going to affect people, [and] technology is changing so rapidly.”</p> <p>Oversight of the new $42 billion <a href="https://www.cooperative.com/programs-services/government-relations/regulatory-issues/Documents/Memorandum.BEAD.NOFO.Summary.06.10.2022.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Broadband Equity, Access and Deployment Program</a> under the National Telecommunications and Information Administration will be “very important to us,” said Latta, whose district includes several electric co-ops. The goal will be to avoid excessive fees and delays in building rural broadband projects, he said.</p> <p>“We want to make sure we get that done so American families can get reliable internet,” he said. “We have to make sure we get it done in the least expensive manner.”</p> <p>Latta also emphasized the importance of having accurate broadband coverage maps for allocating billions of federal dollars to unserved areas.</p> <p>He noted how significant high-speed connectivity has become since the pandemic, with telehealth now the norm and school children expected to do their homework online. Many small towns and communities, however, remain challenged.</p> <p>“We need to make sure we have broadband out there so our kids can compete,” Latta said. “We want to make sure people who live in rural areas can live there and survive.” </p> <p><a href="https://www.cooperative.com/topics/telecommunications-broadband/nreca-broadband/Pages/default.aspx" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">NRECA Broadband</a> launched last year and has gained nearly 100 electric cooperative and statewide association members that receive exclusive services, benefits and access to events that support their efforts to deploy high-speed internet. For more information, contact <a href="mailto:Brian.OHara@nreca.coop">Brian O’Hara</a>, NRECA senior regulatory affairs director, or <a href="mailto:Katie.Culleton@nreca.coop">Katie Culleton</a>, NRECA legislative affairs director.</p> <p><em>Cathy Cash is a staff writer for NRECA.</em></p> <h4 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-more-coverage-from-legislative-conference"><strong>More Coverage From Legislative Conference:</strong></h4> <p><a href="https://www.electric.coop/top-policymakers-address-co-op-leaders-at-nreca-legislative-conference">Top Policymakers Address Electric Co-op Leaders at NRECA’s Legislative Conference<br></a><a href="https://www.electric.coop/what-electric-co-ops-need-from-policymakers-to-close-the-digital-divide">What Electric Co-ops Need From Policymakers to Close the Digital Divide</a><br><a href="https://www.electric.coop/nreca-ceo-reliable-electricity-is-main-focus-of-legislative-conference">NRECA CEO: Reliable Electricity Is Main Focus of Legislative Conference</a><br></p> </div> </section> </div> <div class="row"> <div class="col-md-12"> <section class="timeline-article-footer"> <small>Next in the Issue</small> <a class="article-next-post" data-next-article="timeline-modal-10525" title="What Electric Co-ops Need From Policymakers to Close the Digital Divide">What Electric Co-ops Need From Policymakers to Close the Digital Divide <span class="arrow"><i class="ci-long-arrow-right"></i></span></a> </section> </div> </div> </div> </article>  </section>  <section id="timeline-modal-10525" class="timeline-issues-article hidden"> <div class="jumbotron hero article bg-image" style="background-image: url('');"></div>  <article class="single"> <div class="container">  <div class="row"> <header class="col-md-12"> <div class="article-header"> <small class="article-category"> <a href="https://www.electric.coop/issues-and-policy/broadband">Broadband</a> </small> <h1 class="article-title">What Electric Co-ops Need From Policymakers to Close the Digital Divide</h1> <h3 class="article-subtitle"></h3> </div> </header> </div>  <div class="row"> <section class="col-md-3"> <div class="article-meta"> <div class="row"> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-date"> <span>Published</span>April 18, 2023 </div> </div> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-author"> <span>Author</span> Cathy Cash </div> </div> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-share">  <div class="social-share post"> <ul class="social"> <li><a class="facebook-share" href="https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=&title=" target="_blank"></a></li> <li><a class="twitter-share" href="https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?source=&text=&via=NRECANews " target="_blank"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewBox="0 0 512 512"><path d="M389.2 48h70.6L305.6 224.2 487 464H345L233.7 318.6 106.5 464H35.8L200.7 275.5 26.8 48H172.4L272.9 180.9 389.2 48zM364.4 421.8h39.1L151.1 88h-42L364.4 421.8z"/></svg></a></li> <li><a class="linkedin-share" href="http://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=&title=&summary=" target="_blank"></a></li> </ul> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </section> <section class="col-md-9"> <div class="article-content">  <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="891" src="https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/PDEC-Help-No-Internet2-pemiscot-dunklin-1024x891.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-10528" srcset="https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/PDEC-Help-No-Internet2-pemiscot-dunklin-1024x891.jpg 1024w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/PDEC-Help-No-Internet2-pemiscot-dunklin-300x261.jpg 300w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/PDEC-Help-No-Internet2-pemiscot-dunklin-768x668.jpg 768w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/PDEC-Help-No-Internet2-pemiscot-dunklin.jpg 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">More than 200 electric co-ops, including Pemiscot-Dunklin Electric Cooperative in Missouri, are heeding their members’ call to deploy broadband. NRECA and co-op leaders will ask policymakers to address four key issues while in Washington, D.C., for the 2023 Legislative Conference. (Photo Courtesy: PDEC)</figcaption></figure> <p>As more than 200 electric cooperatives enter the broadband space to connect unserved communities in 39 states, NRECA is asking federal policymakers for a few fixes to help co-ops reach their members.</p> <p>“A number of electric cooperatives have stepped up to the plate and actually helped meet that demand in terms of successfully offering broadband within their areas,” NRECA CEO Jim Matheson said in a media call April 17 as 2,000 electric co-op representatives gathered in Washington, D.C., for <a href="https://www.cooperative.com/conferences-education/meetings/legislative-conference/Pages/default.aspx" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">NRECA’s 2023 Legislative Conference</a>.</p> <p>But to facilitate their efforts to close the digital divide, Matheson said co-op leaders on Capitol Hill and at key federal agencies this week are raising four issues:</p> <ul class="wp-block-list"> <li>Continue funding for ReConnect, the rural broadband grant and loan program under the U.S. Department of Agriculture, and improve its efficiency.</li> </ul> <ul class="wp-block-list"> <li>Define broadband for federal assistance as a minimum symmetrical speed of 100 megabits per second upload and download.</li> </ul> <ul class="wp-block-list"> <li>Increase funding for building middle-mile fiber networks that will enable more broadband connections in rural areas.</li> </ul> <ul class="wp-block-list"> <li>Collect more accurate information for mapping regions with true broadband to ensure federal dollars go to unserved areas.</li> </ul> <p>“We want universal access for all of our members, including that member at the end of the line who may be five miles from the next connection,” Matheson said. “That’s why electric cooperatives are very well situated—knowing those communities, knowing those service territories—to close that digital divide in these sparsely populated areas in a better way than anyone else.”</p> <p>Two CEOs of co-ops that have built broadband to all their members joined Matheson on the call to share their experiences. Tim Johnson, who leads <a href="https://otsegoec.coop/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Otsego Electric Cooperative</a> and its broadband subsidiary in Hartwick, New York, said the 5,000-meter co-op’s fiber-to-the-home service is meeting the community’s need.</p> <p>“The COVID-19 pandemic proved that out,” he said. “Undeniably, people were virtually desperate. We had just finished building all of our infrastructure, about 700 miles, and the phone rang off the hook for months until we got to everybody we possibly could.”</p> <p>Mitchell Johnson of <a href="https://www.ozarksecc.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Ozarks Electric Cooperative</a> in Fayetteville, Arkansas, said the co-op’s broadband subsidiary has deployed 7,000 miles of fiber and joined 12 other Arkansas co-ops to build a 50,000-mile middle-mile fiber network for greater speed, reliability and savings for 1.2 million customers.</p> <p>“We know that our 10-gigabit capacity will lower cost for access to the internet, and the entire state and the cooperatives will benefit from that middle-mile network,” Johnson said. “We do think that public policy needs to support cooperative-owned middle-mile networks.”</p> <p>Matheson also underscored the “value of the cooperative model and the cooperative approach if we’re really going to solve this problem in these very hard-to-serve, sparsely populated areas.”</p> <p>“We’ve been responsible with the federal funding we’ve received,” he said. “We continue to be proud of that record, and we’re going to continue to advocate for electric co-ops to have a seat at the table, because we think we’re part of an important solution.”</p> <p><em>Cathy Cash is a staff writer for NRECA.</em></p> <h4 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-more-coverage-from-legislative-conference"><strong>More Coverage From Legislative Conference:</strong></h4> <p><a href="https://www.electric.coop/top-policymakers-address-co-op-leaders-at-nreca-legislative-conference">Top Policymakers Address Co-op Leaders at NRECA’s Legislative Conference<br></a><a href="https://www.electric.coop/nreca-ceo-reliable-electricity-is-main-focus-of-legislative-conference">NRECA CEO: Reliable Electricity Is Main Focus of Legislative Conference</a><br><a href="https://www.electric.coop/rep-bob-latta-rural-connectivity-is-everybodys-issue">Rep. Bob Latta: Rural Connectivity ‘Is Everybody’s Issue’</a></p> </div> </section> </div> <div class="row"> <div class="col-md-12"> <section class="timeline-article-footer"> <small>Next in the Issue</small> <a class="article-next-post" data-next-article="timeline-modal-10527" title="Top Policymakers Address Electric Co-op Leaders at NRECA’s Legislative Conference">Top Policymakers Address Electric Co-op Leaders at NRECA’s Legislative Conference <span class="arrow"><i class="ci-long-arrow-right"></i></span></a> </section> </div> </div> </div> </article>  </section>  <section id="timeline-modal-10527" class="timeline-issues-article hidden"> <div class="jumbotron hero article bg-image" style="background-image: url('');"></div>  <article class="single"> <div class="container">  <div class="row"> <header class="col-md-12"> <div class="article-header"> <small class="article-category"> <a href="https://www.electric.coop/issues-and-policy/broadband">Broadband</a> </small> <h1 class="article-title">Top Policymakers Address Electric Co-op Leaders at NRECA’s Legislative Conference</h1> <h3 class="article-subtitle"></h3> </div> </header> </div>  <div class="row"> <section class="col-md-3"> <div class="article-meta"> <div class="row"> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-date"> <span>Published</span>April 18, 2023 </div> </div> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-author"> <span>Author</span> Erin Kelly </div> </div> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-share">  <div class="social-share post"> <ul class="social"> <li><a class="facebook-share" href="https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=&title=" target="_blank"></a></li> <li><a class="twitter-share" href="https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?source=&text=&via=NRECANews " target="_blank"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewBox="0 0 512 512"><path d="M389.2 48h70.6L305.6 224.2 487 464H345L233.7 318.6 106.5 464H35.8L200.7 275.5 26.8 48H172.4L272.9 180.9 389.2 48zM364.4 421.8h39.1L151.1 88h-42L364.4 421.8z"/></svg></a></li> <li><a class="linkedin-share" href="http://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=&title=&summary=" target="_blank"></a></li> </ul> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </section> <section class="col-md-9"> <div class="article-content">  <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="683" src="https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/2023-Legislative-Conference-1024x683.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-10520" srcset="https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/2023-Legislative-Conference-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/2023-Legislative-Conference-300x200.jpg 300w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/2023-Legislative-Conference-768x512.jpg 768w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/2023-Legislative-Conference.jpg 1200w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Rural Utilities Service Administrator Andy Berke said electric co-ops will soon have access to $9.7 billion in grants and loans for clean energy projects. (Photo By: Denny Gainer/NRECA)</figcaption></figure> <p>Electric cooperatives will soon have access to $9.7 billion in grants and loans to buy or build new clean energy systems, Rural Utilities Service Administrator Andy Berke told co-op leaders Monday at <a href="https://www.electric.coop/nreca-ceo-reliable-electricity-is-main-focus-of-legislative-conference">NRECA’s Legislative Conference</a>.</p> <p>Berke said the U.S. Department of Agriculture is poised to roll out the program in the coming days. It was approved last August when Congress passed the sweeping <a href="https://www.electric.coop/issues-and-policy/inflation-reduction-act">Inflation Reduction Act</a>.</p> <p>“This is huge,” Berke told 2,000-plus conference attendees. “We have to make sure that you can make the energy transition that is coming without breaking the bank.”</p> <p>The voluntary program will provide funding for a wide range of projects, including renewable energy, carbon capture, battery energy storage systems, nuclear power and improvements to generation and transmission efficiency. Interested co-ops will be eligible to receive an award for up to 25% of their project costs, with a maximum of $970 million going to any one co-op.</p> <p>“This is an enormous opportunity,” he said. “We don’t know when it is going to happen again. Please take this opportunity. It’s available because of your advocacy.”</p> <p>Berke drew applause when he announced that RUS, beginning this week, is shrinking the size of environmental review paperwork that co-ops have to fill out when they apply for loans from a minimum of 70 pages down to just four pages.</p> <p>He said he listened to concerns about the process from co-op leaders at NRECA’s PowerXchange in Nashville, Tennessee, in March and made the change based on their feedback. He said he hopes it will expedite co-op construction projects.</p> <p>“We know that a project today is better—and more importantly cheaper—than a project tomorrow,” Berke said.</p> <h4 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-sen-boozman-honored-with-distinguished-service-award"><strong>Sen. Boozman Honored With Distinguished Service Award</strong></h4> <div style="height:15px" aria-hidden="true" class="wp-block-spacer"></div> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="769" src="https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/2023-Legislative-Conference-3-1024x769.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-10517" srcset="https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/2023-Legislative-Conference-3-1024x769.jpg 1024w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/2023-Legislative-Conference-3-300x225.jpg 300w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/2023-Legislative-Conference-3-768x577.jpg 768w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/2023-Legislative-Conference-3.jpg 1200w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Sen. John Boozman, R-Ark., received NRECA’s Distinguished Service Award, which honors members of Congress who make essential contributions to electric co-ops and the communities they serve. (Photo By: Denny Gainer/NRECA)</figcaption></figure> <p>Also on Monday, <a href="https://www.cooperative.com/remagazine/articles/pages/lawmaker-profile-sen-john-boozman.aspx" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Sen. John Boozman</a>, R-Ark., received NRECA’s Distinguished Service Award, which honors members of Congress who make essential contributions to electric co-ops and the communities they serve.</p> <p>“Sen. John Boozman, an electric cooperative member, has been a friend to the Electric Cooperatives of Arkansas throughout his years in public service,” said Buddy Hasten, president and CEO of the <a href="https://aecc.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Electric Cooperatives of Arkansas</a>. “Sen. Boozman’s dedication as an advocate for Arkansans clearly aligns with the mission of our state’s electric cooperatives.”</p> <p>Boozman, the ranking member of the Senate Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry Committee, said he is hopeful that Congress will be able to pass one of NRECA’s top legislative priorities this year: a new five-year <a href="https://www.electric.coop/issues-and-policy/farm-bill">Farm Bill</a> that includes full funding for rural economic development and broadband programs. The current Farm Bill expires Oct. 1.</p> <p>“Farm Bills aren’t about Democrats or Republicans,” he said. “They’re bipartisan. I think we’ve got a great chance of getting it done.”</p> <h4 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>DOE Official: ‘Reliability Is the Foundation’</strong></h4> <div style="height:15px" aria-hidden="true" class="wp-block-spacer"></div> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="683" src="https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/2023-Legislative-Conference-1-1024x683.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-10519" srcset="https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/2023-Legislative-Conference-1-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/2023-Legislative-Conference-1-300x200.jpg 300w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/2023-Legislative-Conference-1-768x512.jpg 768w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/2023-Legislative-Conference-1.jpg 1200w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Gene Rodrigues, assistant secretary of energy for electricity, said he agrees with NRECA that ensuring the reliability of the electric grid must be policymakers’ top priority. (Photo By: Denny Gainer/NRECA)</figcaption></figure> <p>Gene Rodrigues, assistant secretary of energy for electricity, said he shares NRECA’s goal of ensuring that the electric grid “remains reliable, resilient and affordable for all Americans.” The importance of grid reliability is the main message that co-op leaders are taking to Capitol Hill and federal agencies this week.</p> <p>“We are all in agreement with every single one of you in this room that reliability is the foundation of everything we want to do,” he said.</p> <p>Unfortunately, the American people and many of their elected officials “take it for granted” that the lights will always come on when they flip the switch, Rodrigues said.</p> <p>“That’s a problem,” he said, urging co-op leaders to “advocate, educate and collaborate” to sound the alarm about the potential risks to reliability.</p> <p>“If it’s taken for granted, then we won’t have the champions we need to keep electricity reliable and affordable over time. … Make sure they understand the absolute necessity of investing in a 21<sup>st</sup> century power grid for the American people.”</p> <h4 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Spanberger Lauds Co-op Role in Closing Digital Divide</strong></h4> <div style="height:15px" aria-hidden="true" class="wp-block-spacer"></div> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="683" src="https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/2023-Legislative-Conference-2-1024x683.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-10518" srcset="https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/2023-Legislative-Conference-2-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/2023-Legislative-Conference-2-300x200.jpg 300w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/2023-Legislative-Conference-2-768x512.jpg 768w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/2023-Legislative-Conference-2.jpg 1200w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Rep. Abigail Spanberger, D-Va., said electric co-ops have been crucial in helping to bring broadband service to rural communities. (Photo By: Denny Gainer/NRECA)</figcaption></figure> <p>“Rural communities feed and fuel the rest of Virginia and our nation,” Rep. Abigail Spanberger, D-Va., told conference participants. “Unfortunately, at times it seems like rural America can get left out of the conversations on infrastructure and economic development.”</p> <p>She said that electric co-ops serve 40% of her constituents and are helping to bring essential broadband service to rural communities that for-profit internet providers ignore.</p> <p>“I’m so grateful to your [NRECA] members for working to bring broadband,” Spanberger said.</p> <p>The bipartisan infrastructure law’s $65 billion in broadband funding will help close the digital divide and “strengthen our rural economy for the next generation of Americans,” she said.</p> <h4 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Freshman House Members Push for Bipartisan Solutions</strong></h4> <div style="height:15px" aria-hidden="true" class="wp-block-spacer"></div> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="579" src="https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/2023-Legislative-Conference-homepage-1024x579.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-10523" srcset="https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/2023-Legislative-Conference-homepage-1024x579.jpg 1024w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/2023-Legislative-Conference-homepage-300x170.jpg 300w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/2023-Legislative-Conference-homepage-768x434.jpg 768w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/2023-Legislative-Conference-homepage-1536x868.jpg 1536w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/2023-Legislative-Conference-homepage.jpg 2000w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Freshman Reps. Don Davis, D-N.C., (left) and Juan Ciscomani, R-Ariz., discussed the need for more bipartisanship in Congress. (Photo By: Denny Gainer/NRECA)</figcaption></figure> <p>Freshman Reps. Juan Ciscomani, R-Ariz., and Don Davis, D-N.C., were both elected in 2022 and represent electric cooperative members in rural communities. They told co-op leaders that they are frustrated by the fierce partisan divide in Congress and hope to work together as members of the bipartisan Problem Solvers Caucus.</p> <p>“There’s too much extremism, and it comes from both sides—let’s be honest about it,” Davis said.</p> <p>Ciscomani, who described his district’s voters as one-third Republican, one-third Democratic and one-third independent, said he has set up an advisory committee back home made up of local leaders with diverse political ideologies.</p> <p>“There is an appetite in our country for people to work together to find solutions,” he said.</p> <p><em>Erin Kelly is a staff writer for NRECA.</em></p> <h4 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-more-coverage-from-legislative-conference"><strong>More Coverage From Legislative Conference:</strong></h4> <p><a href="https://www.electric.coop/what-electric-co-ops-need-from-policymakers-to-close-the-digital-divide">What Electric Co-ops Need From Policymakers to Close the Digital Divide<br></a><a href="https://www.electric.coop/nreca-ceo-reliable-electricity-is-main-focus-of-legislative-conference">NRECA CEO: Reliable Electricity Is Main Focus of Legislative Conference</a><br><a href="https://www.electric.coop/rep-bob-latta-rural-connectivity-is-everybodys-issue">Rep. Bob Latta: Rural Connectivity ‘Is Everybody’s Issue’</a></p> </div> </section> </div> <div class="row"> <div class="col-md-12"> <section class="timeline-article-footer"> <small>Next in the Issue</small> <a class="article-next-post" data-next-article="timeline-modal-10270" title="Electric Co-op Lands $47 Million From Missouri ARPA Funds for Broadband">Electric Co-op Lands $47 Million From Missouri ARPA Funds for Broadband <span class="arrow"><i class="ci-long-arrow-right"></i></span></a> </section> </div> </div> </div> </article>  </section>  <section id="timeline-modal-10270" class="timeline-issues-article hidden"> <div class="jumbotron hero article bg-image" style="background-image: url('');"></div>  <article class="single"> <div class="container">  <div class="row"> <header class="col-md-12"> <div class="article-header"> <small class="article-category"> <a href="https://www.electric.coop/issues-and-policy/broadband">Broadband</a> </small> <h1 class="article-title">Electric Co-op Lands $47 Million From Missouri ARPA Funds for Broadband</h1> <h3 class="article-subtitle"></h3> </div> </header> </div>  <div class="row"> <section class="col-md-3"> <div class="article-meta"> <div class="row"> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-date"> <span>Published</span>February 15, 2023 </div> </div> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-author"> <span>Author</span> Cathy Cash </div> </div> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-share">  <div class="social-share post"> <ul class="social"> <li><a class="facebook-share" href="https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=&title=" target="_blank"></a></li> <li><a class="twitter-share" href="https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?source=&text=&via=NRECANews " target="_blank"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewBox="0 0 512 512"><path d="M389.2 48h70.6L305.6 224.2 487 464H345L233.7 318.6 106.5 464H35.8L200.7 275.5 26.8 48H172.4L272.9 180.9 389.2 48zM364.4 421.8h39.1L151.1 88h-42L364.4 421.8z"/></svg></a></li> <li><a class="linkedin-share" href="http://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=&title=&summary=" target="_blank"></a></li> </ul> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </section> <section class="col-md-9"> <div class="article-content">  <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="684" src="https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/WhiteRiverConnect-1024x684.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-10271" srcset="https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/WhiteRiverConnect-1024x684.jpg 1024w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/WhiteRiverConnect-300x200.jpg 300w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/WhiteRiverConnect-768x513.jpg 768w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/WhiteRiverConnect.jpg 1200w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">White River Connect has won a $47.3 million grant from Missouri’s broadband program and plans to break ground on a $260 million, five-year fiber build later this year. (Photo By: White River Connect)</figcaption></figure> <p><a href="https://www.whiteriver.org/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">White River Valley Electric Cooperative</a> credits overwhelming member support for winning Missouri’s largest broadband grant from American Rescue Plan Act funds—$47.3 million—to help connect its rugged service territory.</p> <p>“We had a large number of letters supporting our project from businesses, organizations in our communities, and from state legislators,” said Beau Jackson, CEO of <a href="https://www.whiteriver.org/fiber/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">White River Connect</a>, the electric co-op’s broadband subsidiary.</p> <p>The state Broadband Infrastructure Grant Program “emphasized the importance of local support,” he said. “When I went through the applications, I can see pages and pages of these letters.”</p> <p>The Branson-based co-op, which earned board approval only last July, braced for low returns on its seven applications for funds to build a high-speed internet network across its five-county service area nestled in the Ozark Mountains.</p> <p>When the state announced the award on Jan. 23, “I about fell out of my seat,” Jackson said. “I think what they saw in the applications is not that we had pretty letterhead. It’s just that we made the case that our communities are in need of fast and reliable internet service.”</p> <p>Three counties served by the co-op even offered to reallocate over $9 million in ARPA funds they received for other projects toward White River’s broadband build, he added.</p> <p>“That resonates that there is a need when we’re receiving that much local support,” Jackson said.</p> <p>White River Connect has been working with <a href="https://www.nrtc.coop/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">NRTC</a> to design and develop the project. Groundbreaking on the $260 million, five-year all fiber-optic build is expected in the third quarter of this year. Fiber-to-the-home connections are scheduled to begin in 2024.</p> <p>The co-op will be able to offer subscribers speeds above 1 gigabit for data uploads and downloads to meet future demand for bandwidth.</p> <p>“This grant is a huge win for the co-op and our communities,” Jackson said. “We are very excited and can’t wait to get it done and make a difference in people’s lives and our communities.”</p> <p>Other electric co-ops awarded broadband grants by the state included Tipton-based <a href="https://www.co-mo.net/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Co-Mo Comm</a> with $2.8 million; Trenton-based <a href="https://www.grundyec.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Grundy Electric Cooperative’s</a> broadband subsidiary, Mid-States Services, LLC,  $6 million; Butler-based <a href="https://osagevalley.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Osage Valley Electric Cooperative Association</a>, $9.5 million; El Dorado Springs-based <a href="https://www.sacosage.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Sac Osage Electric Cooperative</a>, $3 million; Sikeston-based <a href="https://www.gosemo.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">SEMO Electric Cooperative</a>, $16.6 million; and Savannah-based <a href="https://ueci.coop/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">United Electric Cooperative’s</a> broadband subsidiary, United Services, Inc., $8 million.</p> <p><em>Cathy Cash is a staff writer for NRECA.</em></p> </div> </section> </div> <div class="row"> <div class="col-md-12"> <section class="timeline-article-footer"> <small>Next in the Issue</small> <a class="article-next-post" data-next-article="timeline-modal-10186" title="Along Those Lines: What It Takes for Electric Co-ops to Enter the Broadband Space">Along Those Lines: What It Takes for Electric Co-ops to Enter the Broadband Space <span class="arrow"><i class="ci-long-arrow-right"></i></span></a> </section> </div> </div> </div> </article>  </section>  <section id="timeline-modal-10186" class="timeline-issues-article hidden"> <div class="jumbotron hero article bg-image" style="background-image: url('');"></div>  <article class="single"> <div class="container">  <div class="row"> <header class="col-md-12"> <div class="article-header"> <small class="article-category"> <a href="https://www.electric.coop/issues-and-policy/broadband">Broadband</a> </small> <h1 class="article-title">Along Those Lines: What It Takes for Electric Co-ops to Enter the Broadband Space</h1> <h3 class="article-subtitle"></h3> </div> </header> </div>  <div class="row"> <section class="col-md-3"> <div class="article-meta"> <div class="row"> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-date"> <span>Published</span>January 24, 2023 </div> </div> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-author"> <span>Author</span> NRECA </div> </div> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-share">  <div class="social-share post"> <ul class="social"> <li><a class="facebook-share" href="https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=&title=" target="_blank"></a></li> <li><a class="twitter-share" href="https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?source=&text=&via=NRECANews " target="_blank"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewBox="0 0 512 512"><path d="M389.2 48h70.6L305.6 224.2 487 464H345L233.7 318.6 106.5 464H35.8L200.7 275.5 26.8 48H172.4L272.9 180.9 389.2 48zM364.4 421.8h39.1L151.1 88h-42L364.4 421.8z"/></svg></a></li> <li><a class="linkedin-share" href="http://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=&title=&summary=" target="_blank"></a></li> </ul> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </section> <section class="col-md-9"> <div class="article-content">  <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="683" src="https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/20180201-rd-pjk-0029_toned_25298828397_o-1024x683.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-10193" srcset="https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/20180201-rd-pjk-0029_toned_25298828397_o-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/20180201-rd-pjk-0029_toned_25298828397_o-300x200.jpg 300w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/20180201-rd-pjk-0029_toned_25298828397_o-768x512.jpg 768w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/20180201-rd-pjk-0029_toned_25298828397_o-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/20180201-rd-pjk-0029_toned_25298828397_o-2048x1365.jpg 2048w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption>(USDA Photo By Preston Keres)</figcaption></figure> <p>More than 200 electric cooperatives have already built or started work to offer broadband either on their own or in a partnership. Now, with tens of billions of dollars in federal and state money being allocated to bring high-speed internet to unserved and underserved areas, the number of co-ops entering broadband could potentially double in the coming years.</p> <div class="wp-block-image"> <figure class="alignright size-large is-resized"><a href="https://www.calix.com/electriccoops" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/Calix-Logo-Main-1024x306.png" alt="" class="wp-image-10194" width="361" height="107" srcset="https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/Calix-Logo-Main-1024x306.png 1024w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/Calix-Logo-Main-300x90.png 300w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/Calix-Logo-Main-768x230.png 768w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/Calix-Logo-Main.png 1200w" sizes="(max-width: 361px) 100vw, 361px" /></a><figcaption>This episode is sponsored by Calix.</figcaption></figure></div> <p>But as a co-op, what does it take to plan, build and run a broadband business? And what resources are available to help?</p> <p>In this episode, we’re joined by:</p> <ul class="wp-block-list"><li>Paul Breakman, NRECA’s vice president of cooperative business solutions.</li><li>Craig Eccher, former CEO of <a href="https://www.tri-countyrec.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Tri-County Rural Electric Cooperative</a> in Pennsylvania and its Tri-County Connections subsidiary, one of the nation’s first co-op-run broadband companies.</li><li>Bill Gerski, vice president of marketing and sales at Beacon Broadband, a subsidiary of <a href="https://www.ccec.coop/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Coos-Curry Electric Cooperative</a> in Oregon.</li></ul> <p>Listen to the episode below:</p>  <iframe loading="lazy" src="//html5-player.libsyn.com/embed/episode/id/25712595/height/90/theme/custom/autoplay/no/autonext/no/thumbnail/yes/preload/no/no_addthis/no/direction/forward/render-playlist/no/custom-color/000000/" height="90" allowfullscreen webkitallowfullscreen mozallowfullscreen oallowfullscreen msallowfullscreen width="100%" scrolling="yes" class="iframe-class" frameborder="0"></iframe> <p></p> <p>You can also listen and subscribe to Along Those Lines on your preferred podcast service:<br><a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/along-those-lines/id1436857701?mt=2" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Apple Podcasts</a> | <a href="https://www.google.com/podcasts?feed=aHR0cDovL2Fsb25ndGhvc2VsaW5lcy5saWJzeW4uY29tL3Jzcw%3D%3D" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Google Podcasts</a> | <a href="https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/nreca/along-those-lines?refid=stpr" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Stitcher</a> | <a href="https://open.spotify.com/show/3W0inRR6llFNLxd1LOC5KV" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Spotify</a> | <a href="https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLpJntTwNLWwrKOA7eURFxf5FfNfVOqCSl" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">YouTube</a></p> <p><em>Find out more about <a href="https://www.electric.coop/podcast" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">NRECA’s podcast</a>. Questions or suggestions? Email us at <a href="mailto:AlongThoseLines@nreca.coop">AlongThoseLines@nreca.coop</a>.</em></p> </div> </section> </div> <div class="row"> <div class="col-md-12"> <section class="timeline-article-footer"> <small>Next in the Issue</small> <a class="article-next-post" data-next-article="timeline-modal-10151" title="Co-op CEO: New Farm Bill Should Prioritize Broadband for Rural America">Co-op CEO: New Farm Bill Should Prioritize Broadband for Rural America <span class="arrow"><i class="ci-long-arrow-right"></i></span></a> </section> </div> </div> </div> </article>  </section>  <section id="timeline-modal-10151" class="timeline-issues-article hidden"> <div class="jumbotron hero article bg-image" style="background-image: url('');"></div>  <article class="single"> <div class="container">  <div class="row"> <header class="col-md-12"> <div class="article-header"> <small class="article-category"> <a href="https://www.electric.coop/issues-and-policy/broadband">Broadband</a> </small> <h1 class="article-title">Co-op CEO: New Farm Bill Should Prioritize Broadband for Rural America</h1> <h3 class="article-subtitle"></h3> </div> </header> </div>  <div class="row"> <section class="col-md-3"> <div class="article-meta"> <div class="row"> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-date"> <span>Published</span>January 17, 2023 </div> </div> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-author"> <span>Author</span> Erin Kelly </div> </div> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-share">  <div class="social-share post"> <ul class="social"> <li><a class="facebook-share" href="https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=&title=" target="_blank"></a></li> <li><a class="twitter-share" href="https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?source=&text=&via=NRECANews " target="_blank"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewBox="0 0 512 512"><path d="M389.2 48h70.6L305.6 224.2 487 464H345L233.7 318.6 106.5 464H35.8L200.7 275.5 26.8 48H172.4L272.9 180.9 389.2 48zM364.4 421.8h39.1L151.1 88h-42L364.4 421.8z"/></svg></a></li> <li><a class="linkedin-share" href="http://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=&title=&summary=" target="_blank"></a></li> </ul> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </section> <section class="col-md-9"> <div class="article-content">  <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="683" src="https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/20230113-Farm-Show-Listening-Session-011-1024x683.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-10173" srcset="https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/20230113-Farm-Show-Listening-Session-011-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/20230113-Farm-Show-Listening-Session-011-300x200.jpg 300w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/20230113-Farm-Show-Listening-Session-011-768x512.jpg 768w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/20230113-Farm-Show-Listening-Session-011.jpg 1200w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">The new Farm Bill should provide rural broadband service at the fastest speeds possible, says Aaron Young, president and co-CEO of Tri-County Rural Electric Cooperative, at a House Agriculture Committee listening session in Harrisburg. (Photo Courtesy: Pennsylvania Rural Electric Association)</figcaption></figure> <p>As Congress considers a new five-year Farm Bill, lawmakers should ensure that rural Americans have access to high-speed internet service that will meet their needs well into the future, the leader of a Pennsylvania electric cooperative told a House committee Friday.</p> <p>“The Farm Bill provides an opportunity to continue to support lasting, scalable, ‘future-proof’ broadband network deployment in rural areas,” said Aaron Young, president and co-CEO of Mansfield-based <a href="https://www.tri-countyrec.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Tri-County Rural Electric Cooperative</a>, which serves nearly 17,000 consumer-members.</p> <p>“To connect every rural home, business and community with reliable internet service, federal support programs should prioritize technologies and speeds that can meet the needs of today as well as tomorrow.”</p> <p>Young, who is also the co-CEO of the co-op’s broadband subsidiary, Tri-Co Connections, compared today’s demand for rural broadband service to the push for the electrification of rural America in the 1930s.</p> <p>“Rural areas are hard to reach and expensive to serve,” he said at a <a href="https://www.electric.coop/qa-electric-co-ops-top-policy-priorities-for-2023" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Farm Bill</a> listening session held by the <a href="https://agriculture.house.gov/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">House Agriculture Committee</a> at the 2023 Pennsylvania Farm Show in Harrisburg.</p> <p>“Electric cooperatives, owned by the members that we serve, are increasingly getting into the broadband business to provide these essential connections for everyday life. Without high-speed internet, people move elsewhere.”</p> <p>The 2023 Farm Bill will authorize funding for a variety of programs run by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, including broadband programs, which offer loans and grants to electric co-ops and other organizations to deploy high-speed internet in rural areas that lack sufficient access. The goal is to help fuel long-term economic development in those communities.</p> <p>Federal support for broadband helps Tri-County Rural Electric Cooperative “bridge the digital divide ensuring that rural northwestern Pennsylvanian families and businesses have access to the fastest internet available,” Young said.</p> <p>The bill will also include programs to help co-ops continue “to deliver affordable, reliable electric service to rural America and to foster rural economic development,” he said.</p> <p>“USDA programs like the RUS Electric Loan Program, Rural Economic Development Loan and Grant Program, Rural Energy Savings Program and Rural Energy for America Program are all critical programs for electric cooperatives around the country.”</p> <p>Co-ops would like to collaborate with House Agriculture Committee members to help craft the Farm Bill this year, Young said.</p> <p>“Electric cooperatives across the country look forward to working together with you in our shared goal of improving life in rural America.”</p> <p><em>Erin Kelly is a staff writer for NRECA.</em></p> </div> </section> </div> <div class="row"> <div class="col-md-12"> <section class="timeline-article-footer"> <small>Next in the Issue</small> <a class="article-next-post" data-next-article="timeline-modal-10107" title="Q&A: Electric Co-ops’ Top Policy Priorities for 2023">Q&A: Electric Co-ops’ Top Policy Priorities for 2023 <span class="arrow"><i class="ci-long-arrow-right"></i></span></a> </section> </div> </div> </div> </article>  </section>  <section id="timeline-modal-10107" class="timeline-issues-article hidden"> <div class="jumbotron hero article bg-image" style="background-image: url('');"></div>  <article class="single"> <div class="container">  <div class="row"> <header class="col-md-12"> <div class="article-header"> <small class="article-category"> <a href="https://www.electric.coop/issues-and-policy/broadband">Broadband</a> </small> <h1 class="article-title">Q&A: Electric Co-ops’ Top Policy Priorities for 2023</h1> <h3 class="article-subtitle"></h3> </div> </header> </div>  <div class="row"> <section class="col-md-3"> <div class="article-meta"> <div class="row"> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-date"> <span>Published</span>January 3, 2023 </div> </div> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-author"> <span>Author</span> Erin Kelly </div> </div> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-share">  <div class="social-share post"> <ul class="social"> <li><a class="facebook-share" href="https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=&title=" target="_blank"></a></li> <li><a class="twitter-share" href="https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?source=&text=&via=NRECANews " target="_blank"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewBox="0 0 512 512"><path d="M389.2 48h70.6L305.6 224.2 487 464H345L233.7 318.6 106.5 464H35.8L200.7 275.5 26.8 48H172.4L272.9 180.9 389.2 48zM364.4 421.8h39.1L151.1 88h-42L364.4 421.8z"/></svg></a></li> <li><a class="linkedin-share" href="http://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=&title=&summary=" target="_blank"></a></li> </ul> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </section> <section class="col-md-9"> <div class="article-content">  <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="576" src="https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/legislative-priorities-2023-1024x576.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-10108" srcset="https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/legislative-priorities-2023-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/legislative-priorities-2023-300x169.jpg 300w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/legislative-priorities-2023-768x432.jpg 768w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/legislative-priorities-2023.jpg 1200w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">NRECA has an ambitious list of policy goals that its Government Relations team will push on Capitol Hill and with the Biden Administration. (Photo By: Doug Armand/Getty Images)</figcaption></figure> <p>NRECA is diving into 2023 with a long list of policy goals that range from shaping a new five-year Farm Bill to helping electric cooperatives prepare for catastrophic wildfires.</p> <p>“All of our priorities are aimed at helping our members maintain reliable and affordable power and giving them tools to help meet the challenges of the future,” said Hill Thomas, NRECA’s vice president of legislative affairs.</p> <p>Thomas and Ashley Slater, NRECA’s vice president of regulatory affairs, said their teams will work closely together to help pass legislation that benefits co-ops and then ensure that those new laws are implemented as intended.</p> <p>Co-ops saw major policy wins in 2021 and 2022 with passage of the bipartisan infrastructure law and key co-op provisions in the Inflation Reduction Act, and NRECA will continue its efforts this year to ensure that members benefit fully from the programs created by those laws.</p> <p>In a recent Q&A session, Thomas and Slater outlined what’s ahead for co-op policy goals.</p> <p><strong>What are NRECA’s top regulatory priorities for 2023?</strong></p> <p><strong>Slater: </strong>I have a long list!</p> <p>• Implementing NRECA’s two priority provisions in the <a href="https://www.cooperative.com/news/Pages/NRECA-Presses-Federal-Agencies-to-Ensure-Simple-Co-op-Access-to-Direct-Pay-Credits.aspx" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Inflation Reduction Act</a>: direct-pay energy tax credits and the $9.7 billion U.S. Department of Agriculture program to assist co-ops with the energy transition.</p> <p>• Shaping agency funding opportunity announcements for co-op programs included in the $1.2 trillion <a href="https://www.electric.coop/house-passes-infrastructure-bill-with-billions-for-broadband-energy-rd" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">bipartisan infrastructure law</a>. Those programs include rural broadband, electric vehicle programs to build a network of chargers, grid resiliency and modernization, physical security and cybersecurity, and clean energy programs.</p> <p>• Protecting co-op access to an affordable, reliable power supply as the Environmental Protection Agency looks to regulate greenhouse gas emissions and air pollutants.</p> <p>• Ensuring sound transmission policy as the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission contemplates first-in-a-decade transmission reform.</p> <p>• Ensuring that the Department of Energy uses its presidentially directed Defense Production Act authority appropriately to ease <a href="https://www.electric.coop/tiger-team-electric-co-op-leaders-join-effort-to-ease-supply-chain-problems" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">supply chain shortages</a>.</p> <p>• Ensuring that any new cybersecurity or physical security reporting requirements by the Department of Homeland Security are optimized for co-ops to enhance their security posture and improve their ability to protect against, detect and respond to—or recover from—threats to the electric system.</p> <p>• Modernizing environmental permitting. The existing processes take too long, are too expensive and are an impediment to co-ops’ ability to meet future energy needs. They need to be modernized to give more certainty in the energy transition.</p> <p>• Working with co-ops to prepare for and respond to catastrophic wildfires. Co-ops that want to do vegetation management are running into inconsistent guidance from the Bureau of Land Management and the Forest Service. We need to work with the agencies to streamline the process.</p> <p>• Working with co-ops to ensure that the <a href="https://www.cooperative.com/topics/telecommunications-broadband/pages/fcc-national-broadband-map.aspx" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">broadband maps</a> produced by the Federal Communications Commission are done correctly to provide the best picture of where broadband is and isn’t available across the country. The FCC has released a pre-production draft of its latest broadband maps.</p> <p><strong>What are NRECA’s top legislative priorities for 2023?</strong></p> <p><strong>Thomas: </strong>For the first couple of months, our top priority will be holding Co-op 101 sessions to meet the 81 new members of Congress and educate them about electric cooperatives. Beyond that, we want to make sure Congress is engaged when they need to be to ensure the legislation that has already passed is implemented the right way to benefit co-ops and their members.</p> <p>A new five-year Farm Bill is being written by Congress that will affect electric co-ops and all of rural America, so that will be a priority. And we support a bipartisan permitting modernization conversation. Also, we’re going to continue to face supply chain problems, and we’re going to continue to work to solve that.</p> <p><strong>We’ve already had co-op leaders come and testify to Congress about the upcoming Farm Bill. How will it affect electric co-ops specifically?</strong></p> <p><strong>Thomas:</strong> The <a href="https://www.electric.coop/co-op-ceo-to-congress-grid-reliability-crucial-amid-energy-transition">Farm Bill</a> is the only piece of legislation that Congress does that is uniquely and specifically aimed at rural America. It is designed to support rural America and we share that goal. It’s important for us to talk about our priorities, including many of the USDA programs that we use such as rural development financing, the home energy efficiency program and clean energy deployment financing. These programs can be reauthorized in the new Farm Bill, and we want to make sure they’re operating as effectively as possible and are good to go for the next five years.</p> <p>The other big conversation will be about broadband. There’s an opportunity to rewrite and improve the USDA ReConnect broadband program, which has provided opportunities to many of our members but could also operate more efficiently. It’s a fairly new program that has received lots of money, but some of our members haven’t been able to get access to it because it’s just too bureaucratic. We need to streamline the program so we can serve the communities that need it most.</p> <p><strong>Is the environment in the Biden administration and in Congress, with divided government, conducive to accomplishing NRECA’s goals?</strong></p> <p><strong>Thomas: </strong>On the congressional side, with the House majority and the president being from different parties, it is going to be a tough environment for big, game-changing legislation. But we have a good reputation for being able to bridge gaps and find partnerships and bipartisanship. I think there will be lots of opportunities for us to engage in these important conversations.</p> <p><strong>Slater: </strong>We recognize that resource planning decisions are unique to the needs of the specific co-op and the communities they serve. The administration understands that if they want their policies to have a real impact, they have to reach rural America. And they can’t get there without electric co-ops.</p> <p>That presents a real opportunity for our members who want to participate. In order to push an energy transition across the country, if you want to get there, you have to go through electric co-ops. If there’s no uptake, you’re not going to be successful in getting these dollars utilized…To the extent that we can be a conduit, that’s our edge.</p> <p><em>Erin Kelly is a staff writer for NRECA.</em></p> </div> </section> </div> <div class="row"> <div class="col-md-12"> <section class="timeline-article-footer"> <small>Next in the Issue</small> <a class="article-next-post" data-next-article="timeline-modal-9931" title="Alabama Awards $82.4M to Electric Co-ops for Broadband Middle Mile">Alabama Awards $82.4M to Electric Co-ops for Broadband Middle Mile <span class="arrow"><i class="ci-long-arrow-right"></i></span></a> </section> </div> </div> </div> </article>  </section>  <section id="timeline-modal-9931" class="timeline-issues-article hidden"> <div class="jumbotron hero article bg-image" style="background-image: url('');"></div>  <article class="single"> <div class="container">  <div class="row"> <header class="col-md-12"> <div class="article-header"> <small class="article-category"> <a href="https://www.electric.coop/issues-and-policy/broadband">Broadband</a> </small> <h1 class="article-title">Alabama Awards $82.4M to Electric Co-ops for Broadband Middle Mile</h1> <h3 class="article-subtitle"></h3> </div> </header> </div>  <div class="row"> <section class="col-md-3"> <div class="article-meta"> <div class="row"> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-date"> <span>Published</span>October 3, 2022 </div> </div> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-author"> <span>Author</span> Cathy Cash </div> </div> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-share">  <div class="social-share post"> <ul class="social"> <li><a class="facebook-share" href="https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=&title=" target="_blank"></a></li> <li><a class="twitter-share" href="https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?source=&text=&via=NRECANews " target="_blank"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewBox="0 0 512 512"><path d="M389.2 48h70.6L305.6 224.2 487 464H345L233.7 318.6 106.5 464H35.8L200.7 275.5 26.8 48H172.4L272.9 180.9 389.2 48zM364.4 421.8h39.1L151.1 88h-42L364.4 421.8z"/></svg></a></li> <li><a class="linkedin-share" href="http://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=&title=&summary=" target="_blank"></a></li> </ul> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </section> <section class="col-md-9"> <div class="article-content">  <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="683" src="https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/alabama-broadband-100322-1024x683.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-9932" srcset="https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/alabama-broadband-100322-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/alabama-broadband-100322-300x200.jpg 300w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/alabama-broadband-100322-768x512.jpg 768w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/alabama-broadband-100322.jpg 1200w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption>Eight electric co-ops in Alabama won an $82.4 million grant from the state to build a 3,000-mile fiber network that will allow unserved communities access to broadband internet. (Photo By: Cathy Cash/NRECA)</figcaption></figure> <p>Eight electric cooperatives that have teamed up to build 3,000 miles of broadband fiber infrastructure to deliver internet access to Alabama’s disadvantaged communities have won an $82.4 million grant to get the job done.</p> <p>“The Alabama Middle-Mile project—the infrastructure setting part of this journey—is going to lead our state to be the model for the nation when it comes to providing broadband capabilities,” said Republican Gov. Kay Ivey, who awarded the grant to the Fiber Utility Network on Sept. 27 at <a href="https://caec.coop/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Central Alabama Electric Cooperative</a> in Prattville.</p> <p>In addition to Central Alabama EC, co-ops in the network are: <a href="https://www.coosavalleyec.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Coosa Valley Electric Cooperative</a>, <a href="https://covington.coop/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Covington Electric Cooperative</a>, <a href="https://cullmanec.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Cullman Electric Cooperative</a>, <a href="https://www.jwemc.coop/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Joe Wheeler EMC</a>, <a href="https://www.naecoop.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">North Alabama Electric Cooperative</a>, <a href="https://www.powersouth.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">PowerSouth Energy Cooperative</a> and <a href="https://www.tombigbee.org/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Tombigbee Electric Cooperative</a>. They plan to complete the middle-mile fiber build within three years.</p> <p>“The project is the springboard to supplying broadband services for rural residents,” said Kenneth Boswell, director of the Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs, which will administer the award.</p> <p>“I commend the Fiber Utility Network for their willingness to undertake this necessary step to ensure more Alabamians have access to these services.”</p> <p>By building the infrastructure needed by “last-mile” internet providers to hook up homes and businesses, the co-ops offer “more cost-effective and feasible ways to provide broadband service availability to residents in rural areas,” according to the governor’s office.</p> <p>The Alabama legislature this year approved using a portion of the state’s funds from the federal American Rescue Plan Act to assist the co-ops’ middle-mile fiber build. Congress passed the sweeping $1.9 trillion COVID-19 relief bill in early 2021.</p> <p>Tom Stackhouse, Central Alabama EC’s president and CEO and president of the Fiber Utility Network, thanked state officials “for the vision, leadership and assistance to make this a reality.”</p> <p>“The eight electric cooperatives that make up the Fiber Utility Network are honored to be a part of building a middle mile network to bring internet service closer to those Alabamians,” he said.</p> <p><em>Cathy Cash is a staff writer for NRECA.</em></p> </div> </section> </div> <div class="row"> <div class="col-md-12"> <section class="timeline-article-footer"> <small>Next in the Issue</small> <a class="article-next-post" data-next-article="timeline-modal-9829" title="Tennessee Awards $198 Million to Electric Co-ops to Build Rural Broadband">Tennessee Awards $198 Million to Electric Co-ops to Build Rural Broadband <span class="arrow"><i class="ci-long-arrow-right"></i></span></a> </section> </div> </div> </div> </article>  </section>  <section id="timeline-modal-9829" class="timeline-issues-article hidden"> <div class="jumbotron hero article bg-image" style="background-image: url('');"></div>  <article class="single"> <div class="container">  <div class="row"> <header class="col-md-12"> <div class="article-header"> <small class="article-category"> <a href="https://www.electric.coop/issues-and-policy/broadband">Broadband</a> </small> <h1 class="article-title">Tennessee Awards $198 Million to Electric Co-ops to Build Rural Broadband</h1> <h3 class="article-subtitle"></h3> </div> </header> </div>  <div class="row"> <section class="col-md-3"> <div class="article-meta"> <div class="row"> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-date"> <span>Published</span>September 27, 2022 </div> </div> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-author"> <span>Author</span> Cathy Cash </div> </div> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-share">  <div class="social-share post"> <ul class="social"> <li><a class="facebook-share" href="https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=&title=" target="_blank"></a></li> <li><a class="twitter-share" href="https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?source=&text=&via=NRECANews " target="_blank"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewBox="0 0 512 512"><path d="M389.2 48h70.6L305.6 224.2 487 464H345L233.7 318.6 106.5 464H35.8L200.7 275.5 26.8 48H172.4L272.9 180.9 389.2 48zM364.4 421.8h39.1L151.1 88h-42L364.4 421.8z"/></svg></a></li> <li><a class="linkedin-share" href="http://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=&title=&summary=" target="_blank"></a></li> </ul> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </section> <section class="col-md-9"> <div class="article-content">  <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="683" src="https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/tennessee-broadband-1024x683.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-9830" srcset="https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/tennessee-broadband-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/tennessee-broadband-300x200.jpg 300w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/tennessee-broadband-768x512.jpg 768w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/tennessee-broadband.jpg 1200w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption>Rural Tennessee communities lacking high-speed internet access will soon benefit from nearly $200 million in grants to 11 electric co-ops to deploy broadband. (Photo By: Cathy Cash/NRECA)</figcaption></figure> <p>Tennessee is giving $198 million—nearly half its allotment for rural broadband from the federal American Rescue Plan—to 11 electric cooperatives to build high-speed internet in unserved communities across the state.</p> <p>“This is a historic day for electric co-ops and the communities we serve,” said Mike Knotts, vice president of government affairs at the <a href="https://www.tnelectric.org/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Tennessee Electric Cooperative Association</a> in Nashville.</p> <p>“These grant awards are a testament to the incredible efforts of individual electric co-op teams across the state, and this announcement should be celebrated by thousands of Tennessee families and businesses that will soon have fast, reliable and affordable broadband options.”</p> <p>Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee on Sept. 12 announced a total of $446 million in grants for rural internet service providers from the Tennessee Emergency Broadband Fund, which received ARP money for economic recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic. Congress passed the $1.9 trillion relief bill in March 2021.</p> <p>Electric co-ops received 44% of the funds—more than any other group of internet providers—a recognition that co-ops have a “unique ability to construct broadband networks quickly and efficiently,” Knotts said. “We are honored by the extraordinary trust they place in electric co-ops.”</p> <p>Grant winners must provide matching funds and deliver internet at speeds of at least 100 megabits per second download and 20 Mbps upload within three years to areas identified as unserved. The co-ops will apply their grants to 33 broadband projects.</p> <p><a href="https://stemc.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Southwest Tennessee Electric Membership Corp.</a>, based in Brownsville, recently purchased an existing internet provider, Aeneas, and will receive grants of $19 million and $20 million for two separate broadband projects. The remaining 10 co-ops and their grants are as follows:<br><br>• <a href="https://aecoop.org/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Appalachian Electric Cooperative</a>/Trilight, $8.6 million<br>• <a href="https://billing.cecpowerup.com/onlineportal/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Chickasaw Electric Cooperative</a>, $13 million<br>• <a href="https://www.cemc.org/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Cumberland Electric Membership Corp.</a>, $17.5 million<br>• <a href="https://www.fpu-tn.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Fayetteville Public Utilities</a>, $9 million<br>• <a href="https://www.gibsonemc.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Gibson Electric Membership Corp.</a>, $2 million<br>• <a href="https://mte.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Middle Tennessee Electric</a>/United Communications, $53 million<br>• <a href="https://www.mlec.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Meriwether Lewis Electric Cooperative</a>, $4.5 million<br>• <a href="https://www.pve.coop/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Powell Valley Electric Cooperative</a>/Scott County Telephone, $13 million<br>• <a href="https://www.tvec.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Tennessee Valley Electric Cooperative</a>, $22 million<br>• <a href="https://vec.org/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Volunteer Energy Cooperative</a>, $15 million</p> <p><em>Cathy Cash is a staff writer for NRECA.</em></p> </div> </section> </div> <div class="row"> <div class="col-md-12"> <section class="timeline-article-footer"> <small>Next in the Issue</small> <a class="article-next-post" data-next-article="timeline-modal-9636" title="Along Those Lines: Introducing NRECA Broadband">Along Those Lines: Introducing NRECA Broadband <span class="arrow"><i class="ci-long-arrow-right"></i></span></a> </section> </div> </div> </div> </article>  </section>  <section id="timeline-modal-9636" class="timeline-issues-article hidden"> <div class="jumbotron hero article bg-image" style="background-image: url('');"></div>  <article class="single"> <div class="container">  <div class="row"> <header class="col-md-12"> <div class="article-header"> <small class="article-category"> <a href="https://www.electric.coop/issues-and-policy/broadband">Broadband</a> </small> <h1 class="article-title">Along Those Lines: Introducing NRECA Broadband</h1> <h3 class="article-subtitle"></h3> </div> </header> </div>  <div class="row"> <section class="col-md-3"> <div class="article-meta"> <div class="row"> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-date"> <span>Published</span>July 15, 2022 </div> </div> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-author"> <span>Author</span> NRECA </div> </div> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-share">  <div class="social-share post"> <ul class="social"> <li><a class="facebook-share" href="https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=&title=" target="_blank"></a></li> <li><a class="twitter-share" href="https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?source=&text=&via=NRECANews " target="_blank"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewBox="0 0 512 512"><path d="M389.2 48h70.6L305.6 224.2 487 464H345L233.7 318.6 106.5 464H35.8L200.7 275.5 26.8 48H172.4L272.9 180.9 389.2 48zM364.4 421.8h39.1L151.1 88h-42L364.4 421.8z"/></svg></a></li> <li><a class="linkedin-share" href="http://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=&title=&summary=" target="_blank"></a></li> </ul> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </section> <section class="col-md-9"> <div class="article-content">  <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="683" src="https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/LRECFiber_18-1024x683.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-9637" srcset="https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/LRECFiber_18-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/LRECFiber_18-300x200.jpg 300w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/LRECFiber_18-768x512.jpg 768w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/LRECFiber_18-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/LRECFiber_18-2048x1365.jpg 2048w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption>Photo By: Alexis Matsui/NRECA</figcaption></figure> <p>The number of electric cooperatives that are providing broadband internet access already exceeds 200, and many others are weighing the possibility. Now, with tens of billions of dollars in federal and state funding available and an unprecedented national resolve in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic to close the digital divide, co-ops are poised to take an even more prominent role in bringing broadband to unserved and underserved communities.</p> <div class="wp-block-image"><figure class="alignright size-full is-resized"><a href="https://www.chrsolutions.com/electric-coops/?utm_source=nreca&utm_medium=along-those-lines&utm_campaign=podcast" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/CHR_logo_RGB-hi-res.png" alt="" class="wp-image-9638" width="331" height="156" srcset="https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/CHR_logo_RGB-hi-res.png 1000w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/CHR_logo_RGB-hi-res-300x141.png 300w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/CHR_logo_RGB-hi-res-768x362.png 768w" sizes="(max-width: 331px) 100vw, 331px" /></a><figcaption>This episode is sponsored by CHR Solutions.</figcaption></figure></div> <p>Over the past few years, co-ops have reached out to NRECA for assistance with the many unique challenges involved with entering the telecommunications sector. This year, the association made the decision to launch <a href="https://www.cooperative.com/topics/telecommunications-broadband/nreca-broadband/Pages/default.aspx" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">NRECA Broadband</a>, a new service tier for its member co-ops that will leverage NRECA’s expertise, influence and reputation.</p> <p>In this episode, NRECA Chief Operating Officer Jeffrey Connor serves as our special guest host in a discussion with NRECA CEO Jim Matheson about what went into the decision to form NRECA Broadband and where it’s headed.</p> <p>Listen to the episode below:</p>  <iframe loading="lazy" src="//html5-player.libsyn.com/embed/episode/id/23756042/height/90/theme/custom/autoplay/no/autonext/no/thumbnail/yes/preload/no/no_addthis/no/direction/forward/render-playlist/no/custom-color/000000/" height="90" allowfullscreen webkitallowfullscreen mozallowfullscreen oallowfullscreen msallowfullscreen width="100%" scrolling="yes" class="iframe-class" frameborder="0"></iframe> <p></p> <p>You can also listen and subscribe to Along Those Lines on your preferred podcast service:<br><a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/along-those-lines/id1436857701?mt=2" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Apple Podcasts</a> | <a href="https://www.google.com/podcasts?feed=aHR0cDovL2Fsb25ndGhvc2VsaW5lcy5saWJzeW4uY29tL3Jzcw%3D%3D" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Google Podcasts</a> | <a href="https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/nreca/along-those-lines?refid=stpr" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Stitcher</a> | <a href="https://open.spotify.com/show/3W0inRR6llFNLxd1LOC5KV" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Spotify</a> | <a href="https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLpJntTwNLWwrKOA7eURFxf5FfNfVOqCSl" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">YouTube</a></p> <p><em>Find out more about <a href="https://www.electric.coop/podcast" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">NRECA’s podcast</a>. Questions or suggestions? Email us at <a href="mailto:AlongThoseLines@nreca.coop">AlongThoseLines@nreca.coop</a>.</em></p> </div> </section> </div> <div class="row"> <div class="col-md-12"> <section class="timeline-article-footer"> <small>Next in the Issue</small> <a class="article-next-post" data-next-article="timeline-modal-9624" title="NRECA Broadband Launches to Boost Telecom Advocacy and Resources">NRECA Broadband Launches to Boost Telecom Advocacy and Resources <span class="arrow"><i class="ci-long-arrow-right"></i></span></a> </section> </div> </div> </div> </article>  </section>  <section id="timeline-modal-9624" class="timeline-issues-article hidden"> <div class="jumbotron hero article bg-image" style="background-image: url('');"></div>  <article class="single"> <div class="container">  <div class="row"> <header class="col-md-12"> <div class="article-header"> <small class="article-category"> <a href="https://www.electric.coop/issues-and-policy/broadband">Broadband</a> </small> <h1 class="article-title">NRECA Broadband Launches to Boost Telecom Advocacy and Resources</h1> <h3 class="article-subtitle"></h3> </div> </header> </div>  <div class="row"> <section class="col-md-3"> <div class="article-meta"> <div class="row"> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-date"> <span>Published</span>July 12, 2022 </div> </div> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-author"> <span>Author</span> Cathy Cash </div> </div> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-share">  <div class="social-share post"> <ul class="social"> <li><a class="facebook-share" href="https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=&title=" target="_blank"></a></li> <li><a class="twitter-share" href="https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?source=&text=&via=NRECANews " target="_blank"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewBox="0 0 512 512"><path d="M389.2 48h70.6L305.6 224.2 487 464H345L233.7 318.6 106.5 464H35.8L200.7 275.5 26.8 48H172.4L272.9 180.9 389.2 48zM364.4 421.8h39.1L151.1 88h-42L364.4 421.8z"/></svg></a></li> <li><a class="linkedin-share" href="http://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=&title=&summary=" target="_blank"></a></li> </ul> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </section> <section class="col-md-9"> <div class="article-content">  <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="732" src="https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/svec-broadband-1024x732.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-9629" srcset="https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/svec-broadband-1024x732.jpg 1024w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/svec-broadband-300x215.jpg 300w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/svec-broadband-768x549.jpg 768w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/svec-broadband.jpg 1200w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption>NRECA Broadband will offer participating co-ops strategic communications, events and focused business and technology support in addition to targeted advocacy. (Photo Courtesy: Sequachee Valley Electric Cooperative)</figcaption></figure> <p>NRECA has launched a new level of service for electric cooperatives that provide broadband or are considering offering it.</p> <p><a href="https://www.cooperative.com/topics/telecommunications-broadband/broadband-tier/Pages/default.aspx" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">NRECA Broadband</a>, which opened July 12 to NRECA voting members, offers a growing number of exclusive resources, including additional legislative and regulatory experts to represent participating co-ops’ interests in Washington, D.C.</p> <div class="wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-1 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex"> <div class="wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow"> <p>“Co-ops entering the competitive broadband business face a whole new set of regulations, reporting requirements, tax implications and other issues specific to the telecommunications space,” said NRECA CEO Jim Matheson.</p> </div> <div class="wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow"> <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> <div class="epyt-video-wrapper"><iframe loading="lazy" id="_ytid_60579" width="800" height="450" data-origwidth="800" data-origheight="450" data-relstop="1" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/KXNAP07VO6k?enablejsapi=1&autoplay=0&cc_load_policy=0&cc_lang_pref=&iv_load_policy=1&loop=0&modestbranding=1&rel=0&fs=1&playsinline=0&autohide=2&theme=dark&color=red&controls=1&" class="__youtube_prefs__ epyt-is-override no-lazyload" title="YouTube player" allow="fullscreen; accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen data-no-lazy="1" data-skipgform_ajax_framebjll=""></iframe></div> </div><figcaption><em>Sequachee Valley Electric Cooperative’s Mike Partin discusses NRECA Broadband</em>.</figcaption></figure> </div> </div> <p>“Through this new service tier, we aim to be a strong, united voice in Washington to represent our unique interests and stand toe-to-toe with big telecom.”</p> <p>Co-ops that participate in NRECA Broadband will gain access to new strategic communications services, education and events, and focused business and technology support in addition to targeted advocacy. The first NRECA Broadband Leadership Summit for tier participants will take place Nov. 17-18 in Washington, D.C.</p> <p>“This new level of service will amplify our voice as a national organization in Washington, where telecommunication issues are discussed and where telecommunication business policies are decided,” NRECA Chief Operating Officer Jeffrey Connor said.</p> <p>“This is about building partnerships that NRECA can develop to be a more powerful voice for our members’ interests,” he said.</p> <p>Participation in NRECA Broadband is voluntary and open to any NRECA voting electric co-op. The annual fee for co-ops that are in the broadband business is $12,000 plus $1 per broadband customer. The annual fee for co-ops not yet delivering broadband is $6,000.</p> <p>Matheson said the time was right to expand NRECA’s service in broadband as hundreds of member co-ops work to bridge America’s digital divide.</p> <p>“NRECA’s mission is to be an advocate for quality of life in the rural and diverse communities our members serve and has been for 80 years,” Matheson said. “NRECA Broadband services are a natural extension of our advocacy. We are committed to serve electric cooperatives for broadband as we do for the electric side of their business.”</p> <p><em>Cathy Cash is a staff writer for NRECA.</em></p>  <iframe loading="lazy" src="//html5-player.libsyn.com/embed/episode/id/23756042/height/90/theme/custom/autoplay/no/autonext/no/thumbnail/yes/preload/no/no_addthis/no/direction/forward/render-playlist/no/custom-color/000000/" height="90" allowfullscreen webkitallowfullscreen mozallowfullscreen oallowfullscreen msallowfullscreen width="100%" scrolling="yes" class="iframe-class" frameborder="0"></iframe> <p><br><br><strong>Related Content</strong><br>• <a href="https://www.cooperative.com/news/Pages/Members-Trust-Co-ops-to-Deliver-Quality-Broadband-Survey-Says.aspx">Members Tr</a><a href="https://www.cooperative.com/news/Pages/Members-Trust-Co-ops-to-Deliver-Quality-Broadband-Survey-Says.aspx" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">ust Co-ops to Deliver Quality Broadband, Survey Says</a></p> </div> </section> </div> <div class="row"> <div class="col-md-12"> <section class="timeline-article-footer"> <small>Next in the Issue</small> <a class="article-next-post" data-next-article="timeline-modal-9407" title="Alabama Co-op Partners With Trade School to Train Fiber Techs, Lineworkers">Alabama Co-op Partners With Trade School to Train Fiber Techs, Lineworkers <span class="arrow"><i class="ci-long-arrow-right"></i></span></a> </section> </div> </div> </div> </article>  </section>  <section id="timeline-modal-9407" class="timeline-issues-article hidden"> <div class="jumbotron hero article bg-image" style="background-image: url('');"></div>  <article class="single"> <div class="container">  <div class="row"> <header class="col-md-12"> <div class="article-header"> <small class="article-category"> <a href="https://www.electric.coop/issues-and-policy/broadband">Broadband</a> </small> <h1 class="article-title">Alabama Co-op Partners With Trade School to Train Fiber Techs, Lineworkers</h1> <h3 class="article-subtitle"></h3> </div> </header> </div>  <div class="row"> <section class="col-md-3"> <div class="article-meta"> <div class="row"> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-date"> <span>Published</span>April 19, 2022 </div> </div> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-author"> <span>Author</span> Cathy Cash </div> </div> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-share">  <div class="social-share post"> <ul class="social"> <li><a class="facebook-share" href="https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=&title=" target="_blank"></a></li> <li><a class="twitter-share" href="https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?source=&text=&via=NRECANews " target="_blank"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewBox="0 0 512 512"><path d="M389.2 48h70.6L305.6 224.2 487 464H345L233.7 318.6 106.5 464H35.8L200.7 275.5 26.8 48H172.4L272.9 180.9 389.2 48zM364.4 421.8h39.1L151.1 88h-42L364.4 421.8z"/></svg></a></li> <li><a class="linkedin-share" href="http://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=&title=&summary=" target="_blank"></a></li> </ul> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </section> <section class="col-md-9"> <div class="article-content">  <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="768" src="https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/CareerDay-Cullman-EC-1024x768.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-9408" srcset="https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/CareerDay-Cullman-EC-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/CareerDay-Cullman-EC-300x225.jpg 300w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/CareerDay-Cullman-EC-768x576.jpg 768w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/CareerDay-Cullman-EC-1536x1152.jpg 1536w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/CareerDay-Cullman-EC.jpg 2016w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption>Cullman EC is building a lineworker and fiber technician course at the local trade school. Here, Wade Yarbrough, manager of operations (center), and Jonathan Basinger, foreman (right), talk with a teen at an April 7 career fair. (Photo By: Cullman EC)</figcaption></figure> <p>A northern Alabama trade school has long prepared teens for jobs ranging from auto mechanic to hairstylist. Now, thanks to a partnership with the local electric cooperative, high schoolers will be able to train this fall for one of the country’s fastest growing career paths: broadband fiber technician.</p> <p>Driven by member growth, the demands of its new broadband subsidiary and the lack of internet access in much of rural America, <a href="https://www.cullmanec.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Cullman Electric Cooperative</a> worked with the Cullman Area Technology Academy to develop a new curriculum that covers fiber installation skills and electric linework training.</p> <p>“Building and maintaining our electrical infrastructure along with the fiber-optic cable and broadband equipment that power Sprout Fiber Internet requires skilled and well-trained men and women,” said Tim Culpepper, CEO of the Cullman-based co-op.</p> <p>The program “will prepare students for good-paying jobs that are in high demand both locally and across the country and will help meet Cullman Electric’s workforce needs into the future.”</p> <p>Students who successfully complete the full-semester program will leave as certified fiber optic technicians with credentials from the National Center for Construction Education and Research and CPR certification.</p> <p>“This course will allow students to enter the workforce with the fundamental skills needed to further their education through work-based training or in a pre-apprenticeship program,” said Brian Lacy, Cullman Electric’s manager of communications and external affairs.</p> <p>The co-op is donating $80,000 to CATA to fund modern broadband and lineworker training gear, including fiber splicers and personal protective equipment. Half the donation comes from a matching grant by the Tennessee Valley Authority for COVID-19 response programs.</p> <p>Cullman Electric also plans to have co-op engineers, lineworkers and fiber techs share their knowledge with students in hands-on lessons at the co-op’s training facility.</p> <p>Lacy said a key goal for the co-op is to incentivize qualified technicians to join its fast-growing fiber subsidiary, which launched in July 2020 and will soon complete its phase-one buildout to 12,000 co-op members.</p> <p>In Cullman’s territory, the median annual salary for a power lineworker is about $65,000. It’s about $45,000 for an entry-level broadband fiber technician.</p> <p>“We want the kids growing up here to have the opportunity to stay here and raise a family here and feel confident that they can have a good-paying job and work for a great company,” he said. “But it’s not just about meeting our needs. The program will provide students with skillsets in demand nationwide for years to come.”</p> <p>The program is open to local high school juniors who apply and do well in a screening interview.</p> <p><em>Cathy Cash is a staff writer for NRECA.</em></p> </div> </section> </div> <div class="row"> <div class="col-md-12"> <section class="timeline-article-footer"> <small>Next in the Issue</small> <a class="article-next-post" data-next-article="timeline-modal-9347" title="New Mexico Co-op Expanding Broadband to All Zuni Nation Members by Summer">New Mexico Co-op Expanding Broadband to All Zuni Nation Members by Summer <span class="arrow"><i class="ci-long-arrow-right"></i></span></a> </section> </div> </div> </div> </article>  </section>  <section id="timeline-modal-9347" class="timeline-issues-article hidden"> <div class="jumbotron hero article bg-image" style="background-image: url('');"></div>  <article class="single"> <div class="container">  <div class="row"> <header class="col-md-12"> <div class="article-header"> <small class="article-category"> <a href="https://www.electric.coop/issues-and-policy/broadband">Broadband</a> </small> <h1 class="article-title">New Mexico Co-op Expanding Broadband to All Zuni Nation Members by Summer</h1> <h3 class="article-subtitle"></h3> </div> </header> </div>  <div class="row"> <section class="col-md-3"> <div class="article-meta"> <div class="row"> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-date"> <span>Published</span>March 25, 2022 </div> </div> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-author"> <span>Author</span> Derrill Holly </div> </div> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-share">  <div class="social-share post"> <ul class="social"> <li><a class="facebook-share" href="https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=&title=" target="_blank"></a></li> <li><a class="twitter-share" href="https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?source=&text=&via=NRECANews " target="_blank"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewBox="0 0 512 512"><path d="M389.2 48h70.6L305.6 224.2 487 464H345L233.7 318.6 106.5 464H35.8L200.7 275.5 26.8 48H172.4L272.9 180.9 389.2 48zM364.4 421.8h39.1L151.1 88h-42L364.4 421.8z"/></svg></a></li> <li><a class="linkedin-share" href="http://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=&title=&summary=" target="_blank"></a></li> </ul> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </section> <section class="col-md-9"> <div class="article-content">  <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="683" src="https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/CDE7602-1024x683.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-9348" srcset="https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/CDE7602-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/CDE7602-300x200.jpg 300w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/CDE7602-768x512.jpg 768w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/CDE7602.jpg 1200w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption>Red Bolt Broadband Fiber Technician Bo Montoya measures wires to connect power to the optical network terminal’s battery backup. (Photo by: Jerrid Williams/CDEC)</figcaption></figure> <p>An electric cooperative is working to make high-speed internet service available to every family living on the Zuni reservation in New Mexico by this summer.</p> <p>“Today’s digital divide will be permanently bridged with modern fiber-optic technology to virtually every Zuni residence,” said Robert Castillo, CEO of <a href="https://www.cdec.coop/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Continental Divide Electric Cooperative</a>. The reservation is 40 miles south of Gallup and about 75 miles west of Grants, where the co-op is headquartered.</p> <p>CDEC’s Red Bolt Broadband unit is working with the tribal government to expand broadband infrastructure into population centers accounting for 2,200 households in two counties located within the 723-square-mile reservation, east of the Arizona state line.</p> <div class="wp-block-image"><figure class="alignright size-full is-resized"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/CDE7573.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-9349" width="316" height="474" srcset="https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/CDE7573.jpg 600w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/CDE7573-200x300.jpg 200w" sizes="(max-width: 316px) 100vw, 316px" /><figcaption>Red Bolt Broadband Fiber Technician Bo Montoya terminates a CAT 6 cable during an installation. (Photo by: Jerrid Williams/CDEC)</figcaption></figure></div> <p>Funding for the project is a mix of state, tribal and co-op money. The lion’s share of construction money—$3.3 million—comes from New Mexico’s Universal Service Fund through a competitive grant awarded by the state’s Public Regulation Commission. CDEC is funding the balance. The Zuni tribal government is picking up the cost of each end user’s service with money it was awarded through last year’s American Rescue Plan Act.</p> <p>The project expands on work previously done with the Federal Communication Commission’s Universal Service Fund, which extended high-speed internet service to the reservation’s libraries and schools in 2020.</p> <p>The co-op has already developed the backbone for broadband expansion by utilizing communications lines serving the supervisory control and data acquisition system along its electric transmission and distribution lines.</p> <p>“We expect to be able to connect as many as 500 homes a month,” said William Dixon, the co-op’s telecommunications manager. “We’ve been working on this series of projects for so long that we’ve got relationships with material vendors and construction contractors who’ve tentatively committed to work with us, and we’re firming up those agreements now.”</p> <p>In addition to enhancing distance-learning opportunities for students living on the reservation, high-speed internet will also improve remote work and entertainment options for residents and will open e-commerce opportunities for Zuni artists and crafters.</p> <p>“Despite our remote location, the rural community of Zuni will soon have broadband infrastructure and service on par with the best in the nation,” said Zuni Gov. Val Panteah Sr.</p> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="683" src="https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/CDE7593-1024x683.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-9350" srcset="https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/CDE7593-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/CDE7593-300x200.jpg 300w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/CDE7593-768x512.jpg 768w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/CDE7593.jpg 1200w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption>Red Bolt Broadband Fiber Technician Bo Montoya stands next to a Red Bolt Broadband installation truck. (Photo by: Jerrid Williams/CDEC)</figcaption></figure> <p>The co-op’s contract with the tribe calls for delivery of 1-gigabit broadband service for three years at bulk rates and no costs passed on to tribal members.</p> <p>“We believe it is exactly the kind of project and use of federal funds contemplated by ARPA,” Panteah said.</p> <p>While the Zunis are the first CDEC members to benefit from internet infrastructure funding under ARPA, the co-op is working on other broadband expansion opportunities.</p> <p>An application for a nearly $38 million grant from the FCC’s Rural Digital Opportunity Fund could lead to funding for buildout of the communications network serving the majority of the co-op’s 18,000 members.</p> <p>“Many of the projects we’re pursuing build on the fiber-optic communications technology we began deploying in 2017,” said Dixon. “It’s providing real-time data and information to our headquarters from our substations and improving communications service to public facilities. Within a few months, it will bring modern high-speed communications to our members in Zuni.”</p> <p><em>Derrill Holly is a staff writer for NRECA.</em></p> </div> </section> </div> <div class="row"> <div class="col-md-12"> <section class="timeline-article-footer"> <small>Next in the Issue</small> <a class="article-next-post" data-next-article="timeline-modal-9247" title="Co-ops in Georgia Awarded $130M in Rescue Plan Broadband Grants">Co-ops in Georgia Awarded $130M in Rescue Plan Broadband Grants <span class="arrow"><i class="ci-long-arrow-right"></i></span></a> </section> </div> </div> </div> </article>  </section>  <section id="timeline-modal-9247" class="timeline-issues-article hidden"> <div class="jumbotron hero article bg-image" style="background-image: url('');"></div>  <article class="single"> <div class="container">  <div class="row"> <header class="col-md-12"> <div class="article-header"> <small class="article-category"> <a href="https://www.electric.coop/issues-and-policy/broadband">Broadband</a> </small> <h1 class="article-title">Co-ops in Georgia Awarded $130M in Rescue Plan Broadband Grants</h1> <h3 class="article-subtitle"></h3> </div> </header> </div>  <div class="row"> <section class="col-md-3"> <div class="article-meta"> <div class="row"> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-date"> <span>Published</span>February 22, 2022 </div> </div> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-author"> <span>Author</span> Cathy Cash </div> </div> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-share">  <div class="social-share post"> <ul class="social"> <li><a class="facebook-share" href="https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=&title=" target="_blank"></a></li> <li><a class="twitter-share" href="https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?source=&text=&via=NRECANews " target="_blank"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewBox="0 0 512 512"><path d="M389.2 48h70.6L305.6 224.2 487 464H345L233.7 318.6 106.5 464H35.8L200.7 275.5 26.8 48H172.4L272.9 180.9 389.2 48zM364.4 421.8h39.1L151.1 88h-42L364.4 421.8z"/></svg></a></li> <li><a class="linkedin-share" href="http://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=&title=&summary=" target="_blank"></a></li> </ul> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </section> <section class="col-md-9"> <div class="article-content">  <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="768" src="https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/DiversePower-Ga-7-1024x768.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-9249" srcset="https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/DiversePower-Ga-7-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/DiversePower-Ga-7-300x225.jpg 300w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/DiversePower-Ga-7-768x576.jpg 768w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/DiversePower-Ga-7.jpg 1200w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption>Diverse Power is one of seven electric co-ops in Georgia that won a total of $130 million in grants from ARPA funds to build broadband in unserved rural areas. (Photo By: Diverse Power)</figcaption></figure> <p>Leaders of a Georgia electric cooperative that received a $25 million rural broadband grant from American Rescue Plan Act funds say they feel part of a movement that harkens back to the co-op’s original reason for being: to serve the unserved.</p> <p>“We are bringing fiber internet service of up to 1 gigabit to areas that have no service at all,” said Wayne Livingston, president and CEO of <a href="http://www.diversepower.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Diverse Power</a>.</p> <p>“We’re going to go to the last-mile folks who didn’t get any service from the big providers, like electricity in the 1930s.”</p> <p>The Lagrange-based electric co-op is one of seven in the state that won a total of $130 million in grants from ARPA funds to build broadband that will serve at least 65,000 across Georgia. <a href="https://www.electric.coop/covid-19-relief-passed-by-congress-helps-co-op-members-pay-electric-bills" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Congress passed the $1.9 trillion bill</a> in March of last year to provide COVID-19 relief.</p> <p>Diverse Power and its telecom subsidiary, Kudzu Networks, will deploy broadband fiber across approximately 46% of its service territory to reach 4,769 unserved homes in five counties. The project is expected to take four years and cost $39 million.</p> <p>Other Georgia co-ops that got grants for broadband builds were:</p> <p>• <a href="https://www.altamahaemc.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Altamaha EMC</a>, $5.9 million to serve 2,171 customers.<br>• <a href="https://www.cgemc.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Central Georgia EMC</a>, $25 million to serve 19,996.<br>• <a href="https://www.flintenergies.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Flint Energies</a>, $25 million to serve 10,659.<br>• <a href="https://ocmulgeeemc.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Ocmulgee EMC</a>, $19 million to serve 9,000.<br>• <a href="https://southernriversenergy.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Southern Rivers Energy</a>, $15.6 million to serve 10,674.<br>• <a href="https://www.washingtonemc.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Washington EMC</a>, $13.2 million to serve 6,500.</p> <p>Five other Georgia co-ops—<a href="https://www.amicalolaemc.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Amicalola</a>, <a href="https://colquittemc.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Colquitt</a>, <a href="http://gradyemc.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Grady</a>, <a href="http://www.oconeeemc.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Oconee</a> and <a href="https://www.sumteremc.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Sumter</a> EMCs—supported applications that won a total of $172 million from ARPA funds to connect another 62,000 customers.</p> <p>“Rural communities have long waited for broadband service, which is essential to compete in today’s digital world,” said Dennis Chastain, president and CEO of the <a href="https://georgiaemc.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Georgia Electric Membership Corp.</a> based in Tucker.</p> <p>“The pandemic brought the issue to the forefront and shined a light on the disparities between communities, businesses and people with and without broadband access.”</p> <p>Diverse Power, among the first electric co-ops in the state to enter the broadband business, has already begun construction for the area covered by this grant, which will help make the service affordable, Livingston said.</p> <p>“The main reason we went after this is the need our members have for broadband,” he said. “They are so grateful that we are doing this for them. It’s good for our co-op, and it’s fun.”</p> <p><em>To learn more about growing opportunities for co-op broadband, check out a <a href="https://www.cooperative.com/programs-services/communications/LiveWire/Pages/Episode1-Broadband.aspx" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">recent episode of LiveWire</a>, NRECA’s new video series.</em></p> <p><em>Cathy Cash is a staff writer for NRECA.</em></p> </div> </section> </div> <div class="row"> <div class="col-md-12"> <section class="timeline-article-footer"> <small>Next in the Issue</small> <a class="article-next-post" data-next-article="timeline-modal-9149" title="Electric Co-op Finds Three Ways to Deliver Broadband to Rural Residents">Electric Co-op Finds Three Ways to Deliver Broadband to Rural Residents <span class="arrow"><i class="ci-long-arrow-right"></i></span></a> </section> </div> </div> </div> </article>  </section>  <section id="timeline-modal-9149" class="timeline-issues-article hidden"> <div class="jumbotron hero article bg-image" style="background-image: url('');"></div>  <article class="single"> <div class="container">  <div class="row"> <header class="col-md-12"> <div class="article-header"> <small class="article-category"> <a href="https://www.electric.coop/issues-and-policy/broadband">Broadband</a> </small> <h1 class="article-title">Electric Co-op Finds Three Ways to Deliver Broadband to Rural Residents</h1> <h3 class="article-subtitle"></h3> </div> </header> </div>  <div class="row"> <section class="col-md-3"> <div class="article-meta"> <div class="row"> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-date"> <span>Published</span>January 20, 2022 </div> </div> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-author"> <span>Author</span> Cathy Cash </div> </div> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-share">  <div class="social-share post"> <ul class="social"> <li><a class="facebook-share" href="https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=&title=" target="_blank"></a></li> <li><a class="twitter-share" href="https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?source=&text=&via=NRECANews " target="_blank"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewBox="0 0 512 512"><path d="M389.2 48h70.6L305.6 224.2 487 464H345L233.7 318.6 106.5 464H35.8L200.7 275.5 26.8 48H172.4L272.9 180.9 389.2 48zM364.4 421.8h39.1L151.1 88h-42L364.4 421.8z"/></svg></a></li> <li><a class="linkedin-share" href="http://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=&title=&summary=" target="_blank"></a></li> </ul> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </section> <section class="col-md-9"> <div class="article-content">  <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="683" src="https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/EMPOWER-1024x683.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-9150" srcset="https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/EMPOWER-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/EMPOWER-300x200.jpg 300w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/EMPOWER-768x512.jpg 768w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/EMPOWER.jpg 1200w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption>Mecklenburg Electric Cooperative has acquired a local cable television company to help deliver rural broadband to unserved communities through its subsidiary, EMPOWER Broadband. (Photo By: EMPOWER Broadband)</figcaption></figure> <p>An electric cooperative in Southside Virginia just scored a hat trick of creative solutions in deploying broadband to its region.</p> <p>First, in 2019, Mecklenburg Electric Cooperative’s for-profit broadband subsidiary, <a href="https://www.electric.coop/electric-co-op-acquiring-phone-co-op-to-pool-broadband-resources-for-members" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">EMPOWER Broadband, acquired a telephone cooperative</a> with some fiber assets in its electric territory to optimize internet access and accelerate deployment for its underserved communities.</p> <p>Then last year, the <a href="https://www.meckelec.org/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Chase City-based co-op</a> partnered with Dominion Energy Virginia for middle-mile fiber to help connect the investor-owned electric utility’s customers in that sparsely populated part of the state.</p> <p>Now, Mecklenburg EC has acquired a cable television company that will allow <a href="https://www.empowermec.net/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">EMPOWER Broadband</a> to continue expanding its high-speed broadband service to another 2,000 homes and businesses.</p> <p>“The opportunity to fast-track the delivery of service to so many homes is a game-changer for those communities,” said David Jones, EMPOWER Broadband’s chairman.</p> <p>“The timing and impact presented by this development allow us to overcome the hurdles of inadequate internet faced by families and students in these areas, and EMPOWER is delivering this much needed service.”</p> <p>Conversion and upgrade of equipment from CWA Cable TV Inc. to EMPOWER Broadband’s network is expected to begin in March, a couple months behind schedule due to supply chain shortages. The job should take about three months.</p> <p>“This is a perfect example of co-ops adapting their technology mission and circumstances to bring the best broadband service possible to their member-owners in a timely manner,” said Brian O’Hara, NRECA senior regulatory director for broadband and telecom.</p> <p>EMPOWER Broadband is investing about $1.5 million to convert the existing analog television system’s coaxial cable network into a fiber-fed Data Over Cable Service Interface Specification (DOCSIS) 3.1 system.</p> <p>“By converting CWA’s existing facilities in three communities that are infrastructure challenges, we will be able to radically accelerate broadband deployment to our members there,” said John Lee, president and CEO of Mecklenburg EC and EMPOWER.</p> <p>“This DOCSIS technology is almost identical to fiber in performance, is hardwired so it is weather and terrain proof, and it has available system upgrades that ensure its ability to continue delivering robust, reliable service even as additional customers take advantage of this excellent broadband option.”</p> <p>Launched in 2018, EMPOWER has connected more than 4,000 homes and businesses, schools, medical and emergency facilities with broadband and telephone services.</p> <p><em>To learn more about growing opportunities for co-op broadband, check out the first episode of <a href="https://www.cooperative.com/programs-services/communications/LiveWire/Pages/default.aspx" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">LiveWire, NRECA’s new video series</a>.</em></p> <p><em>Cathy Cash is a staff writer for NRECA.</em></p> </div> </section> </div> <div class="row"> <div class="col-md-12"> <section class="timeline-article-footer"> <small>Next in the Issue</small> <a class="article-next-post" data-next-article="timeline-modal-9117" title="NRECA Works to Achieve More Legislative Gains for Co-ops in 2022">NRECA Works to Achieve More Legislative Gains for Co-ops in 2022 <span class="arrow"><i class="ci-long-arrow-right"></i></span></a> </section> </div> </div> </div> </article>  </section>  <section id="timeline-modal-9117" class="timeline-issues-article hidden"> <div class="jumbotron hero article bg-image" style="background-image: url('');"></div>  <article class="single"> <div class="container">  <div class="row"> <header class="col-md-12"> <div class="article-header"> <small class="article-category"> <a href="https://www.electric.coop/issues-and-policy/broadband">Broadband</a> </small> <h1 class="article-title">NRECA Works to Achieve More Legislative Gains for Co-ops in 2022</h1> <h3 class="article-subtitle"></h3> </div> </header> </div>  <div class="row"> <section class="col-md-3"> <div class="article-meta"> <div class="row"> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-date"> <span>Published</span>January 7, 2022 </div> </div> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-author"> <span>Author</span> Erin Kelly </div> </div> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-share">  <div class="social-share post"> <ul class="social"> <li><a class="facebook-share" href="https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=&title=" target="_blank"></a></li> <li><a class="twitter-share" href="https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?source=&text=&via=NRECANews " target="_blank"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewBox="0 0 512 512"><path d="M389.2 48h70.6L305.6 224.2 487 464H345L233.7 318.6 106.5 464H35.8L200.7 275.5 26.8 48H172.4L272.9 180.9 389.2 48zM364.4 421.8h39.1L151.1 88h-42L364.4 421.8z"/></svg></a></li> <li><a class="linkedin-share" href="http://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=&title=&summary=" target="_blank"></a></li> </ul> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </section> <section class="col-md-9"> <div class="article-content">  <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="683" src="https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/USCapitol-snow2-1024x683.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-9118" srcset="https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/USCapitol-snow2-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/USCapitol-snow2-300x200.jpg 300w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/USCapitol-snow2-768x512.jpg 768w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/USCapitol-snow2.jpg 1200w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">NRECA will continue to lobby Congress for top co-op priorities in 2022. (Photo By: Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)</figcaption></figure> <p>Electric cooperatives throughout the nation are poised to reap the benefits in 2022 of legislation passed by Congress last year that includes co-op priorities pushed by NRECA and its members.</p> <p>The biggest success was passage of the $1.2 trillion bipartisan <a href="https://www.electric.coop/house-passes-infrastructure-bill-with-billions-for-broadband-energy-rd" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Infrastructure and Jobs Act</a>, which will give a major boost to co-ops by providing billions for broadband deployment, electric vehicle charging networks, electric transmission, energy storage, carbon capture and other clean energy technologies.</p> <p>In 2022, NRECA will continue to advocate for <a href="https://www.electric.coop/house-passes-direct-pay-incentives-for-co-ops-bill-heads-to-senate" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">direct federal incentives</a> for co-ops to develop new energy resources and technologies, including renewable energy, battery storage projects, nuclear energy facilities and carbon capture, said Hill Thomas, vice president of legislative affairs.</p> <p>NRECA will also push for passage of the Flexible Financing for Rural America Act. The bill could save co-ops more than $10 billion in interest payments by allowing them to <a href="https://www.electric.coop/lawmakers-reintroduce-rus-loan-repricing-bill-to-save-co-ops-10-billion" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">reprice loans from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Rural Utilities Service</a> at lower interest rates.</p> <p>Here is Thomas’s perspective on this year’s legislative session:</p> <p><strong>What do you consider NRECA’s major legislative successes for 2021?</strong></p> <p><strong>Thomas: </strong>We did a good job in a Congress that was stalled by COVID-19 in a world where most offices are still virtual and lawmakers are still singularly focused on just one or two items. I think we adapted well to that environment. Looking back, our biggest successes would be carving out what could be once-in-a-generation opportunities for co-ops in the infrastructure bill and, even though it’s not done, positioning ourselves well to defend against bad outcomes in the budget reconciliation bill while creating some new opportunities for financing for clean energy technologies.</p> <p><strong>What impact will the <a href="https://www.electric.coop/covid-19-relief-passed-by-congress-helps-co-op-members-pay-electric-bills" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">American Rescue Plan Act</a>, which Congress passed last March to provide COVID-19 relief, have this year on co-ops?</strong></p> <p><strong>Thomas: </strong>One of the most important policy lessons learned during the pandemic was the lack of broadband access in rural America. The American Rescue Plan sent a lot of money to states that can be used for broadband deployment in rural areas. One of the lasting policy opportunities to come from that bill is that many co-ops will be able to use the money to bring broadband to rural communities.</p> <p><strong>There seems to be enormous interest among co-ops in applying for funds created by the infrastructure bill for broadband deployment, electric vehicle infrastructure, clean energy technologies and more. What are you hearing from co-ops about their intentions, and how is NRECA helping them apply for this money?</strong></p> <p><strong>Thomas: </strong>There’s a lot of interest in the opportunities created by the infrastructure bill, whether that’s broadband, grid resiliency, cybersecurity, electric vehicles or clean energy. In a lot of ways, the process that created these programs is just the beginning. There will be regulatory processes of various lengths that will provide details about what applications for those funds might look like.</p> <p>Our goal is to provide as much information to our members as possible so they can make good decisions about what opportunities match up with their strategic priorities. NRECA has developed an <a href="https://www.cooperative.com/programs-services/government-relations/infrastructure-resource-hub/Pages/Secure/default.aspx" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">infrastructure hub on cooperative.com</a> that provides detailed information to our members as these programs and funding opportunities emerge. And we will continue to partner with our members to make sure they get as much value out of these opportunities as possible.</p> <p><strong>Last year, the House passed a sweeping budget reconciliation bill that included direct-pay incentives for co-ops to develop clean energy technologies and a $10 billion voluntary program for co-ops interested in transitioning away from fossil fuels. What do you see happening with those two legislative priorities this year?</strong></p> <p><strong>Thomas: </strong>I’d start by saying that our efforts on the budget reconciliation bill were both offensive and defensive, including playing defense against potentially overly aggressive and burdensome clean energy targets. We think we did a good job in defending against those unreasonable mandates. At the same time, there are several good opportunities for co-ops included in the House-passed bill and in ongoing Senate negotiations, including direct-pay incentives for energy technology and the $10 billion in clean energy transition funds.</p> <p>As we begin 2022, we are in much the same place, with uncertainty remaining about the size and the shape of a bill that can pass the Senate. The Senate has committed to try to continue to find compromise on a bill that can pass. We continue to be well-positioned to defend against any bad policy mandates while protecting meaningful opportunities for co-ops.</p> <p><strong>If the Senate can’t reach a compromise, do you see other legislative vehicles for passing these co-op priorities?</strong></p> <p><strong>Thomas: </strong>If the budget reconciliation process fades, we will look for other opportunities to push these priorities. These are the types of tools that meet co-ops where they are and give them voluntary incentives to implement their unique strategic plans. So, we’ll be looking for ways to advocate for these legislative priorities individually if the broader package fails.</p> <p>There probably will be fewer opportunities for legislative work to get done as the election approaches, but we think these are strong priorities and we’re going to keep looking for other vehicles.</p> <p><strong>The Flexible Financing for Rural America Act was reintroduced last year and has attracted a great many co-sponsors in Congress. Do you see a path forward for this RUS repricing bill to pass this year?</strong></p> <p><strong>Thomas: </strong>RUS repricing remains a top priority for us. It enjoys strong bipartisan support in both the House and Senate, so we think there’s still an opportunity to move it this year. It continues to remain an important opportunity for our members.</p> <p><strong>What are NRECA’s other legislative priorities for 2022?</strong></p> <p><strong>Thomas: </strong>Broadband continues to be an important and ongoing issue among our members and an urgent need across rural America. It’s one of the few bipartisan issues in Congress, and it’s an issue that we will continue to focus on. Even though it doesn’t expire until 2023, the Farm Bill reauthorization process will start in earnest this year, and we will be doing the prework to make sure that the bill is as supportive of electric co-ops as it can be.</p> <p>Another issue that we continue to watch closely is supply chain problems, so the advocacy team will continue to work with Congress and the administration to develop solutions to speed the availability of equipment for our members.</p> <p><em>Erin Kelly is a staff writer for NRECA.</em></p> </div> </section> </div> <div class="row"> <div class="col-md-12"> <section class="timeline-article-footer"> <small>Next in the Issue</small> <a class="article-next-post" data-next-article="timeline-modal-9101" title="Four Virginia Electric Co-ops Win $162M for Universal Broadband Efforts">Four Virginia Electric Co-ops Win $162M for Universal Broadband Efforts <span class="arrow"><i class="ci-long-arrow-right"></i></span></a> </section> </div> </div> </div> </article>  </section>  <section id="timeline-modal-9101" class="timeline-issues-article hidden"> <div class="jumbotron hero article bg-image" style="background-image: url('');"></div>  <article class="single"> <div class="container">  <div class="row"> <header class="col-md-12"> <div class="article-header"> <small class="article-category"> <a href="https://www.electric.coop/issues-and-policy/broadband">Broadband</a> </small> <h1 class="article-title">Four Virginia Electric Co-ops Win $162M for Universal Broadband Efforts</h1> <h3 class="article-subtitle"></h3> </div> </header> </div>  <div class="row"> <section class="col-md-3"> <div class="article-meta"> <div class="row"> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-date"> <span>Published</span>January 4, 2022 </div> </div> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-author"> <span>Author</span> Cathy Cash </div> </div> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-share">  <div class="social-share post"> <ul class="social"> <li><a class="facebook-share" href="https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=&title=" target="_blank"></a></li> <li><a class="twitter-share" href="https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?source=&text=&via=NRECANews " target="_blank"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewBox="0 0 512 512"><path d="M389.2 48h70.6L305.6 224.2 487 464H345L233.7 318.6 106.5 464H35.8L200.7 275.5 26.8 48H172.4L272.9 180.9 389.2 48zM364.4 421.8h39.1L151.1 88h-42L364.4 421.8z"/></svg></a></li> <li><a class="linkedin-share" href="http://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=&title=&summary=" target="_blank"></a></li> </ul> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </section> <section class="col-md-9"> <div class="article-content">  <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="683" src="https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/EMPOWER-IMG_9995-1024x683.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-9102" srcset="https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/EMPOWER-IMG_9995-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/EMPOWER-IMG_9995-300x200.jpg 300w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/EMPOWER-IMG_9995-768x512.jpg 768w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/EMPOWER-IMG_9995.jpg 1200w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption>Mecklenburg EC’s broadband arm, Empower, won a $69 million grant from Virginia to help deliver near-universal broadband to the state by 2024. Three other electric co-ops also won grants. (Photo Courtesy: Mecklenburg EC)</figcaption></figure> <p>Four electric cooperatives in Virginia will provide high-speed internet access across 20 counties and connect more than 50,000 residents and businesses after winning $162 million in recently announced state and federal grants.</p> <p>The funds, part of $722 million in universal broadband service awards, are expected to be made available beginning this year. They will reimburse providers as they build networks in areas identified by the state as unserved.</p> <p>“No longer will we just be the electric provider to certain homes, but we will be the universal broadband provider” to areas covered by the awards, said Casey Logan, president and CEO of <a href="https://pgec.coop/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Prince George Electric Cooperative</a> and its broadband subsidiary, RURALBAND.</p> <p>“We were going into those counties to serve our electric co-op members. These grants allow us to serve an entire county, no matter who the electric provider is.”</p> <p>RURALBAND, based in Waverly, will receive two grants totaling about $12.5 million to build fiber to nearly 4,000 unserved locations in two counties. They will partner with Windsor-based <a href="https://www.comelec.coop/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Community Electric Cooperative</a> and Crewe-based <a href="https://www.sec.coop/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Southside Electric Cooperative</a> in unserved areas covered by the grants and use their poles to hang fiber.</p> <p>“It’s definitely an example of co-ops helping other co-ops,” said Logan, who is also chairman of the Virginia, Maryland & Delaware Association of Broadband Cooperatives. The group served as liaison between state officials and co-op applicants during the competitive grant process.</p> <p>Chase City-based <a href="https://www.meckelec.org/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Mecklenburg Electric Cooperative’s</a> fiber broadband arm, Empower, won more than $69 million to serve about 11,500 locations in parts of four counties.</p> <p>“We already have a pretty strong fiber presence in these counties,” said John Lee, president and CEO of Mecklenburg EC and Empower. “This grant gives us the ability to really close the deal.”</p> <p>Empower partnered with Dominion Power in 2021 when the investor-owned utility offered middle-mile fiber in exchange for the co-op delivering retail broadband to its customers.</p> <p>“It’s been an excellent partnership that will the benefit rural areas,” said Lee. “Broadband is just going to get more and more important. People who’ve said we don’t need it today are calling tomorrow.”</p> <p><a href="https://www.mycvec.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Central Virginia Electric Cooperative’s</a> fiber broadband subsidiary, Firefly, headquartered in Arrington, will receive $79 million—the largest of these awards for a co-op—to connect more than 36,000 unserved locations across 13 counties.</p> <p>And with about 7,000 meters, <a href="https://cbec.coop/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Craig-Botetourt Electric Cooperative</a>, headquartered in New Castle, was the smallest co-op to earn a grant. It will use the nearly $1.6 million to deliver broadband to 495 unserved locations outside the city of Roanoke.</p> <p>Democratic Gov. Ralph Northam, who announced the awards Dec. 13, said the pandemic underscored the need for “swift and bold action to extend high-speed internet across Virginia.”</p> <p>Derived from the Virginia Telecommunication Initiative and the federal American Rescue Plan Act, the grants will add to the more than $1 billion in investments statewide in 35 broadband projects to serve 278,000 households, businesses and community anchor institutions, according to the governor’s office.</p> <p><em>To learn more about growing opportunities for co-op broadband, check out <a href="https://www.cooperative.com/programs-services/communications/LiveWire/Pages/default.aspx" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">LiveWire, NRECA’s new video series</a>.</em></p> <p><em>Cathy Cash is a staff writer for NRECA.</em></p> </div> </section> </div> <div class="row"> <div class="col-md-12"> <section class="timeline-article-footer"> <small>Next in the Issue</small> <a class="article-next-post" data-next-article="timeline-modal-9044" title="Electric Co-ops Applaud Confirmation of Jessica Rosenworcel as FCC Chair">Electric Co-ops Applaud Confirmation of Jessica Rosenworcel as FCC Chair <span class="arrow"><i class="ci-long-arrow-right"></i></span></a> </section> </div> </div> </div> </article>  </section>  <section id="timeline-modal-9044" class="timeline-issues-article hidden"> <div class="jumbotron hero article bg-image" style="background-image: url('');"></div>  <article class="single"> <div class="container">  <div class="row"> <header class="col-md-12"> <div class="article-header"> <small class="article-category"> <a href="https://www.electric.coop/issues-and-policy/broadband">Broadband</a> </small> <h1 class="article-title">Electric Co-ops Applaud Confirmation of Jessica Rosenworcel as FCC Chair</h1> <h3 class="article-subtitle"></h3> </div> </header> </div>  <div class="row"> <section class="col-md-3"> <div class="article-meta"> <div class="row"> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-date"> <span>Published</span>December 9, 2021 </div> </div> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-author"> <span>Author</span> Media Relations </div> </div> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-share">  <div class="social-share post"> <ul class="social"> <li><a class="facebook-share" href="https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=&title=" target="_blank"></a></li> <li><a class="twitter-share" href="https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?source=&text=&via=NRECANews " target="_blank"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewBox="0 0 512 512"><path d="M389.2 48h70.6L305.6 224.2 487 464H345L233.7 318.6 106.5 464H35.8L200.7 275.5 26.8 48H172.4L272.9 180.9 389.2 48zM364.4 421.8h39.1L151.1 88h-42L364.4 421.8z"/></svg></a></li> <li><a class="linkedin-share" href="http://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=&title=&summary=" target="_blank"></a></li> </ul> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </section> <section class="col-md-9"> <div class="article-content">  <p><strong>ARLINGTON, Va.</strong> – National Rural Electric Cooperative Association CEO Jim Matheson today issued the following statement on the confirmation of Jessica Rosenworcel to lead the Federal Communications Commission (FCC):</p> <p>“The FCC has a critical role in the federal government’s efforts to expeditiously bring affordable and reliable broadband service to every rural American family and business. Jessica Rosenworcel has been a tireless advocate for bridging the digital divide and is exceptionally well qualified to lead the commission as it continues to address this urgent need.</p> <p>“We look forward to strengthening our partnership with the FCC as we advance the interests of rural communities that still lack the fundamental services so vital to their wellbeing and quality of life.”</p> <p><em>The National Rural Electric Cooperative Association is the national trade association representing nearly 900 local electric cooperatives. From growing suburbs to remote farming communities, electric co-ops serve as engines of economic development for 42 million Americans across 56 percent of the nation’s landscape. As local businesses built by the consumers they serve, electric cooperatives have meaningful ties to rural America and invest $12 billion annually in their communities.</em></p> <p class="has-text-align-center"><em>-###-</em></p> </div> </section> </div> <div class="row"> <div class="col-md-12"> <section class="timeline-article-footer"> <small>Next in the Issue</small> <a class="article-next-post" data-next-article="timeline-modal-9020" title="FCC Chair Visits Georgia Co-ops: ‘We Need to Get ‘100% of Americans Online’">FCC Chair Visits Georgia Co-ops: ‘We Need to Get ‘100% of Americans Online’ <span class="arrow"><i class="ci-long-arrow-right"></i></span></a> </section> </div> </div> </div> </article>  </section>  <section id="timeline-modal-9020" class="timeline-issues-article hidden"> <div class="jumbotron hero article bg-image" style="background-image: url('');"></div>  <article class="single"> <div class="container">  <div class="row"> <header class="col-md-12"> <div class="article-header"> <small class="article-category"> <a href="https://www.electric.coop/issues-and-policy/broadband">Broadband</a> </small> <h1 class="article-title">FCC Chair Visits Georgia Co-ops: ‘We Need to Get ‘100% of Americans Online’</h1> <h3 class="article-subtitle"></h3> </div> </header> </div>  <div class="row"> <section class="col-md-3"> <div class="article-meta"> <div class="row"> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-date"> <span>Published</span>November 30, 2021 </div> </div> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-author"> <span>Author</span> Cathy Cash </div> </div> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-share">  <div class="social-share post"> <ul class="social"> <li><a class="facebook-share" href="https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=&title=" target="_blank"></a></li> <li><a class="twitter-share" href="https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?source=&text=&via=NRECANews " target="_blank"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewBox="0 0 512 512"><path d="M389.2 48h70.6L305.6 224.2 487 464H345L233.7 318.6 106.5 464H35.8L200.7 275.5 26.8 48H172.4L272.9 180.9 389.2 48zM364.4 421.8h39.1L151.1 88h-42L364.4 421.8z"/></svg></a></li> <li><a class="linkedin-share" href="http://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=&title=&summary=" target="_blank"></a></li> </ul> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </section> <section class="col-md-9"> <div class="article-content">  <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="683" src="https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/111221-FCC-chair-25-1024x683.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-9022" srcset="https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/111221-FCC-chair-25-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/111221-FCC-chair-25-300x200.jpg 300w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/111221-FCC-chair-25-768x512.jpg 768w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/111221-FCC-chair-25.jpg 1200w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption>FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel told electric co-op leaders at a broadband roundtable held at Jackson Electric Membership Corp. how visiting Georgia increased her awareness “to get 100% of Americans online.” (Photo By: Jackson EMC)</figcaption></figure> <p>The head of the Federal Communications Commission said a visit to an electric cooperative in Georgia has helped crystalize the mission of rural broadband for her. </p> <p>“Traveling across Georgia, it is clear we need to get 100% of Americans online, no matter who they are or where they live,” said FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel after participating in a Nov. 12 broadband roundtable with electric co-op leaders and Sen. Raphael Warnock, D-Ga., at <a href="https://www.jacksonemc.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Jackson Electric Membership Corp.</a></p> <p>“Broadband access unlocks job and economic opportunities, keeps students connected to their schoolwork and offers new ways to keep in touch with our health care providers, and much more,” Rosenworcel said. “Hearing and learning directly from the skilled individuals building out our networks and the communities affected by a lack of infrastructure are lessons I will carry with me as we move forward with the FCC’s work to ensure everyone gets a fair shot at 21<sup>st</sup> century success.”</p> <p>Warnock described the struggle people in rural Georgia face without reliable high-speed internet access and expressed hope that solutions may be at hand.</p> <p>“Broadband is a utility just like electricity or water, and in 2021, everyone needs reliable access to the internet for their jobs, their companies and to live their lives,” Warnock said. “I was so glad to be with FCC Chair Rosenworcel today to tour and visit with the leaders at Jackson EMC and discuss how local and federal partners can keep working together to advance our shared goal of connecting Georgians to all the economic and educational opportunities that broadband has to offer.”</p> <p>Co-op leaders from <a href="https://www.brmemc.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Blue Ridge Mountain EMC</a>, <a href="https://www.carrollemc.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Carroll EMC</a>, <a href="https://www.habershamemc.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Habersham EMC</a>, <a href="https://www.sumteremc.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Sumter EMC</a>, <a href="https://www.washingtonemc.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Washington EMC</a> and the statewide association, <a href="https://georgiaemc.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Georgia EMC</a>, joined the discussion as well.</p> <p>They talked about how the <a href="https://www.electric.coop/along-those-lines-fcc-rdof-broadband-auction" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">FCC’s Rural Digital Opportunity Fund</a> process could be improved through expedited environmental reviews for applicants. They also discussed how pandemic-related supply chain delays are making it difficult to meet broadband deployment milestones for certain federal funding programs and why it is important to have accurate maps from the FCC to identify unserved areas.</p> <p>“Broadband connectivity is a vital issue,” said Chip Jakins, president and CEO of Jackson EMC. “EMCs across the state are expanding broadband in their communities using several different approaches.”</p> <p>Jackson EMC, about 50 miles northeast of Atlanta and the state’s largest electric co-op, is exploring partnerships with broadband providers to bring high-speed internet service to unserved areas.</p> <p>Wendy Sellers, CEO of Washington EMC, said electric co-ops are “making a real impact on the expansion of broadband in rural Georgia” and rural areas “desperately need” federal funds to build fiber networks to serve members.”</p> <p>Dennis Chastain, president and CEO of Georgia EMC, said it was an honor to have Rosenworcel and Warnock meet with co-ops on the critical issue of rural broadband. “EMCs in Georgia are eager to play a part in helping solve our state’s digital divide and it’s exciting to see our national leaders recognize the great work being done all over our state,” he said.</p> <p><em>Cathy Cash is a staff writer for NRECA.</em></p> </div> </section> </div> <div class="row"> <div class="col-md-12"> <section class="timeline-article-footer"> <small>Next in the Issue</small> <a class="article-next-post" data-next-article="timeline-modal-8845" title="House Passes Infrastructure Bill With Billions for Broadband, Energy R&D">House Passes Infrastructure Bill With Billions for Broadband, Energy R&D <span class="arrow"><i class="ci-long-arrow-right"></i></span></a> </section> </div> </div> </div> </article>  </section>  <section id="timeline-modal-8845" class="timeline-issues-article hidden"> <div class="jumbotron hero article bg-image" style="background-image: url('');"></div>  <article class="single"> <div class="container">  <div class="row"> <header class="col-md-12"> <div class="article-header"> <small class="article-category"> <a href="https://www.electric.coop/issues-and-policy/broadband">Broadband</a> </small> <h1 class="article-title">House Passes Infrastructure Bill With Billions for Broadband, Energy R&D</h1> <h3 class="article-subtitle"></h3> </div> </header> </div>  <div class="row"> <section class="col-md-3"> <div class="article-meta"> <div class="row"> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-date"> <span>Published</span>November 5, 2021 </div> </div> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-author"> <span>Author</span> Erin Kelly </div> </div> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-share">  <div class="social-share post"> <ul class="social"> <li><a class="facebook-share" href="https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=&title=" target="_blank"></a></li> <li><a class="twitter-share" href="https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?source=&text=&via=NRECANews " target="_blank"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewBox="0 0 512 512"><path d="M389.2 48h70.6L305.6 224.2 487 464H345L233.7 318.6 106.5 464H35.8L200.7 275.5 26.8 48H172.4L272.9 180.9 389.2 48zM364.4 421.8h39.1L151.1 88h-42L364.4 421.8z"/></svg></a></li> <li><a class="linkedin-share" href="http://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=&title=&summary=" target="_blank"></a></li> </ul> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </section> <section class="col-md-9"> <div class="article-content">  <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="683" src="https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/UCCapitol-Fall-story-1024x683.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-8846" srcset="https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/UCCapitol-Fall-story-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/UCCapitol-Fall-story-300x200.jpg 300w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/UCCapitol-Fall-story-768x512.jpg 768w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/UCCapitol-Fall-story.jpg 1200w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption>Both the House and Senate have passed a bipartisan infrastructure bill that would provide billions for electric co-op priorities. <br>(Photo By: ajansen/Getty Images)</figcaption></figure> <p><em>Updated: Nov. 15, 4:45 pm</em></p> <p>A <a href="https://www.congress.gov/bill/117th-congress/house-bill/3684" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">bipartisan infrastructure bill</a> approved Nov. 5 by the House will be a major boost for electric cooperatives by providing billions for broadband deployment, electric vehicle charging networks, electric transmission, energy storage, carbon capture and other clean energy technologies.</p> <p>The Senate passed the <a href="https://www.electric.coop/bipartisan-infrastructure-bill-includes-billions-for-broadband-evs-energy-rd" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act</a> in August. The $1.2 trillion bill, which includes $550 billion in new spending, was signed into law by President Joe Biden on Nov. 15. Improving the nation’s aging infrastructure has been a major effort by Congress in recent years and a policy priority for the Biden administration.</p> <p>“This bipartisan bill provides a significant down payment toward meeting critical needs of electric cooperatives and the communities we serve, including funding for priorities such as broadband deployment and electric vehicle charging,” said NRECA CEO Jim Matheson. “This bill recognizes the need to expand these two technologies in rural communities. As policymakers plan for a future that depends on electricity to drive the economy, more work will be needed to build on the groundwork laid by this legislation.”</p> <p>Among the infrastructure bill’s key provisions benefiting co-ops:</p> <p>• <strong>Broadband: </strong>Provides $65 billion to connect rural communities and low-income urban residents with high-speed internet service. This includes $42.5 billion for a broadband grant program administered by the states. Co-ops would be eligible to participate in the program, and funds could be used for deployment and <a href="https://www.electric.coop/congress-passes-bill-to-improve-broadband-mapping-data" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">mapping projects</a> to show which communities need service most.</p> <p>• <strong>Electric vehicles: </strong>Authorizes $7.5 billion for EV charging infrastructure. The funding would be sent to the states to partner with co-ops and other businesses to create charging networks. The bill also provides $2.5 billion for zero-emission school buses, which could help co-ops partner with local school districts to bring <a href="https://www.cooperative.com/remagazine/articles/Pages/co-ops-see-electric-school-bus-builds-interest-electric-vehicles.aspx" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">electric buses</a> to their communities.</p> <p>• <strong>Energy research and development: </strong>Authorizes billions to explore clean energy technologies to reduce carbon dioxide emissions.</p> <p>• <strong>Carbon capture: </strong>Provides $3.5 billion for large-scale <a href="https://www.electric.coop/senate-panel-looks-at-co-op-role-in-carbon-capture-research-in-wyoming" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">carbon-capture projects</a>, including two demonstration projects each at coal-fired power plants and natural gas-fired power plants. It also authorizes $2.2 billion to enable the capture of more carbon emissions by building storage infrastructure, including wells and pipelines.</p> <p>• <strong>Wind and solar:</strong> Boosts renewable energy by providing $400 million for research and development into <a href="https://www.electric.coop/doe-selects-nreca-for-wind-energy-research-initiative" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">wind energy</a> and $320 million for <a href="https://www.electric.coop/doe-grant-will-help-co-ops-bring-solar-power-to-low-income-members" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">solar energy</a>.</p> <p>• <strong>Energy storage:</strong> Provides $355 million for pilot projects that explore the potential of <a href="https://www.electric.coop/nreca-doe-launch-rural-battery-storage-research-projects" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">energy storage</a>. An additional $150 million would go toward an initiative that focuses on long-duration storage.</p> <p><em>Erin Kelly is a staff writer for NRECA.</em></p> </div> </section> </div> <div class="row"> <div class="col-md-12"> <section class="timeline-article-footer"> <small>Next in the Issue</small> <a class="article-next-post" data-next-article="timeline-modal-8896" title="Electric Co-ops Welcome USDA Changes to the ReConnect Broadband Funding Program">Electric Co-ops Welcome USDA Changes to the ReConnect Broadband Funding Program <span class="arrow"><i class="ci-long-arrow-right"></i></span></a> </section> </div> </div> </div> </article>  </section>  <section id="timeline-modal-8896" class="timeline-issues-article hidden"> <div class="jumbotron hero article bg-image" style="background-image: url('');"></div>  <article class="single"> <div class="container">  <div class="row"> <header class="col-md-12"> <div class="article-header"> <small class="article-category"> <a href="https://www.electric.coop/issues-and-policy/broadband">Broadband</a> </small> <h1 class="article-title">Electric Co-ops Welcome USDA Changes to the ReConnect Broadband Funding Program</h1> <h3 class="article-subtitle"></h3> </div> </header> </div>  <div class="row"> <section class="col-md-3"> <div class="article-meta"> <div class="row"> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-date"> <span>Published</span>October 22, 2021 </div> </div> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-author"> <span>Author</span> Media Relations </div> </div> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-share">  <div class="social-share post"> <ul class="social"> <li><a class="facebook-share" href="https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=&title=" target="_blank"></a></li> <li><a class="twitter-share" href="https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?source=&text=&via=NRECANews " target="_blank"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewBox="0 0 512 512"><path d="M389.2 48h70.6L305.6 224.2 487 464H345L233.7 318.6 106.5 464H35.8L200.7 275.5 26.8 48H172.4L272.9 180.9 389.2 48zM364.4 421.8h39.1L151.1 88h-42L364.4 421.8z"/></svg></a></li> <li><a class="linkedin-share" href="http://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=&title=&summary=" target="_blank"></a></li> </ul> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </section> <section class="col-md-9"> <div class="article-content">  <p><strong>ARLINGTON, Va.</strong> – National Rural Electric Cooperative Association CEO Jim Matheson today applauded U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Tom Vilsack and the department’s Rural Utilities Service (RUS) for making much-needed changes to the ReConnect broadband program for its third round of funding.</p> <p>USDA will begin accepting ReConnect round three applications on November 24 for up to $1.15 billion in loans and grants to expand the availability of broadband in rural communities. More information can be found <a href="https://www.usda.gov/media/press-releases/2021/10/22/usda-make-115-billion-available-help-people-living-rural">here</a> from USDA.</p> <p>“Efforts to bridge the digital divide began nearly 25 years ago, yet millions of Americans remain sidelined and disconnected simply because of their zip code,” said Matheson. “In 2021, that’s unacceptable. We greatly appreciate USDA’s work to help spur rural broadband deployment, and their appropriate recognition of the need to make sure the program continues to serve those communities most in need of broadband. Significant changes to this new round of the ReConnect program will allow electric cooperatives and other broadband providers to offer service to many more unserved and underserved rural communities.”</p> <p><a href="https://www.usda.gov/reconnect">ReConnect</a> provides loans and grants to fund the construction, improvement, or acquisition of facilities and equipment needed to provide broadband service in eligible rural areas.</p> <p>During the third phase, RUS will make several noteworthy changes to the program advocated by NRECA, including:</p> <ul class="wp-block-list"><li>Modifying the definition of a served area from areas with speeds of 10/1 Mbps to 100/20 Mbps. Whether an area already has this higher level of service is a key factor in determining its eligibility for a grant. </li><li>Prioritizing applications from cooperatives, tribes, non-profits and local government entities that are not motived by profit.</li><li>Requiring networks funded by the program to be capable of delivering symmetrical speeds of 100/100 Mbps.</li><li>Allowing areas that previously received federal broadband funding to be eligible to participate in the auction if they lack 100/20 Mbps service.</li><li>Prioritizing applications to areas that lack 25/3 Mbps.</li></ul> <p><em>The National Rural Electric Cooperative Association is the national trade association representing nearly 900 local electric cooperatives. From growing suburbs to remote farming communities, electric co-ops serve as engines of economic development for 42 million Americans across 56 percent of the nation’s landscape. As local businesses built by the consumers they serve, electric cooperatives have meaningful ties to rural America and invest $12 billion annually in their communities.</em></p> <p class="has-text-align-center"><em>-###-</em></p> </div> </section> </div> <div class="row"> <div class="col-md-12"> <section class="timeline-article-footer"> <small>Next in the Issue</small> <a class="article-next-post" data-next-article="timeline-modal-8819" title="‘Broadband Living Room’ Showcases the Benefits of Being Connected">‘Broadband Living Room’ Showcases the Benefits of Being Connected <span class="arrow"><i class="ci-long-arrow-right"></i></span></a> </section> </div> </div> </div> </article>  </section>  <section id="timeline-modal-8819" class="timeline-issues-article hidden"> <div class="jumbotron hero article bg-image" style="background-image: url('');"></div>  <article class="single"> <div class="container">  <div class="row"> <header class="col-md-12"> <div class="article-header"> <small class="article-category"> <a href="https://www.electric.coop/issues-and-policy/broadband">Broadband</a> </small> <h1 class="article-title">‘Broadband Living Room’ Showcases the Benefits of Being Connected</h1> <h3 class="article-subtitle"></h3> </div> </header> </div>  <div class="row"> <section class="col-md-3"> <div class="article-meta"> <div class="row"> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-date"> <span>Published</span>September 28, 2021 </div> </div> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-author"> <span>Author</span> Cathy Cash </div> </div> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-share">  <div class="social-share post"> <ul class="social"> <li><a class="facebook-share" href="https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=&title=" target="_blank"></a></li> <li><a class="twitter-share" href="https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?source=&text=&via=NRECANews " target="_blank"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewBox="0 0 512 512"><path d="M389.2 48h70.6L305.6 224.2 487 464H345L233.7 318.6 106.5 464H35.8L200.7 275.5 26.8 48H172.4L272.9 180.9 389.2 48zM364.4 421.8h39.1L151.1 88h-42L364.4 421.8z"/></svg></a></li> <li><a class="linkedin-share" href="http://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=&title=&summary=" target="_blank"></a></li> </ul> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </section> <section class="col-md-9"> <div class="article-content">  <figure class="wp-block-image size-full is-resized"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/BBLivingroomPGECRuralBAND20210824.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-8820" width="841" height="608" srcset="https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/BBLivingroomPGECRuralBAND20210824.jpg 800w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/BBLivingroomPGECRuralBAND20210824-300x217.jpg 300w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/BBLivingroomPGECRuralBAND20210824-768x555.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 841px) 100vw, 841px" /><figcaption>PGEC set up a “broadband living room” at the Surry County Community Center where the co-op will soon provide universal broadband access. The space will allow residents to try a variety of smart devices in a home-like setting. (Photo Courtesy: PGEC)</figcaption></figure> <p>Casey Logan was in a quandary.</p> <p>The electric cooperative in rural Virginia that he leads is delivering future-proof fiber broadband internet to a county that lacks access at any speed. But a large number of members, mainly older residents on fixed incomes, have been skeptical.</p> <p>What could he do to help them see firsthand how broadband service at the fastest speed available might improve their lives?</p> <div class="wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-2 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex"> <div class="wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow"> <div class="wp-block-group"><div class="wp-block-group__inner-container is-layout-flow wp-block-group-is-layout-flow"> <p> After pondering the question and consulting other co-op CEOs, he and his team at <a href="https://pgec.coop/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Prince George Electric Cooperative</a> and its broadband subsidiary <a href="https://www.ruralband.coop/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">RURALBAND</a> thought back to the “co-op kitchens” of the 1950s, where members first saw modern electric appliances when they came in to pay their bills. </p> <p> “The co-op would bring in refrigerators and stoves to really show members the benefits of electricity in their home, that the power that we supplied can do more than give you light,” said Logan, PGEC’s president and CEO.</p> </div></div> </div> <div class="wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow"> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="942" height="1024" src="https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/BB-LinvingroomPGEC-RuralBAND20210824-2-942x1024.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-8821" srcset="https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/BB-LinvingroomPGEC-RuralBAND20210824-2-942x1024.jpg 942w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/BB-LinvingroomPGEC-RuralBAND20210824-2-276x300.jpg 276w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/BB-LinvingroomPGEC-RuralBAND20210824-2-768x835.jpg 768w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/BB-LinvingroomPGEC-RuralBAND20210824-2.jpg 1000w" sizes="(max-width: 942px) 100vw, 942px" /><figcaption>PGEC’s “broadband living room” includes an alcove for visitors to experience an at-home office and space for children to play on smart devices. (Photo Courtesy: PGEC)</figcaption></figure> </div> </div> <p>With that concept in mind, the Waverly-based co-op recently opened a “broadband living room” at the Surry County Community Center. </p> <p>Complete with sleek furnishings, a smart TV, laptops, tablets, an Xbox gaming system, a cordless phone and smart security cameras, the room gives visitors a chance to learn in a real-life setting how to use the internet for everything from shopping and distance learning to telemedicine and running an online business.</p> <p> “The ‘living room’ is set up to really show them what the options are for their home once they get the broadband service,” said Logan. “We want to educate our members…that you can do so much more with internet than Facebook and Google searches.” </p> <p>A separate office space allows members to experience teleworking while their kids play with smart devices.</p> <p>PGEC partnered with the county for use of the space and has a RURALBAND staffer on site regularly to sit down with members and talk about the benefits of fiber broadband.</p> <p> “We are giving them the best technology and the best service available anywhere,” said Logan. “In a lot of cases, our fixed-income member is saving money with broadband by switching their television service and landline. High-speed internet is icing on the cake.” </p> <p> Gov. Ralph Northam attended an Aug. 27 ribbon-cutting for the living room and lauded the co-op’s leadership in making Surry County one of the first in the state to get universal broadband. </p> <p>“I’m here on behalf of the Commonwealth of Virginia to say congratulations for a job well done,” the Democratic governor said.</p> <p>RURALBAND fiber will be available to all of Surry County’s 8,000 residents by the end of October, with speeds up to one gigabit per second. By the end of 2022, it will reach all 12,000 members in the co-op’s six-county territory southeast of Richmond.</p> <p><em>Cathy Cash is a staff writer for NRECA.</em></p> </div> </section> </div> <div class="row"> <div class="col-md-12"> <section class="timeline-article-footer"> <small>Next in the Issue</small> <a class="article-next-post" data-next-article="timeline-modal-8781" title="FCC Commissioner: Electric Co-ops Play ‘Major Role’ in Rural Broadband">FCC Commissioner: Electric Co-ops Play ‘Major Role’ in Rural Broadband <span class="arrow"><i class="ci-long-arrow-right"></i></span></a> </section> </div> </div> </div> </article>  </section>  <section id="timeline-modal-8781" class="timeline-issues-article hidden"> <div class="jumbotron hero article bg-image" style="background-image: url('');"></div>  <article class="single"> <div class="container">  <div class="row"> <header class="col-md-12"> <div class="article-header"> <small class="article-category"> <a href="https://www.electric.coop/issues-and-policy/broadband">Broadband</a> </small> <h1 class="article-title">FCC Commissioner: Electric Co-ops Play ‘Major Role’ in Rural Broadband</h1> <h3 class="article-subtitle"></h3> </div> </header> </div>  <div class="row"> <section class="col-md-3"> <div class="article-meta"> <div class="row"> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-date"> <span>Published</span>September 21, 2021 </div> </div> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-author"> <span>Author</span> Cathy Cash </div> </div> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-share">  <div class="social-share post"> <ul class="social"> <li><a class="facebook-share" href="https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=&title=" target="_blank"></a></li> <li><a class="twitter-share" href="https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?source=&text=&via=NRECANews " target="_blank"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewBox="0 0 512 512"><path d="M389.2 48h70.6L305.6 224.2 487 464H345L233.7 318.6 106.5 464H35.8L200.7 275.5 26.8 48H172.4L272.9 180.9 389.2 48zM364.4 421.8h39.1L151.1 88h-42L364.4 421.8z"/></svg></a></li> <li><a class="linkedin-share" href="http://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=&title=&summary=" target="_blank"></a></li> </ul> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </section> <section class="col-md-9"> <div class="article-content">  <figure class="wp-block-image size-full is-resized"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Ozarks-FCC-commish2-IMG9421.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-8782" width="840" height="560" srcset="https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Ozarks-FCC-commish2-IMG9421.jpg 800w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Ozarks-FCC-commish2-IMG9421-300x200.jpg 300w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Ozarks-FCC-commish2-IMG9421-768x512.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 840px) 100vw, 840px" /><figcaption>FCC Commissioner Brendan Carr listens to electric co-ops on the challenges of delivering rural broadband while visiting OzarksGo in Fayetteville, Arkansas. Carr recognized co-ops’ role in connecting remote communities. (Photo Courtesy: OzarksGo)</figcaption></figure> <p>Arkansas electric cooperatives delivering broadband internet access to rural communities won praise from a member of the Federal Communications Commission who promised to bring their concerns back to Washington after a recent visit.</p> <p>“There are too many Americans here in Arkansas and the four-state area that need service, and that’s where these cooperative broadband projects can continue to play a major role,” said FCC Commissioner Brendan Carr. The quad state area includes Arkansas, Oklahoma, Kansas and Missouri.</p> <p>Carr met with several co-op leaders Sept. 9 at <a href="https://www.ozarksgo.net/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">OzarksGo</a>, the broadband subsidiary of Fayetteville-based <a href="https://www.ozarksecc.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Ozarks Electric Cooperative</a>, where they discussed the challenges of connecting remote areas with high-speed internet.</p> <p>Among the concerns raised by the co-ops were the delays in receiving millions of dollars in grants from the <a href="https://www.electric.coop/along-those-lines-fcc-rdof-broadband-auction" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">FCC’s Rural Digital Opportunity Fund</a> after qualifying as broadband providers. Other issues include <a href="https://www.cooperative.com/remagazine/articles/pages/kinks-in-the-chain-a-perfect-storm-of-shortages-threatens-to-douse-rural-broadband-progress.aspx" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">supply chain crunches</a> and difficulties in hiring and retaining a skilled broadband fiber workforce.</p> <p>“Commissioner Carr said he is going back and taking our concerns with him,” said Steve Bandy, general manager of OzarksGo.</p> <p>The first FCC commissioner ever to visit the co-op, Carr called electric co-ops’ broadband projects “an effective model to bring next-gen broadband access to underserved areas.”</p> <p>“By bringing high-speed internet to areas that previously had only limited connectivity, they have transformed life for many Arkansans and paved the way for future development,” he said.</p> <p>Carr toured the fiber operations of OzarksGo, which pioneered co-op-owned broadband in the state and connected its first customer in 2017. It now serves more than 27,000 customers in Northwest Arkansas and Northeast Oklahoma.</p> <p>OzarksGo recently collaborated with 13 other Arkansas electric co-ops to establish a middle mile fiber network that will help them serve their most rural members more efficiently.</p> <p>The Diamond State Networks LLC, with investments approaching $1.66 billion, is expected to cover more than 64% of the state’s land mass with more than 50,000 miles of fiber to provide broadband access to 1.25 million rural Arkansans, Bandy said.</p> <p>The company was established last year when co-op leaders met to discuss ways to best serve their members with broadband.</p> <p>“We knew nobody else out there was going to serve our members the way we would and help Arkansans like the co-ops could,” said Bandy. “In typical co-op spirit, we are deploying broadband much like we did electricity in the 1930s.”</p> <p>In addition to Ozarks Electric Cooperative, the Arkansas co-ops forming the Diamond State Networks are:</p> <p>• <a href="http://aecc.com" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Arkansas Electric Cooperatives, Inc.</a> (Little Rock)<br>• <a href="https://www.avecc.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Arkansas Valley Electric Cooperative</a> (Ozark)<br>• <a href="http://Ashley-chicot.com" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Ashley-Chicot Electric Cooperative</a> (Hamburg)<br>• <a href="http://claycountyelectric.com" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Clay County Electric Cooperative</a> (Corning)<br>• <a href="http://craigheadelectric.coop" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Craighead Electric Cooperative</a> (Jonesboro)<br>• <a href="http://farmersecc.com" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Farmers Electric Cooperative</a> (Newport)<br>• <a href="http://firstelectric.coop" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">First Electric Cooperative</a> (Jacksonville)<br>• <a href="http://mceci.com" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Mississippi County Electric Cooperative</a> (Blytheville)<br>• <a href="http://naeci.com" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">North Arkansas Electric Cooperative</a> (Salem)<br>• <a href="http://pjecc.com" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Petit Jean Electric Cooperative</a> (Clinton)<br>• <a href="http://scaec.com" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">South Central Arkansas Electric Cooperative</a> (Arkadelphia)<br>• <a href="http://swrea.com" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Southwest Arkansas Electric Cooperative</a> (Texarkana)<br>• <a href="http://woodruffelectric.coop/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Woodruff Electric Cooperative</a> (Forrest City)</p> <p><em>Cathy Cash is a staff writer for NRECA.</em></p> </div> </section> </div> <div class="row"> <div class="col-md-12"> <section class="timeline-article-footer"> <small>Next in the Issue</small> <a class="article-next-post" data-next-article="timeline-modal-8625" title="Electric Co-op Steps Up to Plate With Broadband for the Field of Dreams">Electric Co-op Steps Up to Plate With Broadband for the Field of Dreams <span class="arrow"><i class="ci-long-arrow-right"></i></span></a> </section> </div> </div> </div> </article>  </section>  <section id="timeline-modal-8625" class="timeline-issues-article hidden"> <div class="jumbotron hero article bg-image" style="background-image: url('');"></div>  <article class="single"> <div class="container">  <div class="row"> <header class="col-md-12"> <div class="article-header"> <small class="article-category"> <a href="https://www.electric.coop/issues-and-policy/broadband">Broadband</a> </small> <h1 class="article-title">Electric Co-op Steps Up to Plate With Broadband for the Field of Dreams</h1> <h3 class="article-subtitle"></h3> </div> </header> </div>  <div class="row"> <section class="col-md-3"> <div class="article-meta"> <div class="row"> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-date"> <span>Published</span>August 31, 2021 </div> </div> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-author"> <span>Author</span> Cathy Cash </div> </div> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-share">  <div class="social-share post"> <ul class="social"> <li><a class="facebook-share" href="https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=&title=" target="_blank"></a></li> <li><a class="twitter-share" href="https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?source=&text=&via=NRECANews " target="_blank"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewBox="0 0 512 512"><path d="M389.2 48h70.6L305.6 224.2 487 464H345L233.7 318.6 106.5 464H35.8L200.7 275.5 26.8 48H172.4L272.9 180.9 389.2 48zM364.4 421.8h39.1L151.1 88h-42L364.4 421.8z"/></svg></a></li> <li><a class="linkedin-share" href="http://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=&title=&summary=" target="_blank"></a></li> </ul> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </section> <section class="col-md-9"> <div class="article-content">  <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="800" height="600" src="https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/MVEC-FieldofDreams.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-8626" srcset="https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/MVEC-FieldofDreams.jpg 800w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/MVEC-FieldofDreams-300x225.jpg 300w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/MVEC-FieldofDreams-768x576.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px" /><figcaption>MVEC employee Brian Westhoff enjoys the setup for the first official MLB game in Iowa at the Field of Dreams ballpark that the co-op served with broadband fiber communications. (Photo Courtesy: MVEC)</figcaption></figure> <p>A Field of Dreams real-life rematch between the White Sox and the Yankees in an Iowa cornfield ended in true Hollywood fashion when Chicago’s Tim Anderson hit a walk-off home run, akin to the feat by Shoeless Joe Jackson, who was mythologized in the 1989 movie.</p> <p>But one of the hometown heroes for Major League Baseball’s most anticipated game of the season was the local electric cooperative that committed no errors in its delivery of broadband internet access for the Aug. 12 nationally televised event that drew some 6 million viewers.</p> <p><a href="https://mvec.coop" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Maquoketa Valley Electric Cooperative</a> provided services to BaAM, the production company for the Field of Dreams game, that included building out fiber to the ballpark for network production, voice connections for operations and local first-responders and last-mile fiber to cell towers set up for communications in the stands.</p> <p>“We put together our plan, implemented it, and it worked as expected,” said Jeff Geistkemper, fiber plant manager at the Anamosa-based co-op.</p> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="800" height="600" src="https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/MVEC-IMG_5288.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-8627" srcset="https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/MVEC-IMG_5288.jpg 800w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/MVEC-IMG_5288-300x225.jpg 300w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/MVEC-IMG_5288-768x576.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px" /><figcaption>At the Field of Dreams ballpark in rural Iowa, MVEC’s broadband, IT and technical service teams worked with the inaugural game’s production company to deliver broadband for the real-life contest between the White Sox and the Yankees. (Photo Courtesy: MVEC)</figcaption></figure> <p>“Due to the size of the production and its rural location, this project posed several challenges,” he said. But when members of the production and broadcast teams arrived to broadcast the game, “all we did was plug in the optics, and it worked.”</p> <p>For the first MLB game ever played in Iowa, production company BaAM built the 8,000-seat Field of Dreams stadium about 1,000 feet from the ballpark used in the iconic film starring Kevin Costner. The actor was on hand to lead the teams, donned in 1919 jerseys, out of a cornfield and onto the ballfield.</p> <p>The co-op’s power lines skirt Dyersville, the closest town to the field, and its fiber connection was about a mile away. MVEC’s broadband unit, technical services and IT teams “worked diligently and innovatively to design and deploy a rock-solid fiber internet network capable of serving extremely high-volume usage,” Geistkemper said.</p> <p>MVEC got the call from BaAM early last year when MLB wanted to set up an official game at the Field of Dreams. The company needed reliable service on gameday and were made aware of the co-op’s fiber network. MLB eventually canceled the 2020 game due to the COVID-19 pandemic but shifted plans to this summer, giving the co-op the go-ahead in early spring.</p> <p>The historic game, framed with picture-perfect scenery, showcased Iowa, MLB and the co-op, said Jeremy Richert, MVEC CEO.</p> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="800" height="600" src="https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/MVEC-FOD2021_2.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-8628" srcset="https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/MVEC-FOD2021_2.jpg 800w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/MVEC-FOD2021_2-300x225.jpg 300w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/MVEC-FOD2021_2-768x576.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px" /><figcaption>Drawing from the iconic 1989 movie, the Field of Dreams ballpark set in rural Iowa cornfields hosted a real-life game between the White Sox and the Yankees. MVEC provided broadband fiber communications for the nationally televised event that attracted 6 million viewers. (Photo Courtesy: MVEC)</figcaption></figure> <p>“It was a big milestone event for us,” he said. MVEC started offering retail broadband in 2016 after building a smart grid for co-op communications.</p> <p>“It was a very steep learning curve, but here we are, able to provide service to an event that had attracted the attention of the entire country. It shows how far our staff and team have come in the last four and a half years.”</p> <p>Geistkemper and a fiber technician were at the game to ensure everything worked and maintained consistent contact with the BaAM team leading up to and during the event. He also instructed contractors to stay close to the area and be ready at a moment’s notice if necessary.</p> <p>“Luckily, we didn’t need anybody,” he said. “The most successful thing for me on gameday was no one knew we were at the park.”</p> <p><em>Cathy Cash is a staff writer for NRECA.</em></p> </div> </section> </div> <div class="row"> <div class="col-md-12"> <section class="timeline-article-footer"> <small>Next in the Issue</small> <a class="article-next-post" data-next-article="timeline-modal-8565" title="ReConnect Broadband Grants a ‘Game-Changer’ for Electric Co-ops">ReConnect Broadband Grants a ‘Game-Changer’ for Electric Co-ops <span class="arrow"><i class="ci-long-arrow-right"></i></span></a> </section> </div> </div> </div> </article>  </section>  <section id="timeline-modal-8565" class="timeline-issues-article hidden"> <div class="jumbotron hero article bg-image" style="background-image: url('');"></div>  <article class="single"> <div class="container">  <div class="row"> <header class="col-md-12"> <div class="article-header"> <small class="article-category"> <a href="https://www.electric.coop/issues-and-policy/broadband">Broadband</a> </small> <h1 class="article-title">ReConnect Broadband Grants a ‘Game-Changer’ for Electric Co-ops</h1> <h3 class="article-subtitle"></h3> </div> </header> </div>  <div class="row"> <section class="col-md-3"> <div class="article-meta"> <div class="row"> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-date"> <span>Published</span>August 24, 2021 </div> </div> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-author"> <span>Author</span> Cathy Cash </div> </div> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-share">  <div class="social-share post"> <ul class="social"> <li><a class="facebook-share" href="https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=&title=" target="_blank"></a></li> <li><a class="twitter-share" href="https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?source=&text=&via=NRECANews " target="_blank"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewBox="0 0 512 512"><path d="M389.2 48h70.6L305.6 224.2 487 464H345L233.7 318.6 106.5 464H35.8L200.7 275.5 26.8 48H172.4L272.9 180.9 389.2 48zM364.4 421.8h39.1L151.1 88h-42L364.4 421.8z"/></svg></a></li> <li><a class="linkedin-share" href="http://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=&title=&summary=" target="_blank"></a></li> </ul> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </section> <section class="col-md-9"> <div class="article-content">  <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="683" src="https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/MTE-United-DSC00193-002-1024x683.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-8566" srcset="https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/MTE-United-DSC00193-002-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/MTE-United-DSC00193-002-300x200.jpg 300w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/MTE-United-DSC00193-002-768x512.jpg 768w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/MTE-United-DSC00193-002.jpg 1234w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption>United Communications’ Chaz Collingwood splices fiber for Middle Tennessee Electric’s broadband arm, which won a $1.76 million grant from USDA’s ReConnect program. (Photo Courtesy: MTE)</figcaption></figure> <p>Dillingham, Alaska, is so remote that it’s only accessible by air or an occasional barge. Yet thanks to the efforts of <a href="http://www.nushtel.com/index.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Nushagak Cooperative</a> and nearly $17 million from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, this community of 2,300 is on target for world-class broadband internet access.</p> <p>“It will be a game-changer,” said Trung Vo, telecom operations manager for the cooperative, which delivers both telephone and electric service.</p> <p>Nushagak was among six electric co-ops to receive funding in the latest round of grants and loans from <a href="https://www.rd.usda.gov/sites/default/files/08.11.2021reconnectnewsreleasechart.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">USDA’s ReConnect program</a>.</p> <p>“Federal funds like these ReConnect grants are a vital ingredient in order to successfully bring rural America into the 21st century,” NRECA CEO Jim Matheson said during a media call with Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack, who announced the ReConnect awards Aug. 11.</p> <p>Nushagak plans to use the grant to connect 944 households, nine schools, eight essential community facilities, three health care facilities and 223 businesses across 49 square miles. It will offer speeds at 300 megabits with unlimited data and will be able to grow to 1 gigabit.</p> <p>“We are a little area considered to be in the middle of nowhere,” Vo said. “With the ReConnect grant, we will be able to deliver to these most remote residents the same speed internet available in urban areas in the lower 48.”</p> <p><a href="https://gascosage.coop/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Gascosage Electric Cooperative</a>, based in Dixon, Missouri, won a $700,000 grant to build fiber to 163 households and a farm. Past ReConnect funds helped the co-op launch its broadband service in the community of 1,100. It recently hooked up its first seven subscribers. Another 70 have signed up.</p> <p>“Potential financial strain on our small distribution cooperative was very concerning and holding us back from providing this crucial service to our rural membership,” said General Manager Carmen Hartwell.</p> <p><a href="https://mte.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Middle Tennessee Electric</a> will use a $1.76 million grant to run fiber to 711 unconnected households, 10 farms and four businesses.</p> <p>“It will allow us to extend into some of the most rural, hard-to-reach areas of our service footprint,” said Brad Gibson, MTE’s chief cooperative business officer. “This accelerates our ability to get broadband there quicker despite the economic challenges.”</p> <p>MTE, based in Murfreesboro, entered the broadband space when it acquired United Communications in 2018 after the state allowed electric co-ops to pursue retail internet.</p> <p><em>Cathy Cash is a staff writer for NRECA.</em></p> </div> </section> </div> <div class="row"> <div class="col-md-12"> <section class="timeline-article-footer"> <small>Next in the Issue</small> <a class="article-next-post" data-next-article="timeline-modal-8518" title="Bipartisan Infrastructure Bill Includes Billions for Broadband, EVs, Energy R&D">Bipartisan Infrastructure Bill Includes Billions for Broadband, EVs, Energy R&D <span class="arrow"><i class="ci-long-arrow-right"></i></span></a> </section> </div> </div> </div> </article>  </section>  <section id="timeline-modal-8518" class="timeline-issues-article hidden"> <div class="jumbotron hero article bg-image" style="background-image: url('');"></div>  <article class="single"> <div class="container">  <div class="row"> <header class="col-md-12"> <div class="article-header"> <small class="article-category"> <a href="https://www.electric.coop/issues-and-policy/broadband">Broadband</a> </small> <h1 class="article-title">Bipartisan Infrastructure Bill Includes Billions for Broadband, EVs, Energy R&D</h1> <h3 class="article-subtitle"></h3> </div> </header> </div>  <div class="row"> <section class="col-md-3"> <div class="article-meta"> <div class="row"> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-date"> <span>Published</span>August 10, 2021 </div> </div> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-author"> <span>Author</span> Erin Kelly </div> </div> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-share">  <div class="social-share post"> <ul class="social"> <li><a class="facebook-share" href="https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=&title=" target="_blank"></a></li> <li><a class="twitter-share" href="https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?source=&text=&via=NRECANews " target="_blank"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewBox="0 0 512 512"><path d="M389.2 48h70.6L305.6 224.2 487 464H345L233.7 318.6 106.5 464H35.8L200.7 275.5 26.8 48H172.4L272.9 180.9 389.2 48zM364.4 421.8h39.1L151.1 88h-42L364.4 421.8z"/></svg></a></li> <li><a class="linkedin-share" href="http://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=&title=&summary=" target="_blank"></a></li> </ul> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </section> <section class="col-md-9"> <div class="article-content">  <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="700" height="467" src="https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/Capitol-summer-infrastructure.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-8519" srcset="https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/Capitol-summer-infrastructure.jpg 700w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/Capitol-summer-infrastructure-300x200.jpg 300w" sizes="(max-width: 700px) 100vw, 700px" /><figcaption>The Senate has passed a bipartisan infrastructure bill that would provide billions for key co-op priorities. (Photo By: Sean Xu/Getty Images)</figcaption></figure> <p><em>Updated: August 11, 2021</em></p> <p>A <a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2021/08/02/updated-fact-sheet-bipartisan-infrastructure-and-investment-jobs-act/" target="_blank">bipartisan infrastructure bill</a> approved Tuesday by the Senate would provide billions of dollars for electric cooperative priorities, including broadband deployment, electric vehicle charging networks and development of energy storage, carbon capture and other clean energy technologies.</p> <p>The bill must still be taken up by the House, which is scheduled to return early from recess on Aug. 23.</p> <p>“Investing in our energy infrastructure is vital to ensuring that electric cooperatives can continue to do what they do best: provide reliable, affordable power to 42 million Americans,” said Louis Finkel, NRECA’s senior vice president of Government Relations. “Passage of this bill is a great start. We’ll continue to work with Congress to press for more co-op priorities to be included in the bigger infrastructure packages that lawmakers are expected to take up later this year.”</p> <p>The $550 billion bill does not include the <a href="https://www.congress.gov/bill/117th-congress/senate-bill/978/text?r=8&s=1" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Flexible Financing for Rural America Act</a>, which would allow co-ops to save a total of more than $10 billion by repricing their existing Rural Utilities Service debt at current low interest rates without prepayment penalties. It also does not include legislation to provide co-ops with direct federal payments to develop renewable energy and battery storage projects.</p> <p>Inclusion of those proposals was hampered by the absence of tax or agriculture sections. NRECA will continue to push for those two top priorities to be included in separate infrastructure legislation expected to be considered later this year.</p> <p>Among the Senate-passed bill’s key provisions benefiting co-ops:</p> <p><strong>• Broadband: </strong>Provides $65 billion to connect rural communities and low-income urban residents with high-speed internet service. This includes $42.5 billion for a broadband grant program administered by the states. Co-ops would be eligible to participate in the program, and funds could be used for deployment and <a href="https://www.electric.coop/congress-passes-bill-to-improve-broadband-mapping-data" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">mapping projects</a> to show which communities need service most.</p> <p>• <strong>Electric vehicles: </strong>Authorizes $7.5 billion for EV charging infrastructure. The money goes to the states to partner with co-ops and other businesses to create charging networks. The bill also provides $2.5 billion for zero-emission school buses. Some co-ops have partnered with local school districts to help bring <a href="https://www.cooperative.com/remagazine/articles/Pages/co-ops-see-electric-school-bus-builds-interest-electric-vehicles.aspx" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">electric school buses</a> to their communities, and this money could assist those efforts.</p> <p>• <strong>Energy research and development: </strong>Authorizes billions to explore clean energy technologies to reduce carbon dioxide emissions.</p> <p>• <strong>Carbon capture:</strong> Provides $3.5 billion for large-scale <a href="https://www.electric.coop/senate-panel-looks-at-co-op-role-in-carbon-capture-research-in-wyoming" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">carbon-capture</a> projects, including two demonstration projects each at coal-fired power plants and natural gas-fired power plants. It also authorizes $2.2 billion to enable the capture of more carbon emissions by building storage infrastructure, including wells and pipelines.</p> <p>• <strong>Wind and solar: </strong>Boosts renewable energy by providing $400 million for research and development into <a href="https://www.electric.coop/doe-selects-nreca-for-wind-energy-research-initiative" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">wind energy</a> and $320 million for <a href="https://www.electric.coop/doe-grant-will-help-co-ops-bring-solar-power-to-low-income-members" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">solar energy</a>.</p> <p>• <strong>Energy storage:</strong> Provides $355 million for pilot projects that explore the potential of <a href="https://www.electric.coop/nreca-doe-launch-rural-battery-storage-research-projects" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">energy storage</a>. An additional $150 million would go toward an initiative that focuses on long-duration storage.</p> <p><em>Erin Kelly is a staff writer for NRECA.</em></p> </div> </section> </div> <div class="row"> <div class="col-md-12"> <section class="timeline-article-footer"> <small>Next in the Issue</small> <a class="article-next-post" data-next-article="timeline-modal-8527" title="Electric Co-ops Applaud Bipartisan Infrastructure Package, Stress Continued Needs of Rural Communities">Electric Co-ops Applaud Bipartisan Infrastructure Package, Stress Continued Needs of Rural Communities <span class="arrow"><i class="ci-long-arrow-right"></i></span></a> </section> </div> </div> </div> </article>  </section>  <section id="timeline-modal-8527" class="timeline-issues-article hidden"> <div class="jumbotron hero article bg-image" style="background-image: url('');"></div>  <article class="single"> <div class="container">  <div class="row"> <header class="col-md-12"> <div class="article-header"> <small class="article-category"> <a href="https://www.electric.coop/issues-and-policy/broadband">Broadband</a> </small> <h1 class="article-title">Electric Co-ops Applaud Bipartisan Infrastructure Package, Stress Continued Needs of Rural Communities</h1> <h3 class="article-subtitle"></h3> </div> </header> </div>  <div class="row"> <section class="col-md-3"> <div class="article-meta"> <div class="row"> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-date"> <span>Published</span>August 10, 2021 </div> </div> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-author"> <span>Author</span> Media Relations </div> </div> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-share">  <div class="social-share post"> <ul class="social"> <li><a class="facebook-share" href="https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=&title=" target="_blank"></a></li> <li><a class="twitter-share" href="https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?source=&text=&via=NRECANews " target="_blank"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewBox="0 0 512 512"><path d="M389.2 48h70.6L305.6 224.2 487 464H345L233.7 318.6 106.5 464H35.8L200.7 275.5 26.8 48H172.4L272.9 180.9 389.2 48zM364.4 421.8h39.1L151.1 88h-42L364.4 421.8z"/></svg></a></li> <li><a class="linkedin-share" href="http://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=&title=&summary=" target="_blank"></a></li> </ul> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </section> <section class="col-md-9"> <div class="article-content">  <p><strong>ARLINGTON, Va.</strong> – The National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA) today praised senators for passing a bipartisan infrastructure deal that helps electric cooperatives address several critical issues, while noting that additional assistance is needed to support rural communities.</p> <p>“This bipartisan proposal is a meaningful first step and carries significant benefits for rural families and businesses, particularly those who lack access to high speed broadband,” NRECA CEO Jim Matheson said. “We commend the senators from both sides of the aisle who worked together on this compromise, and we applaud their commitment to the bipartisan pursuit of solutions.</p> <p>“As policymakers plan for a future that depends on electricity as the primary energy source for much of the economy, more work will be needed to build on this infrastructure down payment. Electric co-ops will continue pushing for the financial flexibility to refinance existing government loans at today’s low interest rates and eligibility for direct pay tax credits to boost electric co-op investments in renewables and other innovative energy technologies. These two co-op priorities would provide much-needed tools for co-ops to leverage as they navigate the ongoing energy transition.”</p> <p>The legislation addresses several electric co-op priorities, including:</p> <ul class="wp-block-list"><li><strong>Clean Energy: </strong>Support for clean energy technologies, including carbon capture utilization and storage, nuclear energy and hydropower.</li><li><strong>Broadband: </strong>Substantial funding to boost broadband deployment, including $42.5 billion for a state-based grant program.</li><li><strong>Grid Modernization: </strong>Funding for grid modernization, including $3 billion for a Smart Grid Investment Matching Grant Program.</li><li><strong>Physical and Cybersecurity: </strong>Provisions to increase physical and cybersecurity through public-private partnerships and other programs.</li><li><strong>Grid Resiliency: </strong>Programs to promote grid resiliency, including$5 billion for resiliency grants to supplement existing grid hardening efforts, reduce the risk of power lines causing a wildfire and reduce the likelihood and consequences of resilience events.</li><li><strong>Electric Vehicles: </strong>Language to advance EV adoption, including $7 billion for EV charging infrastructure.</li></ul> <p><em>The </em><a href="http://www.electric.coop/"><em>National Rural Electric Cooperative Association</em></a><em> is the national trade association representing nearly 900 local electric cooperatives. From growing suburbs to remote farming communities, electric co-ops serve as engines of economic development for 42 million Americans across 56 percent of the nation’s landscape. As local businesses built by the consumers they serve, electric cooperatives have meaningful ties to rural America and invest $12 billion annually in their communities.</em> </p> <p class="has-text-align-center">-###-</p> </div> </section> </div> <div class="row"> <div class="col-md-12"> <section class="timeline-article-footer"> <small>Next in the Issue</small> <a class="article-next-post" data-next-article="timeline-modal-8400" title="NRECA to Congress: Be Bold in Funding Broadband That Meets Future Demand">NRECA to Congress: Be Bold in Funding Broadband That Meets Future Demand <span class="arrow"><i class="ci-long-arrow-right"></i></span></a> </section> </div> </div> </div> </article>  </section>  <section id="timeline-modal-8400" class="timeline-issues-article hidden"> <div class="jumbotron hero article bg-image" style="background-image: url('');"></div>  <article class="single"> <div class="container">  <div class="row"> <header class="col-md-12"> <div class="article-header"> <small class="article-category"> <a href="https://www.electric.coop/issues-and-policy/broadband">Broadband</a> </small> <h1 class="article-title">NRECA to Congress: Be Bold in Funding Broadband That Meets Future Demand</h1> <h3 class="article-subtitle"></h3> </div> </header> </div>  <div class="row"> <section class="col-md-3"> <div class="article-meta"> <div class="row"> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-date"> <span>Published</span>June 30, 2021 </div> </div> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-author"> <span>Author</span> Erin Kelly </div> </div> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-share">  <div class="social-share post"> <ul class="social"> <li><a class="facebook-share" href="https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=&title=" target="_blank"></a></li> <li><a class="twitter-share" href="https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?source=&text=&via=NRECANews " target="_blank"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewBox="0 0 512 512"><path d="M389.2 48h70.6L305.6 224.2 487 464H345L233.7 318.6 106.5 464H35.8L200.7 275.5 26.8 48H172.4L272.9 180.9 389.2 48zM364.4 421.8h39.1L151.1 88h-42L364.4 421.8z"/></svg></a></li> <li><a class="linkedin-share" href="http://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=&title=&summary=" target="_blank"></a></li> </ul> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </section> <section class="col-md-9"> <div class="article-content">  <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="683" src="https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/Broadband-BARC-1024x683.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-8401" srcset="https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/Broadband-BARC-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/Broadband-BARC-300x200.jpg 300w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/Broadband-BARC-768x512.jpg 768w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/Broadband-BARC-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/Broadband-BARC-2048x1365.jpg 2048w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption>NRECA is asking Congress to fund broadband service that provides rural communities with the bandwidth they will need to thrive well into the future. (Photo By: Preston Keres/USDA)</figcaption></figure> <p>NRECA has joined more than 170 other groups in urging Congress to provide full funding for broadband to meet the growing demand for high-speed internet service for decades to come.</p> <p>“The United States met the challenge of electrifying America in the last century with an audacious plan we take for granted today,” NRECA and the other advocates <a href="https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/Federal-broadband-infrastructure-coalition-letter.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">wrote in a letter to congressional leaders</a>. “A similarly bold approach is needed to build universally available broadband infrastructure fully capable of supporting all communications technology needs and meet ever-rising demand for bandwidth.”</p> <p>Congress is expected to take up a sweeping infrastructure bill this year that will include the expansion of broadband to rural communities and underserved urban areas.</p> <p>NRECA is sending a clear message to lawmakers on the need for rural broadband funding as they consider what to include in any infrastructure package, said Kelly Wismer, NRECA’s lobbyist for broadband and telecommunications issues.</p> <p>“While the telecommunications industry and stakeholders broadly agree that broadband access and affordability are critically important, there isn’t always agreement on how to make that a reality,” Wismer said. “In fact, some segments of the industry (large telephone, fixed wireless, and satellite) advocate for any new broadband infrastructure programs to fund networks at much lower speeds than cooperatives and others are striving to build.”</p> <p>“Cooperatives want their consumer-members to have access to broadband that will be reliable, affordable and meet their bandwidth needs both now and for years to come,” she said. “To that end, we advocate that federal programs support the building of networks that will stand the test of time instead of networks that may be outdated by the time they’re built.”</p> <p>Broadband service must deliver data at much faster speeds than the standard 25/3 megabits per second set by the Federal Communications Commission in 2015, the letter says.</p> <p>“Any new federal program must fund broadband infrastructure capable of enabling businesses to meet the needs of consumers, empower businesses to relocate to any community, provide opportunities for teleworkers and students at the same level regardless of geography, enable anchor institutions to fully provide for their entire communities, and make possible precision agriculture capabilities for agriculture producers to improve efficiencies,” the groups wrote.</p> <p>An estimated 35% of rural Americans do not have access to broadband from any provider, the letter notes.</p> <p>“It is time to act to end the digital divide forever by passing a national broadband infrastructure program that will deliver universal, affordable, 21st century-ready access,” the letter said.</p> <p>The June 28 letter was sent to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky. It was signed by a broad cross-section of public and private groups, including library associations, school districts, health care networks, colleges and agricultural organizations.</p> <p>“Today,” they wrote, “Congress can demonstrate the vision that its predecessors showed decades ago by connecting every American with the 21st Century equivalent of electricity—broadband.”</p> <p><em>Erin Kelly is a staff writer for NRECA.</em></p> </div> </section> </div> <div class="row"> <div class="col-md-12"> <section class="timeline-article-footer"> <small>Next in the Issue</small> <a class="article-next-post" data-next-article="timeline-modal-8395" title="Commerce Secretary Sees ‘Mississippi Miracle’ of Rural Broadband at Co-op">Commerce Secretary Sees ‘Mississippi Miracle’ of Rural Broadband at Co-op <span class="arrow"><i class="ci-long-arrow-right"></i></span></a> </section> </div> </div> </div> </article>  </section>  <section id="timeline-modal-8395" class="timeline-issues-article hidden"> <div class="jumbotron hero article bg-image" style="background-image: url('');"></div>  <article class="single"> <div class="container">  <div class="row"> <header class="col-md-12"> <div class="article-header"> <small class="article-category"> <a href="https://www.electric.coop/issues-and-policy/broadband">Broadband</a> </small> <h1 class="article-title">Commerce Secretary Sees ‘Mississippi Miracle’ of Rural Broadband at Co-op</h1> <h3 class="article-subtitle"></h3> </div> </header> </div>  <div class="row"> <section class="col-md-3"> <div class="article-meta"> <div class="row"> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-date"> <span>Published</span>June 29, 2021 </div> </div> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-author"> <span>Author</span> Cathy Cash </div> </div> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-share">  <div class="social-share post"> <ul class="social"> <li><a class="facebook-share" href="https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=&title=" target="_blank"></a></li> <li><a class="twitter-share" href="https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?source=&text=&via=NRECANews " target="_blank"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewBox="0 0 512 512"><path d="M389.2 48h70.6L305.6 224.2 487 464H345L233.7 318.6 106.5 464H35.8L200.7 275.5 26.8 48H172.4L272.9 180.9 389.2 48zM364.4 421.8h39.1L151.1 88h-42L364.4 421.8z"/></svg></a></li> <li><a class="linkedin-share" href="http://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=&title=&summary=" target="_blank"></a></li> </ul> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </section> <section class="col-md-9"> <div class="article-content">  <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="756" src="https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/CoastElectric-Secy-Raimondo-Ron-Barnes-trailer-IMG_2715-1024x756.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-8396" srcset="https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/CoastElectric-Secy-Raimondo-Ron-Barnes-trailer-IMG_2715-1024x756.jpg 1024w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/CoastElectric-Secy-Raimondo-Ron-Barnes-trailer-IMG_2715-300x221.jpg 300w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/CoastElectric-Secy-Raimondo-Ron-Barnes-trailer-IMG_2715-768x567.jpg 768w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/CoastElectric-Secy-Raimondo-Ron-Barnes-trailer-IMG_2715-1536x1133.jpg 1536w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/CoastElectric-Secy-Raimondo-Ron-Barnes-trailer-IMG_2715-2048x1511.jpg 2048w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption>Ron Barnes, Coast Electric president and CEO, gives Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo a deep dive into the co-op’s broadband build, which currently includes about 1,000 miles of fiber and connections to 1,700 homes and businesses. (Photo By: Coast Electric)</figcaption></figure> <p>Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo got an up-close view of the “Mississippi miracle” when she visited an electric cooperative leading the charge for delivering the fastest broadband to the state’s most rural communities.</p> <p>“Mississippi is one of the poorest states for a broadband buildout—especially its rural areas—but in three to four years it will be an entire gigabit state, really because of cooperatives,” said Ron Barnes, president and CEO of <a href="https://coastepa.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Coast Electric Power Association</a> based in Kiln. “It really is akin to a miracle.”</p> <p>Raimondo traveled to the Mississippi Gulf Coast on June 25 as the guest of Roger Wicker, the state’s senior senator and the top-ranking Republican on the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee. She made a special request to see rural broadband development, and Coast Electric was ready to show her around.</p> <p>Barnes and several co-op staff welcomed Raimondo and Wicker to the Picayune office, the current hub of broadband activity. CoastConnect launched in June 2020 and hooked up its first customer in November.</p> <p>Since the <a href="https://www.electric.coop/mississippi-law-frees-co-ops-to-pursue-broadband-issues-remain" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Mississippi Broadband Enabling Act of 2019</a>, 18 of the state’s 25 electric distribution co-ops have committed to serve the unserved with symmetrical gigabit internet access. About $1 billion in COVID-19 relief funds to the state are helping these fiber networks get built.</p> <p>Coast Electric has laid 1,000 miles of fiber and connected about 1,700 consumers. The six-phase, $150 million project will eventually serve 30,000 homes and businesses with 4,500 miles of fiber.</p> <p>“Initially, we wanted to build out in six years. Now we’re on pace to build out in four years,” Barnes said. “Where we started and where we are in less than a year is part of the ‘Mississippi miracle.’ We are doing it so quickly and in the throes of a pandemic.”</p> <p>Consumer-member Ashley Shuck told the secretary and the senator how the co-op’s reliable and affordable broadband has allowed her to return to her ancestral farm and raise her children while she works remotely.</p> <p>“Her story resonated and, I think, the secretary could really understand the value of what we’re doing,” said Barnes.</p> <p>He then guided Raimondo and Wicker on a short walk to a construction trailer where planning for the broadband project takes place. The walls are covered in maps of planned service areas, locations for equipment and other data.</p> <p>Federal dollars from the CARES Act and the Rural Digital Opportunity Fund helped spur deployment, and the co-op also has received loans from <a href="https://www.cobank.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">CoBank</a>.</p> <p>Barnes hopes Raimondo relays to President Joe Biden how co-ops are delivering broadband to unserved areas like they did with electricity 80 years ago and the importance of more funding to reach remote communities.</p> <p>“What makes an electric co-op special is we really, truly do care about serving our community,” he said. “We felt so honored and blessed to be able to tell our story of great success. We are getting the job done, but we still need financial support.”</p> <p>Coast Electric is one of nearly 200 electric co-ops across 39 states involved in retail broadband solutions to help close the digital divide.</p> <p><em>Cathy Cash is a staff writer for NRECA.</em></p> </div> </section> </div> <div class="row"> <div class="col-md-12"> <section class="timeline-article-footer"> <small>Next in the Issue</small> <a class="article-next-post" data-next-article="timeline-modal-8253" title="Treasury Guidance on Broadband Funds Leans Toward High Speeds, Low Prices">Treasury Guidance on Broadband Funds Leans Toward High Speeds, Low Prices <span class="arrow"><i class="ci-long-arrow-right"></i></span></a> </section> </div> </div> </div> </article>  </section>  <section id="timeline-modal-8253" class="timeline-issues-article hidden"> <div class="jumbotron hero article bg-image" style="background-image: url('');"></div>  <article class="single"> <div class="container">  <div class="row"> <header class="col-md-12"> <div class="article-header"> <small class="article-category"> <a href="https://www.electric.coop/issues-and-policy/broadband">Broadband</a> </small> <h1 class="article-title">Treasury Guidance on Broadband Funds Leans Toward High Speeds, Low Prices</h1> <h3 class="article-subtitle"></h3> </div> </header> </div>  <div class="row"> <section class="col-md-3"> <div class="article-meta"> <div class="row"> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-date"> <span>Published</span>May 18, 2021 </div> </div> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-author"> <span>Author</span> Cathy Cash </div> </div> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-share">  <div class="social-share post"> <ul class="social"> <li><a class="facebook-share" href="https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=&title=" target="_blank"></a></li> <li><a class="twitter-share" href="https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?source=&text=&via=NRECANews " target="_blank"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewBox="0 0 512 512"><path d="M389.2 48h70.6L305.6 224.2 487 464H345L233.7 318.6 106.5 464H35.8L200.7 275.5 26.8 48H172.4L272.9 180.9 389.2 48zM364.4 421.8h39.1L151.1 88h-42L364.4 421.8z"/></svg></a></li> <li><a class="linkedin-share" href="http://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=&title=&summary=" target="_blank"></a></li> </ul> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </section> <section class="col-md-9"> <div class="article-content">  <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="682" src="https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/TIPMONT-A-fiber-contractor-hangs-fiber-lines-outside-of-BAttle-Ground-Indiana-1-1024x682.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-8254" srcset="https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/TIPMONT-A-fiber-contractor-hangs-fiber-lines-outside-of-BAttle-Ground-Indiana-1-1024x682.jpg 1024w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/TIPMONT-A-fiber-contractor-hangs-fiber-lines-outside-of-BAttle-Ground-Indiana-1-300x200.jpg 300w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/TIPMONT-A-fiber-contractor-hangs-fiber-lines-outside-of-BAttle-Ground-Indiana-1-768x512.jpg 768w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/TIPMONT-A-fiber-contractor-hangs-fiber-lines-outside-of-BAttle-Ground-Indiana-1-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/TIPMONT-A-fiber-contractor-hangs-fiber-lines-outside-of-BAttle-Ground-Indiana-1.jpg 2000w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption>Interim guidelines from the U.S. Treasury on COVID-19 relief funds includes prioritizing rural broadband delivered by electric co-ops. (Photo Courtesy: Tipmont REMC)</figcaption></figure> <p>Interim guidance by the U.S. Treasury on how $350 billion in COVID-19 relief funds may be used for rural broadband recognizes the role electric cooperatives can play and the importance of affordable, future-proof internet access.</p> <p>“Although it is early in the process, we are pleased by how the temporary guidelines from Treasury may help deploy broadband to unserved rural communities,” said Brian O’Hara, NRECA senior regulatory director.</p> <p>“We look forward to ensuring co-ops and the communities they serve get a fair opportunity to benefit from these relief funds as the department prepares to finalize its guidance in the weeks ahead.”</p> <p>The Treasury Department released the interim guidance May 10 to facilitate disbursement of $219 billion in state and $130 billion in local government recovery funds from the <a href="https://www.electric.coop/covid-19-relief-passed-by-congress-helps-co-op-members-pay-electric-bills">$1.9 trillion American Rescue Plan Act</a>.</p> <p>Under the proposed guidance, funds may cover broadband deployment costs incurred from March 3 of this year through 2024. Eligible projects would serve areas without reliable wireline connections of at least 25/3 megabits per second download/upload. Treasury officials included electric co-ops among those that should have priority to receive funds.</p> <p><a href="https://www.cooperative.com/programs-services/government-relations/regulatory-issues/Pages/NRECA-Detailed-Summary-of-the-Interim-Final-Rule-(IFR)-Issued-by-U-S--Treasury-Guidance-on-use-of-Coronavirus-State-and-Loc.aspx" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">NRECA has summarized the Treasury guidance </a>and outlined several key components, including:</p> <ul class="wp-block-list"><li>Eligible projects should deliver at upload/download speeds of at least 100/100 Mbps.</li><li>Fiber optic infrastructure should be prioritized where feasible.</li><li>Last-mile broadband connections to homes and businesses are encouraged.</li><li>Internet providers receiving funds are encouraged to make the service affordable.</li><li>Assistance to hard-hit households in need of internet access or digital literacy is an eligible use of funds.</li></ul> <p>In April, <a href="https://www.electric.coop/nreca-urges-release-of-covid-19-relief-funds-without-local-restrictions">NRECA CEO Jim Matheson urged Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen</a> to issue guidelines that support broadband for rural America and to reject recommendations from large telecom providers that would disadvantage remote, economically challenged regions.</p> <p>“Any restriction, no matter how well intended, has the potential to create winners and losers and is likely to result in rural communities being further left behind in the digital economy,” he wrote.</p> <p><em>Cathy Cash is a staff writer for NRECA.</em></p> </div> </section> </div> <div class="row"> <div class="col-md-12"> <section class="timeline-article-footer"> <small>Next in the Issue</small> <a class="article-next-post" data-next-article="timeline-modal-8199" title="Vice President Harris Praises Electric Co-ops’ Rural Broadband Leadership">Vice President Harris Praises Electric Co-ops’ Rural Broadband Leadership <span class="arrow"><i class="ci-long-arrow-right"></i></span></a> </section> </div> </div> </div> </article>  </section>  <section id="timeline-modal-8199" class="timeline-issues-article hidden"> <div class="jumbotron hero article bg-image" style="background-image: url('');"></div>  <article class="single"> <div class="container">  <div class="row"> <header class="col-md-12"> <div class="article-header"> <small class="article-category"> <a href="https://www.electric.coop/issues-and-policy/broadband">Broadband</a> </small> <h1 class="article-title">Vice President Harris Praises Electric Co-ops’ Rural Broadband Leadership</h1> <h3 class="article-subtitle"></h3> </div> </header> </div>  <div class="row"> <section class="col-md-3"> <div class="article-meta"> <div class="row"> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-date"> <span>Published</span>April 27, 2021 </div> </div> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-author"> <span>Author</span> Cathy Cash </div> </div> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-share">  <div class="social-share post"> <ul class="social"> <li><a class="facebook-share" href="https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=&title=" target="_blank"></a></li> <li><a class="twitter-share" href="https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?source=&text=&via=NRECANews " target="_blank"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewBox="0 0 512 512"><path d="M389.2 48h70.6L305.6 224.2 487 464H345L233.7 318.6 106.5 464H35.8L200.7 275.5 26.8 48H172.4L272.9 180.9 389.2 48zM364.4 421.8h39.1L151.1 88h-42L364.4 421.8z"/></svg></a></li> <li><a class="linkedin-share" href="http://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=&title=&summary=" target="_blank"></a></li> </ul> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </section> <section class="col-md-9"> <div class="article-content">  <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="768" src="https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/NHEC-VPKH-and-CEOIMG_0853-1024x768.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-8200" srcset="https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/NHEC-VPKH-and-CEOIMG_0853-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/NHEC-VPKH-and-CEOIMG_0853-300x225.jpg 300w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/NHEC-VPKH-and-CEOIMG_0853-768x576.jpg 768w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/NHEC-VPKH-and-CEOIMG_0853-1536x1152.jpg 1536w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/NHEC-VPKH-and-CEOIMG_0853-2048x1536.jpg 2048w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption>Vice President Kamala Harris, alongside New Hampshire Electric Cooperative CEO Steve Camerino, praised electric co-ops for stepping up to deliver broadband in a visit to the Plymouth-based co-op. (Photo Courtesy: NHEC)</figcaption></figure> <p>As the Biden administration proposes a $100 billion investment in rural broadband, Vice President Kamala Harris praised the work of electric cooperatives in delivering affordable broadband internet access, comparing it to the initial co-op electrification efforts in the 1930s.</p> <p>“It’s the same thing that our country decided to do in 1936, saying, ‘Let’s get electricity to everybody,’ and rural America should not be left out of that priority,” Harris said during an April 23 visit to <a href="https://www.nhec.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">New Hampshire Electric Cooperative</a>.</p> <p>“And part of the <a href="https://www.cooperative.com/news/pages/president-biden-infrastructure-plan-what-electric-co-ops-need-to-know.aspx" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">American Jobs Plan</a> is not only $100 billion getting broadband to everyone, but with an emphasis on co-ops, with an emphasis on the nonprofits, with the emphasis on the ones that are being led by the community.</p> <p>“And so that’s why we’re here today: to see it and to understand that this really is an incredible moment in our history. Not unlike what our country did in the 1930s with electricity we can do now with broadband. So, let’s get it done.”</p> <p><a href="https://www.wmur.com/article/full-video-vp-kamala-harris-visits-nh-electric-co-op-office-in-plymouth-new-hampshire/36212083" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Harris was welcomed to the Plymouth-based co-op</a> by Sen. Maggie Hassan, D-N.H., her former colleague in the U.S. Senate, along with NHEC President and CEO Steve Camerino and co-op board members and staff.</p> <p>As the COVID-19 pandemic stressed the crucial importance of broadband, NHEC last year secured two grants from the state’s broadband expansion program that received <a href="https://www.electric.coop/nreca-urges-congress-to-include-co-op-aid-in-coronavirus-relief-package">CARES Act funds</a>. Within three months, the co-op used the aid to build 100 miles of fiber networks in four towns and provide nearly 1,000 previously unserved members with access to high-speed internet.</p> <p>“That’s phenomenal,” Harris said of the 100-miles-in-100-days feat. “What you’re doing here on the ground, literally, you need the support, you deserve the support from our federal government.”</p> <p>Camerino attributed the co-op’s efficiency to its member focus and said its not-for-profit status keeps broadband affordable. The co-op wants to deliver broadband to all 118 towns it serves.</p> <p>“Having broadband throughout our service territory actually will help us further our strategic plan as an electric cooperative because it will help with grid modernization and support widespread adoption of distributed energy resources, which is part of our vision for the future,” he told the vice president.</p> <p>“But we really can’t do that alone. Just like back in the ’30s, we need some federal support so that we can be sure that we can get this off the ground and not have electric consumers bearing the financial risk.”</p> <p>Jeff Bird, NHEC line design technician, described building the co-op’s fiber backbone infrastructure and walking rural pole routes, where he met members who were “extremely happy with the fact that we were going to be having high-speed broadband.”</p> <p>The vice president got a firsthand look at equipment for building a fiber network and thanked the co-op for its leadership.</p> <p>“I’m so glad that you all are doing this work and that we could bring attention to it as a model for our country of what can be done and what’s possible and the talent that we have on the ground to get it done,” Harris said.</p> <p><strong>Read more:</strong><br><a href="https://www.electric.coop/how-the-biden-administration-can-close-the-digital-divide">How the Biden Administration Can Close the Digital Divide </a></p> </div> </section> </div> <div class="row"> <div class="col-md-12"> <section class="timeline-article-footer"> <small>Next in the Issue</small> <a class="article-next-post" data-next-article="timeline-modal-8183" title="NRECA Urges Release of COVID-19 Relief Funds Without Local Restrictions">NRECA Urges Release of COVID-19 Relief Funds Without Local Restrictions <span class="arrow"><i class="ci-long-arrow-right"></i></span></a> </section> </div> </div> </div> </article>  </section>  <section id="timeline-modal-8183" class="timeline-issues-article hidden"> <div class="jumbotron hero article bg-image" style="background-image: url('');"></div>  <article class="single"> <div class="container">  <div class="row"> <header class="col-md-12"> <div class="article-header"> <small class="article-category"> <a href="https://www.electric.coop/issues-and-policy/broadband">Broadband</a> </small> <h1 class="article-title">NRECA Urges Release of COVID-19 Relief Funds Without Local Restrictions</h1> <h3 class="article-subtitle"></h3> </div> </header> </div>  <div class="row"> <section class="col-md-3"> <div class="article-meta"> <div class="row"> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-date"> <span>Published</span>April 20, 2021 </div> </div> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-author"> <span>Author</span> Cathy Cash </div> </div> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-share">  <div class="social-share post"> <ul class="social"> <li><a class="facebook-share" href="https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=&title=" target="_blank"></a></li> <li><a class="twitter-share" href="https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?source=&text=&via=NRECANews " target="_blank"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewBox="0 0 512 512"><path d="M389.2 48h70.6L305.6 224.2 487 464H345L233.7 318.6 106.5 464H35.8L200.7 275.5 26.8 48H172.4L272.9 180.9 389.2 48zM364.4 421.8h39.1L151.1 88h-42L364.4 421.8z"/></svg></a></li> <li><a class="linkedin-share" href="http://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=&title=&summary=" target="_blank"></a></li> </ul> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </section> <section class="col-md-9"> <div class="article-content">  <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="684" src="https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/REC_Fiber-1024x684.jpg" alt="NRECA urges the Treasury Department to release COVID-19 relief funds to states and localities without restrictions that could inhibit vital broadband projects. (Photo Courtesy: Rappahannock Electric Cooperative)" class="wp-image-8180" srcset="https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/REC_Fiber-1024x684.jpg 1024w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/REC_Fiber-300x200.jpg 300w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/REC_Fiber-768x513.jpg 768w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/REC_Fiber.jpg 1200w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption>NRECA urges the Treasury Department to release COVID-19 relief funds to states and localities without restrictions that could inhibit broadband projects. (Photo Courtesy: Rappahannock Electric Cooperative) </figcaption></figure> <p>As billions of dollars in federal COVID-19 relief funds are set to flow to states and localities, NRECA wants to clear the way for support to vital projects in rural America, like broadband.</p> <p>The <a href="https://www.electric.coop/covid-19-relief-passed-by-congress-helps-co-op-members-pay-electric-bills">$1.9 trillion American Rescue Plan</a>, signed by President Joe Biden on March 11, provides $219 billion for states and $130 billion for local governments in fiscal recovery funds that can be used for broadband and another $10 billion for new capital projects. The Treasury Department is writing rules to govern the first half of these funds, expected to be released around May 11.</p> <p>NRECA is asking the department to reject efforts by some large telecommunications companies to shape the rules in ways that disadvantage regions without adequate broadband access.</p> <p>“We understand that large cable providers and telcos—some of which have received billions in federal aid yet bypassed rural communities for years—are urging guidelines that prohibit these stimulus funds from going to rural areas that may receive other federal or state broadband help,” said Brian O’Hara, senior regulatory director at NRECA.</p> <p>“Treasury might also be encouraged to rely on faulty maps from the Federal Communications Commission on what rural areas are already connected to high-speed internet,” he said.</p> <p>To clarify these concerns and the crucial role electric co-ops play, <a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://www.cooperative.com/programs-services/government-relations/regulatory-issues/Documents/NRECA%20ARP%20Treasury%20Letter.04.14.2021_FINAL%20(002).pdf" target="_blank">NRECA CEO Jim Matheson is urging Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen</a> to set guidelines that in no way limit the ability of states and localities to address their specific needs.</p> <p>“Millions of rural Americans without access to broadband are fighting an uphill battle in the digital economy,” Matheson wrote the secretary. “That is why nearly 200 electric cooperatives are involved in diverse solutions to provide retail broadband and help close the digital divide.”</p> <p>The department, in any formulating guidelines on broadband funds, should be aware that the FCC’s current data on rural broadband availability has been proven to be inaccurate, NRECA said. The FCC has acknowledged that it may take a couple of years to collect the data necessary to accurately identify unserved areas.</p> <p>With that in mind, Matheson wrote, “Any restriction, no matter how well intended, has the potential to create winners and losers and is likely to result in rural communities being further left behind in the digital economy.”</p> <p>Matheson also underscored that in passing the relief bill, “Congress intentionally provided broad latitude on how best to use these funds.”</p> <p>“Restrictive guidance from the [Treasury] Department is contrary to the statutory language and would hamper the ability of state and local policymakers—who are much more knowledgeable about the level of broadband service available within their jurisdictions—to address unique local barriers to broadband deployment,”  he wrote.</p> <p>NRECA is encouraging electric co-ops to reach out to their local and state governments’ broadband or economic development offices regarding the allocation of these funds.</p> <p><em>Cathy Cash is a staff writer at NRECA.</em></p> </div> </section> </div> <div class="row"> <div class="col-md-12"> <section class="timeline-article-footer"> <small>Next in the Issue</small> <a class="article-next-post" data-next-article="timeline-modal-8172" title="A Historic Connection: Choptank Ceremony Honors Electricity and Broadband Firsts">A Historic Connection: Choptank Ceremony Honors Electricity and Broadband Firsts <span class="arrow"><i class="ci-long-arrow-right"></i></span></a> </section> </div> </div> </div> </article>  </section>  <section id="timeline-modal-8172" class="timeline-issues-article hidden"> <div class="jumbotron hero article bg-image" style="background-image: url('');"></div>  <article class="single"> <div class="container">  <div class="row"> <header class="col-md-12"> <div class="article-header"> <small class="article-category"> <a href="https://www.electric.coop/issues-and-policy/broadband">Broadband</a> </small> <h1 class="article-title">A Historic Connection: Choptank Ceremony Honors Electricity and Broadband Firsts</h1> <h3 class="article-subtitle"></h3> </div> </header> </div>  <div class="row"> <section class="col-md-3"> <div class="article-meta"> <div class="row"> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-date"> <span>Published</span>April 20, 2021 </div> </div> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-author"> <span>Author</span> Cathy Cash </div> </div> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-share">  <div class="social-share post"> <ul class="social"> <li><a class="facebook-share" href="https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=&title=" target="_blank"></a></li> <li><a class="twitter-share" href="https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?source=&text=&via=NRECANews " target="_blank"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewBox="0 0 512 512"><path d="M389.2 48h70.6L305.6 224.2 487 464H345L233.7 318.6 106.5 464H35.8L200.7 275.5 26.8 48H172.4L272.9 180.9 389.2 48zM364.4 421.8h39.1L151.1 88h-42L364.4 421.8z"/></svg></a></li> <li><a class="linkedin-share" href="http://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=&title=&summary=" target="_blank"></a></li> </ul> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </section> <section class="col-md-9"> <div class="article-content">  <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="683" src="https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/ChoptankFiber33-1024x683.jpg" alt="Choptank Electric CEO Mike Malandro, alongside Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan (left), cuts the ribbon officiating its first broadband connection to a Denton, Maryland, family whose co-op ties go back to 1939. (Photo By: Alexis Matsui/NRECA)" class="wp-image-8174" srcset="https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/ChoptankFiber33-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/ChoptankFiber33-300x200.jpg 300w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/ChoptankFiber33-768x512.jpg 768w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/ChoptankFiber33-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/ChoptankFiber33-2048x1365.jpg 2048w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption>Choptank Electric CEO Mike Malandro, alongside Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan (left), cuts the ribbon officiating its first broadband connection to a Denton, Maryland, family whose co-op ties go back to 1939. (Photo By: Alexis Matsui/NRECA)</figcaption></figure> <p>Archie Carroll is old enough to recall how <a href="https://www.choptankelectric.coop/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Choptank Electric Cooperative</a> changed his life as one of the first families to get electricity in 1939.</p> <p>Now, Choptank is doing the same for his daughter, who was picked to be the co-op’s first broadband connection.</p> <p>At an April 15 ceremony, Choptank Fiber, the co-op’s wholly owned broadband subsidiary, completed its inaugural high-speed internet service at the Denton, Maryland, home of Sherry and Gordon Hollingsworth.</p> <p>“Broadband is the new electricity,” said Sherry, whose father’s and mother’s family farms were both among the first to get power from Choptank in 1939.</p> <p>“Back then, electricity did so much for the farmers. In today’s world, so much relies on the internet. It’s just huge not to have it—not having it makes life a lot more difficult.”</p> <figure class="wp-block-embed-youtube wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> <div class="epyt-video-wrapper"><iframe loading="lazy" id="_ytid_33585" width="800" height="450" data-origwidth="800" data-origheight="450" data-relstop="1" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/aFri5wOnIWQ?enablejsapi=1&autoplay=0&cc_load_policy=0&cc_lang_pref=&iv_load_policy=1&loop=0&modestbranding=1&rel=0&fs=1&playsinline=0&autohide=2&theme=dark&color=red&controls=1&" class="__youtube_prefs__ epyt-is-override no-lazyload" title="YouTube player" allow="fullscreen; accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen data-no-lazy="1" data-skipgform_ajax_framebjll=""></iframe></div> </div></figure> <p>Her dad knows difficult. As a child, Carroll said he often woke up to a water glass frozen over and the sight of his mother wiping soot from the many oil lamps that lit their home. At night, he and his siblings would pile on the blankets to stay warm.</p> <p>One day, walking home from the school bus stop, he saw workers driving in stakes to mark where poles would be raised near the family dairy farm. </p> <p>“This one guy said to me, ‘If you want electricity, don’t bother with the stakes. If you see anybody messing with them, tell them leave them alone,’” said Carroll, who was 8 then and turns 90 in August. “It wasn’t too long after that that we had electricity.”</p> <p>Within a year, Carroll said his father bought electric milking machines that boosted production. In 1947, his dad built an electrified milking parlor with greater automation and safety. </p> <p>“There were many factors that were made so much better with electricity,” said Carroll, a lifelong Choptank member. “It’s strange to me that my daughter does not have internet since they’re just off a main thoroughfare.”</p> <p>Choptank got top-drawer recognition at the ribbon-cutting, with Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan presenting a citation marking the co-op’s commitment to expanding broadband access on the state’s Eastern Shore.</p> <p>“Our real goal is to change the quality of life for rural members,” said Mike Malandro, Choptank president and CEO.</p> <figure class="wp-block-embed-youtube wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> <div class="epyt-video-wrapper"><iframe loading="lazy" id="_ytid_38721" width="800" height="450" data-origwidth="800" data-origheight="450" data-relstop="1" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/v_APYh6F5Fs?enablejsapi=1&autoplay=0&cc_load_policy=0&cc_lang_pref=&iv_load_policy=1&loop=0&modestbranding=1&rel=0&fs=1&playsinline=0&autohide=2&theme=dark&color=red&controls=1&" class="__youtube_prefs__ epyt-is-override no-lazyload" title="YouTube player" allow="fullscreen; accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen data-no-lazy="1" data-skipgform_ajax_framebjll=""></iframe></div> </div></figure> <p>The Hollingworths, like many rural residents, struggled for years to get reliable high-speed internet to carry on their day-to-day activities. That included running a trucking business at their home property, for which they had to purchase an expensive T1 line for voice and data.</p> <p>“Comcast would always say if we got 20 houses to sign up, they would provide service,” said Sherry. “It’s been 15 years. The neighborhood has tried to convince them to do it, but they never ever did.”</p> <p>She said Choptank Fiber will allow them to do their business, banking, doctor appointments, shopping and, most importantly, family visits online. Her father lives in a retirement community with high-speed connectivity. One son is moving to San Francisco. Another lives outside Baltimore. Plus, regular check-ins with the grandchildren, who they hope may extend their visits if there’s broadband for school.</p> <p>“Communicating with the grandchildren—that’s the bright side of the story,” said Gordon. “We’ve been waiting patiently.”</p> <p>Adds Sherry, “If we didn’t have the pandemic, we’d probably have a party.”</p> <p><em>Watch the full ribbon-cutting of Choptank Electric’s first broadband connection:</em></p> <figure class="wp-block-embed-youtube wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> <div class="epyt-video-wrapper"><iframe loading="lazy" id="_ytid_35863" width="800" height="450" data-origwidth="800" data-origheight="450" data-relstop="1" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/PsjDBFu1sNk?enablejsapi=1&autoplay=0&cc_load_policy=0&cc_lang_pref=&iv_load_policy=1&loop=0&modestbranding=1&rel=0&fs=1&playsinline=0&autohide=2&theme=dark&color=red&controls=1&" class="__youtube_prefs__ epyt-is-override no-lazyload" title="YouTube player" allow="fullscreen; accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen data-no-lazy="1" data-skipgform_ajax_framebjll=""></iframe></div> </div></figure> <p><em>Cathy Cash is a staff writer at NRECA.</em></p> </div> </section> </div> <div class="row"> <div class="col-md-12"> <section class="timeline-article-footer"> <small>Next in the Issue</small> <a class="article-next-post" data-next-article="timeline-modal-8157" title="Broadband ‘Vital to Survival’ of Rural America, Co-op CEO Tells Congress">Broadband ‘Vital to Survival’ of Rural America, Co-op CEO Tells Congress <span class="arrow"><i class="ci-long-arrow-right"></i></span></a> </section> </div> </div> </div> </article>  </section>  <section id="timeline-modal-8157" class="timeline-issues-article hidden"> <div class="jumbotron hero article bg-image" style="background-image: url('');"></div>  <article class="single"> <div class="container">  <div class="row"> <header class="col-md-12"> <div class="article-header"> <small class="article-category"> <a href="https://www.electric.coop/issues-and-policy/broadband">Broadband</a> </small> <h1 class="article-title">Broadband ‘Vital to Survival’ of Rural America, Co-op CEO Tells Congress</h1> <h3 class="article-subtitle"></h3> </div> </header> </div>  <div class="row"> <section class="col-md-3"> <div class="article-meta"> <div class="row"> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-date"> <span>Published</span>April 20, 2021 </div> </div> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-author"> <span>Author</span> Erin Kelly </div> </div> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-share">  <div class="social-share post"> <ul class="social"> <li><a class="facebook-share" href="https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=&title=" target="_blank"></a></li> <li><a class="twitter-share" href="https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?source=&text=&via=NRECANews " target="_blank"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewBox="0 0 512 512"><path d="M389.2 48h70.6L305.6 224.2 487 464H345L233.7 318.6 106.5 464H35.8L200.7 275.5 26.8 48H172.4L272.9 180.9 389.2 48zM364.4 421.8h39.1L151.1 88h-42L364.4 421.8z"/></svg></a></li> <li><a class="linkedin-share" href="http://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=&title=&summary=" target="_blank"></a></li> </ul> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </section> <section class="col-md-9"> <div class="article-content">  <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="683" src="https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/Ajit-Pai-visits-MEC-1-1024x683.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-8158" srcset="https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/Ajit-Pai-visits-MEC-1-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/Ajit-Pai-visits-MEC-1-300x200.jpg 300w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/Ajit-Pai-visits-MEC-1-768x512.jpg 768w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/Ajit-Pai-visits-MEC-1.jpg 1200w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption>Electric cooperatives urgently need federal funding to bring high-speed internet service to rural areas, Otsego Electric Cooperative CEO Tim Johnson told a House panel. (Photo By: Casey Clark/MEC)</figcaption></figure> <p>Electric cooperatives “need continued public funding immediately” to bring broadband to rural communities left behind by commercial internet providers, <a href="https://otsegoec.coop/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Otsego Electric Cooperative</a> CEO Tim Johnson told the <a href="https://agriculture.house.gov/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">House Agriculture Committee</a> on Tuesday.</p> <p>Johnson said his small Hartwick, New York-based co-op would never have been able to offer high-speed internet service to its 4,900 consumer-members in a high-poverty part of the state without government funding support.</p> <p>“This is true for most electric cooperatives,” Johnson said in testimony before the committee.</p> <p>Because many co-ops operate in sparsely populated regions, the cost of construction “would not be recoverable within commercial lending requirements.”</p> <div class="wp-block-image"><figure class="alignright size-large is-resized"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/Johnson.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-8159" width="160" height="208" srcset="https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/Johnson.jpg 419w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/Johnson-231x300.jpg 231w" sizes="(max-width: 160px) 100vw, 160px" /><figcaption>Otsego Electric Cooperative CEO Tim Johnson </figcaption></figure></div> <p>“The costs of operations are also much more difficult to cover due to the lack of density and therefore lower revenues,” he said.</p> <p>Yet co-ops also have a big advantage in expanding broadband service in rural areas, Johnson said.</p> <p>“We are located in these areas, so we are familiar with the terrain and existing infrastructure, and we are stable organizations that have served these communities for over 75 years,” he told lawmakers at a committee hearing to examine broadband needs and opportunities in rural America.</p> <p>“Cooperatives have skilled manpower, equipment and vehicles and we own the poles and rights of way so we can control some of our make-ready costs—the process of ensuring poles are ready and in proper condition to have fiber hung on them—through planning and proactive maintenance schedules.”</p> <p>More than 200 electric co-ops in 37 states are deploying broadband and about 100 more are considering it, Johnson said.</p> <p>“This cooperative commitment is vital for the one-quarter of all rural Americans who still lack access to broadband, compared to less than 2% in urban areas,” he said.</p> <p>OEC began offering high-speed, affordable broadband service to its members in 2017. The co-op now has service available for all its members “with state-of-the-art fiber to the home service,” Johnson said.</p> <p>“It has provided blessings in many ways during the COVID-19 crisis,” he testified. “We immediately prioritized new service connections to doctors, nurses, other health care professionals and support personnel, teleworkers and students when our state was shut down.”</p> <p>OEC recently was awarded more than $7 million from the <a href="https://www.electric.coop/along-those-lines-fcc-rdof-broadband-auction" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Federal Communications Commission’s Rural Development Opportunity Fund auction</a> to extend broadband service to residents outside the co-op’s territory.</p> <p>Providing flexible federal funding to electric co-ops to expand broadband is an efficient use of taxpayer dollars, Johnson said. Construction costs within OEC’s system were more than 50% lower than the costs of building outside of its electric footprint on other electric utility systems, he said.</p> <p>Without broadband, rural communities won’t be able to attract economic development and will be left behind in the digital age, Johnson said.</p> <p>“Broadband is vital to the survival and growth of both the communities OEC serves and all of rural America,” Johnson said.</p> <p><em>Erin Kelly is a staff writer at NRECA.</em></p> </div> </section> </div> <div class="row"> <div class="col-md-12"> <section class="timeline-article-footer"> <small>Next in the Issue</small> <a class="article-next-post" data-next-article="timeline-modal-8162" title="Matheson: Co-ops to Lobby Congress on RUS Debt, Broadband, Incentivizing Innovation">Matheson: Co-ops to Lobby Congress on RUS Debt, Broadband, Incentivizing Innovation <span class="arrow"><i class="ci-long-arrow-right"></i></span></a> </section> </div> </div> </div> </article>  </section>  <section id="timeline-modal-8162" class="timeline-issues-article hidden"> <div class="jumbotron hero article bg-image" style="background-image: url('');"></div>  <article class="single"> <div class="container">  <div class="row"> <header class="col-md-12"> <div class="article-header"> <small class="article-category"> <a href="https://www.electric.coop/issues-and-policy/broadband">Broadband</a> </small> <h1 class="article-title">Matheson: Co-ops to Lobby Congress on RUS Debt, Broadband, Incentivizing Innovation</h1> <h3 class="article-subtitle"></h3> </div> </header> </div>  <div class="row"> <section class="col-md-3"> <div class="article-meta"> <div class="row"> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-date"> <span>Published</span>April 19, 2021 </div> </div> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-author"> <span>Author</span> Erin Kelly </div> </div> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-share">  <div class="social-share post"> <ul class="social"> <li><a class="facebook-share" href="https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=&title=" target="_blank"></a></li> <li><a class="twitter-share" href="https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?source=&text=&via=NRECANews " target="_blank"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewBox="0 0 512 512"><path d="M389.2 48h70.6L305.6 224.2 487 464H345L233.7 318.6 106.5 464H35.8L200.7 275.5 26.8 48H172.4L272.9 180.9 389.2 48zM364.4 421.8h39.1L151.1 88h-42L364.4 421.8z"/></svg></a></li> <li><a class="linkedin-share" href="http://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=&title=&summary=" target="_blank"></a></li> </ul> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </section> <section class="col-md-9"> <div class="article-content">  <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="683" src="https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/GettyImages-1297672676-1024x683.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-8163" srcset="https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/GettyImages-1297672676-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/GettyImages-1297672676-300x200.jpg 300w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/GettyImages-1297672676-768x512.jpg 768w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/GettyImages-1297672676-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/GettyImages-1297672676-2048x1365.jpg 2048w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption>NRECA CEO Jim Matheson talked to reporters about co-op priorities in Congress as the annual Legislative Conference began. (Photo By: John Baggaley/Getty Images)</figcaption></figure> <p>More than 1,500 electric cooperative leaders from across the country will host online meetings with over 350 members of Congress this week as part of NRECA’s annual <a href="https://www.cooperative.com/news/pages/nrecas-legislative-conference-to-focus-on-virtual-advocacy-on-three-key-issues.aspx" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Legislative Conference</a>, CEO Jim Matheson told reporters Monday.</p> <p>Co-op CEOs and directors are essential in helping lawmakers understand how key energy issues affect local constituents, Matheson said during a virtual news conference.</p> <p>“That connection back home is really significant for us in terms of our identity with elected officials,” he said.</p> <p>Co-ops will be advocating for three major issues during the virtual conference:</p> <ul class="wp-block-list"><li>Repricing Rural Utilities Service loans so that co-ops can benefit from today’s low interest rates without being hit with prepayment penalties.</li><li>Investing in broadband to help close the digital divide that has left many rural areas behind.</li><li>Providing comparable incentives to tax-exempt co-ops for energy innovation.</li></ul> <p>On the RUS debt issue, co-ops are urging Congress to pass the bipartisan <a href="https://www.electric.coop/lawmakers-reintroduce-rus-loan-repricing-bill-to-save-co-ops-10-billion">Flexible Financing for Rural America Act</a>, which could save co-ops more than $10 billion in interest payments on their loans. Matheson said NRECA is pushing lawmakers to include the legislation in the infrastructure package that they are expected to take up later this year.</p> <p>“I have yet to meet anyone who doesn’t support this idea, although we all know it’s hard to get anything through Congress these days,” he said.</p> <p>Matheson called broadband “an essential aspect of life” that is still being denied to more than 23 million people in rural America. More than 200 co-ops provide high-speed internet service to their consumer-members, and co-op leaders are calling on Congress to support broadband financing that gives priority to projects in areas with the lowest population density.</p> <p>Tax-exempt co-ops that want to invest in innovative energy technologies also are looking for direct federal incentive payments comparable to the tax incentives paid to for-profit utilities, Matheson said. Because they don’t pay federal taxes, co-ops and municipal utilities—which together make up 30% of the electric utility industry—aren’t able to take advantage of incentives for renewable energy, carbon capture, battery storage and other technologies.</p> <p>“We just want parity,” Matheson said. “The direct-pay method seems to be where consensus is growing on Capitol Hill.”</p> <p>In answers to reporters’ questions about President Joe Biden’s climate change policies, Matheson said he doesn’t think it’s realistic to eliminate all carbon dioxide emissions from the power sector by 2035.</p> <p>“Zero carbon by 2035—we think that’s an overly ambitious goal,” he said. “We’re having trouble seeing how we get there. Where’s the technology today that can allow that to happen, to get all the way to zero?”</p> <p>Co-ops are concerned about how climate policies will affect their primary goal of providing reliable, affordable power to their members, many of whom live in high-poverty areas, Matheson said.</p> <p>“What are going to be the commercially viable, always available and affordable carbon-free technologies to provide electricity?” Matheson asked. “People can set goal X, Y or Z, but are the lights going to go on whenever consumers flip the switch? And will they be able to afford it? Those are the questions we’re asking.”</p> <p><em>Erin Kelly is a staff writer for NRECA.</em></p> </div> </section> </div> <div class="row"> <div class="col-md-12"> <section class="timeline-article-footer"> <small>Next in the Issue</small> <a class="article-next-post" data-next-article="timeline-modal-8154" title="1,500 Electric Co-op Leaders Convene Virtual Fly-ins; Grassley Earns Distinguished Service Award">1,500 Electric Co-op Leaders Convene Virtual Fly-ins; Grassley Earns Distinguished Service Award <span class="arrow"><i class="ci-long-arrow-right"></i></span></a> </section> </div> </div> </div> </article>  </section>  <section id="timeline-modal-8154" class="timeline-issues-article hidden"> <div class="jumbotron hero article bg-image" style="background-image: url('');"></div>  <article class="single"> <div class="container">  <div class="row"> <header class="col-md-12"> <div class="article-header"> <small class="article-category"> <a href="https://www.electric.coop/issues-and-policy/broadband">Broadband</a> </small> <h1 class="article-title">1,500 Electric Co-op Leaders Convene Virtual Fly-ins; Grassley Earns Distinguished Service Award</h1> <h3 class="article-subtitle"></h3> </div> </header> </div>  <div class="row"> <section class="col-md-3"> <div class="article-meta"> <div class="row"> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-date"> <span>Published</span>April 16, 2021 </div> </div> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-author"> <span>Author</span> Media Relations </div> </div> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-share">  <div class="social-share post"> <ul class="social"> <li><a class="facebook-share" href="https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=&title=" target="_blank"></a></li> <li><a class="twitter-share" href="https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?source=&text=&via=NRECANews " target="_blank"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewBox="0 0 512 512"><path d="M389.2 48h70.6L305.6 224.2 487 464H345L233.7 318.6 106.5 464H35.8L200.7 275.5 26.8 48H172.4L272.9 180.9 389.2 48zM364.4 421.8h39.1L151.1 88h-42L364.4 421.8z"/></svg></a></li> <li><a class="linkedin-share" href="http://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=&title=&summary=" target="_blank"></a></li> </ul> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </section> <section class="col-md-9"> <div class="article-content">  <p><strong>ARLINGTON, Va.</strong> – More than 1,500 electric cooperative CEOs and other co-op representatives will take co-op priorities to Capitol Hill April 19-23 for the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association’s (NRECA) Legislative Conference and congressional visits. The conference and meetings with lawmakers will be conducted virtually.</p> <p>“Because they are built by and belong to the communities they serve, electric cooperatives have a unique perspective on local needs and are strong advocates for the rural families and businesses they serve,” said NRECA CEO Jim Matheson. “Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, NRECA and our members have kept open lines of communication with elected officials to advance our shared priorities and secure critical assistance for co-op consumer-members. We look forward to continuing these conversations next week as thousands of co-op advocates conduct virtual conversations with lawmakers.”</p> <p><strong>Three electric cooperative priority issues</strong></p> <p>Co-op leaders will highlight three priorities during the congressional visits:</p> <ul class="wp-block-list"><li>Refinancing Rural Utilities Service (RUS) loans: Co-ops are <a href="https://www.electric.coop/electric-co-ops-congress-resume-push-for-debt-relief-to-aid-rural-communities">pressing for passage</a> of The Flexible Financing for Rural America Act (<a href="https://www.congress.gov/bill/117th-congress/house-bill/2244?q=%7B%22search%22%3A%5B%22HR+2244%22%5D%7D&r=1&s=7">H.R. 2244</a>, <a href="https://www.congress.gov/bill/117th-congress/senate-bill/978?q=%7B%22search%22%3A%5B%22S.978%22%5D%7D&r=1&s=6">S. 978</a>). The bill would provide critical economic relief by allowing electric cooperatives to refinance USDA Rural Utilities Service loans at lower interest rates without penalty—just as other businesses do. This change would save co-ops and their consumer-members as much as $10 billion.<br><br></li><li>Rural broadband: More than 200 co-ops provide broadband service to their consumer-members, but an expanded combination of federal grant and loan funding is essential to close the digital divide. Co-ops are calling on Congress to: support sustained broadband financing that prioritizes projects in areas with the lowest population densities, and provide greater oversight of the Federal Communications Commission to ensure winning Rural Development Opportunity Fund (RDOF) Phase I bidders have the financial, technical and operational ability to provide quality broadband service. The FCC estimates that 34 million Americans still lack access to high-speed internet, the vast majority of whom live in rural communities served by electric co-ops.<br><br></li><li>Comparable tax credits for energy innovation: As not-for-profit businesses, electric co-ops cannot access certain clean energy innovation tax incentives that are available to other businesses. Congress should address this by providing comparable access to federal investment and production tax incentives and additional financing options, such as a clean and renewable energy bond program, to support co-op projects that promote clean, affordable, and reliable electricity.</li></ul> <p><strong>Sen. Grassley wins Distinguished Service Award</strong></p> <p>Prior to NRECA’s Legislative Conference, Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) was presented with NRECA’s Distinguished Service Award, which recognizes a lawmaker’s outstanding contribution to the progress of electric cooperatives and the public power program in the United States.</p> <p><a href="https://vimeo.com/522381899/fe2a522237">Video: Sen. Grassley receives NRECA’s 2021 Distinguished Service Award</a></p> <p>Grassley was recognized for his unwavering support for America’s electric cooperatives throughout his six decades of public service, including his hometown co-op, Butler County REC. He played a leading role in advancing key electric co-op policy priorities, including enactment in 2019 of the RURAL Act, which saved co-ops from losing their tax-exempt status if they received government grants surpassing 15% of their non-member income. This legislation saved electric co-ops millions of dollars in federal taxes that now go directly toward serving co-op consumer-members.</p> <p>Grassley also championed legislation to repeal the “Cadillac Tax” imposed on health care benefits that cooperatives provide for their employees. NRECA estimated that its member cooperatives would save more than $30 million a year in pension insurance premiums because of this legislation.</p> <p>“Butler County REC is proud to be Sen. Grassley’s hometown cooperative,” said Craig Codner, the co-op’s CEO. “We appreciate his advocacy for cooperatives. From his support of legislation to his morning run with Iowa Youth Tour participants, his dedication is evident. We congratulate Sen. Grassley on his much-deserved Distinguished Service Award.”</p> <p>“We are honored that NRECA has recognized Sen. Grassley with this important award,” said Chuck Soderberg, executive vice president, Iowa Association of Electric Cooperatives. “Throughout his decades of public service, Sen. Grassley has gone above and beyond to fight for co-ops, their employees, their communities, and the cooperative business model. We are incredibly grateful to have Sen. Grassley serving the state of Iowa and especially grateful that we can call him a true friend of America’s electric cooperatives.”</p> <p>“Sen. Grassley is an exemplary friend to electric co-ops and understands well the important role they play across the nation,” said Matheson. “He has helped pave the way for co-op priorities on Capitol Hill, always with the goal of improving the quality of life in rural communities. I commend Sen. Grassley for his unwavering focus on the needs of his constituents and his commitment to ensuring the continued availability of affordable and reliable power.”</p> <p><em>The </em><a href="http://www.electric.coop/"><em>National Rural Electric Cooperative Association</em></a><em> is the national trade association representing nearly 900 local electric cooperatives. From growing suburbs to remote farming communities, electric co-ops serve as engines of economic development for 42 million Americans across 56 percent of the nation’s landscape. As local businesses built by the consumers they serve, electric cooperatives have meaningful ties to rural America and invest $12 billion annually in their communities.</em> </p> <p class="has-text-align-center">-###-</p> </div> </section> </div> <div class="row"> <div class="col-md-12"> <section class="timeline-article-footer"> <small>Next in the Issue</small> <a class="article-next-post" data-next-article="timeline-modal-8146" title="How the Biden Administration Can Close the Digital Divide">How the Biden Administration Can Close the Digital Divide <span class="arrow"><i class="ci-long-arrow-right"></i></span></a> </section> </div> </div> </div> </article>  </section>  <section id="timeline-modal-8146" class="timeline-issues-article hidden"> <div class="jumbotron hero article bg-image" style="background-image: url('');"></div>  <article class="single"> <div class="container">  <div class="row"> <header class="col-md-12"> <div class="article-header"> <small class="article-category"> <a href="https://www.electric.coop/issues-and-policy/broadband">Broadband</a> </small> <h1 class="article-title">How the Biden Administration Can Close the Digital Divide</h1> <h3 class="article-subtitle"></h3> </div> </header> </div>  <div class="row"> <section class="col-md-3"> <div class="article-meta"> <div class="row"> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-date"> <span>Published</span>April 15, 2021 </div> </div> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-author"> <span>Author</span> Cathy Cash </div> </div> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-share">  <div class="social-share post"> <ul class="social"> <li><a class="facebook-share" href="https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=&title=" target="_blank"></a></li> <li><a class="twitter-share" href="https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?source=&text=&via=NRECANews " target="_blank"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewBox="0 0 512 512"><path d="M389.2 48h70.6L305.6 224.2 487 464H345L233.7 318.6 106.5 464H35.8L200.7 275.5 26.8 48H172.4L272.9 180.9 389.2 48zM364.4 421.8h39.1L151.1 88h-42L364.4 421.8z"/></svg></a></li> <li><a class="linkedin-share" href="http://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=&title=&summary=" target="_blank"></a></li> </ul> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </section> <section class="col-md-9"> <div class="article-content">  <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="768" src="https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/PBEC-Ruralband-IMG_3594-1024x768.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-8147" srcset="https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/PBEC-Ruralband-IMG_3594-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/PBEC-Ruralband-IMG_3594-300x225.jpg 300w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/PBEC-Ruralband-IMG_3594-768x576.jpg 768w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/PBEC-Ruralband-IMG_3594-1536x1152.jpg 1536w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/PBEC-Ruralband-IMG_3594-2048x1536.jpg 2048w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption>The Biden administration wants $100 billion for rural broadband, but additional steps—from identifying areas without high-speed internet to building a fiber workforce—are necessary to close the digital divide. (Photo Courtesy: Prince George Electric Cooperative RURALBAND)</figcaption></figure> <p>The Biden administration’s <a href="https://www.cooperative.com/news/pages/president-biden-infrastructure-plan-what-electric-co-ops-need-to-know.aspx" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">$2 trillion infrastructure and jobs plan</a> includes a proposed $100 billion to connect every American to broadband internet. But, as Congress considers Biden’s proposal, what would it really take to close the digital divide?</p> <p>“The Biden plan calls out the rural electric cooperative model as a means to deliver future-proof broadband and serve as a community-based provider,” said Brian O’Hara, NRECA senior regulatory director. “We appreciate that but note there are a few steps in addition to funding that are necessary to provide broadband to all.”</p> <p>These range from accurately identifying which parts of the country lack broadband to training a workforce to build out fiber connections to these remote areas, he said.</p> <p>Kelly Wismer, NRECA legislative affairs director, added that resources are needed to ensure that those who would benefit most from telemedicine, distance learning and e-commerce can afford service and are comfortable navigating the internet.</p> <p>“Broadband affordability and adoption remain key components to getting the unserved served,” she said.</p> <p>With that, here are specific steps co-ops believe must be followed by the Biden administration to close the digital divide:</p> <p><strong>1.</strong> Create and maintain accurate and detailed broadband access maps to highlight service gaps and target funding.<br><br><strong>2.</strong> Offer long-term investments to not only build but sustain broadband infrastructure in rural and difficult-to-serve areas.<br><br><strong>3.</strong> Select broadband providers for funding that best understand and can meet the needs of an entire community.<br><br><strong>4.</strong> Require federally funded broadband projects to meet fast-growing speed and bandwidth demands with proven and tested technologies.<br><br><strong>5.</strong> Demand program accountability to ensure funding recipients deliver the level of service promised.<br><br><strong>6.</strong> Support workforce training to build and maintain broadband networks.<br><br><strong>7.</strong> Create programs that address affordability and digital literacy for consumers.</p> <p><em>Cathy Cash is a staff writer at NRECA.</em></p> </div> </section> </div> <div class="row"> <div class="col-md-12"> <section class="timeline-article-footer"> <small>Next in the Issue</small> <a class="article-next-post" data-next-article="timeline-modal-8144" title="Sen. Mark Warner Commends Electric Co-ops for Taking on Rural Broadband">Sen. Mark Warner Commends Electric Co-ops for Taking on Rural Broadband <span class="arrow"><i class="ci-long-arrow-right"></i></span></a> </section> </div> </div> </div> </article>  </section>  <section id="timeline-modal-8144" class="timeline-issues-article hidden"> <div class="jumbotron hero article bg-image" style="background-image: url('');"></div>  <article class="single"> <div class="container">  <div class="row"> <header class="col-md-12"> <div class="article-header"> <small class="article-category"> <a href="https://www.electric.coop/issues-and-policy/broadband">Broadband</a> </small> <h1 class="article-title">Sen. Mark Warner Commends Electric Co-ops for Taking on Rural Broadband</h1> <h3 class="article-subtitle"></h3> </div> </header> </div>  <div class="row"> <section class="col-md-3"> <div class="article-meta"> <div class="row"> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-date"> <span>Published</span>April 13, 2021 </div> </div> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-author"> <span>Author</span> Cathy Cash </div> </div> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-share">  <div class="social-share post"> <ul class="social"> <li><a class="facebook-share" href="https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=&title=" target="_blank"></a></li> <li><a class="twitter-share" href="https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?source=&text=&via=NRECANews " target="_blank"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewBox="0 0 512 512"><path d="M389.2 48h70.6L305.6 224.2 487 464H345L233.7 318.6 106.5 464H35.8L200.7 275.5 26.8 48H172.4L272.9 180.9 389.2 48zM364.4 421.8h39.1L151.1 88h-42L364.4 421.8z"/></svg></a></li> <li><a class="linkedin-share" href="http://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=&title=&summary=" target="_blank"></a></li> </ul> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </section> <section class="col-md-9"> <div class="article-content">  <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="759" src="https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/BARC-Warner-3IMG_4821-1024x759.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-8145" srcset="https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/BARC-Warner-3IMG_4821-1024x759.jpg 1024w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/BARC-Warner-3IMG_4821-300x222.jpg 300w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/BARC-Warner-3IMG_4821-768x569.jpg 768w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/BARC-Warner-3IMG_4821-1536x1139.jpg 1536w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/BARC-Warner-3IMG_4821-2048x1518.jpg 2048w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption>Sen. Mark Warner, D-Va., paid a special visit to BARC Electric’s broadband subsidiary, where he recognized how co-ops are helping close the digital divide. (Photo Courtesy: BARC Electric)</figcaption></figure> <p>Sen. Mark Warner, D-Va., says he knows that the big internet providers don’t always deliver when it comes to broadband access in rural America, but financial help from Congress is on the way.</p> <p>Warner brought that message to <a href="http://www.barcelectric.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">BARC Electric</a>’s broadband subsidiary in the Shenandoah Valley on April 7. The former Virginia governor discussed his plan for assistance to get rural networks built.</p> <p>“In many communities, the deck is stacked in favor of the incumbents, and we have not put in place, I think, the kind of programs and resources we need to incite really expanded high-speed coverage,” Warner told a roomful of co-op and local officials from the areas where BARC Connects delivers broadband.</p> <p>“I commend the co-op for taking this on, and I would love to see other co-ops be as bold as you guys have been,” said Warner, who co-founded former cellular giant Nextel Communications before it merged with Sprint. “This is an area where many of the big incumbent providers, the Comcasts, the Verizons, the AT&Ts, have quite honestly not done the job they should have.”</p> <p>The senator said he believes that dynamic will change with new financial resources for rural broadband in the <a href="https://www.electric.coop/covid-19-relief-passed-by-congress-helps-co-op-members-pay-electric-bills" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">latest federal COVID-19 relief bill</a> signed by President Joe Biden on March 11. It allows $350 billion in recovery funds—$219 billion in state and $130 billion in local—to be applied to broadband deployment and creates a $10 billion capital projects fund for states, territories and tribal governments that includes projects enabling remote work, education and health monitoring.</p> <p>The new law also sets up a $7.2 billion emergency connectivity fund at the Federal Communications Commission to close the “homework gap” by paying for internet service, hotspots and equipment at eligible schools and libraries.</p> <p>“There’s no reason why the kids in Bath County [part of BARC’s territory] shouldn’t have every bit the high-speed internet connectivity as the kids in Alexandria” just outside Washington, D.C., Warner said. “This needs to be an economic justice issue.”</p> <p>Local officials, school representatives and business owners, socially distanced in the co-op’s large solar learning center, talked with Warner for an hour about the challenges of getting affordable high-speed internet service throughout the region. The senator encouraged them to contact his office when encountering barriers to rapidly expand broadband connectivity to unserved areas.</p> <p>“To have him take an interest in BARC and everything that we’re doing and see the progress that we’re making, it’s a tremendous honor,” said CEO Mike Keyser. “It is clear that Senator Warner shares our passion for this issue. To have his support in overcoming the financial and operational challenges associated with rural broadband deployment means everything.”</p> <p>On April 8 at a community college in Charlottesville, the senator met with officials from <a href="https://www.mycvec.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Central Virginia Electric Cooperative</a> about rural broadband deployment. CVEC CEO Gary Wood discussed how the Colleen-based co-op’s Firefly Fiber Broadband<sup>SM</sup> is partnering with <a href="https://www.myrec.coop/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Rappahannock Electric Cooperative</a> and investor-owned Dominion Energy to serve households and businesses.</p> <p>“Firefly is committed to offering world-class, gigabit-speed fiber broadband service to the most rural addresses,” Wood said. “We are excited to leverage Firefly’s internet service and this partnership to bring about change that is long overdue.”</p> <p><em>Cathy Cash is a staff writer at NRECA.</em></p> </div> </section> </div> <div class="row"> <div class="col-md-12"> <section class="timeline-article-footer"> <small>Next in the Issue</small> <a class="article-next-post" data-next-article="timeline-modal-8123" title="NRECA Asks FCC to Ensure RDOF Defaults Don’t Leave Rural Areas Stranded">NRECA Asks FCC to Ensure RDOF Defaults Don’t Leave Rural Areas Stranded <span class="arrow"><i class="ci-long-arrow-right"></i></span></a> </section> </div> </div> </div> </article>  </section>  <section id="timeline-modal-8123" class="timeline-issues-article hidden"> <div class="jumbotron hero article bg-image" style="background-image: url('');"></div>  <article class="single"> <div class="container">  <div class="row"> <header class="col-md-12"> <div class="article-header"> <small class="article-category"> <a href="https://www.electric.coop/issues-and-policy/broadband">Broadband</a> </small> <h1 class="article-title">NRECA Asks FCC to Ensure RDOF Defaults Don’t Leave Rural Areas Stranded</h1> <h3 class="article-subtitle"></h3> </div> </header> </div>  <div class="row"> <section class="col-md-3"> <div class="article-meta"> <div class="row"> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-date"> <span>Published</span>April 6, 2021 </div> </div> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-author"> <span>Author</span> Cathy Cash </div> </div> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-share">  <div class="social-share post"> <ul class="social"> <li><a class="facebook-share" href="https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=&title=" target="_blank"></a></li> <li><a class="twitter-share" href="https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?source=&text=&via=NRECANews " target="_blank"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewBox="0 0 512 512"><path d="M389.2 48h70.6L305.6 224.2 487 464H345L233.7 318.6 106.5 464H35.8L200.7 275.5 26.8 48H172.4L272.9 180.9 389.2 48zM364.4 421.8h39.1L151.1 88h-42L364.4 421.8z"/></svg></a></li> <li><a class="linkedin-share" href="http://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=&title=&summary=" target="_blank"></a></li> </ul> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </section> <section class="col-md-9"> <div class="article-content">  <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/tipmont-fiber-spool-new-jersey.jpg"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="682" src="https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/tipmont-fiber-spool-new-jersey-1024x682.jpg" alt="NRECA wants the Federal Communications Commission to announce defaults by RDOF auction winners to prevent rural communities from being ineligible for other public broadband funds. (Photo Courtesy of Tipmont REMC)" class="wp-image-8124" srcset="https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/tipmont-fiber-spool-new-jersey-1024x682.jpg 1024w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/tipmont-fiber-spool-new-jersey-300x200.jpg 300w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/tipmont-fiber-spool-new-jersey-768x512.jpg 768w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/tipmont-fiber-spool-new-jersey-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/tipmont-fiber-spool-new-jersey.jpg 2000w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></a><figcaption>NRECA wants the Federal Communications Commission to announce defaults by RDOF auction winners to prevent rural communities from being ineligible for other public broadband funds. (Photo Courtesy: Tipmont REMC)</figcaption></figure> <p>Rural communities awaiting broadband from the Federal Communications Commission’s largest funding auction could end up losing out. Big time.</p> <p>That’s because the FCC may take a year to confirm the winners of its <a href="https://www.electric.coop/nreca-and-nrtc-urge-fcc-to-ensure-rdof-winners-can-deliver-rural-broadband" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">$9.2 billion Rural Digital Opportunity Fund</a> without announcing defaults by would-be internet service providers along the way.</p> <p>Without timely public notice of defaults, census block groups no longer covered by the RDOF may be ineligible for tens of billions of dollars from other federal, state and local programs designated for rural broadband.</p> <p>NRECA is urging the commission not to let this happen.</p> <p>The FCC should announce RDOF defaults as soon as possible so unserved rural areas will be eligible for other public broadband resources. <a href="https://www.cooperative.com/programs-services/government-relations/regulatory-issues/Documents/Joint%20NRTC%20NRECA%20ERIC%20NTCA%20WSTA%20RDOF%20Default.CBGs.Ex%20Parte%20FINAL.04.0102021.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">NRECA made that request April 1 to the FCC</a> with the <a href="https://www.nrtc.coop/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">National Rural Telecommunications Cooperative</a>, <a href="https://www.ntca.org/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">NTCA–The Rural Broadband Association</a>, Wisconsin State Telecommunications Association and Ensuring RDOF Integrity Coalition.</p> <p>“If the FCC gives timely public notice on defaults and identifies unserved areas that will not get RDOF money, other providers can come in and deliver broadband with help from federal stimulus funds and other programs,” said Brian O’Hara, NRECA’s senior regulatory director.</p> <p>“But for now, these rural communities are stuck.”</p> <p>Several new and existing broadband funding programs will open soon, including the Rural Utilities Service’s ReConnect program and the National Telecommunications and Information Administration’s programs for broadband infrastructure, tribal broadband connectivity and connecting minority communities. </p> <p>Since RDOF winners were announced last December, there have already been some defaults by those that have failed or declined to meet the deadline to file detailed broadband plans. Some preliminary winners also have informed the FCC that they can no longer serve the census blocks in their bids. As the FCC reviews the bids, NRECA anticipates that some questionable bids may be disqualified.</p> <p>Many electric cooperatives that bid into the RDOF lost out to other bidders on certain census blocks or won areas that are nonadjacent, which could raise the cost to serve the areas they did win.</p> <p>“If such a co-op learns in a timely fashion that the winner of those other census blocks has defaulted, that co-op may seek other funding to serve those blocks,” O’Hara said.</p> <p>The bottom line is to ensure that rural areas are not stranded without broadband access for schools, businesses, telemedicine and other essentials, he said. “It’s about these communities getting served with the right broadband that meets their needs,” O’Hara said. “Not just for today, but their needs going forward.”</p> <p><em>Cathy Cash is a staff writer at NRECA.</em></p> </div> </section> </div> <div class="row"> <div class="col-md-12"> <section class="timeline-article-footer"> <small>Next in the Issue</small> <a class="article-next-post" data-next-article="timeline-modal-8111" title="NRECA Statement on Biden Infrastructure Plan, Electric Co-op Priorities">NRECA Statement on Biden Infrastructure Plan, Electric Co-op Priorities <span class="arrow"><i class="ci-long-arrow-right"></i></span></a> </section> </div> </div> </div> </article>  </section>  <section id="timeline-modal-8111" class="timeline-issues-article hidden"> <div class="jumbotron hero article bg-image" style="background-image: url('');"></div>  <article class="single"> <div class="container">  <div class="row"> <header class="col-md-12"> <div class="article-header"> <small class="article-category"> <a href="https://www.electric.coop/issues-and-policy/broadband">Broadband</a> </small> <h1 class="article-title">NRECA Statement on Biden Infrastructure Plan, Electric Co-op Priorities</h1> <h3 class="article-subtitle"></h3> </div> </header> </div>  <div class="row"> <section class="col-md-3"> <div class="article-meta"> <div class="row"> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-date"> <span>Published</span>March 31, 2021 </div> </div> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-author"> <span>Author</span> Media Relations </div> </div> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-share">  <div class="social-share post"> <ul class="social"> <li><a class="facebook-share" href="https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=&title=" target="_blank"></a></li> <li><a class="twitter-share" href="https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?source=&text=&via=NRECANews " target="_blank"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewBox="0 0 512 512"><path d="M389.2 48h70.6L305.6 224.2 487 464H345L233.7 318.6 106.5 464H35.8L200.7 275.5 26.8 48H172.4L272.9 180.9 389.2 48zM364.4 421.8h39.1L151.1 88h-42L364.4 421.8z"/></svg></a></li> <li><a class="linkedin-share" href="http://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=&title=&summary=" target="_blank"></a></li> </ul> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </section> <section class="col-md-9"> <div class="article-content">  <p><strong>ARLINGTON, Va.</strong> – National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA) CEO Jim Matheson today issued the following statement on the inclusion of electric cooperative policy priorities in the Biden administration’s infrastructure proposal.</p> <p>“We’re encouraged to see electric co-op priorities reflected in President Biden’s infrastructure proposal,” Matheson said. “As we plan for a future that depends on electricity as the primary energy source for a majority of the economy, strategic investments in grid modernization and energy innovation are critical. Equally important is support for expanded rural broadband and other efforts to help rural families and businesses.</p> <p>“As Congress reflects on this proposal and begins drafting legislation, we look forward to staying engaged to ensure that the priorities of rural America and electric co-ops remain front of mind.”</p> <p>Some of the provisions that will benefit electric co-ops and their consumer-members include:</p> <p><strong><u>Energy</u></strong></p> <ul class="wp-block-list"><li>$100 billion to update the nation’s energy grid and expand existing transmission infrastructure.</li><li>Allowing electric co-ops to access direct-pay tax credits for energy innovation, generation, and storage programs.</li><li>$15 billion for energy demonstration projects, including utility-scale battery storage, carbon capture and storage, and advanced nuclear energy.</li><li>Programs to make electricity infrastructure more resilient, including in our most vulnerable communities.</li></ul> <p><strong><u>Electric Vehicle Network</u></strong></p> <ul class="wp-block-list"><li>$174 billion investment “to win the EV market,” including grants and incentive programs to build a national network of EV chargers by 2030.  Also sets a goal to electrify at least 20% of school bus fleet.</li></ul> <p><strong><u>Broadband</u></strong></p> <ul class="wp-block-list"><li>$100 billion investment in broadband, with a focus on rural areas and tribal lands. It prioritizes support for broadband networks owned, operated or affiliated with non-profits and cooperatives—“providers with less pressure to turn profits and with a commitment to serving entire communities.” It also calls for lifting barriers that prevent rural electric co-ops from competing on a level playing field with private providers.</li></ul> <p><strong><u>Support for Rural Communities</u></strong></p> <ul class="wp-block-list"><li>$5 billion for a new Rural Partnership Program to help rural communities expand economic development.</li></ul> <p><em>The </em><a href="http://www.electric.coop/"><em>National Rural Electric Cooperative Association</em></a><em> is the national trade association representing nearly 900 local electric cooperatives. From growing suburbs to remote farming communities, electric co-ops serve as engines of economic development for 42 million Americans across 56 percent of the nation’s landscape. As local businesses built by the consumers they serve, electric cooperatives have meaningful ties to rural America and invest $12 billion annually in their communities.</em> </p> <p class="has-text-align-center">-###-</p> </div> </section> </div> <div class="row"> <div class="col-md-12"> <section class="timeline-article-footer"> <small>Next in the Issue</small> <a class="article-next-post" data-next-article="timeline-modal-8102" title="Keeping Fast Company: Electric Co-op Ranks With Top Innovative Businesses">Keeping Fast Company: Electric Co-op Ranks With Top Innovative Businesses <span class="arrow"><i class="ci-long-arrow-right"></i></span></a> </section> </div> </div> </div> </article>  </section>  <section id="timeline-modal-8102" class="timeline-issues-article hidden"> <div class="jumbotron hero article bg-image" style="background-image: url('');"></div>  <article class="single"> <div class="container">  <div class="row"> <header class="col-md-12"> <div class="article-header"> <small class="article-category"> <a href="https://www.electric.coop/issues-and-policy/broadband">Broadband</a> </small> <h1 class="article-title">Keeping Fast Company: Electric Co-op Ranks With Top Innovative Businesses</h1> <h3 class="article-subtitle"></h3> </div> </header> </div>  <div class="row"> <section class="col-md-3"> <div class="article-meta"> <div class="row"> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-date"> <span>Published</span>March 29, 2021 </div> </div> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-author"> <span>Author</span> Cathy Cash </div> </div> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-share">  <div class="social-share post"> <ul class="social"> <li><a class="facebook-share" href="https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=&title=" target="_blank"></a></li> <li><a class="twitter-share" href="https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?source=&text=&via=NRECANews " target="_blank"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewBox="0 0 512 512"><path d="M389.2 48h70.6L305.6 224.2 487 464H345L233.7 318.6 106.5 464H35.8L200.7 275.5 26.8 48H172.4L272.9 180.9 389.2 48zM364.4 421.8h39.1L151.1 88h-42L364.4 421.8z"/></svg></a></li> <li><a class="linkedin-share" href="http://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=&title=&summary=" target="_blank"></a></li> </ul> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </section> <section class="col-md-9"> <div class="article-content">  <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/barc-fast-march-2021.jpg"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="683" src="https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/barc-fast-march-2021-1024x683.jpg" alt="Fast Company has ranked BARC Electric as a top innovative company. The first electric co-op to win the honor offers turnkey solar from rooftop to utility-scale and broadband internet access, and it recently set a carbon-neutral goal for 2035. (Photo By: BARC Electric)" class="wp-image-8103" srcset="https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/barc-fast-march-2021-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/barc-fast-march-2021-300x200.jpg 300w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/barc-fast-march-2021-768x512.jpg 768w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/barc-fast-march-2021-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/barc-fast-march-2021.jpg 1600w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></a><figcaption>Fast Company has ranked BARC Electric as a top innovative company. The first electric co-op to win the honor offers turnkey solar from rooftop to utility-scale and broadband internet access, and it recently set a carbon-neutral goal for 2035. (Photo By: BARC Electric)</figcaption></figure> <p>Innovation by electric cooperatives is getting noticed in a huge way. </p> <p>Fast Company, the media firm that ranks advancements across all sectors worldwide, named <a href="http://www.barcelectric.com/home" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">BARC Electric Cooperative</a> as the seventh most innovative company in North America in 2021.</p> <p>Serving nearly 13,000 members in Virginia’s Shenandoah Valley region, Millboro-based BARC is the first electric co-op bestowed the honor.</p> <p><a href="https://www.fastcompany.com/90600362/north-america-most-innovative-companies-2021?partner=rss&utm_source=rss&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=rss+fastcompany&utm_content=rss?cid=search" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">BARC was recognized</a> for “making renewable energy accessible and bringing broadband to rural areas.”</p> <p>“It’s a tremendous honor,” said Mike Keyser, CEO of the co-op and its broadband arm, BARC Connects. “For a co-op in a rural part of Virginia to be recognized nationally at this level is unbelievable really.</p> <p>“We weren’t even sure Fast Company knew what a co-op is. This recognition not only highlights BARC and what we’re doing, it highlights what co-ops are doing all across the country.”</p> <p>Tucked along Virginia’s coal country, BARC is the first utility in the state to launch a sustainability plan with a voluntary goal of 100% carbon-neutral energy sales by 2035. It calls for greater investments in solar energy and renewable purchases.</p> <p>“We are seeing where the industry is heading, what is coming down the pike,” said Keyser. “If it is going to be forced upon us, we’d like to be ahead of that and set our own destiny. This is the right thing to do for our members.”</p> <p>BARC offers rooftop solar and community solar subscriptions and is building two new utility-scale solar farms this year. The co-op is currently in the development phase of a program that makes the benefits of solar accessible to low- and middle-income members. All of these programs fall under its SolarizeBARC brand, which installed 253 kilowatts of new rooftop solar in 2020, its first year.</p> <p><a href="https://www.cooperative.com/remagazine/articles/Pages/barc-electric-broadband-project.aspx" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">An early broadband developer</a>, BARC now has over 2,500 residential and commercial broadband subscribers in previously unserved communities dotting the Shenandoah Valley and Appalachian Mountains. This year, the co-op will add 500 miles of fiber to its communications network for high-speed internet access, making service available to over 12,000 residential and commercial customers by the end of the year.</p> <p>BARC is also working on developing an EV-charging rate to encourage electric vehicle ownership and has partnered with its G&T, <a href="https://www.odec.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Old Dominion Electric Cooperative</a>, on a 5-megawatt/10 megawatt-hour battery storage project sited near BARC’s largest commercial customer. </p> <p>“Innovation is truly in our DNA at BARC,” said Keyser. “For Fast Company to see that and consider us worthy of this distinguished list validates the determination of all our staff who are constantly striving to improve the quality of life in our community.”</p> <p><em>Cathy Cash is a staff writer at NRECA.</em></p> </div> </section> </div> <div class="row"> <div class="col-md-12"> <section class="timeline-article-footer"> <small>Next in the Issue</small> <a class="article-next-post" data-next-article="timeline-modal-8100" title="NRECA and NRTC Urge FCC to Ensure RDOF Winners Can Deliver Rural Broadband">NRECA and NRTC Urge FCC to Ensure RDOF Winners Can Deliver Rural Broadband <span class="arrow"><i class="ci-long-arrow-right"></i></span></a> </section> </div> </div> </div> </article>  </section>  <section id="timeline-modal-8100" class="timeline-issues-article hidden"> <div class="jumbotron hero article bg-image" style="background-image: url('');"></div>  <article class="single"> <div class="container">  <div class="row"> <header class="col-md-12"> <div class="article-header"> <small class="article-category"> <a href="https://www.electric.coop/issues-and-policy/broadband">Broadband</a> </small> <h1 class="article-title">NRECA and NRTC Urge FCC to Ensure RDOF Winners Can Deliver Rural Broadband</h1> <h3 class="article-subtitle"></h3> </div> </header> </div>  <div class="row"> <section class="col-md-3"> <div class="article-meta"> <div class="row"> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-date"> <span>Published</span>March 29, 2021 </div> </div> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-author"> <span>Author</span> Cathy Cash </div> </div> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-share">  <div class="social-share post"> <ul class="social"> <li><a class="facebook-share" href="https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=&title=" target="_blank"></a></li> <li><a class="twitter-share" href="https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?source=&text=&via=NRECANews " target="_blank"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewBox="0 0 512 512"><path d="M389.2 48h70.6L305.6 224.2 487 464H345L233.7 318.6 106.5 464H35.8L200.7 275.5 26.8 48H172.4L272.9 180.9 389.2 48zM364.4 421.8h39.1L151.1 88h-42L364.4 421.8z"/></svg></a></li> <li><a class="linkedin-share" href="http://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=&title=&summary=" target="_blank"></a></li> </ul> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </section> <section class="col-md-9"> <div class="article-content">  <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="683" src="https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/tipmont-crews-indiana-rdof-1024x683.jpg" alt="NRECA and NRTC are urging a timely and thorough vetting by the FCC of all winning bids in the Rural Digital Opportunity Fund to weed out dubious technology and ensure co-op communities get reliable broadband access. (Photo Courtesy of Tipmont REMC)" class="wp-image-8101" srcset="https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/tipmont-crews-indiana-rdof-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/tipmont-crews-indiana-rdof-300x200.jpg 300w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/tipmont-crews-indiana-rdof-768x512.jpg 768w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/tipmont-crews-indiana-rdof-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/tipmont-crews-indiana-rdof.jpg 1600w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption>NRECA and NRTC are urging a timely and thorough vetting by the FCC of all winning bids in the Rural Digital Opportunity Fund to weed out dubious technology and ensure co-op communities get reliable broadband access. (Photo Courtesy of Tipmont REMC)</figcaption></figure> <p>As the Federal Communications Commission reviews winning bids for its recent $9.2 billion rural broadband auction, NRECA wants the agency to keep one question in mind: Can these winners actually deliver?</p> <p>“If any bidder fails to do so, rural communities will be left behind in the digital economy for years,” said Brian O’Hara, NRECA regulatory director. “The FCC must make sure that all auction winners will deliver the service they promised.”</p> <p>NRECA and the National Rural Telecommunications Cooperative met with the staff of acting FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel in early March. They brought the message that a <a href="https://www.electric.coop/nreca-sends-concerns-to-fcc-about-9-2-billion-rural-broadband-auction" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">timely and thorough vetting of all winning bids into the Rural Digital Opportunity Fund</a> is needed to weed out dubious technology and inadequate service.</p> <p><a href="https://www.cooperative.com/programs-services/government-relations/regulatory-issues/Documents/Ex%20parte%20RDOF%20Ramesh_Rosenworcel_NRECA.NRTC_03.09.2021.FINAL.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">NRECA and NRTC, in their March 9 follow-up letter to FCC</a>, explained specific concerns about the substantial number of RDOF Phase I awards to bidders offering fixed wireless gigabit and low-earth-orbit (LEO) satellite service at 100 megabits per second download and 20 Mbps upload.</p> <p>“The technological ability of the proposed gigabit fixed wireless bids to fully cover census block groups throughout the country with full consideration for terrain, foliage … is not only completely unproven, but it also has yet to be fully explained in an acceptable way,” they wrote the FCC.</p> <p>LEO satellite is in beta testing and has yet to demonstrate consistent 100/20 Mbps service. In addition, LEO startup Starlink “has admitted that it does not yet have a functional voice service, required of RDOF winners,” the letter notes.</p> <p>The FCC is reviewing detailed technical and financial broadband deployment applications by 180 winning RDOF bidders. Winners must meet buildout milestones and reach all assigned locations by the end of the sixth year to receive their awards, which will be allocated over 10 years.</p> <p>NRECA and NRTC underscored the need for the FCC to act soon. Rural census blocks presumably covered by the RDOF are ineligible for other federal broadband aid, such as the Rural Utilities Service’s ReConnect program.</p> <p> “The worst possible outcome for these rural communities would be for the agency to take eight months or more to determine any initial winning bidder is unqualified resulting in the community missing out on multiple broadband funding opportunities,” the organizations said. “This cannot be allowed to happen.”</p> <p><em>Listen to a recent episode of NRECA’s Along Those Lines podcast about the RDOF auction:</em></p>  <iframe loading="lazy" src="//html5-player.libsyn.com/embed/episode/id/18060365/height/90/theme/custom/autoplay/no/autonext/no/thumbnail/yes/preload/no/no_addthis/no/direction/forward/render-playlist/no/custom-color/000000/" height="90" allowfullscreen webkitallowfullscreen mozallowfullscreen oallowfullscreen msallowfullscreen width="100%" scrolling="yes" class="iframe-class" frameborder="0"></iframe> <p></p> <p><em>Cathy Cash is a staff writer at NRECA.</em></p> </div> </section> </div> <div class="row"> <div class="col-md-12"> <section class="timeline-article-footer"> <small>Next in the Issue</small> <a class="article-next-post" data-next-article="timeline-modal-8070" title="Pulling Out All the Stops: Colorado Co-op Connects Students to Broadband">Pulling Out All the Stops: Colorado Co-op Connects Students to Broadband <span class="arrow"><i class="ci-long-arrow-right"></i></span></a> </section> </div> </div> </div> </article>  </section>  <section id="timeline-modal-8070" class="timeline-issues-article hidden"> <div class="jumbotron hero article bg-image" style="background-image: url('');"></div>  <article class="single"> <div class="container">  <div class="row"> <header class="col-md-12"> <div class="article-header"> <small class="article-category"> <a href="https://www.electric.coop/issues-and-policy/broadband">Broadband</a> </small> <h1 class="article-title">Pulling Out All the Stops: Colorado Co-op Connects Students to Broadband</h1> <h3 class="article-subtitle"></h3> </div> </header> </div>  <div class="row"> <section class="col-md-3"> <div class="article-meta"> <div class="row"> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-date"> <span>Published</span>March 11, 2021 </div> </div> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-author"> <span>Author</span> Cathy Cash </div> </div> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-share">  <div class="social-share post"> <ul class="social"> <li><a class="facebook-share" href="https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=&title=" target="_blank"></a></li> <li><a class="twitter-share" href="https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?source=&text=&via=NRECANews " target="_blank"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewBox="0 0 512 512"><path d="M389.2 48h70.6L305.6 224.2 487 464H345L233.7 318.6 106.5 464H35.8L200.7 275.5 26.8 48H172.4L272.9 180.9 389.2 48zM364.4 421.8h39.1L151.1 88h-42L364.4 421.8z"/></svg></a></li> <li><a class="linkedin-share" href="http://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=&title=&summary=" target="_blank"></a></li> </ul> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </section> <section class="col-md-9"> <div class="article-content">  <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="990" height="660" src="https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/Century_Mobile_Chris_1.jpg" alt="Ciello sets up a temporary pole and equips it to provide wireless broadband to a mobile home park where students lack sufficient internet access for online school during the pandemic. (Photo Courtesy: Ciello)" class="wp-image-8071" srcset="https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/Century_Mobile_Chris_1.jpg 990w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/Century_Mobile_Chris_1-300x200.jpg 300w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/Century_Mobile_Chris_1-768x512.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 990px) 100vw, 990px" /><figcaption>Ciello sets up a temporary pole and equips it to provide wireless broadband to a mobile home park where students lack sufficient internet access for online school during the pandemic. (Photo Courtesy: Ciello)</figcaption></figure> <p>Century Mobile Home Park sits on the southern edge of Alamosa, Colorado, near the city’s regional airport. It’s an underserved area that has been in need of infrastructure upgrades for some time.</p> <p>When the COVID-19 pandemic hit in early 2020 and schools went to online learning, kids there struggled with limited or no access to the internet.</p> <p>As the virus surged in December and the park’s young residents faced continued academic difficulties, local school leaders made an urgent plea for help to an internet service provider and an electric cooperative.</p> <p>“During the meeting, we were unable to come up with a definitive solution for the large trailer park, which houses many of our migrant and English-learner students,” said Marsha Cody, Alamosa School District’s interim superintendent. “About 10 days later, Monroe called with a solution.”</p> <p>Monroe Johnson is chief technology officer for <a href="http://www.ciello.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Ciello</a>, the broadband arm of Monte Vista-based <a href="https://www.slvrec.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">San Luis Valley Rural Electric Cooperative</a>. After the school’s call, he drove to the neighborhood, which is outside the co-op’s territory. It was apparent that an infrastructure upgrade was necessary to provide adequate internet service to the homes.</p> <p>After visiting with City of Alamosa IT Director James Belknap, Johnson learned that the city had a fiber-optic cable running nearby. By connecting that cable to a fiber line Ciello has to a nearby city facility, the co-op broadband crew was able to build a fiber-backed wireless system to serve the neighborhood.</p> <p>The city helped by executing the required permits in one afternoon—a process that can sometimes take months—to allow the co-op to erect a temporary pole.</p> <p>By late January, the network was up and running, making broadband available to approximately 60 homes through a point-to-multipoint solution. As families sign up, Ciello is installing antennas on mobile homes to receive signals from the new equipment on the nearby pole.</p> <p>“We have had concerns about these kids, but now with COVID, we rolled up our sleeves and figured out a way to get this done,” said Loren Howard, general manager and CEO of San Luis Valley REC and Ciello.</p> <p>In all, Ciello has hooked up more than 200 schoolchildren in need of broadband during the pandemic, he said. Ciello’s $1,200 allowable cost per installation meant these families had no upfront cost to connect.</p> <p>“We pulled out all the stops when this hit and schools started to close,” Howard said.</p> <p>While the school district will help Century Mobile Home Park families pay for broadband during the school year, the co-op is exploring how to support them when school is not in session. Howard envisions a program like REC’s Operation Roundup that helps low-income members pay their power bills. </p> <p>“We are working to set up a nonprofit to help families struggling financially to pay for broadband,” he said. “We hope to set it up by summer.”</p> <p><em>Cathy Cash is a staff writer at NRECA</em></p> </div> </section> </div> <div class="row"> <div class="col-md-12"> <section class="timeline-article-footer"> <small>Next in the Issue</small> <a class="article-next-post" data-next-article="timeline-modal-8064" title="NRECA: $1 Billion Program Must Deliver Best Possible Broadband on Tribal Lands">NRECA: $1 Billion Program Must Deliver Best Possible Broadband on Tribal Lands <span class="arrow"><i class="ci-long-arrow-right"></i></span></a> </section> </div> </div> </div> </article>  </section>  <section id="timeline-modal-8064" class="timeline-issues-article hidden"> <div class="jumbotron hero article bg-image" style="background-image: url('');"></div>  <article class="single"> <div class="container">  <div class="row"> <header class="col-md-12"> <div class="article-header"> <small class="article-category"> <a href="https://www.electric.coop/issues-and-policy/broadband">Broadband</a> </small> <h1 class="article-title">NRECA: $1 Billion Program Must Deliver Best Possible Broadband on Tribal Lands</h1> <h3 class="article-subtitle"></h3> </div> </header> </div>  <div class="row"> <section class="col-md-3"> <div class="article-meta"> <div class="row"> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-date"> <span>Published</span>March 9, 2021 </div> </div> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-author"> <span>Author</span> Cathy Cash </div> </div> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-share">  <div class="social-share post"> <ul class="social"> <li><a class="facebook-share" href="https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=&title=" target="_blank"></a></li> <li><a class="twitter-share" href="https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?source=&text=&via=NRECANews " target="_blank"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewBox="0 0 512 512"><path d="M389.2 48h70.6L305.6 224.2 487 464H345L233.7 318.6 106.5 464H35.8L200.7 275.5 26.8 48H172.4L272.9 180.9 389.2 48zM364.4 421.8h39.1L151.1 88h-42L364.4 421.8z"/></svg></a></li> <li><a class="linkedin-share" href="http://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=&title=&summary=" target="_blank"></a></li> </ul> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </section> <section class="col-md-9"> <div class="article-content">  <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="683" src="https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/mojave-electric-march-2021-1024x683.jpg" alt="NRECA is urging that $1 billion in federal broadband grants provide the best service possible to these challenged tribal communities and offers recommendations to make it happen. (Photo By: Reed Karaim)" class="wp-image-8065" srcset="https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/mojave-electric-march-2021-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/mojave-electric-march-2021-300x200.jpg 300w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/mojave-electric-march-2021-768x512.jpg 768w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/mojave-electric-march-2021.jpg 1500w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption>NRECA is urging that $1 billion in federal broadband grants provide the best service possible to these challenged tribal communities and offers recommendations to make it happen. (Photo By: Reed Karaim)</figcaption></figure> <p>NRECA is urging a federal agency charged with awarding $1 billion for broadband deployment on tribal lands to make sure that these communities receive the best service possible with proven technologies.</p> <p><a href="https://www.cooperative.com/programs-services/government-relations/regulatory-issues/Documents/NTIA%20Tribal%20Broadband%20Program%20Cmnts_02.19.2021_FINAL.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">NRECA sent recommendations</a> to the National Telecommunications & Information Administration as the agency formulates its Tribal Broadband Connectivity Grants Program.</p> <p>“The ongoing COVID-19 crisis has put the spotlight on the absolute and outright necessity for ubiquitous high-performing broadband for all Americans, and the broadband gap is more pronounced and persistent on tribal lands,” said Brian O’Hara, NRECA senior director of regulatory affairs.</p> <p>To ensure tribal communities get the most from these grants, NRECA is asking NTIA to inject flexibility and efficiency into the program created by a pandemic relief measure Congress passed in December. That means potentially offering grants to tribal communities even if they were covered by the Federal Communications Commission’s two previous rural broadband auctions: the Rural Digital Opportunity Fund and the Connect America Fund.</p> <p>O’Hara said an <a href="https://www.electric.coop/nreca-sends-concerns-to-fcc-about-9-2-billion-rural-broadband-auction" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">ongoing FCC review of RDOF winners</a> may result in the disqualification of some bidders with unproven technologies. If NTIA excludes regions covered by those bids, which includes tribal areas, they could be shut out of federal broadband funding for years.</p> <p>“Gigabit speed from wireless providers or service from low-earth-orbit satellites are not fully tested and may not pan out for these remote and challenging communities, so we highly encourage NTIA to include them in their new grant program,” he said.</p> <p>NRECA is asking the agency to set a minimum data speed of 100 megabits per second download and 20 mbps upload broadband for any grant recipients. Applicants proposing gigabit and same up/same down speeds should be given priority, he said.</p> <p>The agency also should reject a strict one-year timeframe for expending all grant monies and instead install a waiver process to allow additional time for the funds to be used, NRECA said.</p> <p>“NRECA, on behalf of its members, strongly supports the efforts of Congress and the NTIA to address the widely recognized digital divide between unserved and served areas of the country,” O’Hara said. </p> <p>“The recommendations submitted by NRECA will improve the program and benefit all applicants and the rural communities they plan to supply with vital broadband internet access.”</p> <p><em>Cathy Cash is a staff writer at NRECA.</em></p> </div> </section> </div> <div class="row"> <div class="col-md-12"> <section class="timeline-article-footer"> <small>Next in the Issue</small> <a class="article-next-post" data-next-article="timeline-modal-8044" title="‘Boy, I Want To See That’: Broadband History From a Mississippi Porch">‘Boy, I Want To See That’: Broadband History From a Mississippi Porch <span class="arrow"><i class="ci-long-arrow-right"></i></span></a> </section> </div> </div> </div> </article>  </section>  <section id="timeline-modal-8044" class="timeline-issues-article hidden"> <div class="jumbotron hero article bg-image" style="background-image: url('');"></div>  <article class="single"> <div class="container">  <div class="row"> <header class="col-md-12"> <div class="article-header"> <small class="article-category"> <a href="https://www.electric.coop/issues-and-policy/broadband">Broadband</a> </small> <h1 class="article-title">‘Boy, I Want To See That’: Broadband History From a Mississippi Porch</h1> <h3 class="article-subtitle"></h3> </div> </header> </div>  <div class="row"> <section class="col-md-3"> <div class="article-meta"> <div class="row"> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-date"> <span>Published</span>February 25, 2021 </div> </div> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-author"> <span>Author</span> Cathy Cash </div> </div> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-share">  <div class="social-share post"> <ul class="social"> <li><a class="facebook-share" href="https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=&title=" target="_blank"></a></li> <li><a class="twitter-share" href="https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?source=&text=&via=NRECANews " target="_blank"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewBox="0 0 512 512"><path d="M389.2 48h70.6L305.6 224.2 487 464H345L233.7 318.6 106.5 464H35.8L200.7 275.5 26.8 48H172.4L272.9 180.9 389.2 48zM364.4 421.8h39.1L151.1 88h-42L364.4 421.8z"/></svg></a></li> <li><a class="linkedin-share" href="http://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=&title=&summary=" target="_blank"></a></li> </ul> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </section> <section class="col-md-9"> <div class="article-content">  <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/Dixie-Electric-KatherineCole-IMG_0010.jpg"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="682" src="https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/Dixie-Electric-KatherineCole-IMG_0010-1024x682.jpg" alt="Katherine McCardle Cole, 83, sits on her front porch, where she saw Dixie Electric Power Association hang fiber-optic cable to deliver broadband internet. She had the same view as a child when the co-op electrified her house. (Photo By: Dixie Electric)" class="wp-image-8045" srcset="https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/Dixie-Electric-KatherineCole-IMG_0010-1024x682.jpg 1024w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/Dixie-Electric-KatherineCole-IMG_0010-300x200.jpg 300w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/Dixie-Electric-KatherineCole-IMG_0010-768x512.jpg 768w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/Dixie-Electric-KatherineCole-IMG_0010-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/Dixie-Electric-KatherineCole-IMG_0010.jpg 2000w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></a><figcaption>Katherine McCardle Cole, 83, sits on her front porch, where she saw Dixie Electric Power Association hang fiber-optic cable to deliver broadband internet. She had the same view as a child when the co-op electrified her house. (Photo By: Dixie Electric)</figcaption></figure> <p>Katherine McCardle Cole knows what it’s like to witness history—twice—from the front porch of her southern Mississippi farmhouse.</p> <p>That’s where the 83-year-old was when <a href="https://www.dixieepa.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Dixie Electric Power Association</a> first strung power lines to her home when she was a child.</p> <p>And that’s where she was again in January, as a truck from the co-op’s broadband subsidiary came up the hill. Katherine, who now relies on a wheelchair, asked her son Ricky to help her get there so she could watch the crew hang fiber-optic cable.</p> <p>“She says, ‘Boy, I want to see that,’” said Ricky. “She sat there and studied them awhile. Naturally, she had a couple of ideas on how they could be more efficient with their time. Then she said, ‘I am just tickled to see that going up, because it is going to help all of us.’”</p> <p>Ricky, who travels from Jackson to Ovett three days a week to work the family farm, says his mom is excited for the life improvements broadband will bring—online doctor visits, good video quality for her favorite shows and enough bandwidth for her grandchildren to do their schoolwork.</p> <p>“She understands the full value and benefit of internet service, and she will be an excellent consumer of it,” he said. </p> <p>Katherine and her husband both have health challenges. Getting into and out of a vehicle for a doctor visit several miles away can be exhausting.</p> <p>“As soon as we can subscribe for internet service through Dixie, she can sit in the living room and do an appointment with her doctor,” Ricky said. “Then my dad will have no excuse to miss his doctor appointments.”</p> <p>Ricky said his mother is most excited about her grandchildren being able to stay for longer visits.</p> <p>“Both have been virtual students since the pandemic began,” he said. “Now they only stay a day or two, then they have to get back to Jackson to do their schoolwork. She’s excited about the prospect of them being at the farm a lot more.”</p> <p>Ricky said he’s looking forward to having access to precision agriculture applications and social media to boost sales of the farm’s produce.</p> <p>“Broadband will add … quality of life and economic opportunity for our family,” he said. “I believe it will have a lasting positive impact on rural society and the rural economy and also the rural culture.”</p> <p>He’s not alone. Randy Smith, general manager of Laurel, Mississippi-based Dixie Electric, says calls from members wanting broadband for education and telework started coming in long before the pandemic.</p> <p>“Once COVID hit, it’s been nonstop,” he said.</p> <p>With help from the federal CARES Act for COVID-19 pandemic relief, state grants and matching co-op funds, Smith said 600 households will soon have broadband service in this sparsely populated region dotted by blueberry growers, poultry operations and family farms. Another 1,800 have expressed interest in signing up.</p> <p>Dixie Electric began exploring retail internet in earnest in 2019 after the state legislature clarified that electric co-ops could enter the broadband space. With board approval, two in-depth feasibility studies and strong member feedback, the co-op began building a fiber network and connected its first 112 customers in December 2020.</p> <p>“The response has been overwhelmingly positive,” said Smith. “We had a couple of people tell us, ‘AT&T has been telling us in two to three years that they’re coming, and we’ve not seen them yet. In three months, you’re here.’”</p> <p>Smith said being part of the history that Katherine Cole and so many other Dixie Electric members have seen is something he takes to heart. </p> <p>“We’re excited about the opportunity and what it means for the members in our service area,” he said. “It’s been said a number of times, if co-ops don’t do it, then in lot of cases, it’s not going to get done. We’re excited about being part of the solution.”</p> <p><em>Cathy Cash is a staff writer at NRECA.</em></p> </div> </section> </div> <div class="row"> <div class="col-md-12"> <section class="timeline-article-footer"> <small>Next in the Issue</small> <a class="article-next-post" data-next-article="timeline-modal-8019" title="Along Those Lines: The Ins and Outs of the FCC’s Biggest Rural Broadband Auction">Along Those Lines: The Ins and Outs of the FCC’s Biggest Rural Broadband Auction <span class="arrow"><i class="ci-long-arrow-right"></i></span></a> </section> </div> </div> </div> </article>  </section>  <section id="timeline-modal-8019" class="timeline-issues-article hidden"> <div class="jumbotron hero article bg-image" style="background-image: url('');"></div>  <article class="single"> <div class="container">  <div class="row"> <header class="col-md-12"> <div class="article-header"> <small class="article-category"> <a href="https://www.electric.coop/issues-and-policy/broadband">Broadband</a> </small> <h1 class="article-title">Along Those Lines: The Ins and Outs of the FCC’s Biggest Rural Broadband Auction</h1> <h3 class="article-subtitle"></h3> </div> </header> </div>  <div class="row"> <section class="col-md-3"> <div class="article-meta"> <div class="row"> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-date"> <span>Published</span>February 23, 2021 </div> </div> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-author"> <span>Author</span> NRECA </div> </div> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-share">  <div class="social-share post"> <ul class="social"> <li><a class="facebook-share" href="https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=&title=" target="_blank"></a></li> <li><a class="twitter-share" href="https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?source=&text=&via=NRECANews " target="_blank"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewBox="0 0 512 512"><path d="M389.2 48h70.6L305.6 224.2 487 464H345L233.7 318.6 106.5 464H35.8L200.7 275.5 26.8 48H172.4L272.9 180.9 389.2 48zM364.4 421.8h39.1L151.1 88h-42L364.4 421.8z"/></svg></a></li> <li><a class="linkedin-share" href="http://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=&title=&summary=" target="_blank"></a></li> </ul> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </section> <section class="col-md-9"> <div class="article-content">  <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="9504" height="6336" src="https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/Mountain-View-Elementary.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-8020" /><figcaption>In the first phase of the Rural Digital Opportunity Fund, electric cooperatives won bids totaling $1.6 billion to deploy broadband to nearly 1 million locations in 31 states. (Photo By: Alexis Matsui/NRECA)</figcaption></figure> <p>The need to close America’s digital divide is as crucial as ever, and the Federal Communications Commission’s Rural Digital Opportunity Fund stands to have a huge impact, with billions in funding for deploying broadband to unserved communities.</p> <div class="wp-block-image"><figure class="alignright size-large is-resized"><a href="https://www.ptsupply.com/"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/powertel.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-6820" width="280" height="86" srcset="https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/powertel.jpg 700w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/powertel-300x92.jpg 300w" sizes="(max-width: 280px) 100vw, 280px" /></a><figcaption>This episode is sponsored by Power & Tel. </figcaption></figure></div> <p>NRECA’s Brian O’Hara and NRTC’s Greg Santoro break down how the RDOF auction works and outline concerns about winning bidders with unproven technologies, and Tri-County Rural Electric Cooperative’s Rachel Hauser gives the perspective from a co-op that’s looking to use RDOF funding to make major progress in its broadband efforts.</p> <p>Listen to the episode below:</p>  <iframe loading="lazy" src="//html5-player.libsyn.com/embed/episode/id/18060365/height/90/theme/custom/autoplay/no/autonext/no/thumbnail/yes/preload/no/no_addthis/no/direction/forward/render-playlist/no/custom-color/000000/" height="90" allowfullscreen webkitallowfullscreen mozallowfullscreen oallowfullscreen msallowfullscreen width="100%" scrolling="yes" class="iframe-class" frameborder="0"></iframe> <p>You can also listen and subscribe to Along Those Lines on your preferred podcast service:<br> <a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/along-those-lines/id1436857701?mt=2" target="_blank">Apple Podcasts</a> | <a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://www.google.com/podcasts?feed=aHR0cDovL2Fsb25ndGhvc2VsaW5lcy5saWJzeW4uY29tL3Jzcw%3D%3D" target="_blank">Google Podcasts</a> | <a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/nreca/along-those-lines?refid=stpr" target="_blank">Stitcher</a> | <a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://open.spotify.com/show/3W0inRR6llFNLxd1LOC5KV" target="_blank">Spotify</a> | <a aria-label="YouTube (opens in a new tab)" rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLpJntTwNLWwrKOA7eURFxf5FfNfVOqCSl" target="_blank">YouTube</a></p> <h4 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Related Content:</strong></h4> <p><a href="https://www.electric.coop/nreca-sends-concerns-to-fcc-about-9-2-billion-rural-broadband-auction">NRECA Sends Concerns to FCC About $9.2 Billion Rural Broadband Auction</a><br><a href="https://www.electric.coop/members-of-congress-urge-fcc-to-vet-provider-promises-on-rural-broadband">Members of Congress Urge FCC to Vet Provider Promises on Rural Broadband</a><br><a href="https://www.electric.coop/electric-co-ops-win-1-6-billion-in-fcc-rural-broadband-auction">Electric Co-ops Win $1.6 Billion in FCC Rural Broadband Auction</a></p> <p><em>Find out more about </em><a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://www.electric.coop/podcast" target="_blank"><em>NRECA’s podcast</em></a><em>. Questions or suggestions? Email us at </em><a href="mailto:AlongThoseLines@nreca.coop"><em>AlongThoseLines@nreca.coop</em></a><em>.</em></p> </div> </section> </div> <div class="row"> <div class="col-md-12"> <section class="timeline-article-footer"> <small>Next in the Issue</small> <a class="article-next-post" data-next-article="timeline-modal-8024" title="NRECA Asks Federal Agency for More Rural-Friendly Rules for Broadband Grants">NRECA Asks Federal Agency for More Rural-Friendly Rules for Broadband Grants <span class="arrow"><i class="ci-long-arrow-right"></i></span></a> </section> </div> </div> </div> </article>  </section>  <section id="timeline-modal-8024" class="timeline-issues-article hidden"> <div class="jumbotron hero article bg-image" style="background-image: url('');"></div>  <article class="single"> <div class="container">  <div class="row"> <header class="col-md-12"> <div class="article-header"> <small class="article-category"> <a href="https://www.electric.coop/issues-and-policy/broadband">Broadband</a> </small> <h1 class="article-title">NRECA Asks Federal Agency for More Rural-Friendly Rules for Broadband Grants</h1> <h3 class="article-subtitle"></h3> </div> </header> </div>  <div class="row"> <section class="col-md-3"> <div class="article-meta"> <div class="row"> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-date"> <span>Published</span>February 19, 2021 </div> </div> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-author"> <span>Author</span> Cathy Cash </div> </div> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-share">  <div class="social-share post"> <ul class="social"> <li><a class="facebook-share" href="https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=&title=" target="_blank"></a></li> <li><a class="twitter-share" href="https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?source=&text=&via=NRECANews " target="_blank"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewBox="0 0 512 512"><path d="M389.2 48h70.6L305.6 224.2 487 464H345L233.7 318.6 106.5 464H35.8L200.7 275.5 26.8 48H172.4L272.9 180.9 389.2 48zM364.4 421.8h39.1L151.1 88h-42L364.4 421.8z"/></svg></a></li> <li><a class="linkedin-share" href="http://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=&title=&summary=" target="_blank"></a></li> </ul> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </section> <section class="col-md-9"> <div class="article-content">  <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/IMG_8925.jpg"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="682" src="https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/IMG_8925-1024x682.jpg" alt="NRECA is urging the National Telecommunications & Information Administration to be flexible and inclusive in making $300 million in broadband grants available to rural areas. (Photo By: Jo-Carroll Energy)" class="wp-image-8025" srcset="https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/IMG_8925-1024x682.jpg 1024w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/IMG_8925-300x200.jpg 300w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/IMG_8925-768x511.jpg 768w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/IMG_8925.jpg 1500w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></a><figcaption>NRECA is urging the National Telecommunications & Information Administration to be flexible and inclusive in making $300 million in broadband grants available to rural areas. (Photo By: Jo-Carroll Energy)</figcaption></figure> <p>New broadband grants worth $300 million should only go toward proven technologies, and some rural areas should remain eligible for this funding even if they’ve won awards in other specific federal efforts to bridge the digital divide.</p> <p>Those are the messages NRECA sent to the National Telecommunications & Information Administration as the agency finalizes rules for its Broadband Infrastructure Deployment (BID) grant program.</p> <p>The <a href="https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/NTIA-Broadband-Infra-Program-Cmnts_02-17-21_FINAL.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Feb. 17 letter</a> incorporates concerns that regions covered by initial winners in the Federal Communication Commission’s recent Rural Digital Opportunity Fund auction and similar programs will be locked out of new broadband funding if an RDOF grantee proves unable to provide adequate service.</p> <p>NRECA and a large group of lawmakers <a href="https://www.electric.coop/nreca-sends-concerns-to-fcc-about-9-2-billion-rural-broadband-auction" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">raised these concerns to the FCC</a> about a sizable portion of the $9.2 billion allocated in RDOF Phase I going to bidders with unproven technologies, such as fixed wireless to provide gigabit speeds and new low-earth-orbit satellite.</p> <p>“People and businesses in rural America are struggling in a changed world that depends more each day on remote health care, remote education and remote work,” said Brian O’Hara, NRECA’s senior director of regulatory issues for telecom and broadband.</p> <p>“A rural area set to receive federal funds for internet at speeds below the current definition of broadband should not be precluded from support for a higher level of service that will meet the growing bandwidth needs of today.”</p> <p>Because of the way RDOF funding is structured, rural communities where broadband projects fall short could be stuck for up to a decade with inadequate service and no access to additional federal funds, O’Hara said.</p> <p>NRECA also recommended that NTIA consider the far-reaching impacts of the pandemic on supply chains and labor and, if necessary, allow grantees to spend funds beyond the program’s one-year deadline. </p> <p>“The ongoing COVID-19 crisis has put the spotlight on the absolute and outright necessity for ubiquitous high-performing broadband,” O’Hara said. “Rules for funding rural broadband must be flexible and inclusive to meet this challenge.”</p> <p><em>Cathy Cash is a staff writer at NRECA.</em></p> </div> </section> </div> <div class="row"> <div class="col-md-12"> <section class="timeline-article-footer"> <small>Next in the Issue</small> <a class="article-next-post" data-next-article="timeline-modal-7978" title="NRECA Sends Concerns to FCC About $9.2 Billion Rural Broadband Auction">NRECA Sends Concerns to FCC About $9.2 Billion Rural Broadband Auction <span class="arrow"><i class="ci-long-arrow-right"></i></span></a> </section> </div> </div> </div> </article>  </section>  <section id="timeline-modal-7978" class="timeline-issues-article hidden"> <div class="jumbotron hero article bg-image" style="background-image: url('');"></div>  <article class="single"> <div class="container">  <div class="row"> <header class="col-md-12"> <div class="article-header"> <small class="article-category"> <a href="https://www.electric.coop/issues-and-policy/broadband">Broadband</a> </small> <h1 class="article-title">NRECA Sends Concerns to FCC About $9.2 Billion Rural Broadband Auction</h1> <h3 class="article-subtitle"></h3> </div> </header> </div>  <div class="row"> <section class="col-md-3"> <div class="article-meta"> <div class="row"> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-date"> <span>Published</span>February 2, 2021 </div> </div> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-author"> <span>Author</span> Cathy Cash </div> </div> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-share">  <div class="social-share post"> <ul class="social"> <li><a class="facebook-share" href="https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=&title=" target="_blank"></a></li> <li><a class="twitter-share" href="https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?source=&text=&via=NRECANews " target="_blank"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewBox="0 0 512 512"><path d="M389.2 48h70.6L305.6 224.2 487 464H345L233.7 318.6 106.5 464H35.8L200.7 275.5 26.8 48H172.4L272.9 180.9 389.2 48zM364.4 421.8h39.1L151.1 88h-42L364.4 421.8z"/></svg></a></li> <li><a class="linkedin-share" href="http://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=&title=&summary=" target="_blank"></a></li> </ul> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </section> <section class="col-md-9"> <div class="article-content">  <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="682" src="https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/rdof-clark-feb-2021-1024x682.jpg" alt="RECA wants the FCC to vet the winning bids of the Rural Digital Opportunity Fund to ensure they can fulfill their obligations to deploy broadband to unserved communities. (Photo By: Casey Clark/MEC)" class="wp-image-7982" srcset="https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/rdof-clark-feb-2021-1024x682.jpg 1024w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/rdof-clark-feb-2021-300x200.jpg 300w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/rdof-clark-feb-2021-768x512.jpg 768w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/rdof-clark-feb-2021.jpg 1400w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption>NRECA wants the FCC to vet the winning bids of the Rural Digital Opportunity Fund to ensure they can fulfill their obligations to deploy broadband to unserved communities. (Photo By: Casey Clark/MEC)</figcaption></figure> <p>NRECA is urging the Biden administration to review the winners of $9.2 billion in federal funds for rural broadband to ensure they can truly meet their bid obligations.</p> <p>“We stand up for the 42 million people we serve,” NRECA CEO Jim Matheson said. “When it comes to the unserved, it’s disproportionally rural communities. Broadband may be provided by electric cooperatives or someone else, but we must make sure the technology and the level of service are accurately reflected in the bids.”</p> <p>Matheson on Feb. 1 sent <a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/NRECA-NRTC-RDOF-WPaper_Coverltr_FCC_FINAL_02-01-2021.pdf" target="_blank">a letter to the Federal Communications Commission</a> accompanied by <a href="https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/NRECA-NRTC-RDOF-paper-PostFinal-02-01-2021.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">a white paper</a> from NRECA and <a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://www.nrtc.coop/" target="_blank">NRTC</a> describing concerns about certain winning bids in the Rural Digital Opportunity Fund Phase I and offering remedies if an FCC review finds winners unable to meet their commitments.</p> <p>“Our focus is on making sure that every unserved American has access to reliable and robust broadband that will meet not just their needs today but also into the future,” Matheson wrote. “NRECA and our member cooperatives stand ready to work with the FCC and other stakeholders to make sure RDOF Phase I is a success and to move forward with planning for phase II.”</p> <p>The RDOF I, as the FCC’s largest broadband auction to date, is expected to connect 5.2 million unserved homes and businesses. The money will be distributed over 10 years as winning internet service providers achieve certain coverage milestones. Detailed technical and financial broadband deployment applications by the winning bidders were due Jan. 29.</p> <p>To ensure the validity of all bids, NRECA recommends that the FCC first reject those the commission deems unable to meet their commitments. The FCC could roll money from any rejected bids into the future RDOF Phase II auction or hold a RDOF Phase 1.5 auction of these funds soon to ensure affected census blocks get served as quickly as possible.</p> <p><a href="https://www.electric.coop/electric-co-ops-win-1-6-billion-in-fcc-rural-broadband-auction">Electric co-ops won bids totaling $1.6 billion</a> to serve nearly 1 million locations in 31 states, largely to build fiber-optic cable networks. Fiber offers internet service with extremely low latency or interruptions and is easily scalable to speeds of one gigabit or more.</p> <p>Some RDOF winners offered lower bids with unproven technologies. These include fixed wireless companies that promise gigabit service in heavily forested or mountainous areas and a low-Earth orbit satellite delivery project still largely in beta testing by Elon Musk’s SpaceX.</p> <p>“There are a lot of winning bids we are concerned about,” Matheson said in remarks discussing the RDOF. “This money is not there to fund a science experiment. It’s to fund broadband for rural Americans.”</p> <p>RDOF winners that fail “will put people in rural America in substandard service for a long time. Because when that federal money is spent, there is no other money for that census block for a decade,” he said. </p> <p>On Jan. 19, <a href="https://www.electric.coop/members-of-congress-urge-fcc-to-vet-provider-promises-on-rural-broadband">160 senators and House members from both parties sent a letter to the FCC</a> asking that RDOF winners be vetted to ensure they can fulfill their bid requirements.</p> <p><em>Cathy Cash is a staff writer at NRECA.</em></p> </div> </section> </div> <div class="row"> <div class="col-md-12"> <section class="timeline-article-footer"> <small>Next in the Issue</small> <a class="article-next-post" data-next-article="timeline-modal-7956" title="Members of Congress Urge FCC to Vet Provider Promises on Rural Broadband">Members of Congress Urge FCC to Vet Provider Promises on Rural Broadband <span class="arrow"><i class="ci-long-arrow-right"></i></span></a> </section> </div> </div> </div> </article>  </section>  <section id="timeline-modal-7956" class="timeline-issues-article hidden"> <div class="jumbotron hero article bg-image" style="background-image: url('');"></div>  <article class="single"> <div class="container">  <div class="row"> <header class="col-md-12"> <div class="article-header"> <small class="article-category"> <a href="https://www.electric.coop/issues-and-policy/broadband">Broadband</a> </small> <h1 class="article-title">Members of Congress Urge FCC to Vet Provider Promises on Rural Broadband</h1> <h3 class="article-subtitle"></h3> </div> </header> </div>  <div class="row"> <section class="col-md-3"> <div class="article-meta"> <div class="row"> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-date"> <span>Published</span>January 22, 2021 </div> </div> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-author"> <span>Author</span> Erin Kelly </div> </div> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-share">  <div class="social-share post"> <ul class="social"> <li><a class="facebook-share" href="https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=&title=" target="_blank"></a></li> <li><a class="twitter-share" href="https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?source=&text=&via=NRECANews " target="_blank"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewBox="0 0 512 512"><path d="M389.2 48h70.6L305.6 224.2 487 464H345L233.7 318.6 106.5 464H35.8L200.7 275.5 26.8 48H172.4L272.9 180.9 389.2 48zM364.4 421.8h39.1L151.1 88h-42L364.4 421.8z"/></svg></a></li> <li><a class="linkedin-share" href="http://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=&title=&summary=" target="_blank"></a></li> </ul> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </section> <section class="col-md-9"> <div class="article-content">  <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="683" src="https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/GettyImages-broadbandletter-1024x683.jpg" alt="Members of Congress are urging the Federal Communications Commission to make sure that broadband providers can deliver on promises of high-quality service. (Photo By: Jose Luis Pelaez Inc./Getty Images)" class="wp-image-7957" srcset="https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/GettyImages-broadbandletter-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/GettyImages-broadbandletter-300x200.jpg 300w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/GettyImages-broadbandletter-768x513.jpg 768w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/GettyImages-broadbandletter-1536x1025.jpg 1536w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/GettyImages-broadbandletter-2048x1367.jpg 2048w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption>Funding from the Federal Communications Commission’s largest reverse auction for rural broadband is expected to serve over 900,000 locations in 31 states. (Photo By: Jose Luis Pelaez Inc./Getty Images)</figcaption></figure> <p>A bipartisan group of 160 senators and House members is calling on the Federal Communications Commission to verify that broadband providers can truly give rural Americans the high-quality service they promised to deliver.</p> <p>NRECA and NTCA–The Rural Broadband Association are worried that some companies that made winning bids during the first phase of the recent <a href="https://www.electric.coop/electric-co-ops-win-1-6-billion-in-fcc-rural-broadband-auction/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Rural Digital Opportunity Fund auction</a> do not have the ability to carry out their ambitious plans.</p> <p>Lawmakers, in a <a href="https://www.cooperative.com/programs-services/government-relations/Documents/Legislative%20Issues/Bicameral%20Letter%20on%20RDOF%20(Clyburn%20Walberg%20Klobuchar%20Thune)%20FINAL.pdf">letter</a> sent Jan. 19 at the urging of NRECA, asked the commission to scrutinize the long-form applications that auction winners must now submit to the agency to validate that they have the technical, financial, managerial and operational skills and resources to perform as promised. Providers must submit the applications for approval to receive federal funds.</p> <p>“We also strongly encourage the FCC to make as public as possible the status of its review and consider opportunities for public input on the applications,” the senators and House members wrote. “Such transparency and accountability will be essential to ensure the success of this program and to minimize any opportunities for fraud or abuse.”</p> <p>One of NRECA’s concerns is that some companies won bids promising service they cannot deliver. For example, several companies said they could provide gigabit speeds using fixed wireless technology that is not widely available, said Kelly Wismer, NRECA’s lobbyist on broadband issues.</p> <p>“Many of the winning applicants claim they will deliver levels of service with certain technologies that are only achievable in extremely limited conditions and terrain—or still not commercially available,” Wismer said.</p> <p>Electric cooperatives also competed in the auction to provide high-speed internet service to rural communities, and the integrity of the auction and public trust in future auctions depends on companies providing realistic information about what they can provide, Wismer said. The congressional letter asked the FCC to vet all the long-form applications, so co-op applicants will also be scrutinized.</p> <p>“At the end of the day, what’s important to NRECA is that the broadband provider, whoever it is, can deliver on the promises they made so unserved Americans get access to high-speed internet,” Wismer said.</p> <p>Without proper vetting, lawmakers warned, “we fear that we will not know whether funds were improperly spent for years to come.” Wismer said rural residents will suffer the consequences if that happens because they “desperately need fast and reliable broadband service.”</p> <p>That need has been underscored during the COVID-19 pandemic as <a href="https://www.electric.coop/new-mexico-co-op-gives-students-free-broadband/">rural students have struggled</a> to do schoolwork at home.</p> <p>The FCC announced winners of its RDOF action last month. Those winners are slated to be awarded a total of $9.2 billion to reach more than 5.2 million unserved communities throughout rural America. Electric co-ops were among the winning bidders and are expected to receive more than $1.6 billion to serve 900,000-plus locations in 31 states. </p> <p>“We all hope this program will be a great success—and it is in that spirit that we write to encourage you to take every reasonable measure possible to ensure this turns out to be the case,” the lawmakers told the commission.</p> <p><em>Erin Kelly is a staff writer at NRECA.</em></p> </div> </section> </div> <div class="row"> <div class="col-md-12"> <section class="timeline-article-footer"> <small>Next in the Issue</small> <a class="article-next-post" data-next-article="timeline-modal-7924" title="Broadband ‘One Buck Deal’: Georgia Co-ops’ Pole Fee Wins Unanimous Approval">Broadband ‘One Buck Deal’: Georgia Co-ops’ Pole Fee Wins Unanimous Approval <span class="arrow"><i class="ci-long-arrow-right"></i></span></a> </section> </div> </div> </div> </article>  </section>  <section id="timeline-modal-7924" class="timeline-issues-article hidden"> <div class="jumbotron hero article bg-image" style="background-image: url('');"></div>  <article class="single"> <div class="container">  <div class="row"> <header class="col-md-12"> <div class="article-header"> <small class="article-category"> <a href="https://www.electric.coop/issues-and-policy/broadband">Broadband</a> </small> <h1 class="article-title">Broadband ‘One Buck Deal’: Georgia Co-ops’ Pole Fee Wins Unanimous Approval</h1> <h3 class="article-subtitle"></h3> </div> </header> </div>  <div class="row"> <section class="col-md-3"> <div class="article-meta"> <div class="row"> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-date"> <span>Published</span>January 5, 2021 </div> </div> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-author"> <span>Author</span> Cathy Cash </div> </div> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-share">  <div class="social-share post"> <ul class="social"> <li><a class="facebook-share" href="https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=&title=" target="_blank"></a></li> <li><a class="twitter-share" href="https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?source=&text=&via=NRECANews " target="_blank"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewBox="0 0 512 512"><path d="M389.2 48h70.6L305.6 224.2 487 464H345L233.7 318.6 106.5 464H35.8L200.7 275.5 26.8 48H172.4L272.9 180.9 389.2 48zM364.4 421.8h39.1L151.1 88h-42L364.4 421.8z"/></svg></a></li> <li><a class="linkedin-share" href="http://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=&title=&summary=" target="_blank"></a></li> </ul> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </section> <section class="col-md-9"> <div class="article-content">  <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/broadband-pole-attachment.jpg"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="683" src="https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/broadband-pole-attachment-1024x683.jpg" alt="Georgia EMC negotiated a deal approved by state regulators to end years of complaints by internet service providers about co-op pole attachment rates that may set a precedent for co-ops in other states. (Photo By: Denny Gainer/NRECA) " class="wp-image-7925" srcset="https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/broadband-pole-attachment-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/broadband-pole-attachment-300x200.jpg 300w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/broadband-pole-attachment-768x512.jpg 768w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/broadband-pole-attachment.jpg 1500w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></a><figcaption>Georgia EMC negotiated a deal approved by state regulators to end years of complaints by internet service providers about co-op pole attachment rates that may set a precedent for co-ops in other states. (Photo By: Denny Gainer/NRECA) </figcaption></figure> <p>For decades, communications providers in Georgia have claimed that pole attachment fees charged by electric cooperatives are too high, attempting to have the legislature mandate lower fees to subsidize their for-profit businesses. More recently, cable and internet service providers falsely claimed that pole attachment fees are the primary roadblock to extending broadband into the state’s unserved rural areas.</p> <p>Now, the co-ops in Georgia have offered an incentive to push broadband deployment in the state.</p> <p>In a <a href="https://psc.ga.gov/site/assets/files/5699/media_advisory_pole_attachment_fees_12_15_2020.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">precedent-setting ruling from the state public service commission</a>, Georgia co-ops volunteered to temporarily drop new annual attachment fees to $1 per pole for broadband providers. The rate kicks in on July 1 and covers areas identified by the state as lacking broadband.</p> <p>“If the pole attachment fee is the barrier, we just took that barrier away,” said Dennis Chastain, president and CEO of <a href="https://georgiaemc.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Georgia Electric Membership Corp.</a>, the statewide association based in Tucker.</p> <p>As part of the ruling, the commission set a cost-based annual co-op pole attachment rate of $27.71 for existing equipment in areas now served with broadband. Companies qualifying for the new $1 rate will revert to the cost-based fee after six years of delivering broadband service.</p> <p>Chastain said he believes the PSC ruling “absolutely could spur rural broadband service if cable providers are serious about wanting to expand in rural areas.”</p> <p>“Our co-ops just want their members to have access to broadband,” he said. “They will forgo six years of cost recovery on a pole if that means their members get broadband service.”</p> <p>Georgia EMC, the statewide trade association for Georgia’s 41 electric distribution co-ops and generation and transmission companies, negotiated the so-called <a href="https://georgiaemc.com/news/543845/Georgia-PSC-Approves-Measures-to-Promote-Broadband-Investment.htm" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">“One Buck Deal”</a> to end years of complaints by internet service providers about co-op pole attachment rates after the state legislature tasked the commission with resolving the issue by Jan. 1, 2021.</p> <p>Chastain’s team worked with industry experts and used <a href="https://www.cooperative.com/topics/telecommunications-broadband/pages/pole-attachment-resources.aspx" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">NRECA resources</a> to develop the solution, which could be replicated by other co-op statewide associations facing similar battles.</p> <p>“This is a big win for electric cooperative members and unserved communities in Georgia,” said Brian O’Hara, NRECA senior regulatory director. “The Georgia PSC balanced the need for incentivizing broadband deployment and ensuring that cooperatives can fully recover the cost of communication attachments on their poles. This decision could serve as an example for other states when pole attachments are reviewed.”</p> <p>As part of the deal, Georgia co-ops must report the total attachments to their poles and the total revenue from these attachments to the PSC every two years. Telecom companies were ordered to report their total broadband customers and investment in expanding broadband.</p> <p>Danny Nichols, <a href="https://colquittemc.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Colquitt EMC’s</a> general manager, said the One Buck Deal “will help EMCs partner with broadband providers in unserved areas and ensure that our members’ investments in the co-op infrastructure will stay here in our own service territories and not leave the state for more profitable projects in urban areas.” </p> <p><em>Cathy Cash is a staff writer at NRECA.</em></p> </div> </section> </div> <div class="row"> <div class="col-md-12"> <section class="timeline-article-footer"> <small>Next in the Issue</small> <a class="article-next-post" data-next-article="timeline-modal-7900" title="Electric Co-ops Win $1.6 Billion in FCC Rural Broadband Auction">Electric Co-ops Win $1.6 Billion in FCC Rural Broadband Auction <span class="arrow"><i class="ci-long-arrow-right"></i></span></a> </section> </div> </div> </div> </article>  </section>  <section id="timeline-modal-7900" class="timeline-issues-article hidden"> <div class="jumbotron hero article bg-image" style="background-image: url('');"></div>  <article class="single"> <div class="container">  <div class="row"> <header class="col-md-12"> <div class="article-header"> <small class="article-category"> <a href="https://www.electric.coop/issues-and-policy/broadband">Broadband</a> </small> <h1 class="article-title">Electric Co-ops Win $1.6 Billion in FCC Rural Broadband Auction</h1> <h3 class="article-subtitle"></h3> </div> </header> </div>  <div class="row"> <section class="col-md-3"> <div class="article-meta"> <div class="row"> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-date"> <span>Published</span>December 15, 2020 </div> </div> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-author"> <span>Author</span> Cathy Cash </div> </div> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-share">  <div class="social-share post"> <ul class="social"> <li><a class="facebook-share" href="https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=&title=" target="_blank"></a></li> <li><a class="twitter-share" href="https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?source=&text=&via=NRECANews " target="_blank"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewBox="0 0 512 512"><path d="M389.2 48h70.6L305.6 224.2 487 464H345L233.7 318.6 106.5 464H35.8L200.7 275.5 26.8 48H172.4L272.9 180.9 389.2 48zM364.4 421.8h39.1L151.1 88h-42L364.4 421.8z"/></svg></a></li> <li><a class="linkedin-share" href="http://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=&title=&summary=" target="_blank"></a></li> </ul> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </section> <section class="col-md-9"> <div class="article-content">  <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/lineworkers-rdof-december-2020.jpg"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="683" src="https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/lineworkers-rdof-december-2020-1024x683.jpg" alt="Initial results of the FCC’s Rural Digital Opportunity Fund auction show electric co-ops winning bids up to $1.6 billion to deploy broadband to nearly 1 million areas. (Photo By: Casey Clark/MEC)" class="wp-image-7901" srcset="https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/lineworkers-rdof-december-2020-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/lineworkers-rdof-december-2020-300x200.jpg 300w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/lineworkers-rdof-december-2020-768x512.jpg 768w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/lineworkers-rdof-december-2020.jpg 1500w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></a><figcaption>Initial results of the FCC’s Rural Digital Opportunity Fund auction show electric co-ops winning bids up to $1.6 billion to deploy broadband to nearly 1 million areas. (Photo By: Casey Clark/MEC)</figcaption></figure> <p>Electric cooperatives made a strong showing in the Federal Communications Commission’s largest reverse auction to fund rural broadband, winning bids expected to top $1.6 billion to serve over 900,000 locations in 31 states.</p> <p><a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://docs.fcc.gov/public/attachments/DA-20-1422A1.pdf" target="_blank">The FCC announced the winners of its Rural Digital Opportunity Fund on Dec. 7</a> and released initial details about how the first $9.2 billion in Phase I funding will be distributed over the next 10 years among the nearly 400 winning bidders.</p> <p>Nearly $7 billion in unobligated Phase I funds will be added to $4.4 billion for a Phase II auction the FCC is expected to schedule once it has implemented more granular broadband data collection and mapping.</p> <p>RDOF bidders pledge to provide broadband access to residents of census blocks determined by the FCC to be fully unserved in Phase I and partially served in Phase II.</p> <p>Of the electric co-ops that participated in the Phase I auction, 180 competed as part of five consortiums that garnered a total of about $1.5 billion. Five individual electric co-ops won a total of $59.4 million.</p> <p>Co-op Connections Consortium with 13 electric co-ops won bids in eight states; NRTC Phase I RDOF Consortium with 51 electric co-ops won bids in 14 states; RDOF USA Consortium or FiberRise with 21 electric co-ops won bids in five states; Prospero Broadband Consortium with  about nine electric co-op won bids in three states; and Rural Electric Cooperative Consortium with 95 co-ops won bids in 22 states. These groups must divide the winning bids among the participating co-ops by Dec. 22.</p> <p>The individual electric co-op winners were:</p> <ul class="wp-block-list"><li>Lutsen, Minnesota-based <a href="https://www.aecimn.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Arrowhead Electric Cooperative</a> with $18 million to serve nearly 5,000 locations.</li><li>Bandera, Texas-based <a href="https://www.banderaelectric.com/en-us/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Bandera Electric Cooperative</a> with nearly $1.7 million to serve 534 locations.</li><li>Cassville, Missouri-based <a href="https://www.barryelectric.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Barry Electric Co-op</a> with $14,500 to serve 26 locations.</li><li>Grants, New Mexico-based <a href="https://www.cdec.coop/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Continental Divide Electric Cooperative</a> with $38 million to serve nearly 8,500 locations.</li><li>Roseau, Minnesota-based <a href="https://www.roseauelectric.coop/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Roseau Electric Cooperative Inc.</a> with nearly $1.3 million to serve 266 locations.</li></ul> <p>All winning bidders must file a detailed long-form application with the FCC between Jan. 14 and Jan. 29, 2021. Applications must include deployment plans specific to their RDOF awards and areas to be served. Over the 10-year disbursement of funds, the RDOF has set service milestones that include reaching every location assigned by the end of year six.</p> <p>To enter the auction, bidders were required to select a speed tier established by the FCC. The allowable minimum speeds were 25 megabits per second for downloads and 3 Mbps for uploads.</p> <p>The RDOF used a weighted tier system and other rules <a href="https://www.cooperative.com/news/pages/fcc-approves-rural-broadband-auction-rules.aspx" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">advocated by NRECA</a> to ensure co-ops with superior service could compete against other types of internet providers with slower or spotty service in rural areas. Many electric co-ops deploying broadband use fiber-optic cable that provides the fastest, most reliable connection.</p> <p>NRECA was also successful in recommending that the FCC auction small census blocks to ensure bid areas were near co-ops’ service territories and infrastructure to reduce build-out costs or delays.</p> <p>The FCC lauded the auction as a way to deploy high-speed internet access to more than 5 million homes and businesses currently without service. In announcing the initial results, the commission said that “99.7% of these locations will be receiving broadband with speeds of at least 100/20 Mbps and more than 85% will get gigabit-speed service.” </p> <p>NRECA continues to analyze the results of this huge auction and its impact on rural co-op members lacking access to broadband.</p> <p>“There is cause to be excited about parts of the RDOF Phase I auction results, but in order for the auction to be considered a success it needs to deliver on its promises,” said Kelly Wismer, legislative affairs director at NRECA. </p> <p>“For every American to have access to robust, affordable broadband, it’s critical that the FCC continue to do in-depth due diligence of all RDOF winners in a transparent way to ensure they can technically and operationally do what they have promised. Over 5 million Americans in rural communities depend on the FCC getting this right.”</p> <p><em>Cathy Cash is a staff writer at NRECA.</em></p> </div> </section> </div> <div class="row"> <div class="col-md-12"> <section class="timeline-article-footer"> <small>Next in the Issue</small> <a class="article-next-post" data-next-article="timeline-modal-7749" title="What Biden’s Victory Means for Electric Cooperatives">What Biden’s Victory Means for Electric Cooperatives <span class="arrow"><i class="ci-long-arrow-right"></i></span></a> </section> </div> </div> </div> </article>  </section>  <section id="timeline-modal-7749" class="timeline-issues-article hidden"> <div class="jumbotron hero article bg-image" style="background-image: url('');"></div>  <article class="single"> <div class="container">  <div class="row"> <header class="col-md-12"> <div class="article-header"> <small class="article-category"> <a href="https://www.electric.coop/issues-and-policy/broadband">Broadband</a> </small> <h1 class="article-title">What Biden’s Victory Means for Electric Cooperatives</h1> <h3 class="article-subtitle"></h3> </div> </header> </div>  <div class="row"> <section class="col-md-3"> <div class="article-meta"> <div class="row"> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-date"> <span>Published</span>November 7, 2020 </div> </div> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-author"> <span>Author</span> Erin Kelly </div> </div> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-share">  <div class="social-share post"> <ul class="social"> <li><a class="facebook-share" href="https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=&title=" target="_blank"></a></li> <li><a class="twitter-share" href="https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?source=&text=&via=NRECANews " target="_blank"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewBox="0 0 512 512"><path d="M389.2 48h70.6L305.6 224.2 487 464H345L233.7 318.6 106.5 464H35.8L200.7 275.5 26.8 48H172.4L272.9 180.9 389.2 48zM364.4 421.8h39.1L151.1 88h-42L364.4 421.8z"/></svg></a></li> <li><a class="linkedin-share" href="http://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=&title=&summary=" target="_blank"></a></li> </ul> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </section> <section class="col-md-9"> <div class="article-content">  <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" src="https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/election-2020-getty-1024x683.jpg" alt="The results of the 2020 presidential and congressional elections could have major impacts on electric cooperatives. (Photo By: Dave Logan/Getty Images)" class="wp-image-7747" height="NaN" srcset="https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/election-2020-getty-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/election-2020-getty-300x200.jpg 300w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/election-2020-getty-768x512.jpg 768w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/election-2020-getty.jpg 1500w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption>The results of the 2020 presidential and congressional elections could have major impacts on electric cooperatives. (Photo By: Dave Logan/Getty Images)</figcaption></figure> <p><em>Last updated: Nov. 7, 11:30 a.m. </em></p> <p>Joe Biden’s victory in the presidential race sets the stage for the former vice president to implement sweeping environmental policy changes. But his planned agenda will likely be muted by what now looks to be a divided Congress, with a Republican-led Senate and a diminished Democratic majority in the House.</p> <p>In the near term, Biden is expected to push for a broad economic stimulus plan shortly after he takes office in January, presenting opportunities for NRECA to secure more pandemic relief for co-ops and their consumer-members.</p> <p>“Vice President Biden has been clear that the two most important things facing our country are health care, especially related to the pandemic, and the economy. We agree,” said NRECA CEO Jim Matheson. “We are focused on supporting our members in the development of the next COVID relief package, including RUS loan refinancing, shortfalls caused by nonpayment of bills and protecting those consumer-members who are least able to pay their bills.”</p> <p>Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., said he wants to move another economic stimulus package before the end of the year. </p> <p>Matheson said NRECA will work with bipartisan champions in Congress to pass the <a href="https://www.electric.coop/new-rus-loans-could-save-co-ops-billions/">Flexible Financing for Rural America Act</a>, which could save co-ops more than $10 billion by allowing them to reprice loans from the Rural Utilities Service at current low interest rates. The bill would waive any prepayment penalties normally associated with refinancing.</p> <p>“Our priorities remain the same: to protect the interests of America’s electric cooperatives and to ensure government doesn’t get in the way of affordable, reliable power,” he said.</p> <div class="wp-block-image"><figure class="alignright size-large is-resized"><img decoding="async" src="https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/GettyImages-1229461976.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-7794" width="333" height="NaN" srcset="https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/GettyImages-1229461976.jpg 1024w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/GettyImages-1229461976-300x200.jpg 300w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/GettyImages-1229461976-768x512.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption>Joe Biden speaks in Wilmington, Delaware, on Nov. 4, 2020. (Photo By: Drew Angerer/Getty Images)</figcaption></figure></div> <p>Over the longer term, electric co-ops will work to shape a <a href="https://joebiden.com/clean-energy/">$2 trillion plan</a> Biden campaigned on that would eliminate carbon dioxide emissions from the electric power sector by 2035 and replace fossil fuels with zero-emission sources such as wind, solar, nuclear, hydropower and biomass. The divided Congress could affect how aggressively the incoming administration pursues these goals. </p> <p> “The vice president has put forward principles, but the details really matter,” said Louis Finkel, NRECA’s senior vice president for government affairs. “And as those details emerge, we will evaluate them based on the tenets of affordability, reliability and resiliency.”</p> <p>Biden has also touted the need to pass a comprehensive infrastructure spending bill to rebuild the nation’s aging highways and bridges and invest in public transportation and electric vehicle charging stations. He is pushing for rural broadband deployment as part of that plan.</p> <p> “Our long-standing approach—to work in a bipartisan fashion with lawmakers—is going to continue to be important,” Matheson said. “Regardless of who is in control of the Congress, we feel good about the champions that we’ve worked with on both sides of the aisle. No piece of legislation we’ve ever championed has been partisan, and we will continue to work with Republicans and Democrats alike.”</p> <div class="infogram-embed" data-id="bdc5331c-55c9-46fb-a259-9312efd15fb3" data-type="interactive"></div><script>!function(e,t,s,i){var n="InfogramEmbeds",o=e.getElementsByTagName("script"),d=o[0],r=/^http:/.test(e.location)?"http:":"https:";if(/^\/{2}/.test(i)&&(i=r+i),window[n]&&window[n].initialized)window[n].process&&window[n].process();else if(!e.getElementById(s)){var a=e.createElement("script");a.async=1,a.id=s,a.src=i,d.parentNode.insertBefore(a,d)}}(document,0,"infogram-async","//e.infogram.com/js/dist/embed-loader-min.js");</script> <p></p> <p><em>Erin Kelly is a staff writer at NRECA.</em></p> </div> </section> </div> <div class="row"> <div class="col-md-12"> <section class="timeline-article-footer"> <small>Next in the Issue</small> <a class="article-next-post" data-next-article="timeline-modal-7705" title="Electric Co-ops Win Nearly $64M in Latest ReConnect Broadband Funding">Electric Co-ops Win Nearly $64M in Latest ReConnect Broadband Funding <span class="arrow"><i class="ci-long-arrow-right"></i></span></a> </section> </div> </div> </div> </article>  </section>  <section id="timeline-modal-7705" class="timeline-issues-article hidden"> <div class="jumbotron hero article bg-image" style="background-image: url('');"></div>  <article class="single"> <div class="container">  <div class="row"> <header class="col-md-12"> <div class="article-header"> <small class="article-category"> <a href="https://www.electric.coop/issues-and-policy/broadband">Broadband</a> </small> <h1 class="article-title">Electric Co-ops Win Nearly $64M in Latest ReConnect Broadband Funding</h1> <h3 class="article-subtitle"></h3> </div> </header> </div>  <div class="row"> <section class="col-md-3"> <div class="article-meta"> <div class="row"> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-date"> <span>Published</span>October 26, 2020 </div> </div> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-author"> <span>Author</span> Cathy Cash </div> </div> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-share">  <div class="social-share post"> <ul class="social"> <li><a class="facebook-share" href="https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=&title=" target="_blank"></a></li> <li><a class="twitter-share" href="https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?source=&text=&via=NRECANews " target="_blank"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewBox="0 0 512 512"><path d="M389.2 48h70.6L305.6 224.2 487 464H345L233.7 318.6 106.5 464H35.8L200.7 275.5 26.8 48H172.4L272.9 180.9 389.2 48zM364.4 421.8h39.1L151.1 88h-42L364.4 421.8z"/></svg></a></li> <li><a class="linkedin-share" href="http://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=&title=&summary=" target="_blank"></a></li> </ul> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </section> <section class="col-md-9"> <div class="article-content">  <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" src="https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/JOCARROLLEnergyIMG_9142-1024x682.jpg" alt="Jo-Carroll Energy in Elizabeth, Illinois, has been awarded a $14 million ReConnect grant from the USDA program to deploy rural broadband. (Photo By: Jo-Carroll Energy)" class="wp-image-7706" height="NaN" srcset="https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/JOCARROLLEnergyIMG_9142-1024x682.jpg 1024w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/JOCARROLLEnergyIMG_9142-300x200.jpg 300w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/JOCARROLLEnergyIMG_9142-768x512.jpg 768w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/JOCARROLLEnergyIMG_9142.jpg 1400w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption>Jo-Carroll Energy in Elizabeth, Illinois, has been awarded a $14 million ReConnect grant from the USDA program to deploy rural broadband. (Photo By: Jo-Carroll Energy)</figcaption></figure> <p>“The future.”</p> <p>That’s what a $14 million grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s ReConnect rural broadband program means to <a href="https://www.jocarroll.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label="Jo-Carroll Energy (opens in a new tab)">Jo-Carroll Energy</a> members, said President and CEO Mike Casper.</p> <p>“The key takeaway is that our members in this beautiful slice of America will be more successful, healthy and educated,” he said Oct. 19, when USDA announced this year’s largest ReConnect award would go to the Elizabeth, Illinois-based cooperative.  </p> <p>More than 7,600 people, 378 farms, 150 businesses, eight public schools, three fire stations, two post offices and two museums will gain access to high-speed internet thanks to the grant, which Jo-Carroll will use to expand the buildout of its fiber-to-the-premises network.</p> <p>“America and economic development depend on a robust infrastructure, fiber being an essential component,” Casper said.</p> <p>Jo-Carroll Electric is among about a dozen electric co-ops or related entities that received a total of nearly $64 million from the latest round of the ReConnect program, which is in its second year of giving grants, loans and 50/50 awards to rural broadband developers. </p> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/NCS4298_Broadband_Grant_Infographic_Jo-Carroll_625x625-1.jpg"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="1024" src="https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/NCS4298_Broadband_Grant_Infographic_Jo-Carroll_625x625-1-1024x1024.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-7713" srcset="https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/NCS4298_Broadband_Grant_Infographic_Jo-Carroll_625x625-1-1024x1024.jpg 1024w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/NCS4298_Broadband_Grant_Infographic_Jo-Carroll_625x625-1-300x300.jpg 300w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/NCS4298_Broadband_Grant_Infographic_Jo-Carroll_625x625-1-150x150.jpg 150w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/NCS4298_Broadband_Grant_Infographic_Jo-Carroll_625x625-1-768x768.jpg 768w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/NCS4298_Broadband_Grant_Infographic_Jo-Carroll_625x625-1.jpg 1303w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></a></figure> <p><a href="https://www.mienergy.coop/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label="MiEnergy Cooperative (opens in a new tab)">MiEnergy Cooperative</a>, with headquarters in Rushford, Minnesota, and Cresco, Iowa, was another big winner with a $9.7 million ReConnect 50/50 grant and loan to broadband provider Harmony Telephone Co., which the co-op partially owns. The money will help provide high-speed internet access for 1,579 people, 96 farms and 31 businesses in northeastern Iowa.</p> <p>“The pandemic has shown us that access to high-speed broadband in rural areas is just as critical and essential as access to electricity was in the 1930s,” said MiEnergy President and CEO Brian Krambeer. “This award will create life-changing opportunities for our rural members, allowing them to have the speeds necessary for working and learning from home.” </p> <p><a href="https://caec.coop/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label="Central Alabama Electric Cooperative (opens in a new tab)">Central Alabama Electric Cooperative</a>, based in Prattville, won an $8.6 million ReConnect grant to deploy broadband fiber to 13,853 people, 149 farms and 77 businesses across seven counties.</p> <p>Decatur, Tennessee-based <a href="https://vec.org/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label="Volunteer Energy Cooperative (opens in a new tab)">Volunteer Energy Cooperative</a> will use a $3.7 million ReConnect grant to deploy a fiber-to-the-premises network to connect 2,687 people, 79 farms and nine businesses.</p> <p>Ntera LLC, the broadband subsidiary formed by Cornell, Wisconsin-based <a href="https://www.cvecoop.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label="Chippewa Valley Electric Cooperative (opens in a new tab)">Chippewa Valley Electric Cooperative</a> and local internet provider Citizens Connected, will build a fiber network to serve 2,044 people, 33 farms and 33 businesses with a $3 million ReConnect grant.</p> <p>Brownstown, Indiana-based <a href="https://www.jacksonremc.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label="Jackson County Rural Electric Membership Corp. (opens in a new tab)">Jackson County Rural Electric Membership Corp.</a> will connect 4,881 people with a $1.9 million loan and a $1.9 million grant from the program.</p> <p>Grants, New Mexico-based <a href="https://www.cdec.coop/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label="Continental Divide Electric Cooperative (opens in a new tab)">Continental Divide Electric Cooperative</a> will use a $1.1 million grant to deliver broadband fiber to 85 people, four farms and a business, and Linden, Indiana-based <a href="https://www.tipmont.org/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label="Tipmont REMC’s (opens in a new tab)">Tipmont REMC’s</a>  $1 million grant will go toward fiber-to-the-premises for 279 people, 10 businesses and 16 farms.</p> <p>“The need for rural broadband has never been more apparent than it is now as our nation manages the coronavirus national emergency,” Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue said at an Oct. 21 award announcement. </p> <p>“I am so proud of our rural communities, who have been working day in and day out, just like they always do, producing the food and fiber America depends on. We need them more than ever during these trying times and expanding access to this critical infrastructure will help ensure rural America prospers for years to come.” </p> <p>USDA received 172 applications by its April deadline for ReConnect funds and has awarded more than $414 million so far this year. </p> <p><em>Cathy Cash is a staff writer at NRECA.</em></p> </div> </section> </div> <div class="row"> <div class="col-md-12"> <section class="timeline-article-footer"> <small>Next in the Issue</small> <a class="article-next-post" data-next-article="timeline-modal-7678" title="190 Electric Co-ops Qualify to Bid at FCC’s $16 Billion Broadband Auction">190 Electric Co-ops Qualify to Bid at FCC’s $16 Billion Broadband Auction <span class="arrow"><i class="ci-long-arrow-right"></i></span></a> </section> </div> </div> </div> </article>  </section>  <section id="timeline-modal-7678" class="timeline-issues-article hidden"> <div class="jumbotron hero article bg-image" style="background-image: url('');"></div>  <article class="single"> <div class="container">  <div class="row"> <header class="col-md-12"> <div class="article-header"> <small class="article-category"> <a href="https://www.electric.coop/issues-and-policy/broadband">Broadband</a> </small> <h1 class="article-title">190 Electric Co-ops Qualify to Bid at FCC’s $16 Billion Broadband Auction</h1> <h3 class="article-subtitle"></h3> </div> </header> </div>  <div class="row"> <section class="col-md-3"> <div class="article-meta"> <div class="row"> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-date"> <span>Published</span>October 19, 2020 </div> </div> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-author"> <span>Author</span> Cathy Cash </div> </div> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-share">  <div class="social-share post"> <ul class="social"> <li><a class="facebook-share" href="https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=&title=" target="_blank"></a></li> <li><a class="twitter-share" href="https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?source=&text=&via=NRECANews " target="_blank"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewBox="0 0 512 512"><path d="M389.2 48h70.6L305.6 224.2 487 464H345L233.7 318.6 106.5 464H35.8L200.7 275.5 26.8 48H172.4L272.9 180.9 389.2 48zM364.4 421.8h39.1L151.1 88h-42L364.4 421.8z"/></svg></a></li> <li><a class="linkedin-share" href="http://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=&title=&summary=" target="_blank"></a></li> </ul> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </section> <section class="col-md-9"> <div class="article-content">  <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="682" src="https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/JOCARROLL-Energy-broadband-1024x682.jpg" alt="FCC has unveiled its list of 396 qualifying bidders—including 190 electric co-ops—for Phase I of its Rural Digital Opportunity Fund auction for $16 billion to deploy broadband to unserved areas. (Photo By: Jo-Carroll Energy)" class="wp-image-7679" srcset="https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/JOCARROLL-Energy-broadband-1024x682.jpg 1024w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/JOCARROLL-Energy-broadband-300x200.jpg 300w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/JOCARROLL-Energy-broadband-768x511.jpg 768w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/JOCARROLL-Energy-broadband.jpg 1500w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption>FCC has unveiled its list of 396 qualifying bidders—including 190 electric co-ops—for Phase I of its Rural Digital Opportunity Fund auction for $16 billion to deploy broadband to unserved areas. (Photo By: Jo-Carroll Energy)</figcaption></figure> <p>About 190 electric cooperatives have qualified to compete for up to $16 billion in the Federal Communications Commission’s largest reverse auction to fund broadband internet for unserved areas across the country. </p> <p>The FCC on Oct. 13 released its <a href="https://docs.fcc.gov/public/attachments/DA-20-1187A2.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label=" (opens in a new tab)">list of 386 qualifying bidders</a>, primarily telephone co-ops and other types of internet service providers, for the first phase of the $20.4 billion Rural Digital Opportunity Fund. The majority of electric co-ops are bidding through a consortium.</p> <p>Winning bidders will receive funds over a 10-year period to deploy broadband to unserved census blocks identified by the FCC.</p> <p>Phase I bidding begins on Oct. 29 and is expected to ultimately connect up to 6 million rural homes and businesses.</p> <p>The auction requires providers to deliver minimum speeds of 25 megabits per second for downloads and 3 Mbps for uploads. It will use a weighted tier system and <a href="https://www.cooperative.com/news/pages/fcc-approves-rural-broadband-auction-rules.aspx" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label="rules advocated by NRECA (opens in a new tab)">rules advocated by NRECA</a> to ensure electric co-ops with superior service are not sidelined by cheaper internet providers with slower or spotty service in rural areas.</p> <p>The FCC also recently released the final eligible locations and funding levels by census block group bidding area. Successful bidders must meet service milestones set by the commission.</p> <p>“The FCC has now provided RDOF bidders clarity on the number of locations available and the amount of funding available in a given census block group bidding area,” said Brian O’Hara, NRECA senior regulatory director for broadband and telecom. </p> <p>“Information on the census blocks up for bid could have a major impact on the ability of a co-op to participate. Each co-op looking to participate in the auction will have to crunch the numbers and adjust their bidding strategy accordingly. A census block project allotted less-than-expected RDOF money may no longer pencil out.”  </p> <p>The FCC is <a href="https://www.cooperative.com/news/Pages/NRECA-Urges-FCC-to-Ensure-Rural-Digital-Opportunity-Fund-Delivers-Future-Proof-Broadband.aspx" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label="prohibiting RDOF money (opens in a new tab)">prohibiting RDOF money</a> from going to areas receiving other government broadband grants, such as the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Rural Utilities Service ReConnect awards.</p> <p>Every home and business within the auctioned census block group must be served by the winning bidder, and no additional money will be awarded if more locations appear than were initially identified, according to the commission rules.</p> <p>The Phase II auction for the remaining $4.4 billion, plus any unused Phase I funds, is expected to take place after the commission gathers detailed census data and mapping information to determine areas that remain without broadband. </p> <p>Qualifying bidders for the first round of RDOF auction included at least 10 individual electric co-ops and four consortiums representing 180 electric co-ops. </p> <p>The individual co-ops are Lutsen, Minnesota-based <a href="https://www.aecimn.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label="Arrowhead Electric Cooperative (opens in a new tab)">Arrowhead Electric Cooperative</a>; Bandera, Texas-based <a href="https://www.banderaelectric.com/en-us/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label="Bandera Electric Cooperative (opens in a new tab)">Bandera Electric Cooperative</a>; Cassville, Missouri-based <a href="https://www.barryelectric.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label="Barry Electric Co-op (opens in a new tab)">Barry Electric Co-op</a>; Young Harris, Georgia-based <a href="https://www.brmemc.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label="Blue Ridge Mountain EMC (opens in a new tab)">Blue Ridge Mountain EMC</a>; Rio Grande, Ohio-based <a href="https://www.buckeyerec.coop/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label="Buckeye Rural Electric Cooperative (opens in a new tab)">Buckeye Rural Electric Cooperative</a>; Dafter, Michigan-based <a href="https://cloverland.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label="Cloverland Electric Cooperative (opens in a new tab)">Cloverland Electric Cooperative</a>; San Angelo, Texas-based <a href="https://www.cvec.coop/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label="Concho Valley Electric Cooperative (opens in a new tab)">Concho Valley Electric Cooperative</a>; Grants, New Mexico-based <a href="https://www.cdec.coop/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label="Continental Divide Electric Cooperative (opens in a new tab)">Continental Divide Electric Cooperative</a>; Bullhead City, Arizona-based <a href="https://www.mohaveelectric.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label="Mohave Electric Cooperative (opens in a new tab)">Mohave Electric Cooperative</a>; and Roseau-Minnesota-based <a href="https://www.roseauelectric.coop" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label="Roseau Electric Cooperative (opens in a new tab)">Roseau Electric Cooperative</a>.</p> <p><em>Cathy Cash is a staff writer at NRECA.</em></p> </div> </section> </div> <div class="row"> <div class="col-md-12"> <section class="timeline-article-footer"> <small>Next in the Issue</small> <a class="article-next-post" data-next-article="timeline-modal-7610" title="FCC Recognizes Co-op’s Senior2Senior Internet Skills Program">FCC Recognizes Co-op’s Senior2Senior Internet Skills Program <span class="arrow"><i class="ci-long-arrow-right"></i></span></a> </section> </div> </div> </div> </article>  </section>  <section id="timeline-modal-7610" class="timeline-issues-article hidden"> <div class="jumbotron hero article bg-image" style="background-image: url('');"></div>  <article class="single"> <div class="container">  <div class="row"> <header class="col-md-12"> <div class="article-header"> <small class="article-category"> <a href="https://www.electric.coop/issues-and-policy/broadband">Broadband</a> </small> <h1 class="article-title">FCC Recognizes Co-op’s Senior2Senior Internet Skills Program</h1> <h3 class="article-subtitle"></h3> </div> </header> </div>  <div class="row"> <section class="col-md-3"> <div class="article-meta"> <div class="row"> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-date"> <span>Published</span>September 25, 2020 </div> </div> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-author"> <span>Author</span> Cathy Cash </div> </div> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-share">  <div class="social-share post"> <ul class="social"> <li><a class="facebook-share" href="https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=&title=" target="_blank"></a></li> <li><a class="twitter-share" href="https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?source=&text=&via=NRECANews " target="_blank"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewBox="0 0 512 512"><path d="M389.2 48h70.6L305.6 224.2 487 464H345L233.7 318.6 106.5 464H35.8L200.7 275.5 26.8 48H172.4L272.9 180.9 389.2 48zM364.4 421.8h39.1L151.1 88h-42L364.4 421.8z"/></svg></a></li> <li><a class="linkedin-share" href="http://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=&title=&summary=" target="_blank"></a></li> </ul> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </section> <section class="col-md-9"> <div class="article-content">  <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="768" src="https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/fcc-sr2sr-1024x768.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-7611" srcset="https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/fcc-sr2sr-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/fcc-sr2sr-300x225.jpg 300w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/fcc-sr2sr-768x576.jpg 768w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/fcc-sr2sr-1536x1152.jpg 1536w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/fcc-sr2sr.jpg 2016w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption>Tri-County’s broadband subsidiary recently resumed its free Senior2Senior classes with pandemic precautions where older co-op members can gain computer literacy and use high-speed internet. (Photo Courtesy: Tri-Co Connections)</figcaption></figure> <p>An electric cooperative in north-central Pennsylvania that has found a way to get older members online with help from tech-savvy teen volunteers is being recognized by the Federal Communications Commission for its contribution to bridging the digital divide.</p> <p>The FCC will formally recognize Tri-Co Connections LLC, the broadband subsidiary of Mansfield-based <a href="http://www.tri-countyrec.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label="Tri-County REC (opens in a new tab)">Tri-County REC</a>, as a Digital Opportunity Equity Recognition honoree in a virtual reception in October.</p> <p>Tri-Co Connections is the only electric co-op among the FCC’s inaugural recipient class of 22 individuals, organizations and corporations. </p> <p>FCC Commissioner Geoffrey Starks formed the DOER program, spurred in part by the COVID-19 pandemic, to “acknowledge the tireless efforts of Americans working to close the digital divide in communities without access to affordable, reliable broadband.”</p> <p>“From rural areas to urban corridors, students to seniors, to say this year’s DOER honorees are a stellar group is an understatement,” Starks said in announcing the honorees Sept. 14.</p> <p>Tri-Co Connections is being hailed for its <a href="https://www.electric.coop/co-op-schools-seniors-on-internet-as-it-builds-out-broadband/">Senior2Senior</a> program, which delivers free eight-week computer literacy courses to older members, some of whom have never owned a computer. Local high schoolers, with staff from social agencies on hand, provide instruction at four area senior centers. </p> <p>About 40 older members went through the program in late 2019 before it was interrupted by the pandemic earlier this year. One class recently resumed with social distancing. </p> <p>“The FCC has made great strides in helping bridge the digital divide in rural areas, and to be recognized and receive this award from them is a real honor,” said Craig Eccher, president and CEO of Tri-Co and Tri-Co Connections.</p> <p>“With our sprawling rural service territory, harsh winters, and long commutes to services and retail centers, high-speed internet can provide seniors a means of staying connected from the comfort of their homes 24/7.</p> <p>“And with the nation in the grip of a pandemic, reliable online access has become even more critical to the elderly population in our rural areas.” </p> <p>Bill Gerski, Tri-Co Connections senior vice president for business development and the lead creator of Seniors2Seniors, said the pandemic has amplified the need for older people to have internet access and learn computer skills for things like keeping in touch with family and friends, paying bills and accessing medical services. </p> <p>“Seniors are the most vulnerable to COVID-19,” he said. “If they don’t have a computer to gain access to the outside world, it’s pretty lonely.”</p> <p><em>Cathy Cash is a staff writer at NRECA.</em></p> </div> </section> </div> <div class="row"> <div class="col-md-12"> <section class="timeline-article-footer"> <small>Next in the Issue</small> <a class="article-next-post" data-next-article="timeline-modal-7592" title="Back to (Virtual) School: Co-op Broadband Helps Keep Students Connected">Back to (Virtual) School: Co-op Broadband Helps Keep Students Connected <span class="arrow"><i class="ci-long-arrow-right"></i></span></a> </section> </div> </div> </div> </article>  </section>  <section id="timeline-modal-7592" class="timeline-issues-article hidden"> <div class="jumbotron hero article bg-image" style="background-image: url('');"></div>  <article class="single"> <div class="container">  <div class="row"> <header class="col-md-12"> <div class="article-header"> <small class="article-category"> <a href="https://www.electric.coop/issues-and-policy/broadband">Broadband</a> </small> <h1 class="article-title">Back to (Virtual) School: Co-op Broadband Helps Keep Students Connected</h1> <h3 class="article-subtitle"></h3> </div> </header> </div>  <div class="row"> <section class="col-md-3"> <div class="article-meta"> <div class="row"> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-date"> <span>Published</span>September 21, 2020 </div> </div> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-author"> <span>Author</span> Cathy Cash </div> </div> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-share">  <div class="social-share post"> <ul class="social"> <li><a class="facebook-share" href="https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=&title=" target="_blank"></a></li> <li><a class="twitter-share" href="https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?source=&text=&via=NRECANews " target="_blank"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewBox="0 0 512 512"><path d="M389.2 48h70.6L305.6 224.2 487 464H345L233.7 318.6 106.5 464H35.8L200.7 275.5 26.8 48H172.4L272.9 180.9 389.2 48zM364.4 421.8h39.1L151.1 88h-42L364.4 421.8z"/></svg></a></li> <li><a class="linkedin-share" href="http://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=&title=&summary=" target="_blank"></a></li> </ul> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </section> <section class="col-md-9"> <div class="article-content">  <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/sre-merri-super.jpg"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="743" src="https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/sre-merri-super-1024x743.jpg" alt="Meriwether County School Superintendent Al Griffin stands beside a Wi-Fi-equipped school bus that will bring free internet access to the school system’s most rural students, thanks to Operation Round Up funds from Southern River Energy. (Photo Courtesy: SRE)" class="wp-image-7594" srcset="https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/sre-merri-super-1024x743.jpg 1024w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/sre-merri-super-300x218.jpg 300w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/sre-merri-super-768x557.jpg 768w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/sre-merri-super.jpg 1500w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></a><figcaption>Meriwether County School Superintendent Al Griffin stands beside a Wi-Fi-equipped school bus that will bring free internet access to the school system’s most rural students, thanks to Operation Round Up funds from Southern River Energy. (Photo Courtesy: SRE)</figcaption></figure> <p>As a new school year gets under way amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, electric cooperatives across the country are implementing broadband internet solutions to keep students connected to virtual classrooms even in the most remote and impoverished communities.</p> <p><a href="https://www.opalco.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label="Orcas Power & Light Cooperative (opens in a new tab)">Orcas Power & Light Cooperative</a> serves about 12,000 members spread across dozens of small villages that dot 20 islands in Washington state’s San Juan County. Only four of those islands have public ferry access. When the coronavirus forced school closures last spring, OPALCO and its internet subsidiary, Rock Island Communications, learned from the superintendent that what students needed most was fast, reliable internet at home.</p> <p>Rock Island staff managed to quickly deploy fixed wireless or hotspot solutions to deliver internet access specifically to students’ school-provided learning devices. Now, every schoolkid in OPALCO’s service territory, no matter their location or family income, can learn in a virtual classroom.</p> <p>“Access Education was realized, designed and executed to 114 homes in just a little more than two weeks,” said Suzanne Olson, the co-op’s public relations administrator. </p> <p>Rock Island provided free connections for “a seamless solution for kids and the schools” and plans to continue the Access Education program through the 2020-21 school year, she said.  </p> <p>School officials hailed the co-op internet provider as “an invaluable educational partner.”</p> <p>“Now all district students and staff are connected in virtual classrooms with online resources to continue their teaching and learning,” San Juan School District Superintendent Kari McVeigh wrote to Rock Island.</p> <p><a href="https://kitcarson.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label="Kit Carson Electric Cooperative (opens in a new tab)">Kit Carson Electric Cooperative</a> shares a similar goal of connecting every student in its high-poverty service areas to broadband internet. Since the start of the pandemic, the Taos, New Mexico-based co-op has <a href="https://www.electric.coop/new-mexico-co-op-gives-students-free-broadband/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label="provided free broadband connections (opens in a new tab)">provided free broadband connections</a> to more than 250 students in low-income households and offered them discounted monthly rates.</p> <p>Connecting the remaining 1,300 students who lack broadband internet will cost about $2.6 million, said CEO Luis Reyes.</p> <p>The co-op set up 23 permanent public hotspots for free Wi-Fi across the rural communities and tribal lands it serves. But Reyes said distance learning for many students in the five school districts and two universities the co-op serves will require more.</p> <p>“Rural students without a broadband connection will not have the same opportunities or benefits as broadband-connected students,” he said.</p> <p>Reyes recently testified on this issue before the New Mexico legislature, citing National Center for Education Statistics numbers that show “the digital divide disproportionately impacts students of color, those who are economically disadvantaged, and students in more rural and/or remote areas.” </p> <p>“The nationwide disruption of K-12 and higher education caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and ensuing school building closures has led to a deepening of the digital divide,” Reyes told state lawmakers. </p> <p>Hamilton, Alabama-based <a href="http://www.tombigbee.net/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label="Tombigbee EC’s (opens in a new tab)">Tombigbee EC’s</a> freedomFIBER is installing broadband for up to 2,000 low-income member households that received vouchers from the Alabama Broadband Connectivity for Students program. Republican Gov. Kay Ivey marked $100 million in federal CARES Act funds for the public-private partnership to provide internet access for qualifying K-12 students this fall. The vouchers will cover broadband internet access costs through the end of December. </p> <p>“We started our broadband project in 2017 to help our community, but we had to move fast to respond to new state and federal funding opportunities,” said Brenda Overton, CFO at the 9,000-member co-op. “We got all our bases covered. But this is what we live for—it is the cooperative spirit in action, because broadband has become an even more profound issue in the last six months with the pandemic.” </p> <p>Like Kit Carson, many co-ops across the country installed free Wi-Fi hotspots in convenient locations for students and parents at the pandemic’s start and continue to run them as the new school year gets under way. </p> <p><a href="https://www.tipmont.org/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label="Tipmont REMC (opens in a new tab)">Tipmont REMC</a>, headquartered in Linden, Indiana, has built a dozen hotspots across its service territory through its broadband subsidiary, Wintek. Burgaw, North Carolina-based <a href="http://www.fourcty.org/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label="Four County EMC (opens in a new tab)">Four County EMC</a> set up access points at nine locations, including six schools. Young Harris, Georgia-based <a href="https://www.brmemc.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label="Blue Ridge Mountain EMC (opens in a new tab)">Blue Ridge Mountain EMC</a> also offers connectivity in nine parking lots at churches, schools, a recreation center and store across its rugged territory. </p> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="743" src="https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/barry-electric-1024x743.jpg" alt="Barry Electric Cooperative installed free Wi-Fi hotspot at three high school parking lots. The co-op’s broadband subsidiary is also working with a local community agency to provide discounted internet rates to low-income families. (Photo Courtesy: Barry Electric)" class="wp-image-7593" srcset="https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/barry-electric-1024x743.jpg 1024w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/barry-electric-300x218.jpg 300w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/barry-electric-768x557.jpg 768w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/barry-electric.jpg 1500w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption>Barry Electric Cooperative installed free Wi-Fi hotspots at three high school parking lots. The co-op’s broadband subsidiary is also working with a local community agency to provide discounted internet rates to low-income families. (Photo Courtesy: Barry Electric)</figcaption></figure> <p><a href="https://www.barryelectric.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label="Barry Electric Cooperative’s (opens in a new tab)">Barry Electric Cooperative’s</a> free Wi-Fi at three high school parking lots comes with parental control software “to restrict the use of the hotspot to keep kids safe,” said Laura Holycross, member services coordinator for the Cassville, Missouri-based co-op. </p> <p>The co-op’s broadband subsidiary, goBEC Fiber Network, is also working with low-income referrals from a local community agency that received CARES Act funds for broadband. Holycross said the co-op will then provide internet service at a discounted rate to help make the funds go further.</p> <p>Some co-ops are helping turn school buses idled by the pandemic into smart buses with mobile Wi-Fi hotspots.  </p> <p><a href="https://www.southernriversenergy.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label="Southern Rivers Energy (opens in a new tab)">Southern Rivers Energy</a>, based in Barnesville, Georgia, awarded four school systems $15,690 in Operation Round Up grants to equip up to 16 buses with Wi-Fi. Multiple internet providers can use the equipment to provide hotspots.</p> <p>“As a parent working from home and home-schooling two children with poor internet service, I felt like this could be a huge benefit for our communities,” said Erin Cook, SRE’s director of marketing and member services.</p> <p>Some co-ops have found other ways to fill their communities’ education needs amid the ongoing pandemic.</p> <p><a href="https://www.flintenergies.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label="Flint Energies (opens in a new tab)">Flint Energies</a> is bridging the digital divide by donating 200 Chromebooks, worth $90,000, to six rural school districts in its 17-county territory in Georgia. The Reynolds-based co-op and its charitable foundation held an emergency meeting in August and agreed this donation would be a quick, effective way to help rural families.   </p> <p>“We saw our rural students’ great need for technology and did what we could in short order to improve their access to online learning,” said Marian McLemore, vice president of cooperative communications. “Our Chromebook donation would not be possible without those Flint members who participate in our Operation Round Up® program. The small change they donate each month made this gift and so much more possible.”</p> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/broadban-chromebook.jpg"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="743" src="https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/broadban-chromebook-1024x743.jpg" alt="Flint Energies Manager of Information Technology Todd Bigler loads 45 Chromebooks into a Talbot County Schools bus to be delivered to students in need. The co-op bought $90,000 worth of these tablets to assist in distance learning this year. (Photo By: Hannah Sloan/Flint Energies)" class="wp-image-7595" srcset="https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/broadban-chromebook-1024x743.jpg 1024w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/broadban-chromebook-300x218.jpg 300w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/broadban-chromebook-768x557.jpg 768w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/broadban-chromebook.jpg 1500w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></a><figcaption>Flint Energies Manager of Information Technology Todd Bigler loads 45 Chromebooks into a Talbot County Schools bus to be delivered to students in need. The co-op bought $90,000 worth of these tablets to assist in distance learning this year. (Photo By: Hannah Sloan/Flint Energies)</figcaption></figure> <p>In the western mountains of Virginia, <a href="http://www.barcelectric.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label="BARC Electric Cooperative (opens in a new tab)">BARC Electric Cooperative</a> gave $6,000 to each of the three public school systems it serves. The Millboro-based co-op applied matching funds from CoBank’s Sharing Success program to make the $18,000 donation possible.</p> <p>“We are fortunate to have access to the <a href="https://www.cobank.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label="CoBank (opens in a new tab)">CoBank</a> program and even more fortunate to be in a financial position during this pandemic to be able to make these donations,” said Mike Keyser, CEO of BARC, whose broadband subsidiary BARC Connects also serves the schools.</p> <p>“As a cooperative that both serves the community and is composed of people raised in the community, there is no more valuable investment this organization can make than in supporting our schools.”</p> <p><a href="https://www.consolidated.coop/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label="Consolidated Cooperative (opens in a new tab)">Consolidated Cooperative</a>, based in Mount Gilead, Ohio, was installing free Wi-Fi hotspots in the parking lots of the 10 school districts it serves with broadband internet when it got a different request: Could the co-op livestream a drive-up high school graduation?</p> <p>The May ceremony for Centerburg High School’s class of 2020 would take place in its parking lot. Upholding state policy to control the spread of COVID-19, the graduates got out of their cars as their names were called and walked across a temporary stage to receive their diplomas before returning to their vehicles. Attendance was limited to one vehicle per graduate. </p> <p>Pomp and circumstance were nowhere on Consolidated’s radar. Still, the co-op’s fiber installation crew flew into action when they got the call and ran temporary fiber out to the parking area, allowing friends and relatives to witness the ceremony safely from a distance.</p> <p>“This event deeply touched all of us at Consolidated,” said Jarred Davis, network supervisor. “The ability to bring at least a little normalcy to our community meant so much to our team.” </p> <p>He said the pandemic has shown how co-ops can serve their communities in many ways, while also underscoring the need for broadband access throughout rural America.</p> <p>Although Consolidated’s fiber team is ready to assist with future livestream graduations, Davis said he hopes things are different by the end of this school year. “We’re optimistic that the Class of 2021 will have a more traditional experience, but if that’s not possible, you can bet Consolidated will be running fiber through the parking lot again if our community needs us.” </p> <p><em>Cathy Cash is a staff writer at NRECA.</em></p> </div> </section> </div> <div class="row"> <div class="col-md-12"> <section class="timeline-article-footer"> <small>Next in the Issue</small> <a class="article-next-post" data-next-article="timeline-modal-7585" title="Indiana Awards Electric Co-ops $36 Million to Build Broadband in Unserved Areas">Indiana Awards Electric Co-ops $36 Million to Build Broadband in Unserved Areas <span class="arrow"><i class="ci-long-arrow-right"></i></span></a> </section> </div> </div> </div> </article>  </section>  <section id="timeline-modal-7585" class="timeline-issues-article hidden"> <div class="jumbotron hero article bg-image" style="background-image: url('');"></div>  <article class="single"> <div class="container">  <div class="row"> <header class="col-md-12"> <div class="article-header"> <small class="article-category"> <a href="https://www.electric.coop/issues-and-policy/broadband">Broadband</a> </small> <h1 class="article-title">Indiana Awards Electric Co-ops $36 Million to Build Broadband in Unserved Areas</h1> <h3 class="article-subtitle"></h3> </div> </header> </div>  <div class="row"> <section class="col-md-3"> <div class="article-meta"> <div class="row"> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-date"> <span>Published</span>September 21, 2020 </div> </div> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-author"> <span>Author</span> Cathy Cash </div> </div> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-share">  <div class="social-share post"> <ul class="social"> <li><a class="facebook-share" href="https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=&title=" target="_blank"></a></li> <li><a class="twitter-share" href="https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?source=&text=&via=NRECANews " target="_blank"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewBox="0 0 512 512"><path d="M389.2 48h70.6L305.6 224.2 487 464H345L233.7 318.6 106.5 464H35.8L200.7 275.5 26.8 48H172.4L272.9 180.9 389.2 48zM364.4 421.8h39.1L151.1 88h-42L364.4 421.8z"/></svg></a></li> <li><a class="linkedin-share" href="http://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=&title=&summary=" target="_blank"></a></li> </ul> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </section> <section class="col-md-9"> <div class="article-content">  <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/tipmont-indiana-broadband.jpg"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="683" src="https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/tipmont-indiana-broadband-1024x683.jpg" alt="Wintek, Tipmont REMC’s broadband division, hangs fiber near Battle Ground, Indiana. The co-op received $16 million in state broadband grants for projects to connect more than 2,200 homes and businesses. (Photo Courtesy: Tipmont REMC)" class="wp-image-7586" srcset="https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/tipmont-indiana-broadband-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/tipmont-indiana-broadband-300x200.jpg 300w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/tipmont-indiana-broadband-768x512.jpg 768w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/tipmont-indiana-broadband-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/tipmont-indiana-broadband.jpg 1600w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></a><figcaption>Wintek, Tipmont REMC’s broadband division, hangs fiber near Battle Ground, Indiana. The co-op received $16 million in state broadband grants for projects to connect more than 2,200 homes and businesses. (Photo Courtesy: Tipmont REMC)</figcaption></figure> <p>Indiana is awarding $36 million in state broadband grants to eight electric cooperatives—including $16 million to <a rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label="Tipmont REMC (opens in a new tab)" href="https://www.tipmont.org/" target="_blank">Tipmont REMC</a>—to connect unserved rural communities and businesses.</p> <p>The Next Level Connections Broadband Grant Program awards also include $12.5 million to Osgood-based <a href="https://www.seiremc.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label="Southeastern Indiana REMC (opens in a new tab)">Southeastern Indiana REMC</a> and SEI Communications, $2.75 million to Martinsville-based <a href="https://www.sciremc.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label="South Central Indiana REMC (opens in a new tab)">South Central Indiana REMC</a>, and $2.19 million to Orleans-based <a href="https://www.myremc.coop/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label="Orange County REMC (opens in a new tab)">Orange County REMC</a>.</p> <p>Danville-based <a rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label="Hendricks Power Cooperative (opens in a new tab)" href="https://www.hendrickspower.com/" target="_blank">Hendricks Power Cooperative</a> and Endeavor Communications received $851,085; Brownstown-based <a rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label="Jackson County REMC (opens in a new tab)" href="https://www.jacksonremc.com/" target="_blank">Jackson County REMC</a> got nearly $500,000; New Castle-based <a rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label="Henry County REMC (opens in a new tab)" href="http://www.hcremc.com/" target="_blank">Henry County REMC</a> and Central Indiana Communications received $361,711; and Franklin-based <a href="https://jcremc.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label="JCREMC (opens in a new tab)">JCREMC</a> got $68,193 for broadband projects.</p> <p>Southeastern Indiana REMC, with SEI, will apply the grants to three major broadband projects to connect more than 3,600 households, businesses and institutions across six counties.</p> <p>Linden-based Tipmont and its broadband division, Wintek, will use the grants for 20 projects to build high-speed internet service for over 2,200 homes, businesses and institutions in five counties. The co-op said that shared infrastructure from these projects will help serve thousands more in the future.</p> <p>“The COVID-19 pandemic has underscored how important access to quality broadband is for modern life,” said John Gasstrom, CEO of <a href="https://www.indianaec.org/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label="Indiana Electric Cooperatives (opens in a new tab)">Indiana Electric Cooperatives</a>, based in Indianapolis. “We are so thankful to the state of Indiana for the support as our cooperatives continue to find ways to close the rural digital divide.”</p> <p>Indiana Lt. Gov. Suzanne Crouch, chosen by Gov. Eric Holcomb to oversee the Next Level Connections program with the Indiana Office of Community and Rural Affairs, praised co-ops’ broadband endeavors.</p> <p>“We are proud of our partnership with organizations like Indiana Electric Cooperatives and their members,” she said. </p> <p>Internet service providers including electric co-ops could seek up to $5 million in grants for each broadband project if they provided a minimum of 20% in matching funds under the Next Level Connections program. In total, $51 million in grants for 50 broadband projects were awarded during this second round of the program. Southern Indiana Power, Tipmont and Jackson County REMC were the only three co-ops to win grants, totaling $8 million, during the program’s first round in 2019.</p> <p>“Tipmont is committed to bringing fiber internet to our entire electric service area,” said Ron Holcomb, the co-op’s president and CEO. “These funds will help bring service where it is desperately needed.”</p> <p><em>Cathy Cash is a staff writer at NRECA.</em></p> </div> </section> </div> <div class="row"> <div class="col-md-12"> <section class="timeline-article-footer"> <small>Next in the Issue</small> <a class="article-next-post" data-next-article="timeline-modal-7503" title="Tennessee Co-ops Win $40 Million in State COVID-19 Broadband Grants">Tennessee Co-ops Win $40 Million in State COVID-19 Broadband Grants <span class="arrow"><i class="ci-long-arrow-right"></i></span></a> </section> </div> </div> </div> </article>  </section>  <section id="timeline-modal-7503" class="timeline-issues-article hidden"> <div class="jumbotron hero article bg-image" style="background-image: url('');"></div>  <article class="single"> <div class="container">  <div class="row"> <header class="col-md-12"> <div class="article-header"> <small class="article-category"> <a href="https://www.electric.coop/issues-and-policy/broadband">Broadband</a> </small> <h1 class="article-title">Tennessee Co-ops Win $40 Million in State COVID-19 Broadband Grants</h1> <h3 class="article-subtitle"></h3> </div> </header> </div>  <div class="row"> <section class="col-md-3"> <div class="article-meta"> <div class="row"> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-date"> <span>Published</span>September 1, 2020 </div> </div> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-author"> <span>Author</span> Cathy Cash </div> </div> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-share">  <div class="social-share post"> <ul class="social"> <li><a class="facebook-share" href="https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=&title=" target="_blank"></a></li> <li><a class="twitter-share" href="https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?source=&text=&via=NRECANews " target="_blank"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewBox="0 0 512 512"><path d="M389.2 48h70.6L305.6 224.2 487 464H345L233.7 318.6 106.5 464H35.8L200.7 275.5 26.8 48H172.4L272.9 180.9 389.2 48zM364.4 421.8h39.1L151.1 88h-42L364.4 421.8z"/></svg></a></li> <li><a class="linkedin-share" href="http://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=&title=&summary=" target="_blank"></a></li> </ul> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </section> <section class="col-md-9"> <div class="article-content">  <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Holston-IMG_2999.jpg"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="819" src="https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Holston-IMG_2999-1024x819.jpg" alt="Electric co-ops in Tennessee have won $40 million in state emergency broadband grants to serve those in need as the pandemic impacts schooling, jobs and medical help. Holston Electric Cooperative plans to connect about 2,350 consumers with its grants this year. (Photo By: Holston EC)" class="wp-image-7504" srcset="https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Holston-IMG_2999-1024x819.jpg 1024w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Holston-IMG_2999-300x240.jpg 300w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Holston-IMG_2999-768x614.jpg 768w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Holston-IMG_2999.jpg 1500w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></a><figcaption>Electric co-ops in Tennessee have won $40 million in state emergency broadband grants to serve those in need as the pandemic impacts schooling, jobs and medical help. Holston Electric Cooperative plans to connect about 2,350 consumers with its grants this year. (Photo By: Holston EC)</figcaption></figure> <p>About $40 million in Tennessee COVID-19 emergency grants awarded to electric cooperatives will speed “life-changing” access to broadband internet for thousands in need this year.</p> <p>Gov. Bill Lee tapped the <a href="https://www.tnelectric.org/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label="Tennessee Electric Cooperative Association (opens in a new tab)">Tennessee Electric Cooperative Association</a> to help find a way to support prompt construction of high-speed internet service to those most in need using the state’s share of a federal coronavirus relief package passed by Congress in March.</p> <p>The Tennessee Emergency Broadband Fund was created in early August, and on Aug. 21 it disbursed $61 million to connect unserved or underserved residents. These projects must be completed by Dec. 15 to receive 80% reimbursement on build-out costs.</p> <p>Ranging from $264,000 for <a href="https://www.tcemc.org/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label="Tri-County Electric Membership Corp. (opens in a new tab)">Tri-County Electric Membership Corp.</a> in Lafayette to $7 million for <a href="https://vec.org/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label="Volunteer Energy Cooperative (opens in a new tab)">Volunteer Energy Cooperative</a> in Decatur, 13 electric co-ops won 70% of the grants and will finish nearly 30 shovel-ready projects, TECA said. </p> <p>“When the state asked, ‘Who can build rural broadband quickly?’ they turned to electric co-ops,” said Mike Knotts, vice president of government affairs for the Nashville-based statewide association. </p> <p>“Tennessee’s co-ops are demonstrating their ability to expand internet access quickly and leverage grant funds for maximum impact,” Knotts said. “These emergency grants will accelerate the expansion of broadband to rural and remote areas and will help 17,000 Tennesseans get broadband by the end of the year when they otherwise would have had to wait for months or years.” </p> <p>Rogersville-based <a href="https://www.holstonelectric.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label="Holston Electric Cooperative (opens in a new tab)">Holston Electric Cooperative</a> serves financially struggling communities in northeast Tennessee and, like many co-ops, has witnessed “the absolute necessity of robust broadband” to address public health mandates and the closing of schools, offices and even medical facilities, said CEO Jimmy Sandlin.</p> <p>Its broadband subsidiary, HolstonConnect, will use a $5.6 million emergency broadband grant to boost its buildout in three communities and connect about 2,350 residential and 50 commercial customers by the deadline, he said.</p> <p>The high bandwidth—with upload and download speeds of 300 megabits per second and buffering delays of less than 5 milliseconds—essentially allows real-time interactions with teachers and classmates or medical personnel, said Sandlin.</p> <p>“In a lot of cases, serving these rural communities, broadband is literally life-changing,” said Sandlin. “Now, in their home they will be able to access just about anything—education opportunities, job and career opportunities, and have the ability to visit a doctor remotely. </p> <p>“I’ve often wondered what it was like for those people to get electricity for the first time in the 1920s and 1930s. As we hook up broadband today, we get a taste of that.”</p> <p><em>Cathy Cash is a staff writer at NRECA.</em></p> </div> </section> </div> <div class="row"> <div class="col-md-12"> <section class="timeline-article-footer"> <small>Next in the Issue</small> <a class="article-next-post" data-next-article="timeline-modal-7361" title="Mississippi Co-op Wins $16M Broadband Grant From USDA ReConnect Program">Mississippi Co-op Wins $16M Broadband Grant From USDA ReConnect Program <span class="arrow"><i class="ci-long-arrow-right"></i></span></a> </section> </div> </div> </div> </article>  </section>  <section id="timeline-modal-7361" class="timeline-issues-article hidden"> <div class="jumbotron hero article bg-image" style="background-image: url('');"></div>  <article class="single"> <div class="container">  <div class="row"> <header class="col-md-12"> <div class="article-header"> <small class="article-category"> <a href="https://www.electric.coop/issues-and-policy/broadband">Broadband</a> </small> <h1 class="article-title">Mississippi Co-op Wins $16M Broadband Grant From USDA ReConnect Program</h1> <h3 class="article-subtitle"></h3> </div> </header> </div>  <div class="row"> <section class="col-md-3"> <div class="article-meta"> <div class="row"> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-date"> <span>Published</span>July 30, 2020 </div> </div> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-author"> <span>Author</span> Cathy Cash </div> </div> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-share">  <div class="social-share post"> <ul class="social"> <li><a class="facebook-share" href="https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=&title=" target="_blank"></a></li> <li><a class="twitter-share" href="https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?source=&text=&via=NRECANews " target="_blank"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewBox="0 0 512 512"><path d="M389.2 48h70.6L305.6 224.2 487 464H345L233.7 318.6 106.5 464H35.8L200.7 275.5 26.8 48H172.4L272.9 180.9 389.2 48zM364.4 421.8h39.1L151.1 88h-42L364.4 421.8z"/></svg></a></li> <li><a class="linkedin-share" href="http://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=&title=&summary=" target="_blank"></a></li> </ul> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </section> <section class="col-md-9"> <div class="article-content">  <p>A $16 million grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture will boost efforts by a Mississippi electric cooperative to deliver fiber-optic broadband internet service to more than 2,000 homes, businesses and farms.</p> <div class="wp-block-image"><figure class="alignright size-large is-resized"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Construction-SDT-TVIfiber-768x1024.jpg" alt="TVEPA broadband subsidiary TVIfiber will connect thousands to high-speed internet in rural Mississippi with help from a $16 million grant from USDA and a $4 million state grant. (Photo By: TVEPA)" class="wp-image-7362" width="315" height="420" srcset="https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Construction-SDT-TVIfiber-768x1024.jpg 768w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Construction-SDT-TVIfiber-225x300.jpg 225w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Construction-SDT-TVIfiber-1152x1536.jpg 1152w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Construction-SDT-TVIfiber-1536x2048.jpg 1536w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Construction-SDT-TVIfiber-scaled.jpg 1920w" sizes="(max-width: 315px) 100vw, 315px" /><figcaption>TVEPA broadband subsidiary TVIfiber will connect thousands to high-speed internet in rural Mississippi with help from a $16 million grant from USDA and a $4 million state grant. (Photo By: TVEPA)</figcaption></figure></div> <p>Batesville-based <a href="https://tvepa.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label="Tallahatchie Valley Electric Power Association (opens in a new tab)">Tallahatchie Valley Electric Power Association</a> is the first electric co-op to win funds from the <a href="https://www.usda.gov/reconnect" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label=" (opens in a new tab)">ReConnect Program</a> since the USDA received $100 million from the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act passed by Congress in March.</p> <p><a href="https://tvifiber.com/">TVIfiber, the co-op’s internet subsidiary</a>, has built nearly 600 miles of its planned $60 million broadband network and has over 350 subscribers. The ReConnect grant will play a big role in getting this vital project completed in four years, co-op leaders said.</p> <p>“This is a historic day for our cooperative and our member-owners, but it is also a great day for the state of Mississippi, and we are all very thankful for this opportunity,” said Brad Robison, CEO of TVEPA and TVIfiber. </p> <p>“A TVEPA member at the end of a gravel road will soon have access to the same quality internet service of those in major metropolitan cities.”</p> <p>Robison said the ReConnect grant will be combined with TVEPA’s $44 million investment to deploy fiber throughout the co-op’s 27,500-member service area. It will help connect 2,082 people, 331 farms, 32 businesses, a post office and six fire stations in six Northwest Mississippi counties, where the density averages six customers per mile. </p> <p>“The grant will make a tremendous impact on installing accessible, reliable high-speed internet services to homes, farms and businesses in the unserved and underserved rural communities located in their service area,” said Michael Callahan, executive vice president and CEO of <a href="http://ecm.coop/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label="Electric Cooperatives of Mississippi (opens in a new tab)">Electric Cooperatives of Mississippi</a> in Ridgeland. </p> <p>TVEPA also was among 15 co-ops to receive a grant from the Mississippi Electric Cooperatives Broadband COVID-19 Act last week. The state legislature created the $65 million program for co-ops earlier this year through funds from the CARES Act. Co-ops must match their awards and use the money to deliver high-speed internet access to unserved and underserved areas in Mississippi. TVEPA’s grant was $4 million. Other states are also looking at utilizing CARES Act funding to expand broadband access.</p> <p> “We have been truly blessed to receive such overwhelming support for this project, and I think that support underscores just how critical broadband is for the people in our part of Mississippi,” said Robison. </p> <p>TVEPA launched its broadband buildout last year shortly after<a href="https://www.electric.coop/mississippi-state-law-allows-four-co-ops-rural-broadband/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label=" the state of Mississippi lifted legal hurdles (opens in a new tab)"> the state of Mississippi lifted legal hurdles</a> for electric co-ops to provide retail internet access. Despite the “massive undertaking,” Robison said, “we are committed to providing our members with this life-changing, state-of-the-art technology.” </p> <p>Robison and Callahan thanked Mississippi members of Congress, including Republican Sens. Roger Wicker and Cindy Hyde-Smith and Rep. Trent Kelly. “A project of this magnitude must have partners,” said Callahan. </p> <p>Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue lauded the co-op’s effort to deliver internet access when and where it is most needed. </p> <p>“The pandemic challenges have shown the need for connectivity even more as our children have been in remote learning,” Perdue said. “It all depends on the connectivity, but the fact is that 20 million Americans don’t have that privilege. … Thankfully, parts of Mississippi will have access to this thanks to the efforts of Tallahatchie Valley Electric Power Association and their fiber. We are excited that the ReConnect program is coming to Mississippi.”</p> <p>The USDA created ReConnect in 2018 to build rural broadband with funds appropriated by Congress.</p> <p><em>Cathy Cash is a staff writer at NRECA.</em></p> </div> </section> </div> <div class="row"> <div class="col-md-12"> <section class="timeline-article-footer"> <small>Next in the Issue</small> <a class="article-next-post" data-next-article="timeline-modal-7259" title="New Mexico Co-op Gives Free Broadband Connections to Struggling Students">New Mexico Co-op Gives Free Broadband Connections to Struggling Students <span class="arrow"><i class="ci-long-arrow-right"></i></span></a> </section> </div> </div> </div> </article>  </section>  <section id="timeline-modal-7259" class="timeline-issues-article hidden"> <div class="jumbotron hero article bg-image" style="background-image: url('');"></div>  <article class="single"> <div class="container">  <div class="row"> <header class="col-md-12"> <div class="article-header"> <small class="article-category"> <a href="https://www.electric.coop/issues-and-policy/broadband">Broadband</a> </small> <h1 class="article-title">New Mexico Co-op Gives Free Broadband Connections to Struggling Students</h1> <h3 class="article-subtitle"></h3> </div> </header> </div>  <div class="row"> <section class="col-md-3"> <div class="article-meta"> <div class="row"> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-date"> <span>Published</span>June 17, 2020 </div> </div> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-author"> <span>Author</span> Cathy Cash </div> </div> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-share">  <div class="social-share post"> <ul class="social"> <li><a class="facebook-share" href="https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=&title=" target="_blank"></a></li> <li><a class="twitter-share" href="https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?source=&text=&via=NRECANews " target="_blank"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewBox="0 0 512 512"><path d="M389.2 48h70.6L305.6 224.2 487 464H345L233.7 318.6 106.5 464H35.8L200.7 275.5 26.8 48H172.4L272.9 180.9 389.2 48zM364.4 421.8h39.1L151.1 88h-42L364.4 421.8z"/></svg></a></li> <li><a class="linkedin-share" href="http://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=&title=&summary=" target="_blank"></a></li> </ul> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </section> <section class="col-md-9"> <div class="article-content">  <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/Kit-Carson-Photo.jpg"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="683" src="https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/Kit-Carson-Photo-1024x683.jpg" alt="Monet Winters, left, pictured here with her mother April Winters, was struggling to do her schoolwork until Kit Carson Electric Co-op provided a free internet connection to her home. (Photo By: Kit Carson Electric Cooperative) " class="wp-image-7260" srcset="https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/Kit-Carson-Photo-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/Kit-Carson-Photo-300x200.jpg 300w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/Kit-Carson-Photo-768x512.jpg 768w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/Kit-Carson-Photo.jpg 1500w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></a><figcaption>Monet Winters, left, pictured here with her mother April Winters, was struggling to do her schoolwork until Kit Carson Electric Co-op provided a free internet connection to her home. (Photo By: Kit Carson Electric Cooperative) </figcaption></figure> <p>For Monet Winters, the COVID-19 pandemic created a lot of hurdles for her to complete eighth grade at Santa Fe Indian School. </p> <p>With school buildings closed in March and no reliable internet service at her home on the Taos Pueblo in New Mexico, Monet waited for large paper packets of schoolwork from her teachers to arrive by mail.</p> <p>The 13-year-old tried to log on with her mother’s phone or Wi-Fi at her grandmother’s house but was hampered by spotty service, distractions and data limits. </p> <p>“It was pretty challenging,” said Monet. “I wasn’t able to do my schoolwork online. I was struggling.”</p> <p>Enter <a href="https://kitcarson.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label="Kit Carson Electric Cooperative (opens in a new tab)">Kit Carson Electric Cooperative</a>. </p> <p>Working with the five school districts in its service territory, the Taos-based co-op’s broadband division identified students in need and provided free internet connections to more than 150 homes, including 14 on tribal land. </p> <p>Now, Monet says she enjoys “being able to reach my classes online and doing Zoom with my teachers. I’m able to reach sites faster and able to do my work without having to constantly look for places to do it. I can do it right here in my home.”</p> <p>The families pay $24.95 a month for basic broadband service, but the connection and wireless router were free.</p> <p>“For them, it was a shot in the arm, getting them connected, having their kids not left out,” said Luis Reyes Jr., Kit Carson’s CEO. “We treat all members the same. If a tribal student is low-income, we figured out a way to get them a drop.”</p> <p>The co-op hired contractors to complete an aggressive schedule for connecting homes with rising seniors or multiple students. A CoBank line of credit helped finance deployment. </p> <p>Reyes said reaching some tribal homes was particularly challenging. Running fiber on Native lands requires installing cable underground and working around rough terrain to reach remote locations. It also means working with tribal leaders and hiring contractors who know local customs.</p> <p>“We had these positive relationships in place,” said Reyes. “These things can take months or years. We’re very proud of what we were able to accomplish.”</p> <p>Lillian Torrez, superintendent of Taos Municipal Schools, lauded Kit Carson for taking on the challenge of connecting students in need. </p> <p>“There were a few difficulties, but they didn’t give up,” Torrez said. “Some of the students live in areas where it was difficult to connect, and they had to dig trenches. Kit Carson just did whatever they needed to do.”</p> <p>Of the families who received the free in-home connections, Reyes estimates about 75% will keep the service long after their children finish school. </p> <p>“There is a risk in doing this, but I think it is worth taking,” said Reyes. </p> <p>Kit Carson also announced it is making permanent 22 free public Wi-Fi hotspots it set up across its territory in response to the pandemic, including three on the Taos Pueblo and two on the Picuris Pueblo. </p> <p>“We have them at city parks, community centers, low-income housing, basically everywhere. We did work with school districts, municipalities and tribes to determine where the best spots were,” said Reyes. </p> <p>Reyes said Kit Carson has taken a hit in electricity sales since the pandemic shut down the ski slopes and schools. He sees broadband as a new opportunity to serve. </p> <p>“This COVID is really going to change the way we do business and make broadband one of the elements of doing business,” he said. “It has made us think more about how resilient our rural communities are going to have to be.” </p> <p><em>Cathy Cash is a staff writer at NRECA.</em></p> </div> </section> </div> <div class="row"> <div class="col-md-12"> <section class="timeline-article-footer"> <small>Next in the Issue</small> <a class="article-next-post" data-next-article="timeline-modal-7126" title="Co-op Schools Seniors on Internet as it Builds Out Broadband">Co-op Schools Seniors on Internet as it Builds Out Broadband <span class="arrow"><i class="ci-long-arrow-right"></i></span></a> </section> </div> </div> </div> </article>  </section>  <section id="timeline-modal-7126" class="timeline-issues-article hidden"> <div class="jumbotron hero article bg-image" style="background-image: url('');"></div>  <article class="single"> <div class="container">  <div class="row"> <header class="col-md-12"> <div class="article-header"> <small class="article-category"> <a href="https://www.electric.coop/issues-and-policy/broadband">Broadband</a> </small> <h1 class="article-title">Co-op Schools Seniors on Internet as it Builds Out Broadband</h1> <h3 class="article-subtitle"></h3> </div> </header> </div>  <div class="row"> <section class="col-md-3"> <div class="article-meta"> <div class="row"> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-date"> <span>Published</span>May 15, 2020 </div> </div> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-author"> <span>Author</span> Cathy Cash </div> </div> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-share">  <div class="social-share post"> <ul class="social"> <li><a class="facebook-share" href="https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=&title=" target="_blank"></a></li> <li><a class="twitter-share" href="https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?source=&text=&via=NRECANews " target="_blank"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewBox="0 0 512 512"><path d="M389.2 48h70.6L305.6 224.2 487 464H345L233.7 318.6 106.5 464H35.8L200.7 275.5 26.8 48H172.4L272.9 180.9 389.2 48zM364.4 421.8h39.1L151.1 88h-42L364.4 421.8z"/></svg></a></li> <li><a class="linkedin-share" href="http://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=&title=&summary=" target="_blank"></a></li> </ul> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </section> <section class="col-md-9"> <div class="article-content">  <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/broadband-seniors-may-2020.jpg"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="743" src="https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/broadband-seniors-may-2020-1024x743.jpg" alt="Tri-Co’s Bill Gerski joins an email lesson for Tri-County member Ernaline Hall (L) by Coudersport high schooler Darci Meacham (R) in a Seniors 2 Seniors class, the co-op’s brainchild to get retirees—42% of their membership—broadband ready. (Photo By: Jim Fetzer/Tri-County REC)" class="wp-image-7127" srcset="https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/broadband-seniors-may-2020-1024x743.jpg 1024w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/broadband-seniors-may-2020-300x218.jpg 300w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/broadband-seniors-may-2020-768x557.jpg 768w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/broadband-seniors-may-2020.jpg 1500w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></a><figcaption>Tri-Co’s Bill Gerski joins an email lesson for Tri-County member Ernaline Hall (L) by Coudersport high schooler Darci Meacham (R) in a Senior2Senior class, the co-op’s brainchild to get retirees—42% of their membership—broadband ready. (Photo By: Jim Fetzer/Tri-County REC)</figcaption></figure> <p>Bill Gerski teared up a little when he received the email greetings.</p> <p>They’d been sent by local senior citizens, many of whom had just learned how to turn on a computer for the first time, thanks to an innovative program created by the broadband subsidiary of <a href="http://tri-countyrec.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label="Tri-County Rural Electric Cooperative (opens in a new tab)">Tri-County Rural Electric Cooperative</a> in Mansfield, Pennsylvania.</p> <p>“I’ve never seen so many smiles,” said Gerski, the senior vice president of business development at Tri-Co Connections. “Now they are emailing their grandchildren. That’s what it’s all about.”</p> <p>Dubbed Senior2Senior, the program was launched by Tri-Co last year to form classes where senior citizens are taught internet basics by tech-savvy high school seniors.</p> <p>Tri-Co partnered with the Potter County Education Council, which coordinated the teenage volunteers, a local career and technical center and senior centers, where the classes take place. Local banks donated funds for computers and printers to get the classes going and to help seniors learn how to do their banking online. </p> <p>With Tri-Co and Senior2Senior, “we have the technology, the broadband connection, and we have the opportunity to teach the skills necessary to everyone,” said Michele Moore, executive director of the Potter County Education Council.</p> <p>About 40 people completed the eight-week course last fall, and another 20 were halfway through when the COVID-19 pandemic paused their progress. </p> <p>Gerski says the ongoing health crisis, with its stay-at-home restrictions, has underscored how vital internet know-how is. Skilled seniors with online access can carry out necessary tasks like banking, shopping, telemedicine and visiting virtually with relatives, neighbors and friends. Some could even come out of retirement and work from home. </p> <p>“There are seniors who would like to go to work and add income to their Social Security, but they have no computer skills,” said Gerski. </p> <p><a href="https://www.electric.coop/pennsylvania-co-opwins-51-million-for-broadband/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label="Tri-Co, which has received grants and loans to build broadband (opens in a new tab)">Tri-Co, which has received grants and loans to build broadband</a>, connected its first fiber-to-the-home subscriber on April 7, becoming the only electric co-op subsidiary in the state to do so. Tri-Co has since hooked up 60 more homes. It plans to run fiber to all 22 of its substations and serve all its members in northcentral Pennsylvania over the next five to six years.</p> <p>Tri-Co’s demographics are challenging and not unique among rural co-ops. The electric co-op serves 5.8 homes per mile, about half the national average. About 42% of its membership are seasonal. Another 40% are seniors—most of whom lack computer skills. </p> <p>Gerski believes Senior2Senior can help solve the density conundrum required for affordable broadband by equipping retirees with the tools to take advantage of fast, reliable internet. </p> <p>He said he welcomes calls from other electric co-ops that want to replicate Senior2Senior as they develop broadband in service territories where a large number of retirees reside.</p> <p>“If we teach the senior members to use a computer, they will be broadband subscribers, and we will have happy members,” he said. “Everybody wins if our seniors know how to use a computer and have high-speed internet access.” </p> <p>And that includes one 96-year-old student who described how people questioned why she was bothering to learn how to use a computer and get on the internet, said Moore.</p> <p>Her answer?</p> <p>“Well, I don’t want to be left behind. I want to be part of this.”</p> <p><em>To learn more about </em>Senior2Senior<em>, please contact Bill Gerski at <a href="mailto:billgerski@tricoconnections.com">billgerski@tricoconnections.com</a></em></p> <p><em>Cathy Cash is a staff writer at NRECA.</em></p> </div> </section> </div> <div class="row"> <div class="col-md-12"> <section class="timeline-article-footer"> <small>Next in the Issue</small> <a class="article-next-post" data-next-article="timeline-modal-7011" title="‘A Blessing’: Co-ops Deliver Free Public Wi-Fi Hotspots During COVID-19">‘A Blessing’: Co-ops Deliver Free Public Wi-Fi Hotspots During COVID-19 <span class="arrow"><i class="ci-long-arrow-right"></i></span></a> </section> </div> </div> </div> </article>  </section>  <section id="timeline-modal-7011" class="timeline-issues-article hidden"> <div class="jumbotron hero article bg-image" style="background-image: url('');"></div>  <article class="single"> <div class="container">  <div class="row"> <header class="col-md-12"> <div class="article-header"> <small class="article-category"> <a href="https://www.electric.coop/issues-and-policy/broadband">Broadband</a> </small> <h1 class="article-title">‘A Blessing’: Co-ops Deliver Free Public Wi-Fi Hotspots During COVID-19</h1> <h3 class="article-subtitle"></h3> </div> </header> </div>  <div class="row"> <section class="col-md-3"> <div class="article-meta"> <div class="row"> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-date"> <span>Published</span>April 21, 2020 </div> </div> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-author"> <span>Author</span> Cathy Cash </div> </div> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-share">  <div class="social-share post"> <ul class="social"> <li><a class="facebook-share" href="https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=&title=" target="_blank"></a></li> <li><a class="twitter-share" href="https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?source=&text=&via=NRECANews " target="_blank"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewBox="0 0 512 512"><path d="M389.2 48h70.6L305.6 224.2 487 464H345L233.7 318.6 106.5 464H35.8L200.7 275.5 26.8 48H172.4L272.9 180.9 389.2 48zM364.4 421.8h39.1L151.1 88h-42L364.4 421.8z"/></svg></a></li> <li><a class="linkedin-share" href="http://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=&title=&summary=" target="_blank"></a></li> </ul> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </section> <section class="col-md-9"> <div class="article-content">  <div class="wp-block-image"><figure class="alignright size-large is-resized"><a href="https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/Broadband-REC-hotspot.jpg"><img decoding="async" src="https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/Broadband-REC-hotspot.jpg" alt="“An entire new world is opening up for our children,” a school superintendent says because Roanoke Electric Co-op installed hotspots at schools, churches and even a local barbeque restaurant. (Photo By: Roanoke Electric Co-op)" class="wp-image-7012" width="300" srcset="https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/Broadband-REC-hotspot.jpg 756w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/Broadband-REC-hotspot-225x300.jpg 225w" sizes="(max-width: 756px) 100vw, 756px" /></a><figcaption>“An entire new world is opening up for our children,” a school superintendent says because Roanoke Electric Co-op installed hotspots at schools, churches and even a local barbeque restaurant. (Photo By: Roanoke Electric Co-op)</figcaption></figure></div> <p>Eric Cunningham was worried about his students. </p> <p>As superintendent of the Halifax County School District in North Carolina, he knew that his 2,300 kids already faced hunger and other challenges of living in a low-income rural community. By early April, schools were closed in response to the COVID-19 pandemic and, without widespread internet access in the county, children were bound to fall behind in their learning.</p> <p>That’s when the trucks from Aulander-based <a href="https://roanokeelectric.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label="Roanoke Electric Cooperative (opens in a new tab)">Roanoke Electric Cooperative</a> arrived, ready to install a free, public Wi-Fi hotspot in school parking lots. </p> <p>“It was a blessing,” said Cunningham. “We’re 100% free lunch, which means a lot of our students don’t have access to the internet for home use. We have to look at other means to support them. What I’ve learned from this pandemic is that the internet is needed like electricity, especially when it comes to learning.” </p> <p>The quick hotspot buildout by Roanoke Electric is part of a trend among co-op broadband providers eager to keep their communities connected during the pandemic. Hotspot locations have included churches, parks, restaurants and co-op offices across rural America. Users can connect to work, do schoolwork, watch movies or shop, all from the safety of their vehicles. </p> <p>In Fayetteville, Arkansas, OzarksGo, a subsidiary of <a href="https://www.ozarksecc.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label="Ozarks Electric Cooperative (opens in a new tab)">Ozarks Electric Cooperative</a>, partnered with several local school districts to create free Wi-Fi hotspots, including on school buses. Initially, a school district equipped the buses with Wi-Fi technology for cellular internet connections, then parked them in areas convenient to families. When this proved too expensive and slow for multiple users, the co-op delivered a superior solution through its fiber broadband network.</p> <p>The hotspots are now connected to OzarksGo’s fiber optic network, offering high-performance internet connections.</p> <p>“The addition of OzarksGo-provided fiber optic lines has been very beneficial for our students during this unprecedented COVID-19 pandemic,” said Jeremy Mangrum, superintendent of the Elkins School District. “The increased speed and capacity that we can now provide at these locations has allowed our students to complete their work more quickly and efficiently.”</p> <p>Steve Bandy, general manager of OzarksGo, said he found the district’s effort inspiring.</p> <p>“We know how important broadband access is, especially now, and we were happy to help with this innovative solution,” he said.</p> <p>Back in North Carolina, Cunningham said co-op hotspots are helping level the playing field for rural students during the pandemic by letting them work digitally rather than waiting for paper packets to arrive in the mail. Students without computers are using their cellphones to keep up with classwork and meet with their teachers.</p> <p>“An entire new world is opening up for our children because of this,” Cunningham said. </p> <p><em>Cathy Cash is a staff writer at NRECA.</em></p> <p><em><strong><a href="https://www.electric.coop/covid-19-electric-co-op-response/">Read More on the electric co-op response to the COVID-19 Pandemic</a></strong></em></p> <p><em>See NRECA’s </em><a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://www.cooperative.com/programs-services/communications/Pages/coronavirus-covid-19-information-for-co-ops.aspx" target="_blank"><em>COVID-19 hub on cooperative.com</em></a><em> for key resources for co-ops, including guidance on business continuity planning and communication, as well as event schedule changes.</em></p> </div> </section> </div> <div class="row"> <div class="col-md-12"> <section class="timeline-article-footer"> <small>Next in the Issue</small> <a class="article-next-post" data-next-article="timeline-modal-7003" title="Along Those Lines: Keeping Crews and Members Safe, Powered and Connected During the Pandemic">Along Those Lines: Keeping Crews and Members Safe, Powered and Connected During the Pandemic <span class="arrow"><i class="ci-long-arrow-right"></i></span></a> </section> </div> </div> </div> </article>  </section>  <section id="timeline-modal-7003" class="timeline-issues-article hidden"> <div class="jumbotron hero article bg-image" style="background-image: url('');"></div>  <article class="single"> <div class="container">  <div class="row"> <header class="col-md-12"> <div class="article-header"> <small class="article-category"> <a href="https://www.electric.coop/issues-and-policy/broadband">Broadband</a> </small> <h1 class="article-title">Along Those Lines: Keeping Crews and Members Safe, Powered and Connected During the Pandemic</h1> <h3 class="article-subtitle"></h3> </div> </header> </div>  <div class="row"> <section class="col-md-3"> <div class="article-meta"> <div class="row"> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-date"> <span>Published</span>April 21, 2020 </div> </div> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-author"> <span>Author</span> NRECA </div> </div> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-share">  <div class="social-share post"> <ul class="social"> <li><a class="facebook-share" href="https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=&title=" target="_blank"></a></li> <li><a class="twitter-share" href="https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?source=&text=&via=NRECANews " target="_blank"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewBox="0 0 512 512"><path d="M389.2 48h70.6L305.6 224.2 487 464H345L233.7 318.6 106.5 464H35.8L200.7 275.5 26.8 48H172.4L272.9 180.9 389.2 48zM364.4 421.8h39.1L151.1 88h-42L364.4 421.8z"/></svg></a></li> <li><a class="linkedin-share" href="http://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=&title=&summary=" target="_blank"></a></li> </ul> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </section> <section class="col-md-9"> <div class="article-content">  <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="683" src="https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/gulf-coast-covid-1024x683.jpg" alt="Line crews alert public to social distancing practices while tending to an electric power line. (Photo courtesy of Gulf Coast Electric Cooperative" class="wp-image-7004" srcset="https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/gulf-coast-covid-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/gulf-coast-covid-300x200.jpg 300w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/gulf-coast-covid-768x512.jpg 768w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/gulf-coast-covid.jpg 1200w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption>Line crews alert public to social distancing practices while tending to an electric power line. (Photo courtesy of Gulf Coast Electric Cooperative</figcaption></figure> <p>While many Americans are working remotely to curb the spread of coronavirus, cooperative line crews and broadband technicians are essential workers, keeping members connected to power and internet.</p> <div class="wp-block-image"><figure class="alignright size-medium is-resized"><img decoding="async" src="https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/RibbonLogo-300x124.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-7006" width="200" srcset="https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/RibbonLogo-300x124.jpg 300w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/RibbonLogo-1024x422.jpg 1024w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/RibbonLogo-768x316.jpg 768w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/RibbonLogo.jpg 1223w" sizes="(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" /><figcaption>This episode is sponsored by Ribbon.</figcaption></figure></div> <p>We talk to an expert at <a rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label="Great River Energy (opens in a new tab)" href="https://greatriverenergy.com/" target="_blank">Great River Energy</a>, a generation and transmission co-op in Minnesota, about how his co-op is maintaining the electric grid while keeping crews safe and cybersecurity tight. Then we hear from leaders at <a rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label="SEMO Electric Cooperative (opens in a new tab)" href="https://gosemo.com/" target="_blank">SEMO Electric Cooperative</a> in Missouri and Jackson Electric Cooperative in Texas about safety measures for staff and meeting the challenge of growing demand for co-op broadband.</p>  <iframe loading="lazy" src="//html5-player.libsyn.com/embed/episode/id/14081003/height/90/theme/custom/autoplay/no/autonext/no/thumbnail/yes/preload/no/no_addthis/no/direction/forward/render-playlist/no/custom-color/000000/" height="90" allowfullscreen webkitallowfullscreen mozallowfullscreen oallowfullscreen msallowfullscreen width="100%" scrolling="yes" class="iframe-class" frameborder="0"></iframe> <p>You can also listen and subscribe to Along Those Lines on your preferred podcast service:<br><a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/along-those-lines/id1436857701?mt=2">Apple Podcasts</a> | <a href="https://www.google.com/podcasts?feed=aHR0cDovL2Fsb25ndGhvc2VsaW5lcy5saWJzeW4uY29tL3Jzcw%3D%3D">Google Podcasts</a> | <a href="https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/nreca/along-those-lines?refid=stpr">Stitcher</a> | <a href="https://open.spotify.com/show/3W0inRR6llFNLxd1LOC5KV">Spotify</a> | <a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLpJntTwNLWwrKOA7eURFxf5FfNfVOqCSl" target="_blank">YouTube</a></p> <p><strong>Related Content:</strong></p> <p><strong><a href="https://www.electric.coop/covid-19-electric-co-op-response/">Read More on the electric co-op response to the COVID-19 Pandemic</a></strong></p> <p><em>Find out more about </em><a href="https://www.electric.coop/podcast"><em>NRECA’s podcast</em></a><em>. Questions or suggestions? Email us at </em><a href="mailto:AlongThoseLines@nreca.coop"><em>AlongThoseLines@nreca.coop</em></a><em>.</em></p> </div> </section> </div> <div class="row"> <div class="col-md-12"> <section class="timeline-article-footer"> <small>Next in the Issue</small> <a class="article-next-post" data-next-article="timeline-modal-6958" title="Video: Co-op Broadband Enhances Education, Local Economy in Rural Virginia">Video: Co-op Broadband Enhances Education, Local Economy in Rural Virginia <span class="arrow"><i class="ci-long-arrow-right"></i></span></a> </section> </div> </div> </div> </article>  </section>  <section id="timeline-modal-6958" class="timeline-issues-article hidden"> <div class="jumbotron hero article bg-image" style="background-image: url('');"></div>  <article class="single"> <div class="container">  <div class="row"> <header class="col-md-12"> <div class="article-header"> <small class="article-category"> <a href="https://www.electric.coop/issues-and-policy/broadband">Broadband</a> </small> <h1 class="article-title">Video: Co-op Broadband Enhances Education, Local Economy in Rural Virginia</h1> <h3 class="article-subtitle"></h3> </div> </header> </div>  <div class="row"> <section class="col-md-3"> <div class="article-meta"> <div class="row"> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-date"> <span>Published</span>April 15, 2020 </div> </div> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-author"> <span>Author</span> Alexis Matsui </div> </div> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-share">  <div class="social-share post"> <ul class="social"> <li><a class="facebook-share" href="https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=&title=" target="_blank"></a></li> <li><a class="twitter-share" href="https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?source=&text=&via=NRECANews " target="_blank"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewBox="0 0 512 512"><path d="M389.2 48h70.6L305.6 224.2 487 464H345L233.7 318.6 106.5 464H35.8L200.7 275.5 26.8 48H172.4L272.9 180.9 389.2 48zM364.4 421.8h39.1L151.1 88h-42L364.4 421.8z"/></svg></a></li> <li><a class="linkedin-share" href="http://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=&title=&summary=" target="_blank"></a></li> </ul> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </section> <section class="col-md-9"> <div class="article-content">  <figure class="wp-block-embed-youtube wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> <div class="epyt-video-wrapper"><iframe loading="lazy" id="_ytid_60710" width="800" height="450" data-origwidth="800" data-origheight="450" data-relstop="1" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/_u36NeBCgek?enablejsapi=1&autoplay=0&cc_load_policy=0&cc_lang_pref=&iv_load_policy=1&loop=0&modestbranding=1&rel=0&fs=1&playsinline=0&autohide=2&theme=dark&color=red&controls=1&" class="__youtube_prefs__ epyt-is-override no-lazyload" title="YouTube player" allow="fullscreen; accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen data-no-lazy="1" data-skipgform_ajax_framebjll=""></iframe></div> </div></figure> <p><a rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label="BARC Electric Cooperative (opens in a new tab)" href="http://www.barcelectric.com/" target="_blank">BARC Electric Cooperative</a> set out to upgrade its substation and down-line communications tools to broadband fiber internet in order to improve the co-op’s electric service, but it also aimed to connect its residential and commercial consumer-members to all that high-speed internet has to offer.</p> <p>Since launching <a rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label="BARC Connects (opens in a new tab)" href="http://www.barcconnects.net/" target="_blank">BARC Connects</a> a few years ago, the Millboro, Virginia-based co-op has connected residents, schools and local businesses to opportunities they’d never had access to before.</p> <p>Students at Mountain View Elementary School can now study math, literature and social studies without waiting for long dial-up connections, a historic mill built in the 1750s can attract visitors and sell its products online, and a local family dentist can serve his patients with efficient and affordable care, while giving back to his community.</p> <p>Watch the video above to learn more.</p> <p><em>For more on rural broadband, check out NRECA’s podcast: </em></p>  <iframe loading="lazy" src="//html5-player.libsyn.com/embed/episode/id/7486256/height/90/theme/custom/autoplay/no/autonext/no/thumbnail/yes/preload/no/no_addthis/no/direction/forward/render-playlist/no/custom-color/000000/" height="90" allowfullscreen webkitallowfullscreen mozallowfullscreen oallowfullscreen msallowfullscreen width="100%" scrolling="yes" class="iframe-class" frameborder="0"></iframe> </div> </section> </div> <div class="row"> <div class="col-md-12"> <section class="timeline-article-footer"> <small>Next in the Issue</small> <a class="article-next-post" data-next-article="timeline-modal-6982" title="Co-op Leaders Add Their Voice to FCC Precision Agriculture Effort">Co-op Leaders Add Their Voice to FCC Precision Agriculture Effort <span class="arrow"><i class="ci-long-arrow-right"></i></span></a> </section> </div> </div> </div> </article>  </section>  <section id="timeline-modal-6982" class="timeline-issues-article hidden"> <div class="jumbotron hero article bg-image" style="background-image: url('');"></div>  <article class="single"> <div class="container">  <div class="row"> <header class="col-md-12"> <div class="article-header"> <small class="article-category"> <a href="https://www.electric.coop/issues-and-policy/broadband">Broadband</a> </small> <h1 class="article-title">Co-op Leaders Add Their Voice to FCC Precision Agriculture Effort</h1> <h3 class="article-subtitle"></h3> </div> </header> </div>  <div class="row"> <section class="col-md-3"> <div class="article-meta"> <div class="row"> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-date"> <span>Published</span>April 8, 2020 </div> </div> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-author"> <span>Author</span> Cathy Cash </div> </div> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-share">  <div class="social-share post"> <ul class="social"> <li><a class="facebook-share" href="https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=&title=" target="_blank"></a></li> <li><a class="twitter-share" href="https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?source=&text=&via=NRECANews " target="_blank"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewBox="0 0 512 512"><path d="M389.2 48h70.6L305.6 224.2 487 464H345L233.7 318.6 106.5 464H35.8L200.7 275.5 26.8 48H172.4L272.9 180.9 389.2 48zM364.4 421.8h39.1L151.1 88h-42L364.4 421.8z"/></svg></a></li> <li><a class="linkedin-share" href="http://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=&title=&summary=" target="_blank"></a></li> </ul> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </section> <section class="col-md-9"> <div class="article-content">  <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="683" src="https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/precision-ag-april-2020-1024x683.jpg" alt="The FCC has named four co-op leaders to serve on working groups to advance precision agriculture, which relies on broadband and smart equipment for greater efficiency in farming. (Photo By: Jennifer Mercer/Co-Mo Cooperative)" class="wp-image-6983" srcset="https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/precision-ag-april-2020-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/precision-ag-april-2020-300x200.jpg 300w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/precision-ag-april-2020-768x512.jpg 768w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/precision-ag-april-2020.jpg 1200w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption>The FCC has named four co-op leaders to serve on working groups to advance precision agriculture, which relies on broadband and smart equipment for greater efficiency in farming. (Photo By: Jennifer Mercer/Co-Mo Cooperative)</figcaption></figure> <p>As a third-generation owner-operator of his family’s 1,200-acre farm in Indiana, Steve Vail knows a thing or two about crop and livestock production. </p> <p>As a director of an electric cooperative with a broadband subsidiary, he knows the transformative impact modern high-speed communication technology can have on a community.</p> <p>Bringing these two critical perspectives together is why Vail is excited about his recent appointment, along with three other co-op leaders, to three Federal Communications Commission working groups on precision agriculture. </p> <p>“I strongly believe that the viability of many family farms across the country may very well lie with availability of and access to technology that can only be facilitated through broadband,” said Vail, vice chairman of the board of directors of <a href="https://www.ninestarconnect.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label="NineStar Connect (opens in a new tab)">NineStar Connect</a> in Greenfield, Indiana. </p> <p>Precision agriculture involves computerized, connected technologies that bring greater efficiency to farm tasks like seeding, fertilizing, applying herbicide and watering. It can result in higher production and less waste.</p> <p>Vail is a member of the FCC’s Precision Agriculture Connectivity Task Force, which was created by the 2018 Farm Bill to address the need for broadband access across farms and ranches. He will also serve on the task force’s working group on Accelerating Broadband Deployment on Unserved Agriculture Lands. </p> <p>“For precision agriculture to happen in rural areas, we have to have that broadband infrastructure,” Vail said. “The task force will help the FCC understand what policies and regulations they can put in place to facilitate that.”</p> <p>Mark Suggs, executive vice president and general manager of <a href="https://www.pgemc.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label="Pitt & Greene EMC (opens in a new tab)">Pitt & Greene EMC</a>, said the combination of smart farming equipment and internet access will enable U.S. farms to “compete in today’s economically depressed world.”</p> <p>“Without reliable internet, the U.S. agriculture sector will continue to lag in these markets,” he said. </p> <p>Suggs, a farmer and manager of the Farmville, North Carolina-based co-op for 37 years, will represent NRECA on the FCC group’s Mapping and Analyzing Connectivity on Agricultural Lands Working Group. He says identifying and measuring gaps in the availability of reliable internet access is the first key step.</p> <p>“We then have to recommend measures to accomplish the goal of making broadband service available to all rural communities in America,” he said. “We have an opportunity to further lead the world in the agriculture field as well as in beneficial electrification. We cannot lose this battle.” </p> <p>The FCC, in consultation with the U.S. Department of Agriculture, also appointed <a rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label="Midwest Energy and Communications (opens in a new tab)" href="https://www.teammidwest.com/" target="_blank">Midwest Energy and Communications</a> CEO Bob Hance to the Encouraging Adoption of Precision Agriculture and Availability of High-Quality Jobs on Connected Farms Working Group and Valerie Connelly of <a rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label="Choptank Electric Cooperative (opens in a new tab)" href="https://www.choptankelectric.coop/" target="_blank">Choptank Electric Cooperative</a> to the Examining Current and Future Connectivity Demand for Precision Agriculture Working Group.</p> <p>Connelly said she looks forward to providing perspectives from a rural cooperative whose farmer members must meet state and federal Chesapeake Bay cleanup goals yet lack broadband access to adopt the best technologies. She is vice president of government affairs and public relations at the Denton, Maryland-based co-op.</p> <p>Hance said he hopes their work for the commission “results in broader and widespread adoption of farm technologies that fundamentally improve the outcomes for rural farmers and ranchers and makes it possible to continue to increase yields, improve efficiencies and meet the ever-increasing demand for production.”</p> <p>“In reality, all this can’t happen until real progress is made with extending true, robust and reliable internet to the rural parts of this country,” he said from his co-op based in Cassopolis, Michigan.  </p> <p>FCC Chairman Ajit Pai said he is targeting $1 billion for precision agriculture from a proposed $9 billion 5G Fund to support “next generation wireless services.” “The FCC must play a constructive role in promoting these efforts and supporting investment in high-speed internet in ways that specifically help precision agriculture,” Pai said. </p> <p><em>Cathy Cash is a staff writer at NRECA.</em></p> </div> </section> </div> <div class="row"> <div class="col-md-12"> <section class="timeline-article-footer"> <small>Next in the Issue</small> <a class="article-next-post" data-next-article="timeline-modal-6969" title="NRECA Seeks Federal Relief for Co-ops as Members Struggle to Pay Bills">NRECA Seeks Federal Relief for Co-ops as Members Struggle to Pay Bills <span class="arrow"><i class="ci-long-arrow-right"></i></span></a> </section> </div> </div> </div> </article>  </section>  <section id="timeline-modal-6969" class="timeline-issues-article hidden"> <div class="jumbotron hero article bg-image" style="background-image: url('');"></div>  <article class="single"> <div class="container">  <div class="row"> <header class="col-md-12"> <div class="article-header"> <small class="article-category"> <a href="https://www.electric.coop/issues-and-policy/broadband">Broadband</a> </small> <h1 class="article-title">NRECA Seeks Federal Relief for Co-ops as Members Struggle to Pay Bills</h1> <h3 class="article-subtitle"></h3> </div> </header> </div>  <div class="row"> <section class="col-md-3"> <div class="article-meta"> <div class="row"> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-date"> <span>Published</span>April 7, 2020 </div> </div> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-author"> <span>Author</span> Erin Kelly </div> </div> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-share">  <div class="social-share post"> <ul class="social"> <li><a class="facebook-share" href="https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=&title=" target="_blank"></a></li> <li><a class="twitter-share" href="https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?source=&text=&via=NRECANews " target="_blank"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewBox="0 0 512 512"><path d="M389.2 48h70.6L305.6 224.2 487 464H345L233.7 318.6 106.5 464H35.8L200.7 275.5 26.8 48H172.4L272.9 180.9 389.2 48zM364.4 421.8h39.1L151.1 88h-42L364.4 421.8z"/></svg></a></li> <li><a class="linkedin-share" href="http://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=&title=&summary=" target="_blank"></a></li> </ul> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </section> <section class="col-md-9"> <div class="article-content">  <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/US-Capitol-rotunda.jpg"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="683" src="https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/US-Capitol-rotunda-1024x683.jpg" alt="Congress is expected to take up another COVID-19 relief bill this spring that could include aid to co-ops and their members. (Photo By: Drew Angerer/Getty Images)" class="wp-image-6970" srcset="https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/US-Capitol-rotunda-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/US-Capitol-rotunda-300x200.jpg 300w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/US-Capitol-rotunda-768x512.jpg 768w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/US-Capitol-rotunda.jpg 1200w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></a><figcaption>Congress is expected to take up another COVID-19 relief bill this spring that could include aid to co-ops and their members. (Photo By: Drew Angerer/Getty Images)</figcaption></figure> <p>NRECA is asking Congress to provide federal aid to the nation’s 900-plus electric cooperatives, some of which may suffer from budget shortfalls as their consumer-members struggle to pay their electric bills during the COVID-19 pandemic.</p> <p>Lawmakers are expected to consider another sweeping relief bill later this spring as a follow-up to the $2 trillion <a href="https://www.electric.coop/nreca-urges-congress-to-include-co-op-aid-in-coronavirus-relief-package/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label="CARES Act (opens in a new tab)">CARES Act</a> they passed in March. That legislation contained several provisions sought by NRECA, including an additional $900 million for the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program, which helps some low-income and moderate-income consumers pay their utility bills. But not all struggling families qualify for that aid.</p> <p>“Many states have mandated moratoriums on utility disconnections and some members of Congress have proposed a similar federal moratorium,” NRECA CEO Jim Matheson wrote <a href="https://www.cooperative.com/programs-services/communications/Documents/Matheson%20letter%20to%20Hill%20on%20Phase%204%20stimulus%20040620.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label="in a letter (opens in a new tab)">in a letter</a> to congressional leaders. “At the same time, electric bill nonpayment is increasing nationwide and electric load from commercial and industrial users has dramatically decreased.” </p> <p>Matheson reminded lawmakers that co-ops are not-for-profit, have no shareholders and return excess revenue to their consumer-members. Co-ops returned $1.2 billion to their members in 2018 alone.</p> <p>“Because of this structure and the desire to keep energy costs as low as possible, some electric co-ops have limited reserve margins to sustain high rates of nonpayment,” he wrote. “As a result of nonpayments and load falloff resulting from economic hardship, some not-for-profit electric cooperatives are facing significant operational shortfalls. Without federal assistance, co-ops may face severe financial distress.” </p> <p>NRECA is also asking lawmakers to include federal loan, broadband and disaster relief provisions in the next bill, including measures to:</p> <ul class="wp-block-list"><li>Direct the <a href="https://www.rd.usda.gov/about-rd/agencies/rural-utilities-service" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label="U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Rural Utilities Service (opens in a new tab)">U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Rural Utilities Service</a> program to help co-ops save money immediately by taking advantage of historically low interest rates to reprice or refinance RUS debt without penalties for borrowers. Co-ops hold more than $40 billion in RUS electric program loans.</li><li>Increase the amount of lending available under the RUS Guaranteed Underwriter Program. It provides guarantees for loans made to co-ops by private cooperative banks such as the National Rural Utilities Cooperative Finance Corp. (CFC) and CoBank. </li><li>Provide vouchers for needy families and small businesses to pay their internet service providers. This would allow broadband providers, including co-ops, to keep customers connected and provide new connections. Service is especially crucial during the pandemic for online school assignments, teleworking and telemedicine.</li><li>Invest more in existing programs such as the <a href="https://www.usda.gov/reconnect/program-overview" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label="RUS ReConnect (opens in a new tab)">RUS ReConnect</a> Broadband Loan and Grant Program to bring high-speed internet service to rural areas. </li><li>Direct the <a href="https://www.fema.gov/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label="Federal Emergency Management Agency (opens in a new tab)">Federal Emergency Management Agency</a> to reimburse co-ops for past disasters. Some Florida co-ops, for example, still have not received FEMA reimbursements for rebuilding their systems after Hurricane Michael in 2018.</li></ul> <p>The letter was sent to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., and House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif.</p> <p><em>Erin Kelly is a staff writer at NRECA.</em></p> <p><em><strong><a href="https://www.electric.coop/covid-19-electric-co-op-response/">Read More on the electric co-op response to the COVID-19 Pandemic</a></strong></em></p> <p><em>See NRECA’s </em><a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://www.cooperative.com/programs-services/communications/Pages/coronavirus-covid-19-information-for-co-ops.aspx" target="_blank"><em>COVID-19 hub on cooperative.com</em></a><em> for key resources for co-ops, including guidance on business continuity planning and communication, as well as event schedule changes.</em></p> <p></p> </div> </section> </div> <div class="row"> <div class="col-md-12"> <section class="timeline-article-footer"> <small>Next in the Issue</small> <a class="article-next-post" data-next-article="timeline-modal-6967" title="Illinois Co-op Wins $2 Million USDA Community Connect Grant for Broadband">Illinois Co-op Wins $2 Million USDA Community Connect Grant for Broadband <span class="arrow"><i class="ci-long-arrow-right"></i></span></a> </section> </div> </div> </div> </article>  </section>  <section id="timeline-modal-6967" class="timeline-issues-article hidden"> <div class="jumbotron hero article bg-image" style="background-image: url('');"></div>  <article class="single"> <div class="container">  <div class="row"> <header class="col-md-12"> <div class="article-header"> <small class="article-category"> <a href="https://www.electric.coop/issues-and-policy/broadband">Broadband</a> </small> <h1 class="article-title">Illinois Co-op Wins $2 Million USDA Community Connect Grant for Broadband</h1> <h3 class="article-subtitle"></h3> </div> </header> </div>  <div class="row"> <section class="col-md-3"> <div class="article-meta"> <div class="row"> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-date"> <span>Published</span>April 7, 2020 </div> </div> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-author"> <span>Author</span> Cathy Cash </div> </div> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-share">  <div class="social-share post"> <ul class="social"> <li><a class="facebook-share" href="https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=&title=" target="_blank"></a></li> <li><a class="twitter-share" href="https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?source=&text=&via=NRECANews " target="_blank"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewBox="0 0 512 512"><path d="M389.2 48h70.6L305.6 224.2 487 464H345L233.7 318.6 106.5 464H35.8L200.7 275.5 26.8 48H172.4L272.9 180.9 389.2 48zM364.4 421.8h39.1L151.1 88h-42L364.4 421.8z"/></svg></a></li> <li><a class="linkedin-share" href="http://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=&title=&summary=" target="_blank"></a></li> </ul> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </section> <section class="col-md-9"> <div class="article-content">  <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/joe-carroll-broadband.jpg"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="683" src="https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/joe-carroll-broadband-1024x683.jpg" alt="Jo-Carroll Energy plans to use a $2 million USDA Community Connect grant to deliver broadband to 420 homes in rural Illinois. (Photo Courtesy: Jo-Carroll Energy)" class="wp-image-6968" srcset="https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/joe-carroll-broadband-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/joe-carroll-broadband-300x200.jpg 300w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/joe-carroll-broadband-768x512.jpg 768w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/joe-carroll-broadband.jpg 1200w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></a><figcaption>Jo-Carroll Energy plans to use a $2 million USDA Community Connect grant to deliver broadband to 420 homes in rural Illinois. (Photo Courtesy: Jo-Carroll Energy)</figcaption></figure> <p>Jo-Carroll Energy’s broadband division, Sand Prairie, is the first 2020 recipient of a Community Connect grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture and plans to use the $2 million award to deliver high-speed internet access to 420 homes.</p> <p>“Expansion of fiber broadband is a much-needed development in our region,” said Mike Casper, president and CEO of the <a href="https://www.jocarroll.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label="Elizabeth, Illinois, co-op (opens in a new tab)">Elizabeth, Illinois, co-op</a>. “This grant will assist our efforts to provide high-speed, reliable internet service to our co-op members.”</p> <p>Sand Prairie will use the grant to build about 25 miles of overhead and underground mainline fiber-to-the-premise and another 32 miles of fiber connection drops. JCE will match 22% of the grant, nearly $460,000, to complete the $2.5 million broadband project. Construction is expected to begin later this year and be completed within two years.  </p> <p>Sand Prairie offers broadband service of up to 2 gigabits per second to meet the rural area’s growing needs.</p> <p>“This project supports economic development in our rural service area by increasing property values, attracting new residents and providing more residents the ability to work remotely, all factors that, in the long term, support community growth, boost our community’s tax base, enhance medical practices and support our schools,” said Jesse Shekleton, JCE director of engineering and project manager for the grant application. </p> <p>JCE and Sand Prairie are applying for additional grants to continue extending broadband throughout their service territory. Sand Prairie was created in 2008 to build a fiber communications network for the co-op and was the subject of a <a href="https://www.cooperative.com/programs-services/bts/Documents/Advisories/Tech-Advisory-Broadband-Case-Study-Jo-Carroll-May-2018.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label="NRECA case study (opens in a new tab)">NRECA case study</a>. </p> <p>Casper sees fiber as unmatched regarding bandwidth, speed, uptime, latency and overall scalability into the future and a way to help maintain the community’s vitality.</p> <p>“Fiber is a key element to keeping and drawing younger people and transforming more of the visitors to our area into residents who can bring in new businesses that heighten the quality of life for our members and communities.” </p> <p><em>Cathy Cash is a staff writer at NRECA.</em></p> </div> </section> </div> <div class="row"> <div class="col-md-12"> <section class="timeline-article-footer"> <small>Next in the Issue</small> <a class="article-next-post" data-next-article="timeline-modal-6947" title="Co-op Speeds Broadband Connection to Clinic for COVID-19 Testing">Co-op Speeds Broadband Connection to Clinic for COVID-19 Testing <span class="arrow"><i class="ci-long-arrow-right"></i></span></a> </section> </div> </div> </div> </article>  </section>  <section id="timeline-modal-6947" class="timeline-issues-article hidden"> <div class="jumbotron hero article bg-image" style="background-image: url('');"></div>  <article class="single"> <div class="container">  <div class="row"> <header class="col-md-12"> <div class="article-header"> <small class="article-category"> <a href="https://www.electric.coop/issues-and-policy/broadband">Broadband</a> </small> <h1 class="article-title">Co-op Speeds Broadband Connection to Clinic for COVID-19 Testing</h1> <h3 class="article-subtitle"></h3> </div> </header> </div>  <div class="row"> <section class="col-md-3"> <div class="article-meta"> <div class="row"> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-date"> <span>Published</span>March 31, 2020 </div> </div> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-author"> <span>Author</span> Cathy Cash </div> </div> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-share">  <div class="social-share post"> <ul class="social"> <li><a class="facebook-share" href="https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=&title=" target="_blank"></a></li> <li><a class="twitter-share" href="https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?source=&text=&via=NRECANews " target="_blank"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewBox="0 0 512 512"><path d="M389.2 48h70.6L305.6 224.2 487 464H345L233.7 318.6 106.5 464H35.8L200.7 275.5 26.8 48H172.4L272.9 180.9 389.2 48zM364.4 421.8h39.1L151.1 88h-42L364.4 421.8z"/></svg></a></li> <li><a class="linkedin-share" href="http://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=&title=&summary=" target="_blank"></a></li> </ul> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </section> <section class="col-md-9"> <div class="article-content">  <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/covid-broadband-ninestar-1.jpg"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="768" src="https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/covid-broadband-ninestar-1-1024x768.jpg" alt="To meet a 72-hour deadline, a NineStar Connect crew manually digs the last 30 feet of an 1,800-foot conduit to deliver broadband to a medical clinic during the coronavirus pandemic. (Photo By: NineStar Connect)" class="wp-image-6948" srcset="https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/covid-broadband-ninestar-1-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/covid-broadband-ninestar-1-300x225.jpg 300w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/covid-broadband-ninestar-1-768x576.jpg 768w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/covid-broadband-ninestar-1.jpg 1200w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></a><figcaption>To meet a 72-hour deadline, a NineStar Connect crew manually digs the last 30 feet of an 1,800-foot conduit to deliver broadband to a medical clinic during the coronavirus pandemic. (Photo By: NineStar Connect)</figcaption></figure> <p>The urgent request from the county’s only hospital came on a Thursday evening: Could the local electric cooperative provide broadband internet access to a new clinic to test patients for COVID-19 by 8 a.m. the following Monday?</p> <p>On a good day, a crew can excavate and drill around 500 feet of conduit to lay fiber cable. NineStar Connect’s closest connection to the facility was 1,800 feet away.</p> <p>George Plisinski II, manager of telecom operations for the <a href="https://www.ninestarconnect.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label="Greenfield, Indiana-based co-op (opens in a new tab)">Greenfield, Indiana-based co-op</a>, described the situation with a baseball analogy: “We were down 9-0 in the bottom of the seventh.”</p> <p>Curveballs included obtaining state and city permits to bore into a state road and local street; getting gas, water and communication utilities to mark underground lines over the weekend; a late-season wet snow; and broken drilling equipment. </p> <p>But NineStar Connect was up for the challenge, Plisinski said, because “we live our co-op principles every day and concern for community was right there with us.”</p> <p>The co-op, which delivers electricity, broadband and water, called on state Sen. Michael Crider, R-Greenfield and a co-op member, to expedite the necessary permits, a process that can take up to a month. </p> <p>Crider, who chairs the Homeland Security and Transportation Committee, got the Indiana Department of Transportation to approve the permits within minutes.</p> <p>“That our state senator would ask on our behalf to push a permit through on Friday night set the wheels in motion,” said Plisinski.</p> <p>Local utilities agreed to waive the 48-hour call-before-you-dig period and worked through the night Friday to mark lines. At daybreak Saturday, six high-pressure gas lines—including one that fed the entire city of Greenfield—along with one 12-inch water pipe and phone lines were “all standing in our path to get where we needed to get,” Plisinski said.</p> <p>Then came the snow. By nightfall, the co-op crew managed to dig halfway to its connection in heavy slush. </p> <p>Early on Sunday, the pump on a vacuum excavation system failed, stopping their work. The co-op contacted the mayor, who dispatched two vacuum trucks to the scene, preventing a four-hour wait from another location. </p> <p>The NineStar Connect crew was running two directional drills when one had mechanical issues, forcing them to use the smaller drill before abandoning that and digging the last 30 feet by hand.</p> <p>“We’re using shovels and spades, digging it down 3 feet deep,” Plisinski said. “And it’s dark at this point.” </p> <p>A little after 10:30 p.m. Sunday, March 15, the co-op provided the clinic with broadband internet. </p> <p>“We stopped by there Monday at 7 a.m.; everything was good to go,” said Plisinski. “Two people were waiting to be seen while we were there before the clinic officially opened.”</p> <p>NineStar Connect provided multiple-gigabit service through a private connection back to Hancock Regional Hospital. The clinic doctors and staff are using the same software and equipment as they did at the main hospital, which the co-op first connected nearly two decades ago. </p> <p>“During a pandemic you still have accidents, heart attacks, babies being born. The hospital has to continue to provide those emergency services,” said David Spencer, Ninestar Connect director of marketing and public relations. “The fact that they’ve been able to steer some patients to this clinic is huge.”</p> <p>The hospital agreed.</p> <p>“Without the incredible work and dedication from our partners at NineStar Connect, we would not have been able to open and provide care to those that needed us most,” said Jenn Cox, business director for Hancock Health Gateway Services. </p> <p>“From phones to internet, involving communication, patient flow and documentation was all contingent on having the technology and infrastructure they provided us.” </p> <p><em>Cathy Cash is a staff writer at NRECA.</em></p> <p><em><strong><a href="https://www.electric.coop/covid-19-electric-co-op-response/">Read more on the electric co-op response to the COVID-19 Pandemic</a></strong></em></p> <p><em>See NRECA’s </em><a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://www.cooperative.com/programs-services/communications/Pages/coronavirus-covid-19-information-for-co-ops.aspx" target="_blank"><em>COVID-19 hub on cooperative.com</em></a><em> for key resources for co-ops, including guidance on business continuity planning and communication, as well as event schedule changes.</em></p> </div> </section> </div> <div class="row"> <div class="col-md-12"> <section class="timeline-article-footer"> <small>Next in the Issue</small> <a class="article-next-post" data-next-article="timeline-modal-6932" title="Co-op Broadband Providers Pledge to Sustain Low-Income Service as Pandemic Hardships Increase">Co-op Broadband Providers Pledge to Sustain Low-Income Service as Pandemic Hardships Increase <span class="arrow"><i class="ci-long-arrow-right"></i></span></a> </section> </div> </div> </div> </article>  </section>  <section id="timeline-modal-6932" class="timeline-issues-article hidden"> <div class="jumbotron hero article bg-image" style="background-image: url('');"></div>  <article class="single"> <div class="container">  <div class="row"> <header class="col-md-12"> <div class="article-header"> <small class="article-category"> <a href="https://www.electric.coop/issues-and-policy/broadband">Broadband</a> </small> <h1 class="article-title">Co-op Broadband Providers Pledge to Sustain Low-Income Service as Pandemic Hardships Increase</h1> <h3 class="article-subtitle"></h3> </div> </header> </div>  <div class="row"> <section class="col-md-3"> <div class="article-meta"> <div class="row"> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-date"> <span>Published</span>March 25, 2020 </div> </div> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-author"> <span>Author</span> Cathy Cash </div> </div> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-share">  <div class="social-share post"> <ul class="social"> <li><a class="facebook-share" href="https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=&title=" target="_blank"></a></li> <li><a class="twitter-share" href="https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?source=&text=&via=NRECANews " target="_blank"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewBox="0 0 512 512"><path d="M389.2 48h70.6L305.6 224.2 487 464H345L233.7 318.6 106.5 464H35.8L200.7 275.5 26.8 48H172.4L272.9 180.9 389.2 48zM364.4 421.8h39.1L151.1 88h-42L364.4 421.8z"/></svg></a></li> <li><a class="linkedin-share" href="http://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=&title=&summary=" target="_blank"></a></li> </ul> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </section> <section class="col-md-9"> <div class="article-content">  <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="683" src="https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/barc-school-broadband-1024x683.jpg" alt="Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, students in a Buena Vista, Virginia, elementary school learned math online with broadband from BARC Connects. The co-op is setting up Wi-Fi hotspots in school parking lots so learning can continue despite closures due to the coronavirus. (Photo By: Alexis Matsui/NRECA)" class="wp-image-6933" srcset="https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/barc-school-broadband-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/barc-school-broadband-300x200.jpg 300w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/barc-school-broadband-768x512.jpg 768w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/barc-school-broadband.jpg 1200w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption>Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, students in a Buena Vista, Virginia, elementary school learned math online with broadband from BARC Connects. The co-op is setting up Wi-Fi hotspots in school parking lots so learning can continue despite closures due to the coronavirus. (Photo By: Alexis Matsui/NRECA)</figcaption></figure> <p>Several electric cooperatives that provide broadband internet are taking steps to keep rural communities connected during the coronavirus pandemic, including measures that go far beyond a Federal Communications Commission call to sustain service for low-income customers.</p> <p>Those steps include delivering higher connection speeds, even for members who subscribe to more modest plans.</p> <p>“Aside from being an early supporter of the FCC’s pledge, we’ve also increased our bandwidth to all of our fiber-to-the-home member-customers to 1 gig at no additional cost during this public health crisis,” said Michael Burrow, CEO of <a href="https://www.ninestarconnect.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label="NineStar (opens in a new tab)">NineStar</a>, an electric and communications co-op headquartered in Greenfield, Indiana. </p> <p>“Because our service area is just outside of Indianapolis, we are seeing a huge influx of our members who are now working from home and, with schools likely being closed for an extended period of time, students being placed in e-learning circumstances. We feel if we can support our members and customers being able to conduct some parts of their business and personal lives at home, we should be doing that.”</p> <p><a href="https://www.fcc.gov/keep-americans-connected" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label="FCC’s 60-day “Keep Americans Connected Pledge” (opens in a new tab)">FCC’s 60-day “Keep Americans Connected Pledge”</a> asks internet providers to sustain service to any residential or small-business customers despite lack of payment, waive late fees because of economic distress, and open Wi-Fi hotspots to those in need.</p> <p>Co-Mo Connect, the broadband business of <a href="https://www.co-mo.coop/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label="Co-Mo Electric Cooperative (opens in a new tab)">Co-Mo Electric Cooperative</a> in Tipton, Missouri, made the pledge and is increasing its subscribers’ internet speeds to their next service tier without charge as the pandemic amplifies the need for broadband at home. </p> <p>“We are local, and our mission is to enhance the quality of life for the region we serve,” said Co-Mo Connect CEO Aaron Bradshaw. “We strive to achieve that every day and, as this virus spreads through our area, we must all do what we can to help.”</p> <p><a href="https://kitcarson.com/internet" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label="Kit Carson Internet (opens in a new tab)">Kit Carson Internet</a>, a subsidiary of Kit Carson Electric Cooperative based in Taos, New Mexico, said it will uphold the FCC commitments until the governor ends the health emergency and the schools reopen. The co-op said it will also work to ensure students in its service area stay connected through 14 public internet hotspots. It will offer reduced rates and waive fees to all students and new customers with high school seniors or college students. </p> <p>KCI is also waiving fees for state and federal employees who can work from home if they have broadband internet access.  </p> <p>“KCI is adjusting to the needs of our community and customers. This pledge is only one step we have taken,” said Mark Poche, manager of Kit Carson Internet.</p> <p>BARC Connects is setting up free wireless hotspots in four Rockbridge County school parking lots to help students in rural Southwest Virginia continue their education online at a safe social distance inside vehicles.  </p> <p>The broadband subsidiary of the Millboro-based <a href="http://www.barcelectric.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label="BARC Electric (opens in a new tab)">BARC Electric</a>, which has also signed the FCC pledge, expects the hotspots to be fully operational by April 2.  </p> <p>“As we all navigate these unprecedented times, BARC desires to provide as much internet access as possible to aid our students, teachers and educational institutions,” said Tish Blackwell, communications specialist at the co-op.</p> <p><em>Cathy Cash is a staff writer at NRECA.</em></p> <p><em><strong><a href="https://www.electric.coop/covid-19-electric-co-op-response/">Read more on the electric co-op response to the COVID-19 Pandemic</a></strong></em></p> <p><em>See NRECA’s </em><a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://www.cooperative.com/programs-services/communications/Pages/coronavirus-covid-19-information-for-co-ops.aspx" target="_blank"><em>COVID-19 hub on cooperative.com</em></a><em> for key resources for co-ops, including guidance on business continuity planning and communication, as well as event schedule changes.</em></p> </div> </section> </div> <div class="row"> <div class="col-md-12"> <section class="timeline-article-footer"> <small>Next in the Issue</small> <a class="article-next-post" data-next-article="timeline-modal-6924" title="Co-op Aid Included in Coronavirus Relief Bill">Co-op Aid Included in Coronavirus Relief Bill <span class="arrow"><i class="ci-long-arrow-right"></i></span></a> </section> </div> </div> </div> </article>  </section>  <section id="timeline-modal-6924" class="timeline-issues-article hidden"> <div class="jumbotron hero article bg-image" style="background-image: url('');"></div>  <article class="single"> <div class="container">  <div class="row"> <header class="col-md-12"> <div class="article-header"> <small class="article-category"> <a href="https://www.electric.coop/issues-and-policy/broadband">Broadband</a> </small> <h1 class="article-title">Co-op Aid Included in Coronavirus Relief Bill</h1> <h3 class="article-subtitle"></h3> </div> </header> </div>  <div class="row"> <section class="col-md-3"> <div class="article-meta"> <div class="row"> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-date"> <span>Published</span>March 24, 2020 </div> </div> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-author"> <span>Author</span> Erin Kelly </div> </div> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-share">  <div class="social-share post"> <ul class="social"> <li><a class="facebook-share" href="https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=&title=" target="_blank"></a></li> <li><a class="twitter-share" href="https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?source=&text=&via=NRECANews " target="_blank"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewBox="0 0 512 512"><path d="M389.2 48h70.6L305.6 224.2 487 464H345L233.7 318.6 106.5 464H35.8L200.7 275.5 26.8 48H172.4L272.9 180.9 389.2 48zM364.4 421.8h39.1L151.1 88h-42L364.4 421.8z"/></svg></a></li> <li><a class="linkedin-share" href="http://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=&title=&summary=" target="_blank"></a></li> </ul> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </section> <section class="col-md-9"> <div class="article-content">  <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="683" src="https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/capitol-covid-19-march-24-1024x683.jpg" alt="NRECA is asking Congress to include relief for co-ops and their members in a sweeping bill aimed at rescuing the economy during the coronavirus pandemic. (Photo By: Bloomberg Creative Photos/Getty Images)" class="wp-image-6925" srcset="https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/capitol-covid-19-march-24-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/capitol-covid-19-march-24-300x200.jpg 300w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/capitol-covid-19-march-24-768x512.jpg 768w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/capitol-covid-19-march-24.jpg 1200w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption>Congress included relief for co-ops and their members in a sweeping bill aimed at rescuing the economy during the coronavirus pandemic. (Photo By: Bloomberg Creative Photos/Getty Images)</figcaption></figure> <p><strong>Updated: March 27, 2020</strong></p> <p>The $2 trillion <a href="https://www.appropriations.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/FINAL%20FINAL%20CARES%20ACT.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label="coronavirus relief bill (opens in a new tab)">coronavirus relief bill</a> passed by Congress will bring help to electric cooperatives and their consumer-members by offering millions in aid for families struggling to pay their utility bills and billions in grants for small businesses.</p> <p>At the same time, the U.S. Department of Agriculture took action to provide greater flexibility and certainty for co-ops that rely on the Rural Utilities Service for loans and other financial assistance.</p> <p>NRECA urged Congress and the Trump administration to include aid for co-ops as part of federal relief efforts aimed at boosting the struggling U.S. economy in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. CEO Jim Matheson wrote <a href="https://www.cooperative.com/programs-services/communications/Documents/Covid-19%20Relief%20Proposals%20v5.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label=" (opens in a new tab)">letters to congressional leaders</a> and <a href="https://www.cooperative.com/programs-services/communications/Documents/NRECA-Perdue-letter.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label=" (opens in a new tab)">Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue</a> asking for specific measures to help co-ops and their consumer-members. </p> <p>The Senate passed the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act on Wednesday, and the House approved it Friday by voice vote. Congress is expected to pass more relief legislation in the weeks ahead.</p> <p>Here are some of the key provisions for co-ops in the nearly 900-page bill: </p> <ul class="wp-block-list"><li>Adds $900 million for the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program, which helps low-income and moderate-income consumers pay their utility bills.</li><li>Adds $100 million for grants through the USDA RUS ReConnect broadband program and $25 million for the RUS Distance Learning and Telemedicine grant program to expand investments in telemedicine and distance-learning services in rural areas.</li><li>Adds $45 billion for the disaster relief fund administered by the Federal Emergency Management Agency. Co-ops often rely on these funds to restore power after storms and other emergencies.</li><li>Creates a $349 billion Paycheck Protection Program that provides federal government loan forgiveness (under Small Business Administration Section 7(a) loans) for small businesses to pay up to eight weeks of basic expenses, including electric, telephone and internet bills.</li><li>Creates a $10 billion SBA program to provide grants of up to $10,000 to small businesses to pay their workers and pay rent or mortgages, among other uses. Co-ops with fewer than 500 employees may be eligible for this grant program if they plan to apply for SBA Economic Injury Disaster Loans. Certain restrictions on those loans have now been waived.</li></ul> <p>The legislation does not include a federal moratorium on disconnecting consumers who fail to pay their utility bills. Some states have already imposed moratoriums, while others have asked utilities to voluntarily suspend disconnections during the coronavirus emergency. Many co-ops have already stopped disconnections and deferred bill payments for members who are experiencing financial hardships.</p> <p>Earlier in March, President Trump <a href="https://www.cooperative.com/programs-services/communications/Documents/Families%20First%20Coronavirus%20Response%20Act%20Fact%20Sheet%20032020.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label="signed legislation (opens in a new tab)">signed legislation</a> that would expand emergency family and medical leave and paid sick leave for co-ops and other small businesses with fewer than 500 employees. The CARES Act clarifies payment limitations for those programs. It also waives the 10% early distribution penalty for employees who withdraw up to $100,000 from their 401(k) retirement savings or from their Individual Retirement Accounts.</p> <p>The <a href="https://www.rd.usda.gov/sites/default/files/USDA_RD_SA_COVID19_ProgramImmediateActions.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label="USDA also announced (opens in a new tab)">USDA also announced</a> this week that it is providing relief for borrowers through its RUS program. The department extended for 60 days the deadline for telecommunications and electric program borrowers and grantees to submit their annual audits, which normally are due by April 30. It also waived borrower covenant requirements for loan agreement financial ratios for the entire 2020 calendar year. </p> <p>The agency is waiving all financial reporting requirements associated with existing RUS loan and grant covenants through June 30. USDA also will help electric program borrowers gain access to funds more quickly at current low interest rates by considering extensions of loan terms on a case-by-case basis.  </p> <p>“For over 80 years, the U.S. Department of Agriculture and America’s electric cooperatives have partnered—not just to keep the lights on—but to promote the overall well-being of all rural America,” Matheson wrote to Perdue. “In this extraordinary and challenging time, when those communities are threatened, our partnership is more important than ever.” </p> <p><em>Erin Kelly is a staff writer at NRECA.</em></p> <p><em><strong><a href="https://www.electric.coop/covid-19-electric-co-op-response/">Read more on the electric co-op response to the COVID-19 Pandemic</a></strong></em></p> <p><em>See NRECA’s </em><a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://www.cooperative.com/programs-services/communications/Pages/coronavirus-covid-19-information-for-co-ops.aspx" target="_blank"><em>COVID-19 hub on cooperative.com</em></a><em> for key resources for co-ops, including guidance on business continuity planning and communication, as well as event schedule changes.</em></p> </div> </section> </div> <div class="row"> <div class="col-md-12"> <section class="timeline-article-footer"> <small>Next in the Issue</small> <a class="article-next-post" data-next-article="timeline-modal-6891" title="Congress Passes Bill to Improve Broadband Mapping Data">Congress Passes Bill to Improve Broadband Mapping Data <span class="arrow"><i class="ci-long-arrow-right"></i></span></a> </section> </div> </div> </div> </article>  </section>  <section id="timeline-modal-6891" class="timeline-issues-article hidden"> <div class="jumbotron hero article bg-image" style="background-image: url('');"></div>  <article class="single"> <div class="container">  <div class="row"> <header class="col-md-12"> <div class="article-header"> <small class="article-category"> <a href="https://www.electric.coop/issues-and-policy/broadband">Broadband</a> </small> <h1 class="article-title">Congress Passes Bill to Improve Broadband Mapping Data</h1> <h3 class="article-subtitle"></h3> </div> </header> </div>  <div class="row"> <section class="col-md-3"> <div class="article-meta"> <div class="row"> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-date"> <span>Published</span>March 11, 2020 </div> </div> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-author"> <span>Author</span> Erin Kelly </div> </div> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-share">  <div class="social-share post"> <ul class="social"> <li><a class="facebook-share" href="https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=&title=" target="_blank"></a></li> <li><a class="twitter-share" href="https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?source=&text=&via=NRECANews " target="_blank"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewBox="0 0 512 512"><path d="M389.2 48h70.6L305.6 224.2 487 464H345L233.7 318.6 106.5 464H35.8L200.7 275.5 26.8 48H172.4L272.9 180.9 389.2 48zM364.4 421.8h39.1L151.1 88h-42L364.4 421.8z"/></svg></a></li> <li><a class="linkedin-share" href="http://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=&title=&summary=" target="_blank"></a></li> </ul> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </section> <section class="col-md-9"> <div class="article-content">  <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="683" src="https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/Broadband-Mapping-Bill-march2020-1024x683.jpg" alt="Congress has passed a bill to improve the accuracy of federal broadband data, smoothing the way for co-ops to bring high-speed internet service to their members. (Photo By: Preston Keres/USDA)" class="wp-image-6892" srcset="https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/Broadband-Mapping-Bill-march2020-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/Broadband-Mapping-Bill-march2020-300x200.jpg 300w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/Broadband-Mapping-Bill-march2020-768x512.jpg 768w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/Broadband-Mapping-Bill-march2020.jpg 1200w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption>Congress has passed a bill to improve the accuracy of federal broadband data, smoothing the way for co-ops to bring high-speed internet service to their members. (Photo By: Preston Keres/USDA)</figcaption></figure> <p>Congress has passed legislation to improve the accuracy of federal broadband maps, making it easier for electric cooperatives to secure funding to bring high-speed internet service to the rural communities that need it most.</p> <p>The Senate voted Tuesday to approve the bipartisan Broadband Deployment and Technological Availability Act, known as the <a href="https://www.commerce.senate.gov/services/files/20EA86CA-7889-4DC6-B3FE-3A59DFFC6539" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label="DATA Act (opens in a new tab)">DATA Act</a>. </p> <p>Senators had passed a previous version of the legislation in December, but they had to vote on it again because the House made changes when it approved the bill earlier this month.</p> <p>The bill requires the Federal Communications Commission to collect more detailed data from broadband providers. The legislation also makes it illegal for providers to knowingly provide false or incomplete information to the FCC and allows co-ops, consumers, local governments and others to challenge FCC maps with their own data.</p> <p>The bill will require the FCC to update its existing broadband maps, said <a href="https://www.thune.senate.gov/public/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label="Sen. John Thune (opens in a new tab)">Sen. John Thune</a>, R-S.D., who co-sponsored the DATA Act. </p> <p>President Trump is expected to sign the bill into law.</p> <p>“Bridging the digital divide is impossible without accurate service maps showing who has broadband access and who doesn’t,” said NRECA CEO Jim Matheson. “The Broadband DATA Act charts a course for a more connected rural America and is a welcome bipartisan solution under the leadership of the Senate Commerce Committee and the House Communications and Technology Subcommittee. It builds on the success of more than 100 electric co-op rural broadband projects and injects much-needed accountability into the broadband mapping process.” </p> <p>Co-op leaders have long known that national broadband maps do not adequately reflect the lack of access throughout rural America, said Kelly Wismer, NRECA’s legislative affairs director on broadband and telecommunications issues. The legislation, which contains <a href="https://www.electric.coop/nreca-urges-congress-to-include-crucial-data-in-broadband-mapping-bill/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label="key provisions that NRECA supported (opens in a new tab)">key provisions that NRECA supported</a>, will make it easier to identify areas that need service and make those communities eligible for federal funds. </p> <p>Dan Stelpflug, director of operations, engineering and technology at Allamakee Clayton Electric Cooperative in Postville, Iowa, <a href="https://www.electric.coop/co-op-leader-testifies-to-congress-about-faulty-federal-broadband-data/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label="testified before a House subcommittee last June (opens in a new tab)">testified before a House subcommittee last June</a> that faulty FCC data was causing a financial hardship for the co-op and its roughly 10,000 consumer-members. The co-op ended up having to essentially pay back 23% of a $1.4 million broadband grant it received in 2014 because the grant was based on bad data that indicated the co-op could reach more potential customers than was actually possible.</p> <p>“More accurate data and mapping showing broadband availability is a key part of reaching all rural Americans with high-speed broadband service,” he said recently. “This will enable us to clarify existing gaps in coverage, and harmonize the diverse solutions that will be required to help rural Americans keep pace with their urban counterparts.”</p> <p>Faulty federal data can wrongly show that rural residents have widespread access to broadband when only a few people in a community are connected, Wismer said. It also can deprive co-ops of the chance to compete for broadband grants if the data inaccurately shows that communities are already served.</p> <p>“Congressional action on broadband mapping will go a long way toward making sure millions of rural Americans are not locked out of the modern economy due to inaccurate maps,” Wismer said.</p> <p>Broadband service is essential to allow communities served by co-ops to grow local businesses, expand online learning and access telemedicine, the bill’s supporters said.</p> <p>“This bill would be an important step for collecting more precise data to improve the FCC’s flawed maps that waste resources and stifle economic development opportunities,” said <a href="https://www.wicker.senate.gov/public/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label="Sen. Roger Wicker (opens in a new tab)">Sen. Roger Wicker</a>, R-Miss., the bill’s lead sponsor and chairman of the <a href="https://www.commerce.senate.gov/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label="Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee (opens in a new tab)">Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee</a>. </p> <p><a href="https://www.klobuchar.senate.gov/public/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label="Sen. Amy Klobuchar (opens in a new tab)">Sen. Amy Klobuchar</a>, D-Minn., a co-sponsor, said it will help kids in rural America stay there when they grow up by increasing their opportunities.</p> <p>“When rural Americans have access to the infrastructure needed to support improving access to broadband then we keep rural America competitive in the 21st century and beyond,” she said.</p> <p><em>Erin Kelly is a staff writer at NRECA.</em></p> </div> </section> </div> <div class="row"> <div class="col-md-12"> <section class="timeline-article-footer"> <small>Next in the Issue</small> <a class="article-next-post" data-next-article="timeline-modal-6889" title="NRECA CEO Jim Matheson Applauds Passage of the Broadband DATA Act">NRECA CEO Jim Matheson Applauds Passage of the Broadband DATA Act <span class="arrow"><i class="ci-long-arrow-right"></i></span></a> </section> </div> </div> </div> </article>  </section>  <section id="timeline-modal-6889" class="timeline-issues-article hidden"> <div class="jumbotron hero article bg-image" style="background-image: url('');"></div>  <article class="single"> <div class="container">  <div class="row"> <header class="col-md-12"> <div class="article-header"> <small class="article-category"> <a href="https://www.electric.coop/issues-and-policy/broadband">Broadband</a> </small> <h1 class="article-title">NRECA CEO Jim Matheson Applauds Passage of the Broadband DATA Act</h1> <h3 class="article-subtitle"></h3> </div> </header> </div>  <div class="row"> <section class="col-md-3"> <div class="article-meta"> <div class="row"> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-date"> <span>Published</span>March 10, 2020 </div> </div> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-author"> <span>Author</span> Tracy Warren </div> </div> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-share">  <div class="social-share post"> <ul class="social"> <li><a class="facebook-share" href="https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=&title=" target="_blank"></a></li> <li><a class="twitter-share" href="https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?source=&text=&via=NRECANews " target="_blank"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewBox="0 0 512 512"><path d="M389.2 48h70.6L305.6 224.2 487 464H345L233.7 318.6 106.5 464H35.8L200.7 275.5 26.8 48H172.4L272.9 180.9 389.2 48zM364.4 421.8h39.1L151.1 88h-42L364.4 421.8z"/></svg></a></li> <li><a class="linkedin-share" href="http://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=&title=&summary=" target="_blank"></a></li> </ul> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </section> <section class="col-md-9"> <div class="article-content">  <p><strong>Arlington, Va.</strong> – National Rural Electric Cooperative Association CEO Jim Matheson today applauded congressional passage of S. 1822, the Broadband DATA Act.</p> <p>“Bridging the digital divide is impossible without accurate service maps showing who has broadband access and who doesn’t,” Matheson said. “The Broadband DATA Act charts a course for a more connected rural America and is a welcome bipartisan solution under the leadership of the Senate Commerce Committee and the House Communications and Technology Subcommittee. It builds on success of more than 100 electric co-op rural broadband projects and injects much-needed accountability into the broadband mapping process.” </p> <p>The Broadband DATA Act improves Federal Communications Commission broadband data collection by:<br> • Requiring providers to include more detailed coverage information in their self-reported data.<br> • Setting accountability standards for reporting.<br> • Establishing a process for third parties to challenge provider-reported broadband coverage data.</p> <p><em>The National Rural Electric Cooperative Association is the national trade association representing more than 900 local electric cooperatives. From growing suburbs to remote farming communities, electric co-ops serve as engines of economic development for 42 million Americans across 56 percent of the nation’s landscape. As local businesses built by the consumers they serve, electric cooperatives have meaningful ties to rural America and invest $12 billion annually in their communities.</em></p> <p class="has-text-align-center"> -###- </p> </div> </section> </div> <div class="row"> <div class="col-md-12"> <section class="timeline-article-footer"> <small>Next in the Issue</small> <a class="article-next-post" data-next-article="timeline-modal-6830" title="Matheson to NARUC: Talk to Co-ops About Serving Underserved Communities, Broadband">Matheson to NARUC: Talk to Co-ops About Serving Underserved Communities, Broadband <span class="arrow"><i class="ci-long-arrow-right"></i></span></a> </section> </div> </div> </div> </article>  </section>  <section id="timeline-modal-6830" class="timeline-issues-article hidden"> <div class="jumbotron hero article bg-image" style="background-image: url('');"></div>  <article class="single"> <div class="container">  <div class="row"> <header class="col-md-12"> <div class="article-header"> <small class="article-category"> <a href="https://www.electric.coop/issues-and-policy/broadband">Broadband</a> </small> <h1 class="article-title">Matheson to NARUC: Talk to Co-ops About Serving Underserved Communities, Broadband</h1> <h3 class="article-subtitle"></h3> </div> </header> </div>  <div class="row"> <section class="col-md-3"> <div class="article-meta"> <div class="row"> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-date"> <span>Published</span>February 18, 2020 </div> </div> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-author"> <span>Author</span> Cathy Cash </div> </div> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-share">  <div class="social-share post"> <ul class="social"> <li><a class="facebook-share" href="https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=&title=" target="_blank"></a></li> <li><a class="twitter-share" href="https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?source=&text=&via=NRECANews " target="_blank"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewBox="0 0 512 512"><path d="M389.2 48h70.6L305.6 224.2 487 464H345L233.7 318.6 106.5 464H35.8L200.7 275.5 26.8 48H172.4L272.9 180.9 389.2 48zM364.4 421.8h39.1L151.1 88h-42L364.4 421.8z"/></svg></a></li> <li><a class="linkedin-share" href="http://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=&title=&summary=" target="_blank"></a></li> </ul> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </section> <section class="col-md-9"> <div class="article-content">  <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="684" src="https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/matheson-naruc-1024x684.jpg" alt="Jim Matheson tells state utility regulators that co-ops “have a bias toward innovation” to serve underserved communities. (Photo By: NARUC)" class="wp-image-6831" srcset="https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/matheson-naruc-1024x684.jpg 1024w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/matheson-naruc-300x201.jpg 300w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/matheson-naruc-768x513.jpg 768w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/matheson-naruc.jpg 1200w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption>Jim Matheson tells state utility regulators that co-ops “have a bias toward innovation” to serve underserved communities. (Photo By: NARUC)</figcaption></figure> <p>The best approach to helping economically challenged communities is to have “a bias toward innovation.”</p> <p>That was one of NRECA CEO Jim Matheson’s messages during a Feb. 12 panel discussion at the National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioner’s Winter Policy Summit in Washington, D.C.</p> <p>Electric cooperatives “serve a lot of underserved people,” he said. “We need innovation to do it. We need flexibility to do it right.” </p> <p>Matheson spotlighted innovation adopted by several electric co-ops:</p> <ul class="wp-block-list"><li><a href="https://www.cherrylandelectric.coop/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label="Cherryland Electric Cooperative (opens in a new tab)">Cherryland Electric Cooperative</a> in Grawn, Michigan, joined state and local agencies to provide low-income members with bill credits toward the co-op’s community solar program. </li></ul> <ul class="wp-block-list"><li><a href="https://www.ndarec.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label="North Dakota Association (opens in a new tab)">North Dakota Association</a> of RECs partnered with state telecom co-ops to set up a rural development center that runs a food bank, provides access to loans and helped form a cooperative child care program.</li></ul> <ul class="wp-block-list"><li><a href="https://roanokeelectric.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label="Roanoke Electric Cooperative (opens in a new tab)">Roanoke Electric Cooperative</a> in Aulander, North Carolina, with half its territory defined as “persistent poverty,” is offering modest charging subscriptions to electric vehicles owners plus no upfront costs to install in-home EV chargers.</li></ul> <ul class="wp-block-list"><li><a href="https://www.wfec.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label="Western Farmers Electric Cooperative (opens in a new tab)">Western Farmers Electric Cooperative</a> and its member distribution co-ops in Oklahoma are working with investor-owned utilities and others to build the nation’s most comprehensive public EV charging network. </li></ul> <p>Matheson’s message to state utility regulators on providing rural broadband access to underserved communities was simple: Talk to electric co-op leaders within their borders. More than 100 are deploying retail broadband to rural communities; many others are studying the feasibility.</p> <p>Whether a state regulates them or not, “co-ops can be an important voice,” Matheson said. </p> <p>“Co-ops can give insight at the state level in terms of current laws and regulations, and how they either assist or impede” rural broadband development.   </p> <p>For example, easements can be a hurdle to rural broadband. Co-ops could be prohibited from stringing fiber-optic cable on their poles for retail internet access or face litigation after the fact.  </p> <p>Matheson also underscored the importance of economic development for rural areas, but he noted those efforts may be for naught without broadband internet access.</p> <p>“If you don’t have broadband, you aren’t going to get economic development,” he said. “It’s that fundamental.”</p> <p><em>Listen to a recent podcast episode on Advancing Energy Access for All, a new NRECA initiative that focuses on co-op efforts to improve the economic health of local communities:</em></p>  <iframe loading="lazy" src="//html5-player.libsyn.com/embed/episode/id/12451439/height/90/theme/custom/autoplay/no/autonext/no/thumbnail/yes/preload/no/no_addthis/no/direction/forward/render-playlist/no/custom-color/000000/" height="90" allowfullscreen webkitallowfullscreen mozallowfullscreen oallowfullscreen msallowfullscreen width="100%" scrolling="yes" class="iframe-class" frameborder="0"></iframe> <p><em>Cathy Cash is a staff writer at NRECA.</em></p> </div> </section> </div> <div class="row"> <div class="col-md-12"> <section class="timeline-article-footer"> <small>Next in the Issue</small> <a class="article-next-post" data-next-article="timeline-modal-6806" title="FCC Chairman Gets Firsthand Look at Rural Broadband Efforts in Michigan">FCC Chairman Gets Firsthand Look at Rural Broadband Efforts in Michigan <span class="arrow"><i class="ci-long-arrow-right"></i></span></a> </section> </div> </div> </div> </article>  </section>  <section id="timeline-modal-6806" class="timeline-issues-article hidden"> <div class="jumbotron hero article bg-image" style="background-image: url('');"></div>  <article class="single"> <div class="container">  <div class="row"> <header class="col-md-12"> <div class="article-header"> <small class="article-category"> <a href="https://www.electric.coop/issues-and-policy/broadband">Broadband</a> </small> <h1 class="article-title">FCC Chairman Gets Firsthand Look at Rural Broadband Efforts in Michigan</h1> <h3 class="article-subtitle"></h3> </div> </header> </div>  <div class="row"> <section class="col-md-3"> <div class="article-meta"> <div class="row"> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-date"> <span>Published</span>February 7, 2020 </div> </div> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-author"> <span>Author</span> Cathy Cash </div> </div> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-share">  <div class="social-share post"> <ul class="social"> <li><a class="facebook-share" href="https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=&title=" target="_blank"></a></li> <li><a class="twitter-share" href="https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?source=&text=&via=NRECANews " target="_blank"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewBox="0 0 512 512"><path d="M389.2 48h70.6L305.6 224.2 487 464H345L233.7 318.6 106.5 464H35.8L200.7 275.5 26.8 48H172.4L272.9 180.9 389.2 48zM364.4 421.8h39.1L151.1 88h-42L364.4 421.8z"/></svg></a></li> <li><a class="linkedin-share" href="http://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=&title=&summary=" target="_blank"></a></li> </ul> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </section> <section class="col-md-9"> <div class="article-content">  <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="683" src="https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/pai-fcc-michigan-broadband-1-1024x683.jpg" alt="FCC Chairman Ajit Pai engages with Midwest Energy & Communications crew hanging fiber-optic cable to deliver broadband access in Lenawee County, Michigan. (Photo By: Casey Clark/MEC)" class="wp-image-6807" srcset="https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/pai-fcc-michigan-broadband-1-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/pai-fcc-michigan-broadband-1-300x200.jpg 300w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/pai-fcc-michigan-broadband-1-768x512.jpg 768w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/pai-fcc-michigan-broadband-1.jpg 1200w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption>FCC Chairman Ajit Pai engages with Midwest Energy & Communications crew hanging fiber-optic cable to deliver broadband access in Lenawee County, Michigan. (Photo By: Casey Clark/MEC)</figcaption></figure> <p>Rep. Tim Walberg, R-Mich., hosted Federal Communications Commission Chairman Ajit Pai on a recent trip to Walberg’s rural Michigan district, where Pai publicly heralded efforts by electric cooperatives to bridge the digital divide.</p> <p>During his visit, Pai got a firsthand look at a co-op broadband initiative, watching crews from Cassopolis-based <a href="https://www.teammidwest.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label="Midwest Energy & Communications (opens in a new tab)">Midwest Energy & Communications</a> hang fiber and install equipment. </p> <p>“He was fully engaged and engrossed in the whole construction process,” said MEC CEO Bob Hance. </p> <figure class="wp-block-embed-twitter wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> <div class="center-align-child"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">An important aspect of the Rural Digital Opportunity Fund is that it’s open to competition from all types of companies focused on broadband, including electric utilities. Great to visit Midwest Energy and Communications, which is deploying fiber-based broadband in rural Michigan! <a href="https://t.co/LXY8Gh8C2k">pic.twitter.com/LXY8Gh8C2k</a></p>— Ajit Pai (@AjitPai) <a href="https://twitter.com/AjitPai/status/1220452789379325954?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 23, 2020</a></blockquote><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div> </div></figure> <p>Pai’s trip preceded the much-anticipated Jan. 30 vote on the rules for the new <a href="https://www.cooperative.com/news/pages/rundown-on-fcc-20-billion-rdof-for-rural-broadband.aspx" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label="Rural Digital Opportunity Fund (opens in a new tab)">Rural Digital Opportunity Fund</a>, a $20.4 billion reverse auction aimed at bringing high-speed internet to the country’s unserved communities.</p> <p>Pai and Walberg’s itinerary included a discussion about the challenges of rural broadband with Hance, Craig Borr, president/CEO of the <a href="https://www.meca.coop/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label="Michigan Electric Cooperative Association (opens in a new tab)">Michigan Electric Cooperative Association</a>, and Sally Talberg, who chairs the Michigan Public Service Commission. Walberg is an MEC member and serves on the House Energy and Commerce subcommittee with jurisdiction over the FCC. </p> <p>Currently, only three electric co-ops deliver fiber-to-the-home in Michigan, but Hance said that number could more than double with help from the new FCC funding program.</p> <p>“The RDOF is a great catalyst,” he said. If co-ops win bids in the RDOF, that will “provide relief to some of the boards about the capital commitment” for broadband. </p> <p>MEC won a $5 million grant in 2018 from the <a href="https://www.electric.coop/electric-co-ops-get-big-boost-rural-broadband-efforts-fcc-auction/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label="Connect America Fund (opens in a new tab)">Connect America Fund</a> auction, a precursor to the RDOF. The co-op’s highly successful broadband deployment has a 70% take-rate in its most mature areas and nearly 12,000 residential and business subscribers in just five years, said Hance. </p> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="683" src="https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/pai-fcc-michigan-broadband-2-1024x683.jpg" alt="Michigan Public Service Commission Chairman Sally Talberg, FCC Chairman Ajit Pai, Rep. Tim Walberg and MEC CEO Bob Hance discuss the challenges of building rural broadband during a visit to the Michigan co-op. (Photo By: Casey Clark/MEC)" class="wp-image-6808" srcset="https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/pai-fcc-michigan-broadband-2-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/pai-fcc-michigan-broadband-2-300x200.jpg 300w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/pai-fcc-michigan-broadband-2-768x512.jpg 768w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/pai-fcc-michigan-broadband-2.jpg 1200w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption>Michigan Public Service Commission Chairman Sally Talberg, FCC Chairman Ajit Pai, Rep. Tim Walberg and MEC CEO Bob Hance discuss the challenges of building rural broadband during a visit to the Michigan co-op. (Photo By: Casey Clark/MEC)</figcaption></figure> <p>“We get calls every day from people outside our member network asking, ‘How come you can’t serve us?’” he said. </p> <p>Phase I of the RDOF auction will allocate $16 billion to unserved census block areas identified by the FCC, and Phase II will auction the remaining $4.4 billion. An official schedule for the auction has yet to be announced.</p> <p><em>Cathy Cash is a staff writer at NRECA.</em></p> </div> </section> </div> <div class="row"> <div class="col-md-12"> <section class="timeline-article-footer"> <small>Next in the Issue</small> <a class="article-next-post" data-next-article="timeline-modal-6780" title="Electric Co-ops Support FCC Broadband Auction Rules">Electric Co-ops Support FCC Broadband Auction Rules <span class="arrow"><i class="ci-long-arrow-right"></i></span></a> </section> </div> </div> </div> </article>  </section>  <section id="timeline-modal-6780" class="timeline-issues-article hidden"> <div class="jumbotron hero article bg-image" style="background-image: url('');"></div>  <article class="single"> <div class="container">  <div class="row"> <header class="col-md-12"> <div class="article-header"> <small class="article-category"> <a href="https://www.electric.coop/issues-and-policy/broadband">Broadband</a> </small> <h1 class="article-title">Electric Co-ops Support FCC Broadband Auction Rules</h1> <h3 class="article-subtitle"></h3> </div> </header> </div>  <div class="row"> <section class="col-md-3"> <div class="article-meta"> <div class="row"> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-date"> <span>Published</span>January 30, 2020 </div> </div> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-author"> <span>Author</span> twarren </div> </div> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-share">  <div class="social-share post"> <ul class="social"> <li><a class="facebook-share" href="https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=&title=" target="_blank"></a></li> <li><a class="twitter-share" href="https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?source=&text=&via=NRECANews " target="_blank"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewBox="0 0 512 512"><path d="M389.2 48h70.6L305.6 224.2 487 464H345L233.7 318.6 106.5 464H35.8L200.7 275.5 26.8 48H172.4L272.9 180.9 389.2 48zM364.4 421.8h39.1L151.1 88h-42L364.4 421.8z"/></svg></a></li> <li><a class="linkedin-share" href="http://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=&title=&summary=" target="_blank"></a></li> </ul> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </section> <section class="col-md-9"> <div class="article-content">  <p><strong>ARLINGTON, Va.</strong> – National Rural Electric Cooperative Association CEO Jim Matheson applauded today’s vote by the Federal Communication Commission (FCC) to approve rules for the Rural Development Opportunity Fund (RDOF) reverse auction for broadband projects.  </p> <p>“America’s electric co-ops are optimistic that the auction rules will lead to meaningful expansion of broadband access in rural America,” Matheson said. “We appreciate the commissioners’ willingness to apply lessons learned from previous auctions and implement changes that will promote higher speeds by winning RDOF bidders. The need to bridge the digital divide has never been more urgent. </p> <p>“More than 100 electric cooperatives have stepped up to deploy broadband and connect their communities to the modern economy. But for many co-ops, broadband projects are simply not feasible without grant funds. We look forward to partnering with the FCC on projects that will boost the quality of life and economic outlook for hundreds of rural communities.”</p> <p>Cooperatives welcome this important change from the last FCC broadband reverse auction because it will enhance FCC’s selection of projects with the highest speed and lowest latency, and therefore result in a far higher number of locations being served with future-proof technology.</p> <p>Cooperatives have demonstrated their commitment to bringing high-quality broadband service to rural areas. More than a hundred co-ops are engaged in broadband projects. CAF II, the last FCC reverse broadband auction, was the first time electric co-ops were eligible for FCC rural broadband funding. Thirty-two electric co-ops won 35 bids in that 2018 auction.</p> <p><em>The <a href="http://www.electric.coop/">National Rural Electric Cooperative Association</a> is the national trade association representing more than 900 local electric cooperatives. From growing suburbs to remote farming communities, electric co-ops serve as engines of economic development for 42 million Americans across 56 percent of the nation’s landscape. As local businesses built by the consumers they serve, electric cooperatives have meaningful ties to rural America and invest $12 billion annually in their communities.</em></p> <p class="has-text-align-center">-###-</p> </div> </section> </div> <div class="row"> <div class="col-md-12"> <section class="timeline-article-footer"> <small>Next in the Issue</small> <a class="article-next-post" data-next-article="timeline-modal-6701" title="Congress Passes RURAL Act, Preserves Co-ops’ Tax-Exempt Status">Congress Passes RURAL Act, Preserves Co-ops’ Tax-Exempt Status <span class="arrow"><i class="ci-long-arrow-right"></i></span></a> </section> </div> </div> </div> </article>  </section>  <section id="timeline-modal-6701" class="timeline-issues-article hidden"> <div class="jumbotron hero article bg-image" style="background-image: url('');"></div>  <article class="single"> <div class="container">  <div class="row"> <header class="col-md-12"> <div class="article-header"> <small class="article-category"> <a href="https://www.electric.coop/issues-and-policy/broadband">Broadband</a> </small> <h1 class="article-title">Congress Passes RURAL Act, Preserves Co-ops’ Tax-Exempt Status</h1> <h3 class="article-subtitle"></h3> </div> </header> </div>  <div class="row"> <section class="col-md-3"> <div class="article-meta"> <div class="row"> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-date"> <span>Published</span>December 17, 2019 </div> </div> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-author"> <span>Author</span> Erin Kelly </div> </div> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-share">  <div class="social-share post"> <ul class="social"> <li><a class="facebook-share" href="https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=&title=" target="_blank"></a></li> <li><a class="twitter-share" href="https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?source=&text=&via=NRECANews " target="_blank"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewBox="0 0 512 512"><path d="M389.2 48h70.6L305.6 224.2 487 464H345L233.7 318.6 106.5 464H35.8L200.7 275.5 26.8 48H172.4L272.9 180.9 389.2 48zM364.4 421.8h39.1L151.1 88h-42L364.4 421.8z"/></svg></a></li> <li><a class="linkedin-share" href="http://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=&title=&summary=" target="_blank"></a></li> </ul> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </section> <section class="col-md-9"> <div class="article-content">  <figure class="wp-block-image"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="724" src="https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/GettyImages-641131888-rural-act-1024x724.jpg" alt="The House passed the RURAL Act, which saves co-ops from losing their tax-exempt status if they accept government grants for disaster relief, broadband service or other priorities. The bill was NRECA’s top legislative priority. (Photo By: Diego Grandi)" class="wp-image-6702" srcset="https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/GettyImages-641131888-rural-act-1024x724.jpg 1024w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/GettyImages-641131888-rural-act-300x212.jpg 300w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/GettyImages-641131888-rural-act-768x543.jpg 768w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/GettyImages-641131888-rural-act.jpg 1600w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption>Congress has passed the RURAL Act, which saves co-ops from losing their tax-exempt status if they accept government grants for disaster relief, broadband service or other priorities. The bill was NRECA’s top legislative priority. (Photo By: Diego Grandi)</figcaption></figure> <p><em>Updated: Dec. 20, 2019</em></p> <p>Congress on Thursday passed the RURAL Act, protecting more than 900 electric cooperatives throughout the nation from the risk of losing their tax-exempt status when they accept government grants for disaster relief, broadband service and other programs that benefit co-op members.</p> <p>The Senate’s vote to approve the legislation came two days after the House approved it as part of a sweeping tax and spending package. President Trump has signed it into law.</p> <p>The <a rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label="RURAL Act (opens in a new tab)" href="https://www.congress.gov/bill/116th-congress/house-bill/2147/text" target="_blank">RURAL Act</a> was NRECA’s top legislative priority for the year because of the profound threat to the business model of not-for-profit co-ops. Tens of thousands of co-op leaders, employees and members across the country rallied to advocate passage of the bill. </p> <p>“This package preserves the fundamental nature of the electric cooperative business model and will save electric co-ops tens of millions of dollars each year,” said CEO Jim Matheson. “Moreover, it protects co-op members from unfair increases in their electric rates and provides certainty to co-ops that leverage federal and state grants for economic development, storm recovery and rural broadband deployment.”</p> <p>Lawmakers passed the popular bipartisan legislation in the final hours of the 2019 session as part of a larger tax and spending bill that funds the government through September 2020.</p> <hr class="wp-block-separator" /> <p><strong>More Spending Bill News: <a href="https://www.electric.coop/house-bill-saves-co-ops-millions-in-pension-costs-repeals-cadillac-tax/">Congress Saves Co-ops Millions in Pension Costs, Repeals ‘Cadillac Tax’</a></strong></p> <hr class="wp-block-separator" /> <p>The bill’s passage fixes a problem created in 2017 when Congress passed the <a href="https://www.congress.gov/115/bills/hr1/BILLS-115hr1enr.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label="Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (opens in a new tab)">Tax Cuts and Jobs Act</a>, which redefined government grants to co-ops as income rather than capital. That change made it difficult for many co-ops to abide by the 15% limit on non-member income to keep their tax-exempt status. The RURAL Act once again exempts grants from being counted as income and is retroactive to the 2018 tax year.</p> <p>Without the fix, some co-ops would have had to start paying taxes this spring after receiving grants in 2018 or 2019 to repair storm damage, bring high-speed internet to rural communities or invest in renewable energy and energy-efficiency programs. Many co-op leaders feared they would have to raise rates for members to pay the new taxes. </p> <p>The legislation attracted more than 300 <a rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label="co-sponsors (opens in a new tab)" href="https://www.congress.gov/bill/116th-congress/house-bill/2147/cosponsors?searchResultViewType=expanded" target="_blank">co-sponsors</a> in the 435-member House and nearly two-thirds of the <a rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label="senators (opens in a new tab)" href="https://www.congress.gov/bill/116th-congress/senate-bill/1032/cosponsors?searchResultViewType=expanded" target="_blank">senators</a>. The effort was led in the House by Reps. <a rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label="Terri Sewell (opens in a new tab)" href="https://sewell.house.gov/" target="_blank">Terri Sewell</a>, D-Ala., and <a rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label="Adrian Smith (opens in a new tab)" href="https://adriansmith.house.gov/" target="_blank">Adrian Smith</a>, R-Neb., and in the Senate by <a rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label="Rob Portman (opens in a new tab)" href="https://www.portman.senate.gov/" target="_blank">Rob Portman</a>, R-Ohio, and <a rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label="Tina Smith (opens in a new tab)" href="https://www.smith.senate.gov/" target="_blank">Tina Smith</a>, D-Minn.</p> <p>NRECA lobbyist Paul Gutierrez credited the victory to a collaborative campaign strategy that included co-ops’ grassroots efforts to alert their senators and representatives to the issue. </p> <p>“This was an amazing NRECA team and membership effort, including co-op members at the end of the line,” he said. “We had great legislative champions in the House and Senate, and they worked tirelessly to get this included in the final tax package.” </p>  <iframe loading="lazy" src="https://cdn.knightlab.com/libs/timeline3/latest/embed/index.html?source=1jbC5ppaqmVDWaAhoYimyX-RtYmeO1w5LZ7H9VZ4hHo0&font=Default&lang=en&initial_zoom=2&height=550&ga_property_id=UA-77731236-1&track_events=nav_next" width="100%" height="650" 0="webkitallowfullscreen" 1="mozallowfullscreen" 2="allowfullscreen" frameborder="0" scrolling="yes" class="iframe-class"></iframe> <p><strong>Previous coverage of the RURAL Act:</strong></p> <p><a href="https://www.electric.coop/rural-act-co-op-voices-losing-tax-exempt-status-hurts-rural-residents/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Co-op Voices, Part 1: How Losing Tax-Exempt Status Would Hurt Rural Residents</a></p> <p><a href="https://www.electric.coop/rural-act-co-op-voices-losing-tax-exemption-would-hurt-members/">Co-op Voices, Part 2: CEOs Discuss Impacts of Tax Law Glitch for Members</a></p> <p><a href="https://www.electric.coop/majority-house-backs-rural-act-supporters-push-vote/">As Majority of House Signs On to RURAL Act, Lead Sponsors Press for Vote</a></p> <p><a href="https://www.electric.coop/q-a-senate-lead-rural-act-sponsors-strategy-for-passage/">Q&A: Senate’s Lead RURAL Act Sponsors Discuss Their Strategy for Passage</a></p> <p><a href="https://www.electric.coop/qa-rural-acts-lead-sponsors-say-co-op-voices-are-key-to-bills-success/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Q&A: RURAL Act’s Lead House Sponsors Say Co-op Voices Are Key to Bill’s Success</a></p> <p><a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://www.electric.coop/co-op-ceo-to-congress-help-expand-rural-broadband-by-passing-rural-act/" target="_blank">Co-op CEO to Congress: Help Expand Rural Broadband by Passing RURAL Act</a></p> <p><a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://www.cooperative.com/news/pages/nreca-ceo-jim-matheson-regional-meeting-rural-act.aspx" target="_blank">NRECA CEO Jim Matheson: ‘If We All Stand Up,’ Co-ops Can Save Tax-Exempt Status</a></p>  <iframe loading="lazy" src="//html5-player.libsyn.com/embed/episode/id/11194298/height/90/theme/custom/autoplay/no/autonext/no/thumbnail/yes/preload/no/no_addthis/no/direction/forward/render-playlist/no/custom-color/000000/" height="90" allowfullscreen webkitallowfullscreen mozallowfullscreen oallowfullscreen msallowfullscreen width="100%" scrolling="yes" class="iframe-class" frameborder="0"></iframe> <p></p> <p><em>Erin Kelly is a staff writer at NRECA.</em></p> </div> </section> </div> <div class="row"> <div class="col-md-12"> <section class="timeline-article-footer"> <small>Next in the Issue</small> <a class="article-next-post" data-next-article="timeline-modal-6677" title="Electric Co-op Acquiring Phone Co-op to Pool Broadband Resources for Members">Electric Co-op Acquiring Phone Co-op to Pool Broadband Resources for Members <span class="arrow"><i class="ci-long-arrow-right"></i></span></a> </section> </div> </div> </div> </article>  </section>  <section id="timeline-modal-6677" class="timeline-issues-article hidden"> <div class="jumbotron hero article bg-image" style="background-image: url('');"></div>  <article class="single"> <div class="container">  <div class="row"> <header class="col-md-12"> <div class="article-header"> <small class="article-category"> <a href="https://www.electric.coop/issues-and-policy/broadband">Broadband</a> </small> <h1 class="article-title">Electric Co-op Acquiring Phone Co-op to Pool Broadband Resources for Members</h1> <h3 class="article-subtitle"></h3> </div> </header> </div>  <div class="row"> <section class="col-md-3"> <div class="article-meta"> <div class="row"> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-date"> <span>Published</span>November 25, 2019 </div> </div> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-author"> <span>Author</span> Cathy Cash </div> </div> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-share">  <div class="social-share post"> <ul class="social"> <li><a class="facebook-share" href="https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=&title=" target="_blank"></a></li> <li><a class="twitter-share" href="https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?source=&text=&via=NRECANews " target="_blank"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewBox="0 0 512 512"><path d="M389.2 48h70.6L305.6 224.2 487 464H345L233.7 318.6 106.5 464H35.8L200.7 275.5 26.8 48H172.4L272.9 180.9 389.2 48zM364.4 421.8h39.1L151.1 88h-42L364.4 421.8z"/></svg></a></li> <li><a class="linkedin-share" href="http://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=&title=&summary=" target="_blank"></a></li> </ul> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </section> <section class="col-md-9"> <div class="article-content">  <figure class="wp-block-image"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="683" src="https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/MEC-BB-ReConnect-LaVoy-1024x683.jpg" alt="Donald LaVoy, USDA deputy undersecretary (right), announces a $3.8 million loan to MEC’s EMPOWER Broadband under the ReConnect program, as Rep. Denver Lee Riggleman III, R-Va. (left), looks on. (Photo By: Steven Johnson/VMDAEC)" class="wp-image-6678" srcset="https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/MEC-BB-ReConnect-LaVoy.jpg 1024w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/MEC-BB-ReConnect-LaVoy-300x200.jpg 300w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/MEC-BB-ReConnect-LaVoy-768x512.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption>Donald LaVoy, USDA deputy undersecretary (right), announces a $3.8 million loan to MEC’s EMPOWER Broadband under the ReConnect program, as Rep. Denver Lee Riggleman III, R-Va. (left), looks on. (Photo By: Steven Johnson/VMDAEC)</figcaption></figure> <p>A Virginia electric cooperative’s for-profit broadband subsidiary is acquiring a telephone cooperative that also delivers high-speed internet in a bid to expand the region’s educational and economic opportunities.</p> <p><a href="http://www.meckelec.org/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label="Mecklenburg Electric Cooperative (opens in a new tab)">Mecklenburg Electric Cooperative</a> CEO John C. Lee Jr., who also heads EMPOWER Broadband, said the acquisition of Buggs Island Telephone “is a big piece of that puzzle.” </p> <p>“There is no doubt that joining forces puts us in a stronger position to deliver a third critical service to our members: world-class internet access,” he said.</p> <p>Approvals by the Federal Communications Commission and the Virginia State Corporation Commission are expected by March 31, 2020.</p> <p>EMPOWER Broadband, based in Chase City, and BIT, headquartered in nearby Bracey, announced Nov. 14 at the Lake Gaston Volunteer Fire Department that 76.5% of BIT’s members voted in favor of the acquisition. BIT bylaws required approval by two-thirds of its membership for any transfer of assets. </p> <p>“The merger of our two systems’ resources and talents will quickly deliver educational and economic development opportunities across Southside Virginia,” said David Jones, chairman of the MEC and EMPOWER Broadband board of directors.</p> <p>The support stems from MEC serving the telephone co-op members for decades, said Lee. “They knew who the acquiring party was,” he said. “We’ve had a good relationship with these members.”</p> <p>Like EMPOWER, BIT delivers fiber-to-the-home. The two co-ops will assess their fiber-optic networks, review areas for subscriber density and optimize existing facilities to advance broadband deployment. Customer subscriptions will drive service in new areas, the co-ops said.</p> <p>EMPOWER recently received a nearly $3.8 million loan from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s <a rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label="ReConnect program (opens in a new tab)" href="https://www.electric.coop/ag-secretary-spotlights-a-co-op-with-first-reconnect-broadband-grant/" target="_blank">ReConnect program</a> to deploy fiber internet service to 1,254 households, four educational facilities and two “critical community” facilities. EMPOWER has also bid successfully in the <a href="https://www.electric.coop/electric-co-ops-get-big-boost-rural-broadband-efforts-fcc-auction/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label="FCC Connect America Fund II (opens in a new tab)">FCC Connect America Fund II</a> reverse auction and won several state grants to build broadband.</p> <p>MEC first studied entering the broadband space in 2017, and EMPOWER began fiber-to-the-home for members this quarter.</p> <p>“We did a lot of homework on this. We really, really thought it through,” said Lee. “In the end, to me, it came down to putting our youth on a level playing field with youth of urban areas with internet access. That pushed us over the line—recognizing the importance that internet access has on education.”</p> <p><em>Listen to an NRECA podcast episode on rural broadband:</em></p>  <iframe loading="lazy" src="//html5-player.libsyn.com/embed/episode/id/7486256/height/90/theme/custom/autoplay/no/autonext/no/thumbnail/yes/preload/no/no_addthis/no/direction/forward/render-playlist/no/custom-color/000000/" height="90" allowfullscreen webkitallowfullscreen mozallowfullscreen oallowfullscreen msallowfullscreen width="100%" scrolling="yes" class="iframe-class" frameborder="0"></iframe> <p></p> <p><em>Cathy Cash is a staff writer at NRECA.</em></p> </div> </section> </div> <div class="row"> <div class="col-md-12"> <section class="timeline-article-footer"> <small>Next in the Issue</small> <a class="article-next-post" data-next-article="timeline-modal-6658" title="Co-op Voices, Part 2: How Losing Tax-Exempt Status Would Hurt Rural America">Co-op Voices, Part 2: How Losing Tax-Exempt Status Would Hurt Rural America <span class="arrow"><i class="ci-long-arrow-right"></i></span></a> </section> </div> </div> </div> </article>  </section>  <section id="timeline-modal-6658" class="timeline-issues-article hidden"> <div class="jumbotron hero article bg-image" style="background-image: url('');"></div>  <article class="single"> <div class="container">  <div class="row"> <header class="col-md-12"> <div class="article-header"> <small class="article-category"> <a href="https://www.electric.coop/issues-and-policy/broadband">Broadband</a> </small> <h1 class="article-title">Co-op Voices, Part 2: How Losing Tax-Exempt Status Would Hurt Rural America</h1> <h3 class="article-subtitle"></h3> </div> </header> </div>  <div class="row"> <section class="col-md-3"> <div class="article-meta"> <div class="row"> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-date"> <span>Published</span>November 12, 2019 </div> </div> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-author"> <span>Author</span> Erin Kelly </div> </div> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-share">  <div class="social-share post"> <ul class="social"> <li><a class="facebook-share" href="https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=&title=" target="_blank"></a></li> <li><a class="twitter-share" href="https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?source=&text=&via=NRECANews " target="_blank"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewBox="0 0 512 512"><path d="M389.2 48h70.6L305.6 224.2 487 464H345L233.7 318.6 106.5 464H35.8L200.7 275.5 26.8 48H172.4L272.9 180.9 389.2 48zM364.4 421.8h39.1L151.1 88h-42L364.4 421.8z"/></svg></a></li> <li><a class="linkedin-share" href="http://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=&title=&summary=" target="_blank"></a></li> </ul> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </section> <section class="col-md-9"> <div class="article-content">  <figure class="wp-block-image"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="683" src="https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/rural-act-nov-powerhouse-hatchery-1024x683.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-6660" srcset="https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/rural-act-nov-powerhouse-hatchery-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/rural-act-nov-powerhouse-hatchery-300x200.jpg 300w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/rural-act-nov-powerhouse-hatchery-768x512.jpg 768w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/rural-act-nov-powerhouse-hatchery.jpg 1500w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption>Inside Passage Electric Cooperative is creating a new hydropower project in Kake, Alaska, in an effort to lower rates and replace diesel power with renewable energy. (Photo Courtesy: Inside Passage Electric Cooperative)</figcaption></figure> <p>After years of dealing with roller-coaster diesel prices, <a rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label="Inside Passage Electric Cooperative (opens in a new tab)" href="https://insidepassageelectric.org/index.php" target="_blank">Inside Passage Electric Cooperative</a> in southeast Alaska is investing in hydropower to lower rates for its 1,300 members and bring cleaner energy to the rural communities it serves. </p> <p>The co-op’s latest project will turn an unused dam on the remote island village of Kake into a source of power for about 600 people, many of them Alaska Natives. It’s the second hydropower project undertaken by IPEC, which plans another two as it moves toward 70% renewable energy. </p> <p>But the nearly $7 million in state and federal grants that are helping the Juneau-based co-op reach its goals could also strip the not-for-profit business of its tax-exempt status and thwart its effort to reduce rates. </p> <p>That’s because a 2017 tax bill passed by Congress redefined government grants to co-ops as non-member income, making it difficult for co-ops to avoid going over the 15% limit on outside revenue to keep their tax-exempt status. If they must start paying taxes, many co-ops will be forced to raise electric rates—often in high-poverty communities that can least afford higher energy costs. </p> <p>“We’re trying to reduce fossil fuel consumption and reduce rates to our members,” said IPEC CEO Jodi Mitchell. “Now this tax issue is going to undo all the good we’ve tried to do. It’s very unfair that we’re being punished for trying to do the right thing. Congress has just got to fix it.” </p> <p>Mitchell and leaders at the nation’s electric co-ops are urging lawmakers to vote before year’s end to pass the <a href="https://www.congress.gov/bill/116th-congress/house-bill/2147" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label="RURAL Act (opens in a new tab)">RURAL Act</a>, a bipartisan bill that would allow co-ops to accept grants without risking their tax-exempt status. The legislation had 280 House co-sponsors and 45 in the Senate as of Nov. 12. </p> <p>Co-op leaders hope that IPEC’s situation, and the stories that follow, will shed light on the harmful impact of the tax law on rural residents:</p> <figure class="wp-block-image"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="682" src="https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/hurricane-Harvey-Photos-1024x682.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-6661" srcset="https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/hurricane-Harvey-Photos-1024x682.jpg 1024w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/hurricane-Harvey-Photos-300x200.jpg 300w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/hurricane-Harvey-Photos-768x512.jpg 768w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/hurricane-Harvey-Photos.jpg 1319w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption>Hurricane Harvey slammed into Texas in August 2017, causing widespread flooding and 130 mph winds that knocked out power for more than a week to members of Victoria Electric Cooperative. (Photo Courtesy: Victoria Electric Cooperative)</figcaption></figure> <p><strong>Hurricane Recovery in Texas</strong></p> <p>When Hurricane Harvey slammed into Texas with 130 mph winds and more than 20 inches of rainfall, it knocked out power to all 22,467 meters served by <a href="https://www.victoriaelectric.coop/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label="Victoria Electric Cooperative (opens in a new tab)">Victoria Electric Cooperative</a>. With help from 300 employees of neighboring co-ops and contractors, the co-op restored electricity to 95% of its service area within 10 days. More than 630 poles and nearly 260 transformers had to be replaced. </p> <p>The co-op’s recovery efforts after the 2017 storm were aided by the <a href="https://www.fema.gov/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label="Federal Emergency Management Agency (opens in a new tab)">Federal Emergency Management Agency</a>, which provided more than $8 million in disaster relief this year. To qualify for those funds, the co-op had to spend about $890,000 of its own money and take out loans for about $420,000 more, costing members a total of about $1.3 million. </p> <p>By accepting the FEMA grants to restore its system, Victoria EC is facing the loss of its tax-exempt status and a tax liability that could be as much as $850,000. </p> <p>At its recent annual meeting, about 150 co-op members signed up to support the RURAL Act, said CEO Blaine Warzecha. But so far, Texas Republican Sens. John Cornyn and Ted Cruz have not signed on as co-sponsors of the bill. </p> <p>“Without the FEMA grants, we’d still have had to repair the system,” Warzecha said. “We would already have had to have a rate increase, no doubt about it … Now we may have to have one anyway to pay for our taxes. Our members are going to end up footing the bill unless we get help from Congress.” </p> <figure class="wp-block-image"><a href="https://action.coop/register-composeletters/1399/"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="512" src="https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/Rural_act_ad_small-1024x512.png" alt="" class="wp-image-6522" srcset="https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/Rural_act_ad_small-1024x512.png 1024w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/Rural_act_ad_small-300x150.png 300w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/Rural_act_ad_small-768x384.png 768w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/Rural_act_ad_small.png 1201w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></a></figure> <p><strong>Broadband Service in Tennessee</strong></p> <p><a rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label="Forked Deer Electric Cooperative (opens in a new tab)" href="https://www.forkeddeer.com/" target="_blank">Forked Deer Electric Cooperative</a> in Halls, Tennessee, was thrilled to learn in October that it was the <a href="https://www.electric.coop/ag-secretary-spotlights-a-co-op-with-first-reconnect-broadband-grant/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label="first recipient in the nation (opens in a new tab)">first recipient in the nation</a> of a rural broadband grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s new ReConnect program. </p> <p>But the co-op’s joy faded when leaders realized that the $2.8 million grant might cost them their tax-exempt status. </p> <p>“We’re all excited, and then a week later I get a call from one of my colleagues asking me what we’re going to do about the tax issue,” said CEO Jeff Newman. “I said, ‘What are you talking about?’ When he told me, it was a real punch in the gut.” </p> <p>Newman said the co-op wants to use the federal grant to bring high-speed internet service to the part of its service area that is the most sparsely populated and the least connected. Now he is trying to figure out a way to draw down the grant money more slowly, so that it won’t push the co-op over the 15% limit for non-member revenue in any one year. </p> <p>“All of our members have these high hopes for broadband, and we don’t want to let them down,” he said. “A middle-aged woman came into our office the other day and cried because she can now do online schooling and change her lot in life. We’re realizing broadband has life-changing impacts for our members … We don’t need obstacles from the federal government.” </p> <figure class="wp-block-image"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="792" height="527" src="https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/storm-rural-act-november.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-6659" srcset="https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/storm-rural-act-november.jpg 792w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/storm-rural-act-november-300x200.jpg 300w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/storm-rural-act-november-768x511.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 792px) 100vw, 792px" /><figcaption>Northwestern Electric Cooperative in Oklahoma is using FEMA funds to strengthen its system after an ice storm cut off electricity to its members for about a month. (Photo Courtesy: Northwestern Electric Cooperative)</figcaption></figure> <p><strong>Building a Stronger System in Oklahoma</strong></p> <p>After a brutal ice storm in 2017, it took 30 days for <a href="http://www.nwecok.coop/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label="Northwestern Electric Cooperative (opens in a new tab)">Northwestern Electric Cooperative</a> in Woodward, Oklahoma, to restore power, with 400 lineworkers from throughout the region working around the clock. More than 6,000 poles and 100 miles of wire had gone down in the storm. </p> <p>The FEMA aid that the co-op received to help restore power came before the tax law change, so it didn’t affect the co-op’s tax-exempt status. But the co-op is now at risk because this year it began receiving nearly $54 million in FEMA grants for a $72 million, three-year project to strengthen its system so that it will be better able to withstand future storms. CEO Tyson Littau said the grants will put the co-op over the 15% non-member limit. </p> <p>“Do we rebuild and try to strengthen our distribution system and pay the taxes, or do we delay the mitigation project that would improve 1,200 miles of line throughout our territory?” he said. “I think we have a responsibility to the membership to improve the system for the future.” </p> <p><strong>Snowstorm Recovery in Oregon</strong></p> <p>When a record-breaking snowstorm hit Oregon in late February, <a href="https://laneelectric.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label="Lane Electric Cooperative (opens in a new tab)">Lane Electric Cooperative</a> in Eugene sustained $5.6 million in damage to a system that serves 10,000 members. </p> <p>With the help of FEMA grants, the co-op will rebuild its system and make it more resilient against future threats, said CEO Debi Wilson. But the co-op could also lose its tax-exempt status in the process, she said. Lane is currently working with tax advisers to see what tax liability it might face and whether a rate hike will be needed, Wilson said. </p> <p>“We need things to go back to the way they were before the 2017 tax law,” she said. “Right now, FEMA funds aren’t functioning the way they were intended. They are supposed to take the burden off of our members, not add to their burden.” </p>  <iframe loading="lazy" src="https://cdn.knightlab.com/libs/timeline3/latest/embed/index.html?source=1jbC5ppaqmVDWaAhoYimyX-RtYmeO1w5LZ7H9VZ4hHo0&font=Default&lang=en&initial_zoom=2&height=550&ga_property_id=UA-77731236-1&track_events=nav_next" width="100%" height="650" 0="webkitallowfullscreen" 1="mozallowfullscreen" 2="allowfullscreen" frameborder="0" scrolling="yes" class="iframe-class"></iframe> <p><strong>Read more coverage of the RURAL Act:</strong></p> <p><a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://www.electric.coop/rural-act-co-op-voices-losing-tax-exempt-status-hurts-rural-residents/" target="_blank">Co-op Voices, Part 1: How Losing Tax-Exempt Status Would Hurt Rural Residents</a></p> <p><a href="https://www.cooperative.com/news/Pages/rural-act-why-popular-bipartisan-legislation-faces-hurdles-in-congress.aspx" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label="RURAL Act: Why Popular, Bipartisan Legislation Can Face Hurdles in Congress (opens in a new tab)">RURAL Act: Why Popular, Bipartisan Legislation Can Face Hurdles in Congress</a></p> <p><a href="https://www.electric.coop/q-a-senate-lead-rural-act-sponsors-strategy-for-passage/">Q&A: Senate’s Lead RURAL Act Sponsors Discuss Their Strategy for Passage</a></p> <p><a href="https://www.electric.coop/majority-house-backs-rural-act-supporters-push-vote/">As Majority of House Signs On to RURAL Act, Lead Sponsors Press for Vote</a></p> <p><a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://www.electric.coop/qa-rural-acts-lead-sponsors-say-co-op-voices-are-key-to-bills-success/" target="_blank">Q&A: RURAL Act’s Lead House Sponsors Say Co-op Voices Are Key to Bill’s Success</a></p> <p><a href="https://www.electric.coop/co-op-ceo-to-congress-help-expand-rural-broadband-by-passing-rural-act/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Co-op CEO to Congress: Help Expand Rural Broadband by Passing RURAL Act</a></p> <p><a href="https://www.cooperative.com/news/pages/nreca-ceo-jim-matheson-regional-meeting-rural-act.aspx" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">NRECA CEO Jim Matheson: ‘If We All Stand Up,’ Co-ops Can Save Tax-Exempt Status</a></p> <p><a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://www.cooperative.com/news/Pages/Co-op-Advocacy-Needed-to-Move-Vital-Tax-Fix-in-Congress.aspx" target="_blank">Co-op Advocacy Needed to Move Vital Tax Fix in Congress</a></p> <p><a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://www.electric.coop/bipartisan-bill-would-protect-co-ops-from-losing-tax-exempt-status/" target="_blank">Bipartisan Bill Would Protect Co-ops From Losing Tax-Exempt Status</a></p> <p><strong>Listen to a recent podcast on the RURAL Act:</strong></p>  <iframe loading="lazy" src="//html5-player.libsyn.com/embed/episode/id/11194298/height/90/theme/custom/autoplay/no/autonext/no/thumbnail/yes/preload/no/no_addthis/no/direction/forward/render-playlist/no/custom-color/000000/" height="90" allowfullscreen webkitallowfullscreen mozallowfullscreen oallowfullscreen msallowfullscreen width="100%" scrolling="yes" class="iframe-class" frameborder="0"></iframe> <p><em>Erin Kelly is a staff writer at NRECA.</em></p> </div> </section> </div> <div class="row"> <div class="col-md-12"> <section class="timeline-article-footer"> <small>Next in the Issue</small> <a class="article-next-post" data-next-article="timeline-modal-6592" title="Q&A: Senate’s Lead RURAL Act Sponsors Discuss Their Strategy for Passage">Q&A: Senate’s Lead RURAL Act Sponsors Discuss Their Strategy for Passage <span class="arrow"><i class="ci-long-arrow-right"></i></span></a> </section> </div> </div> </div> </article>  </section>  <section id="timeline-modal-6592" class="timeline-issues-article hidden"> <div class="jumbotron hero article bg-image" style="background-image: url('');"></div>  <article class="single"> <div class="container">  <div class="row"> <header class="col-md-12"> <div class="article-header"> <small class="article-category"> <a href="https://www.electric.coop/issues-and-policy/broadband">Broadband</a> </small> <h1 class="article-title">Q&A: Senate’s Lead RURAL Act Sponsors Discuss Their Strategy for Passage</h1> <h3 class="article-subtitle"></h3> </div> </header> </div>  <div class="row"> <section class="col-md-3"> <div class="article-meta"> <div class="row"> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-date"> <span>Published</span>October 28, 2019 </div> </div> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-author"> <span>Author</span> Erin Kelly </div> </div> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-share">  <div class="social-share post"> <ul class="social"> <li><a class="facebook-share" href="https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=&title=" target="_blank"></a></li> <li><a class="twitter-share" href="https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?source=&text=&via=NRECANews " target="_blank"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewBox="0 0 512 512"><path d="M389.2 48h70.6L305.6 224.2 487 464H345L233.7 318.6 106.5 464H35.8L200.7 275.5 26.8 48H172.4L272.9 180.9 389.2 48zM364.4 421.8h39.1L151.1 88h-42L364.4 421.8z"/></svg></a></li> <li><a class="linkedin-share" href="http://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=&title=&summary=" target="_blank"></a></li> </ul> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </section> <section class="col-md-9"> <div class="article-content">  <figure class="wp-block-image"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="683" src="https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/rural-act-october-capitol-getty-1024x683.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-6591" srcset="https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/rural-act-october-capitol-getty-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/rural-act-october-capitol-getty-300x200.jpg 300w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/rural-act-october-capitol-getty-768x512.jpg 768w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/rural-act-october-capitol-getty.jpg 1500w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption>More than a third of the Senate is now co-sponsoring the RURAL Act to protect the tax-exempt status of electric cooperatives. (Photo By: DHuss/Getty Images)</figcaption></figure> <p>More than a third of senators have now signed on to support the <a rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label="RURAL Act (opens in a new tab)" href="https://www.congress.gov/bill/116th-congress/senate-bill/1032" target="_blank">RURAL Act</a>, a bipartisan bill by Sens. <a rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label="Rob Portman (opens in a new tab)" href="https://www.portman.senate.gov/" target="_blank">Rob Portman</a>, R-Ohio, and <a href="https://www.smith.senate.gov/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label="Tina Smith (opens in a new tab)">Tina Smith</a>, D-Minn., to protect electric cooperatives’ tax-exempt status.</p> <p>As of Monday, 38 senators were co-sponsoring the bill, which would allow not-for-profit co-ops to accept government grants for disaster relief, broadband service and other priorities without losing their tax-exempt status. </p> <p>In the House, 269 members have signed on to the bill, led by Reps. <a rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label="Terri Sewell (opens in a new tab)" href="https://sewell.house.gov/" target="_blank">Terri Sewell</a>, D-Ala., and <a href="https://adriansmith.house.gov/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label="Adrian Smith (opens in a new tab)">Adrian Smith</a>, R-Neb.</p> <p>The RURAL Act would fix a problem created by the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, which began counting grants as non-member income for co-ops. Under federal law, co-ops must receive at least 85% of their income from consumer-members to remain tax-exempt. Before the law took effect in 2018, grants were considered capital and did not affect co-ops’ tax status.</p> <p>Unless Congress passes the RURAL Act, co-ops may be forced to pay the new tax by raising rates for their consumer-members, many of whom live in high-poverty areas.</p> <p>The Joint Committee on Taxation estimated last week that the bill would cost the U.S. Treasury $3.4 million a year in lost taxes for 10 years—a tiny amount for a federal budget that is nearly $5 trillion.</p> <p>Portman and Smith talked about their strategy for passing the bill and explained why it’s important to rural Americans.</p> <p><strong>What are the biggest challenges/obstacles to getting the bill passed in the Senate this year? </strong></p> <div class="wp-block-image"><figure class="alignright is-resized"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/rob-portman-ohio.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-6588" width="140" height="197" /><figcaption>Sen. Rob Portman</figcaption></figure></div> <p><strong>Portman: </strong>To be honest, the biggest challenge we face is whether the Senate will be able to work with the House to pass any significant tax legislation this year. This is especially true for any legislation building upon the monumental tax reform of 2017. While the RURAL Act actually goes beyond their pre-tax reform treatment by simplifying the treatment of governmental grants and assistance received by co-ops, this bipartisan legislation is still getting caught up in the partisan politics of tax reform. Ultimately, I am optimistic that the strong bipartisan nature of this legislation will help clear the path through the partisan discussions around tax policy in Congress today.</p> <div class="wp-block-image"><figure class="alignright is-resized"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/tina-smith-minn.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-6589" width="140" height="197" /><figcaption>Sen. Tina Smith</figcaption></figure></div> <p><strong>Smith: </strong>Passing legislation in today’s polarized political climate is never easy. There are several bills to correct problems with the 2017 Republican tax bill that have been caught up in negotiations over other tax measures. However, I’m hopeful that we can now make meaningful progress toward an agreement that addresses the problems with the 2017 tax bill and some of the corrections and other middle-class tax relief provisions that should have been included in that bill.    </p> <p><strong>The House now has more than a majority of its members signed on as co-sponsors of the bill. If the House can pass the RURAL Act with a strong bipartisan majority, would that help you convince a majority of senators to take up and pass the bill? </strong></p> <p><strong>Portman:</strong> We also have significant support in the Senate…more than a third of the Senate. But yes, a strong bipartisan majority, and hopefully an even stronger bipartisan vote in the House, would provide a clear signal to my colleagues that the RURAL Act is a common-sense fix to the tax code.</p> <p><strong>Smith: </strong>We have a strong bipartisan coalition in the Senate and with stakeholders across the nation. We’re pushing to get this across the finish line as soon as we can, but to do so, senators will need to continue to hear from their constituents about this bill.   </p> <p><strong>What do you see as the best strategy to pass it? </strong></p> <p><strong>Portman:</strong> As much as I think that the widespread bipartisan support in both the House and Senate make a strong argument for passing the RURAL Act on a standalone basis, Congress very rarely passes standalone tax bills. It’s most likely that this bill becomes part of a broader tax package that rides along with a must-pass piece of legislation, hopefully in the coming months. </p> <p><strong>Smith: </strong>I believe that the most important thing to getting this bill passed is to make sure that senators and members of Congress hear from their constituents about why this issue is so important. When you make your voices heard, you have an incredible ability to effect the kinds of changes you seek.    </p> <figure class="wp-block-image"><a href="https://action.coop/register-composeletters/1399/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="512" src="https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/Rural_act_ad_small-1024x512.png" alt="" class="wp-image-6522" srcset="https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/Rural_act_ad_small-1024x512.png 1024w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/Rural_act_ad_small-300x150.png 300w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/Rural_act_ad_small-768x384.png 768w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/Rural_act_ad_small.png 1201w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></a></figure> <p><strong>What do you think are the most effective arguments you have when you’re asking other senators to co-sponsor the bill or when you’re asking leadership to bring it to the floor? </strong></p> <p><strong>Portman:</strong> There are few issues that unite my colleagues more than expanding access to rural broadband. No matter what part of the country you’re from, there’s a good chance that parts of your state wouldn’t have access to high-speed, reliable internet without the services provided by tax-exempt rural co-ops. Any legislation that ensures co-ops will continue expanding these broadband services should be an easy bill for my Senate colleagues to support. </p> <p><strong>Smith: </strong>Most of my colleagues I speak with understand just how vital rural electric cooperatives are to rural communities…For many decades, this tax-exempt business model has ensured that hundreds of Minnesota rural communities—and thousands across the country—have affordable, reliable power and the significant economic benefits that come with it. It wasn’t the intent of the 2017 tax law change to jeopardize rural electric cooperatives’ tax-exempt status.</p> <p><strong>How will your rural constituents be hurt if their co-ops lose their tax-exempt status? </strong></p> <p><strong>Portman:</strong> The Ohio electric co-ops provide electricity and broadband services to more than 380,000 of my constituents, covering 77 of Ohio’s 88 counties and some of the most rural areas of the state. If just one of these co-ops were to lose their tax-exempt status, the Ohioans they serve would almost immediately feel the squeeze as the co-op would be forced to raise their rates in order to afford the new tax payments. For a lot of families and individuals in the rural areas of my state, even a small increase in the cost of necessities such as electricity and broadband could make a world of difference in their financial security. We can’t let that happen, which is why Congress should pass the RURAL Act as soon as possible.</p> <p><strong>Smith: </strong>Many cooperatives in Minnesota and across the country are in danger of being forced to choose between keeping their tax exemptions and accepting an important grant to clean up a disaster or to expand broadband services. The resulting costs to cooperatives could force up electricity rates for customers and make cooperatives think twice about accepting grants that could help their communities.</p> <p><strong>How can co-op leaders and members in your state and throughout the nation best help you pass the legislation?</strong> </p> <p><strong>Portman:</strong> As far as Ohio goes, I’m very pleased with the grassroots effort by the Ohio co-ops to encourage the delegation to support the bill. Last I checked, there’s only one more House member out of 16 that hasn’t co-sponsored, and I’m hopeful [Sen. Sherrod] Brown will support the bill as well. Even outside of Ohio, I have to say I’m very impressed by the grassroots effort across the board… </p> <p>But you shouldn’t take that as a sign to let up, either. Whether it’s in Ohio or any other state, it is crucial that everyone continue to reach out to their representative or senator to talk about the importance of the bill and the potential consequences of a co-op losing its tax-exempt status. With your help, I’m confident that we can continue growing support for the bill and have a chance at passing it this year.</p> <p><strong>Smith: </strong>You should make your voices heard by your representatives in Washington. Senators and members of Congress care deeply about what’s important to their constituents, and I’m hopeful that you will be able to play a key role in getting them to accept a tax package that addresses this problem and the other key tax priorities that Congress needs to address.  As we come to the end of the tax year, I plan to make it clear to my colleagues that we can’t continue to allow our tax laws to hinder our nation’s electric cooperatives from doing the important work of powering our rural communities and supporting jobs and economic development. I’ll be pressing [Senate Majority Leader Mitch] McConnell to reach a fair agreement that allows this bill and other important tax priorities to be addressed.  </p>  <iframe loading="lazy" src="https://cdn.knightlab.com/libs/timeline3/latest/embed/index.html?source=1jbC5ppaqmVDWaAhoYimyX-RtYmeO1w5LZ7H9VZ4hHo0&font=Default&lang=en&initial_zoom=2&height=550&ga_property_id=UA-77731236-1&track_events=nav_next" width="100%" height="650" 0="webkitallowfullscreen" 1="mozallowfullscreen" 2="allowfullscreen" frameborder="0" scrolling="yes" class="iframe-class"></iframe> <p><strong>Read more coverage of the RURAL Act:</strong></p> <p><a href="https://www.cooperative.com/news/Pages/rural-act-why-popular-bipartisan-legislation-faces-hurdles-in-congress.aspx" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">RURAL Act: Why Popular, Bipartisan Legislation Can Face Hurdles in Congress</a></p> <p><a href="https://www.electric.coop/majority-house-backs-rural-act-supporters-push-vote/">As Majority of House Signs On to RURAL Act, Lead Sponsors Press for Vote</a></p> <p><a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://www.electric.coop/rural-act-co-op-voices-losing-tax-exempt-status-hurts-rural-residents/" target="_blank">Co-op Voices, Part 1: How Losing Tax-Exempt Status Would Hurt Rural Residents</a></p> <p><a href="https://www.electric.coop/rural-act-co-op-voices-losing-tax-exemption-would-hurt-members/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Co-op Voices, Part 2: CEOs Discuss Impacts of Tax Law Glitch for Members</a></p> <p><a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://www.electric.coop/qa-rural-acts-lead-sponsors-say-co-op-voices-are-key-to-bills-success/" target="_blank">Q&A: RURAL Act’s Lead House Sponsors Say Co-op Voices Are Key to Bill’s Success</a></p> <p><a href="https://www.electric.coop/co-op-ceo-to-congress-help-expand-rural-broadband-by-passing-rural-act/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Co-op CEO to Congress: Help Expand Rural Broadband by Passing RURAL Act</a></p> <p><a href="https://www.cooperative.com/news/pages/nreca-ceo-jim-matheson-regional-meeting-rural-act.aspx" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">NRECA CEO Jim Matheson: ‘If We All Stand Up,’ Co-ops Can Save Tax-Exempt Status</a></p> <p><a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://www.cooperative.com/news/Pages/Co-op-Advocacy-Needed-to-Move-Vital-Tax-Fix-in-Congress.aspx" target="_blank">Co-op Advocacy Needed to Move Vital Tax Fix in Congress</a></p> <p><a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://www.electric.coop/bipartisan-bill-would-protect-co-ops-from-losing-tax-exempt-status/" target="_blank">Bipartisan Bill Would Protect Co-ops From Losing Tax-Exempt Status</a></p> <p><strong>Listen to a recent podcast on the RURAL Act:</strong> </p>  <iframe loading="lazy" src="//html5-player.libsyn.com/embed/episode/id/11194298/height/90/theme/custom/autoplay/no/autonext/no/thumbnail/yes/preload/no/no_addthis/no/direction/forward/render-playlist/no/custom-color/000000/" height="90" allowfullscreen webkitallowfullscreen mozallowfullscreen oallowfullscreen msallowfullscreen width="100%" scrolling="yes" class="iframe-class" frameborder="0"></iframe> <p></p> <p><em>Erin Kelly is a staff writer at NRECA.</em></p> </div> </section> </div> <div class="row"> <div class="col-md-12"> <section class="timeline-article-footer"> <small>Next in the Issue</small> <a class="article-next-post" data-next-article="timeline-modal-6586" title="Ag Secretary Spotlights a Co-op With First ReConnect Broadband Grant">Ag Secretary Spotlights a Co-op With First ReConnect Broadband Grant <span class="arrow"><i class="ci-long-arrow-right"></i></span></a> </section> </div> </div> </div> </article>  </section>  <section id="timeline-modal-6586" class="timeline-issues-article hidden"> <div class="jumbotron hero article bg-image" style="background-image: url('');"></div>  <article class="single"> <div class="container">  <div class="row"> <header class="col-md-12"> <div class="article-header"> <small class="article-category"> <a href="https://www.electric.coop/issues-and-policy/broadband">Broadband</a> </small> <h1 class="article-title">Ag Secretary Spotlights a Co-op With First ReConnect Broadband Grant</h1> <h3 class="article-subtitle"></h3> </div> </header> </div>  <div class="row"> <section class="col-md-3"> <div class="article-meta"> <div class="row"> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-date"> <span>Published</span>October 25, 2019 </div> </div> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-author"> <span>Author</span> Cathy Cash </div> </div> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-share">  <div class="social-share post"> <ul class="social"> <li><a class="facebook-share" href="https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=&title=" target="_blank"></a></li> <li><a class="twitter-share" href="https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?source=&text=&via=NRECANews " target="_blank"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewBox="0 0 512 512"><path d="M389.2 48h70.6L305.6 224.2 487 464H345L233.7 318.6 106.5 464H35.8L200.7 275.5 26.8 48H172.4L272.9 180.9 389.2 48zM364.4 421.8h39.1L151.1 88h-42L364.4 421.8z"/></svg></a></li> <li><a class="linkedin-share" href="http://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=&title=&summary=" target="_blank"></a></li> </ul> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </section> <section class="col-md-9"> <div class="article-content">  <figure class="wp-block-image"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="682" src="https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/teca-broadband-1024x682.jpg" alt="Forked Deer CEO Jeff Newman, Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue and Ray Hurt of Hurt Seed Co. Inc. toured cotton fields where farmers will be able to use advanced equipment when the co-op uses its ReConnect grant to deploy broadband in western Tennessee. (Photo By: TECA)" class="wp-image-6587" srcset="https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/teca-broadband.jpg 1024w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/teca-broadband-300x200.jpg 300w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/teca-broadband-768x512.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption>Forked Deer CEO Jeff Newman, Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue and Ray Hurt of Hurt Seed Co. Inc. toured cotton fields where farmers will be able to use advanced equipment when the co-op uses its ReConnect grant to deploy broadband in western Tennessee. (Photo By: TECA)</figcaption></figure> <p>U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue personally delivered a $2.8 million grant—the first from his department’s ReConnect program for rural broadband—to <a href="https://www.forkeddeer.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label="Forked Deer Electric Cooperative (opens in a new tab)">Forked Deer Electric Cooperative</a>, which says it’s building high-speed internet to provide access to “forgotten America.”</p> <p>During his visit to the Halls, Tennessee-based co-op, Perdue praised the work of electric co-ops nationwide in their efforts to connect rural communities. He spent several hours touring communities in western Tennessee that will benefit from the co-op’s fiber deployment.  </p> <p>“There are a lot of advantages that electric co-ops have when it comes to broadband,” Perdue said during the Oct. 18 ceremony at the co-op’s headquarters. He noted that co-ops know their customers and already have lines in place and that broadband deployment “fits right into your business model.” </p> <p>The <a href="https://www.cooperative.com/news/pages/co-ops-eligible-for-usda-grants-loans-rural-broadband.aspx" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label="ReConnect program (opens in a new tab)">ReConnect program</a> began in 2018 with $600 million from Congress to be disbursed for rural broadband in 2019. ReConnect offers 100% loans, 100% grants, and 50/50 loan-grant awards. It received 146 applications this year between May 31 and July 12. Congress added another $550 million this year. </p> <p>David Callis, executive vice president and general manager of the <a href="https://www.tnelectric.org/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label="Tennessee Electric Cooperative Association (opens in a new tab)">Tennessee Electric Cooperative Association</a>, noted that spotlighting an electric co-op with the first ReConnect award is a nod to the value co-ops bring to such public investments. </p> <p>“Tennessee co-ops have demonstrated the ability to maximize state and federal funds. For every dollar of grant money received, Tennessee co-ops are investing $15 of their own money,” he said. “This multiplier means that Tennessee electric co-ops are stretching grant funds further to have the greatest impact.”</p> <p>Forked Deer built a 120-mile fiber backbone for system communications in 2017 and expanded into retail broadband this year with a wholly owned, not-for-profit subsidiary, Forked Deer Connect LLC. </p> <p>The co-op plans to deploy broadband with minimum speeds of 200 megabits per second to download data and 200 Mbps to upload across its entire service territory, which averages only seven customers per mile. The ReConnect grant targets 347 of Forked Deer’s most rural members, whose homes dot 435 square miles along the Mississippi River bottomland.</p> <p>“Down the bluff, toward the river, that’s forgotten America when it comes to connectivity,” said Forked Deer CEO Jeff Newman.<strong> “</strong>Now those people will have the same advantages as the people living in big cities because of broadband connectivity.”</p> <p>Perdue, Newman and TECA officials talked with residents and businesses in the grant area about the co-op’s plans to deliver broadband. They visited a grain elevator for loading barges on the Mississippi River, a cotton farm, a cooperatively owned cotton gin and a seed company.</p> <p>“The secretary toured where there will be actual benefits from the ReConnect grant,” said Mike Knotts, TECA vice president of government affairs.</p> <p>Parents want broadband so their children can do schoolwork at home, and farmers need it to reap the full potential of their irrigation and agriculture equipment, said Newman.</p> <p>Now, with the ReConnect help, “they were astonished that they would be able to get that connectivity to where they are,” he said.</p> <p><em>Listen to an NRECA podcast episode on rural broadband:</em></p>  <iframe loading="lazy" src="//html5-player.libsyn.com/embed/episode/id/7486256/height/90/theme/custom/autoplay/no/autonext/no/thumbnail/yes/preload/no/no_addthis/no/direction/forward/render-playlist/no/custom-color/000000/" height="90" allowfullscreen webkitallowfullscreen mozallowfullscreen oallowfullscreen msallowfullscreen width="100%" scrolling="yes" class="iframe-class" frameborder="0"></iframe> <p><em>Cathy Cash is a staff writer at NRECA.</em></p> </div> </section> </div> <div class="row"> <div class="col-md-12"> <section class="timeline-article-footer"> <small>Next in the Issue</small> <a class="article-next-post" data-next-article="timeline-modal-6584" title="Appalachian Co-ops Get $9.6 Million for Broadband in Hard-Hit Coal Country">Appalachian Co-ops Get $9.6 Million for Broadband in Hard-Hit Coal Country <span class="arrow"><i class="ci-long-arrow-right"></i></span></a> </section> </div> </div> </div> </article>  </section>  <section id="timeline-modal-6584" class="timeline-issues-article hidden"> <div class="jumbotron hero article bg-image" style="background-image: url('');"></div>  <article class="single"> <div class="container">  <div class="row"> <header class="col-md-12"> <div class="article-header"> <small class="article-category"> <a href="https://www.electric.coop/issues-and-policy/broadband">Broadband</a> </small> <h1 class="article-title">Appalachian Co-ops Get $9.6 Million for Broadband in Hard-Hit Coal Country</h1> <h3 class="article-subtitle"></h3> </div> </header> </div>  <div class="row"> <section class="col-md-3"> <div class="article-meta"> <div class="row"> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-date"> <span>Published</span>October 25, 2019 </div> </div> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-author"> <span>Author</span> Cathy Cash </div> </div> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-share">  <div class="social-share post"> <ul class="social"> <li><a class="facebook-share" href="https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=&title=" target="_blank"></a></li> <li><a class="twitter-share" href="https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?source=&text=&via=NRECANews " target="_blank"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewBox="0 0 512 512"><path d="M389.2 48h70.6L305.6 224.2 487 464H345L233.7 318.6 106.5 464H35.8L200.7 275.5 26.8 48H172.4L272.9 180.9 389.2 48zM364.4 421.8h39.1L151.1 88h-42L364.4 421.8z"/></svg></a></li> <li><a class="linkedin-share" href="http://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=&title=&summary=" target="_blank"></a></li> </ul> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </section> <section class="col-md-9"> <div class="article-content">  <figure class="wp-block-image"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="683" src="https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/DSC_0042-1024x683.jpg" alt="“Access to high-speed internet is the foundation for vibrant communities creating opportunities for economic growth, education, and technology advancements,” said Michael Keyser, CEO of BARC, which won a $1 million ARC grant for rural fiber-to-the-home. (Photo by: Cathy Cash/NRECA)" class="wp-image-6585" srcset="https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/DSC_0042-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/DSC_0042-300x200.jpg 300w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/DSC_0042-768x512.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption>“Access to high-speed internet is the foundation for vibrant communities creating opportunities for economic growth, education, and technology advancements,” said Michael Keyser, CEO of BARC, which won a $1 million ARC grant for rural fiber-to-the-home. ((Photo by: Cathy Cash/NRECA))</figcaption></figure> <p>Seven electric cooperatives that serve communities in Appalachia won nearly $10 million in federal grants to build fiber-optic networks and bring broadband internet access to residents and businesses hurt by the decline of the region’s coal industry. </p> <p><a href="https://www.arc.gov/images/grantsandfunding/POWER2019/POWERAwardsOctober2019.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label="The Appalachian Regional Commission (opens in a new tab)">The Appalachian Regional Commission</a> expects the $9.6 million awarded to the co-ops in October to go a long way toward diversifying and strengthening rural economies hit hard by job losses in mining, power plant operations and coal-related supply chain businesses.</p> <p><a rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label="BARC Electric Cooperative (opens in a new tab)" href="http://www.barcelectric.com/" target="_blank">BARC Electric Cooperative</a> in Lexington, Virginia, received $1 million; <a rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label="Buckeye Rural Electric Cooperative (opens in a new tab)" href="https://www.buckeyerec.coop/" target="_blank">Buckeye Rural Electric Cooperative</a> in Rio Grande, Ohio, $2.5 million; <a rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label="French Broad EMC (opens in a new tab)" href="https://www.frenchbroademc.com/index.cfm" target="_blank">French Broad EMC</a> in Marshall, North Carolina, $1.9 million; <a rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label="Holston Electric Cooperative (opens in a new tab)" href="http://www.holstonelectric.com/" target="_blank">Holston Electric Cooperative</a> in Rogersville, Tennessee, $862,017; <a rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label="Tombigbee Electric Cooperative (opens in a new tab)" href="http://www.tombigbee.net/" target="_blank">Tombigbee Electric Cooperative</a> in Hamilton, Alabama, $774,912; and <a href="http://www.weci.org/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label="Washington Electric Cooperative (opens in a new tab)">Washington Electric Cooperative</a> in Marietta, Ohio, $24,500.</p> <p><a href="http://www.tri-countyrec.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label="Tri-County Rural Electric Cooperative (opens in a new tab)">Tri-County Rural Electric Cooperative</a> in Wellsboro, Pennsylvania, will work with Tioga County, which is getting a $2.5 million ARC grant to build a 175-mile fiber-optic network across three counties. Tri-County is providing $3.2 million toward the project.  </p> <p>Buckeye REC will use its grant to build a 168-mile fiber backbone for two-way communications between its corporate office and its substations in six counties. The co-op said it will add $1.1 million, or 30% of the project’s cost, in cash and services. </p> <p>“We are excited to be part of the first step toward the expansion of broadband into areas of southeastern Ohio, where it would not otherwise be possible,” said Tonda Meadows, Buckeye REC executive vice president and general manager.</p> <p>Fiber will improve system reliability and security and allow for future retail broadband by regional internet service providers, the co-op said. </p> <p>“The advent of rural broadband development is imperative to the sustainability and advancement of Ohio’s pastoral communities,” said BREC Board President Paul Berridge. “High-speed internet access does more than link us to the global village—it connects us to health care, educational opportunities, and commercial growth. Buckeye Rural Electric Cooperative is pleased to be the gateway toward the expansion of rural broadband access.” </p> <p>The grants are part of ARC’s POWER initiative—Partnerships for Opportunity and Workforce and Economic Revitalization—which gave a total of $44.4 million to 54 projects ranging from broadband to job training to substance abuse recovery services. ARC expects these targeted funds to help retain or create more than 5,700 jobs, sustain 3,000 businesses, train thousands of workers, and leverage more than $39 million in private investment. </p> <p><em>Listen to an NRECA podcast episode on rural broadband:</em></p>  <iframe loading="lazy" src="//html5-player.libsyn.com/embed/episode/id/7486256/height/90/theme/custom/autoplay/no/autonext/no/thumbnail/yes/preload/no/no_addthis/no/direction/forward/render-playlist/no/custom-color/000000/" height="90" allowfullscreen webkitallowfullscreen mozallowfullscreen oallowfullscreen msallowfullscreen width="100%" scrolling="yes" class="iframe-class" frameborder="0"></iframe> <p><em>Cathy Cash is a staff writer at NRECA.</em></p> </div> </section> </div> <div class="row"> <div class="col-md-12"> <section class="timeline-article-footer"> <small>Next in the Issue</small> <a class="article-next-post" data-next-article="timeline-modal-6527" title="Co-op CEO to Congress: Help Expand Rural Broadband by Passing RURAL Act">Co-op CEO to Congress: Help Expand Rural Broadband by Passing RURAL Act <span class="arrow"><i class="ci-long-arrow-right"></i></span></a> </section> </div> </div> </div> </article>  </section>  <section id="timeline-modal-6527" class="timeline-issues-article hidden"> <div class="jumbotron hero article bg-image" style="background-image: url('');"></div>  <article class="single"> <div class="container">  <div class="row"> <header class="col-md-12"> <div class="article-header"> <small class="article-category"> <a href="https://www.electric.coop/issues-and-policy/broadband">Broadband</a> </small> <h1 class="article-title">Co-op CEO to Congress: Help Expand Rural Broadband by Passing RURAL Act</h1> <h3 class="article-subtitle"></h3> </div> </header> </div>  <div class="row"> <section class="col-md-3"> <div class="article-meta"> <div class="row"> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-date"> <span>Published</span>October 4, 2019 </div> </div> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-author"> <span>Author</span> Erin Kelly </div> </div> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-share">  <div class="social-share post"> <ul class="social"> <li><a class="facebook-share" href="https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=&title=" target="_blank"></a></li> <li><a class="twitter-share" href="https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?source=&text=&via=NRECANews " target="_blank"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewBox="0 0 512 512"><path d="M389.2 48h70.6L305.6 224.2 487 464H345L233.7 318.6 106.5 464H35.8L200.7 275.5 26.8 48H172.4L272.9 180.9 389.2 48zM364.4 421.8h39.1L151.1 88h-42L364.4 421.8z"/></svg></a></li> <li><a class="linkedin-share" href="http://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=&title=&summary=" target="_blank"></a></li> </ul> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </section> <section class="col-md-9"> <div class="article-content">  <figure class="wp-block-image"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="683" src="https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/BroadbandHearing-1024x683.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-6526" srcset="https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/BroadbandHearing-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/BroadbandHearing-300x200.jpg 300w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/BroadbandHearing-768x512.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption>A recent change in the tax law could limit co-ops’ ability to expand broadband service to rural communities. In this photo, Virginia’s BARC Electric Cooperative is installing fiber optic cables to bring broadband to its members. (Photo By: Preston Keres/USDA)</figcaption></figure> <p>High-speed internet service “is vital to the survival and growth” of rural America, but a recent tax law change makes it harder for electric cooperatives to bring broadband to their communities, a co-op CEO told a key congressional committee Friday. </p> <p>“We desperately need help fixing our federal tax code before the end of 2019,” said Tim Johnson, CEO of <a href="http://otsegoec.coop/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label=" (opens in a new tab)">Otsego Electric Cooperative</a> in Hartwick, New York. Johnson testified before the <a rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label="House Small Business Committee (opens in a new tab)" href="https://smallbusiness.house.gov/" target="_blank">House Small Business Committee</a> at a field hearing on rural broadband in Hudson, New York.</p> <p>Unless Congress acts this year, Otsego and other not-for-profit co-ops throughout the nation could lose their tax-exempt status when they take federal, state or local grants to bring broadband service to rural residents. It also affects co-ops that accept grants to restore power after a natural disaster, invest in local economic development, or create energy efficiency or renewable energy programs.</p> <p>Congress created the dilemma in 2017, when it passed the <a href="https://www.congress.gov/bill/115th-congress/house-bill/1" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label="Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (opens in a new tab)">Tax Cuts and Jobs Act</a>. The sweeping new law redefined government grants to electric and telephone co-ops as “non-member” income. Under federal tax law, no more than 15% of a co-op’s income may come from sources other than its consumer-members. Co-ops that exceed that amount can lose their tax-exempt status and be forced to pay federal and state income taxes. Before the change, government grants were considered capital and were not counted as part of a co-op’s income mix.</p> <p>“For OEC, the train had already left the station when the tax bill arrived,” Johnson told the committee in written testimony. “Prior to the enactment of the new law and the discovery of its unintended consequences on our tax-exempt status, our cooperative was awarded $10 million from New York’s state broadband program plus nearly $4.3 million in federal funds over the next decade to extend broadband to well over 2,000 rural homes and businesses.” </p> <p>After learning what Congress had done, Otsego EC’s board decided to “forge ahead” with its plans to bring broadband to all its members, Johnson said.</p> <p>“We view access to reliable broadband as an essential basis for quality of life and economic development in our entire cooperative community,” he said.</p> <p>Rep. Antonio Delgado, D-N.Y., who led the field hearing, said “small businesses, families, schools and health care providers in rural communities across upstate suffer daily from a lack of access to broadband due to lack of investment in broadband infrastructure.”</p> <p>“We must take swift action to close the digital divide between our urban and rural communities,” Delgado said. “I hope that today’s discussion will shed light on ways to improve broadband in rural areas.”</p> <p>Johnson said Otsego EC will lose its tax-exempt status if Congress does not pass a tax-fix bill by the end of this year.</p> <p>“What’s more, as much as 30% of the grant money received could be lost to taxes,” he said. “The combined penalties of paying income tax on grant funds and the loss of tax-exempt status will significantly reduce our ability to build broadband to as many locations as we originally projected, depriving many households of the intended and direct benefits of public grant funding for the broadband project. This is clearly not good public policy and the inadvertent mistake that has caused this situation must be fixed.” </p> <figure class="wp-block-image"><a href="https://action.coop/composeletters/1399/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="512" src="https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/Rural_act_ad_small-1024x512.png" alt="" class="wp-image-6522" srcset="https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/Rural_act_ad_small-1024x512.png 1024w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/Rural_act_ad_small-300x150.png 300w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/Rural_act_ad_small-768x384.png 768w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/Rural_act_ad_small.png 1201w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></a></figure> <p>Johnson urged lawmakers to pass the <a href="https://www.congress.gov/bill/116th-congress/house-bill/2147/text?r=99" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label="RURAL Act (opens in a new tab)">RURAL Act</a>, a bipartisan bill that would allow co-ops to once again accept government grants without risking their tax status.</p> <p>“OEC, along with the entire rural electric cooperative family and various rural-focused organizations such as Farm Bureau and the National Cooperative Business Association, are urging Congress to pass this legislation,” he said.</p> <p>Johnson told the committee about other impediments to providing broadband, including the <a href="https://www.electric.coop/nreca-urges-congress-to-include-crucial-data-in-broadband-mapping-bill/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label="lack of detailed, accurate federal data (opens in a new tab)">lack of detailed, accurate federal data</a> about which communities do and don’t have service.</p> <p>“More granular and accurate maps showing broadband availability are a key part of reaching all rural Americans with high-speed broadband service,” he said. “This will enable us to clarify existing gaps in coverage and harmonize the diverse solutions that will be required to help rural Americans keep pace with their urban counterparts.”</p> <p>Since co-ops are nonprofit businesses that operate at cost, they will continue to need public investment—including government grants—to bring broadband to rural areas, Johnson said.</p> <p>“Rural electric cooperatives are uniquely suited to partner with the government for these projects because of the existing infrastructure we have in place throughout our service areas,” he said. “As member-owned, locally operated and democratically controlled entities, we feel we can best determine the needs of our local service areas because our consumer-members have a direct say in the services we provide. We will continue serving these areas we call home long after other companies have reduced the quality of their service or ceased investment altogether.”</p> <p><strong>Read more coverage of the RURAL Act:</strong> </p> <p><a href="https://www.electric.coop/majority-house-backs-rural-act-supporters-push-vote/">As Majority of House Signs On to RURAL Act, Lead Sponsors Press for Vote</a></p> <p><a href="https://www.cooperative.com/news/Pages/rural-act-why-popular-bipartisan-legislation-faces-hurdles-in-congress.aspx" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">RURAL Act: Why Popular, Bipartisan Legislation Can Face Hurdles in Congress</a></p> <p><a href="https://www.electric.coop/rural-act-co-op-voices-losing-tax-exempt-status-hurts-rural-residents/">Co-op Voices, Part 1: How Losing Tax-Exempt Status Would Hurt Rural Residents</a></p> <p><a href="https://www.electric.coop/rural-act-co-op-voices-losing-tax-exemption-would-hurt-members/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Co-op Voices, Part 2: CEOs Discuss Impacts of Tax Law Glitch for Members</a></p> <p><a href="https://www.electric.coop/qa-rural-acts-lead-sponsors-say-co-op-voices-are-key-to-bills-success/">Q&A: RURAL Act’s Lead House Sponsors Say Co-op Voices Are Key to Bill’s Success</a></p> <p><a href="https://www.electric.coop/q-a-senate-lead-rural-act-sponsors-strategy-for-passage/">Q&A: Senate’s Lead RURAL Act Sponsors Discuss Their Strategy for Passage</a></p> <p><a href="https://www.cooperative.com/news/pages/nreca-ceo-jim-matheson-regional-meeting-rural-act.aspx">NRECA CEO Jim Matheson: ‘If We All Stand Up,’ Co-ops Can Save Tax-Exempt Status</a></p> <p><a href="https://www.cooperative.com/news/Pages/Co-op-Advocacy-Needed-to-Move-Vital-Tax-Fix-in-Congress.aspx">Co-op Advocacy Needed to Move Vital Tax Fix in Congress</a></p> <p><a href="https://www.electric.coop/bipartisan-bill-would-protect-co-ops-from-losing-tax-exempt-status/">Bipartisan Bill Would Protect Co-ops From Losing Tax-Exempt Status </a></p> <p><strong>Listen to a recent podcast on the RURAL Act:</strong></p>  <iframe loading="lazy" src="//html5-player.libsyn.com/embed/episode/id/11194298/height/90/theme/custom/autoplay/no/autonext/no/thumbnail/yes/preload/no/no_addthis/no/direction/forward/render-playlist/no/custom-color/000000/" height="90" allowfullscreen webkitallowfullscreen mozallowfullscreen oallowfullscreen msallowfullscreen width="100%" scrolling="yes" class="iframe-class" frameborder="0"></iframe> </div> </section> </div> <div class="row"> <div class="col-md-12"> <section class="timeline-article-footer"> <small>Next in the Issue</small> <a class="article-next-post" data-next-article="timeline-modal-6447" title="NRECA Urges Congress to Include Crucial Data in Broadband Mapping Bill">NRECA Urges Congress to Include Crucial Data in Broadband Mapping Bill <span class="arrow"><i class="ci-long-arrow-right"></i></span></a> </section> </div> </div> </div> </article>  </section>  <section id="timeline-modal-6447" class="timeline-issues-article hidden"> <div class="jumbotron hero article bg-image" style="background-image: url('');"></div>  <article class="single"> <div class="container">  <div class="row"> <header class="col-md-12"> <div class="article-header"> <small class="article-category"> <a href="https://www.electric.coop/issues-and-policy/broadband">Broadband</a> </small> <h1 class="article-title">NRECA Urges Congress to Include Crucial Data in Broadband Mapping Bill</h1> <h3 class="article-subtitle"></h3> </div> </header> </div>  <div class="row"> <section class="col-md-3"> <div class="article-meta"> <div class="row"> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-date"> <span>Published</span>September 11, 2019 </div> </div> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-author"> <span>Author</span> Erin Kelly </div> </div> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-share">  <div class="social-share post"> <ul class="social"> <li><a class="facebook-share" href="https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=&title=" target="_blank"></a></li> <li><a class="twitter-share" href="https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?source=&text=&via=NRECANews " target="_blank"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewBox="0 0 512 512"><path d="M389.2 48h70.6L305.6 224.2 487 464H345L233.7 318.6 106.5 464H35.8L200.7 275.5 26.8 48H172.4L272.9 180.9 389.2 48zM364.4 421.8h39.1L151.1 88h-42L364.4 421.8z"/></svg></a></li> <li><a class="linkedin-share" href="http://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=&title=&summary=" target="_blank"></a></li> </ul> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </section> <section class="col-md-9"> <div class="article-content">  <figure class="wp-block-image"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="683" src="https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/Broadband-VA-mapping-1024x683.jpg" alt="NRECA is urging Congress to improve federal broadband mapping to ensure that rural communities get access to high-speed internet service. (Photo By: Preston Keres/USDA)" class="wp-image-6451" srcset="https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/Broadband-VA-mapping-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/Broadband-VA-mapping-300x200.jpg 300w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/Broadband-VA-mapping-768x512.jpg 768w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/Broadband-VA-mapping.jpg 1500w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption>NRECA is urging Congress to improve federal broadband mapping to ensure that rural communities get access to high-speed internet service. (Photo By: Preston Keres/USDA)</figcaption></figure> <p>As Congress considers legislation to improve federal broadband data, NRECA is urging a key House committee to include crucial provisions to ensure the accuracy of maps showing which rural communities have access to high-speed internet service.</p> <p>“More granular and accurate maps showing broadband availability are a key part of reaching all rural Americans with high-speed broadband service,” NRECA CEO Jim Matheson <a href="https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/NRECA_NTCA_Mapping_Letter_HouseC-TSubcom9-9-19.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label="wrote in a letter (opens in a new tab)">wrote in a letter</a> to the House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Communications and Technology.</p> <p>“This will enable us to clarify existing gaps in coverage and harmonize the diverse solutions that will be required to help rural Americans keep pace with their urban counterparts.”</p> <p>Matheson signed the letter along with Shirley Bloomfield, CEO of NTCA–The Rural Broadband Association. They sent the letter in advance of a Sept. 11 <a rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label="subcommittee hearing (opens in a new tab)" href="https://energycommerce.house.gov/committee-activity/hearings/hearing-on-legislating-to-connect-america-improving-the-nations" target="_blank">subcommittee hearing</a> on how to improve the nation’s broadband mapping.</p> <p>The issue is crucial because inaccurate maps can wrongly show that rural residents have widespread access to broadband when only a few people in the community are connected. <a rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label="Faulty data (opens in a new tab)" href="https://www.electric.coop/co-op-leader-testifies-to-congress-about-faulty-federal-broadband-data/" target="_blank">Faulty data</a> also can deprive electric cooperatives of the chance to compete for <a href="https://www.electric.coop/pennsylvania-co-opwins-51-million-for-broadband/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label="government grants (opens in a new tab)">government grants</a> to bring broadband to rural communities that need the service to boost their economy, educational opportunities and telemedicine services.</p> <p>The subcommittee is considering at least three bills aimed at improving broadband data and mapping. Matheson and Bloomfield asked lawmakers to address these four key issues in any legislation:</p> <ul class="wp-block-list"><li>More granular data is needed for maps to reflect actual broadband coverage areas. Currently, entire census blocks are often classified as served, even though many residents within those large geographic areas don’t have access.</li><li>The quality of broadband service—including any limits on monthly usage—also needs to be reflected in any federal data that is gathered. </li><li>Data should be standardized to ensure that all broadband service providers follow specific guidelines when they report what areas they are able to serve.</li><li>There should be an easy way for rural communities to challenge the accuracy of broadband maps.</li></ul> <p>While Congress is considering legislation, the Federal Communications Commission has begun taking action on some of these issues to try to make its broadband data more accurate.</p> <p>“Improving broadband maps is an incremental process that will not happen overnight,” Matheson and Bloomfield wrote in their letter to lawmakers. “Utilizing the proposals we have suggested, we are encouraged to see federal agencies and Congress moving forward simultaneously with mapping improvement and deployment activities to judiciously reach rural consumers with connectivity required to fully participate in our 21st Century economy and society.” </p> <p><em>Erin Kelly is a staff writer at NRECA.</em></p> </div> </section> </div> <div class="row"> <div class="col-md-12"> <section class="timeline-article-footer"> <small>Next in the Issue</small> <a class="article-next-post" data-next-article="timeline-modal-6350" title="With State Greenlight, Four Co-ops in Mississippi Enter Broadband Space">With State Greenlight, Four Co-ops in Mississippi Enter Broadband Space <span class="arrow"><i class="ci-long-arrow-right"></i></span></a> </section> </div> </div> </div> </article>  </section>  <section id="timeline-modal-6350" class="timeline-issues-article hidden"> <div class="jumbotron hero article bg-image" style="background-image: url('');"></div>  <article class="single"> <div class="container">  <div class="row"> <header class="col-md-12"> <div class="article-header"> <small class="article-category"> <a href="https://www.electric.coop/issues-and-policy/broadband">Broadband</a> </small> <h1 class="article-title">With State Greenlight, Four Co-ops in Mississippi Enter Broadband Space</h1> <h3 class="article-subtitle"></h3> </div> </header> </div>  <div class="row"> <section class="col-md-3"> <div class="article-meta"> <div class="row"> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-date"> <span>Published</span>September 3, 2019 </div> </div> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-author"> <span>Author</span> Cathy Cash </div> </div> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-share">  <div class="social-share post"> <ul class="social"> <li><a class="facebook-share" href="https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=&title=" target="_blank"></a></li> <li><a class="twitter-share" href="https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?source=&text=&via=NRECANews " target="_blank"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewBox="0 0 512 512"><path d="M389.2 48h70.6L305.6 224.2 487 464H345L233.7 318.6 106.5 464H35.8L200.7 275.5 26.8 48H172.4L272.9 180.9 389.2 48zM364.4 421.8h39.1L151.1 88h-42L364.4 421.8z"/></svg></a></li> <li><a class="linkedin-share" href="http://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=&title=&summary=" target="_blank"></a></li> </ul> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </section> <section class="col-md-9"> <div class="article-content">  <figure class="wp-block-image"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="683" src="https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/mississippi-broadband-1024x683.jpg" alt="Four electric co-ops in Mississippi, which overwhelmingly lacks high-speed internet, are working to deliver broadband service to their members after the state clarifies co-ops can do so. (Photo By: Cathy Cash/NRECA)" class="wp-image-6351" srcset="https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/mississippi-broadband-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/mississippi-broadband-300x200.jpg 300w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/mississippi-broadband-768x512.jpg 768w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/mississippi-broadband.jpg 1500w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption>Four electric co-ops in Mississippi, which overwhelmingly lacks high-speed internet, are working to deliver broadband service to their members after the state clarifies co-ops can do so. (Photo By: Cathy Cash/NRECA)</figcaption></figure> <p>Mississippi ranks near the bottom when it comes to available broadband internet access. Electric cooperatives are on a mission to help change that.</p> <p>Four co-op boards have approved plans to enter the retail broadband space just months after the bipartisan <a href="https://www.electric.coop/mississippi-law-frees-co-ops-to-pursue-broadband-issues-remain/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label="Mississippi Broadband Enabling Act (opens in a new tab)">Mississippi Broadband Enabling Act</a> took effect. </p> <p>The new law authorizes—but does not mandate—electric co-ops to pursue retail broadband through an affiliate separate from their service as energy providers. The state legislature passed the bill in January and it was quickly signed into law by Gov. Phil Bryant.</p> <p>The board of <a rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label="Tallahatchie Valley EPA (opens in a new tab)" href="https://tvepa.com/" target="_blank">Tallahatchie Valley EPA</a> in Batesville voted in the spring for delivering high-speed internet access to members, soon followed by the board of <a rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label="Prentiss County EPA (opens in a new tab)" href="http://www.pcepa.com/" target="_blank">Prentiss County EPA</a> in Booneville. </p> <p>The boards of <a rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label="Tombigbee Electric Power Association (opens in a new tab)" href="https://www.tombigbeeelectric.com/" target="_blank">Tombigbee Electric Power Association</a> in Tupelo and <a href="http://www.ace-power.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label="Alcorn County EPA (opens in a new tab)">Alcorn County EPA</a> in Corinth this summer voted in favor of building broadband services. </p> <p>The co-ops commissioned multiple feasibility studies to inform their boards’ decisions on forming a fiber-to-the-home service. </p> <p>“Bringing readily accessible, reliable high-speed internet to rural areas is the 21st century equivalent to rural electrification,” TVEPA Board Chairman Will Hays said. “The overwhelming response from our members also confirmed our studies, and we began to move forward.”</p> <p>In creating Tallahatchie Valley Internet Services (TVI-Fiber), the board also changed TVEPA’s Articles of Incorporation to conform to the new state law, a move that members quickly approved, the co-op said.</p> <p>TVI-Fiber will begin the $60 million, three-phase, 48-month buildout in mid-September. The co-op has applied for a grant from <a href="https://www.usda.gov/reconnect" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label="ReConnect, one of the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s rural broadband programs (opens in a new tab)">ReConnect, one of the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s rural broadband programs</a>, and plans to pursue others.</p> <p>“We are excited for the opportunity to be able to provide the services that our members so greatly desire,” said Brad Robison, TVEPA general manager and CEO. “We are a very rural system serving parts of the Mississippi Delta and grant monies would be a tremendous help to the project.” </p> <p>Prentiss Connect plans to break ground in October on its 1,050-mile smart grid project and broadband for nearly 14,000 members. With 13 meters per mile of powerline, the fiber buildout is expected to be completed within two years at a cost of $23.5 million, said Ronny Rowland, co-op general manager.</p> <p>“I have been involved in trying to get broadband service in North Mississippi for almost 20 years,” said Rowland. “Co-ops could not provide broadband services until our state law was changed this January. This is certainly an exciting opportunity to move our state forward and to provide what most consider a necessity of life today.”</p> <p>Tombigbee EPA said its estimated $95 million broadband project across its 43,350-member service territory will proceed in four phases, each subject to board approval.</p> <p>“High-speed data capabilities are no longer a luxury but a necessity for the economic growth and continued viability of rural living,” said Bill Long, TEPA’s general manager. “With the recent changes in Mississippi legislation allowing co-ops to provide broadband, we view it as our role and responsibility to serve this need.” </p> <p><em>Listen to a recent NRECA podcast episode on rural broadband:</em></p>  <iframe loading="lazy" src="//html5-player.libsyn.com/embed/episode/id/7486256/height/90/theme/custom/autoplay/no/autonext/no/thumbnail/yes/preload/no/no_addthis/no/direction/forward/render-playlist/no/custom-color/000000/" height="90" allowfullscreen webkitallowfullscreen mozallowfullscreen oallowfullscreen msallowfullscreen width="100%" scrolling="yes" class="iframe-class" frameborder="0"></iframe> <p><br><em>Read more:</em><br><a href="https://www.cooperative.com/programs-services/bts/Pages/Broadband-Co-op-Case-Studies.aspx">Co-op Broadband Case Studies</a><br><a href="https://www.cooperative.com/programs-services/bts/Pages/Due-Diligence-of-High-Speed-Broadband-Investment.aspx" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label="Guide: Due Diligence of High-Speed Broadband Investment and Business Creation by an Electric Cooperative (opens in a new tab)">Guide: Due Diligence of High-Speed Broadband Investment and Business Creation by an Electric Cooperative</a></p> <p><em>Cathy Cash is a staff writer at NRECA.</em></p> </div> </section> </div> <div class="row"> <div class="col-md-12"> <section class="timeline-article-footer"> <small>Next in the Issue</small> <a class="article-next-post" data-next-article="timeline-modal-6280" title="Q&A: How Co-op Priorities Are Faring in Congress This Year">Q&A: How Co-op Priorities Are Faring in Congress This Year <span class="arrow"><i class="ci-long-arrow-right"></i></span></a> </section> </div> </div> </div> </article>  </section>  <section id="timeline-modal-6280" class="timeline-issues-article hidden"> <div class="jumbotron hero article bg-image" style="background-image: url('');"></div>  <article class="single"> <div class="container">  <div class="row"> <header class="col-md-12"> <div class="article-header"> <small class="article-category"> <a href="https://www.electric.coop/issues-and-policy/broadband">Broadband</a> </small> <h1 class="article-title">Q&A: How Co-op Priorities Are Faring in Congress This Year</h1> <h3 class="article-subtitle"></h3> </div> </header> </div>  <div class="row"> <section class="col-md-3"> <div class="article-meta"> <div class="row"> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-date"> <span>Published</span>August 6, 2019 </div> </div> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-author"> <span>Author</span> Erin Kelly </div> </div> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-share">  <div class="social-share post"> <ul class="social"> <li><a class="facebook-share" href="https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=&title=" target="_blank"></a></li> <li><a class="twitter-share" href="https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?source=&text=&via=NRECANews " target="_blank"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewBox="0 0 512 512"><path d="M389.2 48h70.6L305.6 224.2 487 464H345L233.7 318.6 106.5 464H35.8L200.7 275.5 26.8 48H172.4L272.9 180.9 389.2 48zM364.4 421.8h39.1L151.1 88h-42L364.4 421.8z"/></svg></a></li> <li><a class="linkedin-share" href="http://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=&title=&summary=" target="_blank"></a></li> </ul> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </section> <section class="col-md-9"> <div class="article-content">  <figure class="wp-block-image"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="682" src="https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/congress-cap-1024x682.jpg" alt="With the number of legislative days dwindling in this session of Congress, NRECA lobbyists are working to push through top co-op priorities. (Photo By: dkfielding/Getty Images)" class="wp-image-6281" srcset="https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/congress-cap-1024x682.jpg 1024w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/congress-cap-300x200.jpg 300w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/congress-cap-768x512.jpg 768w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/congress-cap.jpg 2000w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption>With the number of legislative days dwindling in this session of Congress, NRECA lobbyists are working to push through top co-op priorities. (Photo By: dkfielding/Getty Images)</figcaption></figure> <p>When Congress returns next month from its August recess, there are only about 40 legislative days left this year in the House and about 50 in the Senate. That leaves a small window of opportunity for progress on the most pressing issues for electric cooperatives.</p> <p>John Cassady, NRECA’s vice president of legislative affairs, gives an update on how co-op priorities have fared so far in 2019 and what’s next. The greatest urgency in this session of Congress is to try to push through two key bills: the <a rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label="SECURE Act (opens in a new tab)" href="https://www.cooperative.com/news/Pages/congress-annual-pension-insurance-premiums-co-ops.aspx" target="_blank">SECURE Act</a>, which would save co-ops more than $30 million a year in pension insurance premiums paid to the federal government, and the <a href="https://www.electric.coop/bipartisan-bill-would-protect-co-ops-from-losing-tax-exempt-status/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label="RURAL Act (opens in a new tab)">RURAL Act</a>, which would protect co-ops from losing their tax-exempt status if they accept government funds, such as disaster relief or rural broadband grants. </p> <p><strong>What would you say is the most important progress that NRECA lobbyists have made so far in this session of Congress?</strong></p> <p>“We’ve made progress on key priorities, including progress on our top two legislative initiatives. The first is ensuring that the Senate follows the work of the House and finishes the job on the SECURE Act, which contains the language that provides relief from the high premiums the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corp. is charging our co-op pension plan. Our premium relief is tied up in a broader retirement package that has been approved by the House on an overwhelmingly bipartisan vote. </p> <p>“Currently, the larger package is being held up by a few senators, not based on anything related to the substance of the issue that we care about. Nevertheless, it’s slowed the momentum from quick Senate action. Now, there is going to be a process on the Senate floor for the SECURE Act to move forward, and the hope is that the process will eventually lead to the Senate passing the bill and then getting it to the president’s desk this fall.</p> <p>“There are a lot of trapdoors throughout the process, and that’s why these things never come easy … but this issue has been a long time coming.”</p> <p><strong>What about the other top legislative priority, the RURAL Act?</strong></p> <p>“On the issue of the RURAL Act, we’ve made a great deal of progress but are not quite as far along as the SECURE Act. This time last year, we were still doing a lot of the behind-the-scenes work on this issue: explaining to key members of Congress and their staff the impact of the issue, why it needed to be addressed, and lining up champions for our legislation. A lot of the blocking and tackling work had to be done. </p> <p>“Fast forward to now, where we sit favorably if you look at the fact that the RURAL Act now boasts over 90 bipartisan co-sponsors in the House and 18 bipartisan co-sponsors in the Senate. There’s a high degree of awareness of the issue, and there’s a recognition that our challenge was an unintended consequence of the 2017 tax law. There’s an appetite to get it done.</p> <p>“But we also face some obstacles. There are still some negative optics among some on the Hill who associate anything tax-related with the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017, which was handled in a very partisan manner that created a lot of bad partisan feelings. There are still some rough edges out there on Capitol Hill when tax policy is brought up. The challenge we have had, and what we’ve tried to maneuver around, is to avoid having the perception on the Hill that our issue is a purely partisan priority. We want to create a bipartisan recognition that our issue needs to be addressed on behalf of co-ops throughout the country and the rural communities they serve.”</p> <p><strong>Co-ops are worried about losing their tax-exempt status if they take federal, state or local broadband grants or disaster relief grants from the Federal Emergency Management Agency. Is this one of the issues you hear most about from co-ops?</strong></p> <p>“Yes, we’re hearing concerns in certain sections of the co-op world. I know Florida co-ops are very engaged from a FEMA standpoint, as an example. Many co-ops are leading with the concern that if their co-ops are hit with a major storm and there’s a presidential disaster declaration and FEMA grants are dispersed, that having those resources that help us restore power would then negatively impact our tax-exempt status and generate a tax liability for our member co-ops. That is an issue that helps put a point on our advocacy.</p> <p>“The other issue is that some co-ops are working to help bridge the digital divide and leaning on grant dollars to put forward the initial capital investment. For example, there are a number of co-ops in Indiana looking to take advantage of the broadband grant program that the state has instituted. In doing so, they could potentially upset their tax-exempt status, which really runs counter to the goal of bringing broadband to rural areas. It’s a perverse outcome of public policy that our members would be in this position. They’re just trying to do the right thing, to bring solutions to their communities for broadband, and this unintended consequence has real impact on their ability to do so.”</p> <p><strong>Do you think there will be a big infrastructure bill in this Congress that could include more broadband funds and grid modernization?</strong></p> <p>“If you were to go through the halls of Congress, every member would say ‘infrastructure is a great idea. Democrats and Republicans should come together on infrastructure.’ But if you don’t have the right environment, it makes it challenging. There’s a high degree of tension between congressional Democrats and the Trump administration … and it doesn’t show any signs of letting up. So that doesn’t create a conducive atmosphere for bipartisan cooperation.</p> <p> “If I had to handicap the likelihood of a broad infrastructure package making its way through Congress, I would say it’s a low-probability proposition at this point.”</p> <p><strong>Have you played more offense or more defense on co-op issues so far with this Congress?</strong> </p> <p>“We’re playing offense on the SECURE Act and the RURAL ACT. We played defense on a number of issues as well. A good example is the administration’s budget proposal to, once again, propose that the transmission assets of the <a rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label="Power Marketing Administrations (opens in a new tab)" href="https://www.electric.coop/doe-official-touts-value-of-federal-operation-of-hydro-facilities/" target="_blank">Power Marketing Administrations</a> be privatized. We had to play defense there and engage with policymakers on the Hill to ensure that that idea didn’t gain any footing.” </p> <p><em>Erin Kelly is a staff writer at NRECA.</em></p> </div> </section> </div> <div class="row"> <div class="col-md-12"> <section class="timeline-article-footer"> <small>Next in the Issue</small> <a class="article-next-post" data-next-article="timeline-modal-6262" title="Indiana Co-op Leverages Fiber Network for Health Care, Economic Growth">Indiana Co-op Leverages Fiber Network for Health Care, Economic Growth <span class="arrow"><i class="ci-long-arrow-right"></i></span></a> </section> </div> </div> </div> </article>  </section>  <section id="timeline-modal-6262" class="timeline-issues-article hidden"> <div class="jumbotron hero article bg-image" style="background-image: url('');"></div>  <article class="single"> <div class="container">  <div class="row"> <header class="col-md-12"> <div class="article-header"> <small class="article-category"> <a href="https://www.electric.coop/issues-and-policy/broadband">Broadband</a> </small> <h1 class="article-title">Indiana Co-op Leverages Fiber Network for Health Care, Economic Growth</h1> <h3 class="article-subtitle"></h3> </div> </header> </div>  <div class="row"> <section class="col-md-3"> <div class="article-meta"> <div class="row"> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-date"> <span>Published</span>July 30, 2019 </div> </div> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-author"> <span>Author</span> Victoria A. Rocha </div> </div> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-share">  <div class="social-share post"> <ul class="social"> <li><a class="facebook-share" href="https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=&title=" target="_blank"></a></li> <li><a class="twitter-share" href="https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?source=&text=&via=NRECANews " target="_blank"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewBox="0 0 512 512"><path d="M389.2 48h70.6L305.6 224.2 487 464H345L233.7 318.6 106.5 464H35.8L200.7 275.5 26.8 48H172.4L272.9 180.9 389.2 48zM364.4 421.8h39.1L151.1 88h-42L364.4 421.8z"/></svg></a></li> <li><a class="linkedin-share" href="http://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=&title=&summary=" target="_blank"></a></li> </ul> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </section> <section class="col-md-9"> <div class="article-content">  <figure class="wp-block-image"><a href="https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/REDLGIndianaAEC-july.jpg"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="682" src="https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/REDLGIndianaAEC-july-1024x682.jpg" alt="NineStar Connect’s $2.3 million in federal loans and grants will help Hancock Health buy medical equipment for a new facility in rural Indiana. (Artist Rendering Courtesy of NineStar Connect)" class="wp-image-6263" srcset="https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/REDLGIndianaAEC-july-1024x682.jpg 1024w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/REDLGIndianaAEC-july-300x200.jpg 300w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/REDLGIndianaAEC-july-768x512.jpg 768w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/REDLGIndianaAEC-july.jpg 2000w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></a><figcaption>NineStar Connect’s $2.3 million in federal loans and grants will help Hancock Health buy medical equipment for a new facility in rural Indiana. (Artist Rendering Courtesy of NineStar Connect)</figcaption></figure> <p>An Indiana multiservice cooperative is leveraging its fiber network to provide a rural community easier access to state-of-the-art health care services with a project that also will lay the groundwork for future economic growth.  </p> <p><a href="https://www.ninestarconnect.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label="NineStar Connect (opens in a new tab)">NineStar Connect</a>, located outside Indianapolis, will pass through $2.3 million in federal loans and grants to help a regional hospital system build an urgent care and diagnostic center in an underserved part of Hancock County. The Greenfield-based co-op received the funds from the Rural Economic Development Loan and Grant Program sponsored by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. </p> <p>Hancock Health will use the REDLG funds to buy MRI machines, CAT scanners and other medical equipment for the facility, which will connect to NineStar’s broadband fiber network. </p> <p>When the Hancock Gateway facility opens in September, residents in the growing Mt. Comfort Corridor community will have quicker access to high-quality care, said Steve Long, president and CEO of Hancock Health and Hancock Regional Hospital. The facility also is expected to provide 27 high-paying medical positions.</p> <p>As families and individuals shoulder more out-of-pocket expenses due to high-deductible health plans, “they often decide to forgo needed care, or they search for lower-cost options [at] imaging facilities located in strip malls utilizing older, lower-resolution imaging equipment,” said Long. “Our new facility combines hospital-quality imaging and lab equipment in a much lower-cost environment, which will allow us to price our services on par with lower-quality providers.”</p> <p>The $12 million health facility is the first phase of a broader economic development strategy outlined in a 2019 Urban Land Institute report for sustained, controlled growth in the Mt. Comfort Corridor, a 13-mile stretch in Hancock County. Since 2000, NineStar Connect, which also provides water and sewer services, has been a partner, along with Hancock Health, the Greenfield Banking Company and town and county officials.</p> <p>The plan’s second phase calls for a campus with mixed-use development, including commercial, retail and affordable housing.</p> <p>“A lot of our strategic focus has been on what can we do to create a better quality of life for the people that we serve,” said Mike Burrow, the co-op’s president and CEO. “NineStar’s role in that is the fact that we have a very extensive fiber network.”</p> <p>Burrow said the co-op’s fiber-optic investments have kept pace with the hospital’s growth in a booming Hancock County.  </p> <p>“I give the hospital very high marks because they’ve truly embraced our fiber network and have continued to look at very creative ways they can embrace technology, leveraging our fiber network,” said Burrow. “A lot of county hospitals across the United States, and even in Indiana, are closing” because of lack of technology.</p> <p>Earlier this year in Greenfield, NineStar Connect created <a href="https://www.electric.coop/indiana-ninestar-connect-co-op-cowork-space/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label="Idea Co-op (opens in a new tab)">Idea Co-op</a>, a coworking office and technology campus to help entrepreneurs launch new ventures. Its fiber-optic network is a big selling point for people who want to work and live outside Indianapolis. </p> <p>“The impact of NineStar Connect on the quality of life of residents of Hancock County, especially those in rural areas, cannot be overstated,” said Long. “The entire county has the ability to connect to fiber-optic-based broadband services, allowing every individual to be fully connected to the internet with speeds in the home exceeding the speeds businesses in other communities only dream of. It is hard to think of a stronger partner.”</p> <p><em>Victoria A. Rocha is a staff writer at NRECA. </em></p> </div> </section> </div> <div class="row"> <div class="col-md-12"> <section class="timeline-article-footer"> <small>Next in the Issue</small> <a class="article-next-post" data-next-article="timeline-modal-6245" title="‘We’re All in This Together’: Va. Governor Commends Co-ops’ Broadband Efforts">‘We’re All in This Together’: Va. Governor Commends Co-ops’ Broadband Efforts <span class="arrow"><i class="ci-long-arrow-right"></i></span></a> </section> </div> </div> </div> </article>  </section>  <section id="timeline-modal-6245" class="timeline-issues-article hidden"> <div class="jumbotron hero article bg-image" style="background-image: url('');"></div>  <article class="single"> <div class="container">  <div class="row"> <header class="col-md-12"> <div class="article-header"> <small class="article-category"> <a href="https://www.electric.coop/issues-and-policy/broadband">Broadband</a> </small> <h1 class="article-title">‘We’re All in This Together’: Va. Governor Commends Co-ops’ Broadband Efforts</h1> <h3 class="article-subtitle"></h3> </div> </header> </div>  <div class="row"> <section class="col-md-3"> <div class="article-meta"> <div class="row"> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-date"> <span>Published</span>July 18, 2019 </div> </div> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-author"> <span>Author</span> Cathy Cash </div> </div> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-share">  <div class="social-share post"> <ul class="social"> <li><a class="facebook-share" href="https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=&title=" target="_blank"></a></li> <li><a class="twitter-share" href="https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?source=&text=&via=NRECANews " target="_blank"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewBox="0 0 512 512"><path d="M389.2 48h70.6L305.6 224.2 487 464H345L233.7 318.6 106.5 464H35.8L200.7 275.5 26.8 48H172.4L272.9 180.9 389.2 48zM364.4 421.8h39.1L151.1 88h-42L364.4 421.8z"/></svg></a></li> <li><a class="linkedin-share" href="http://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=&title=&summary=" target="_blank"></a></li> </ul> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </section> <section class="col-md-9"> <div class="article-content">  <figure class="wp-block-image"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="682" src="https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/cvec-virginia-ralph-northram-1024x682.jpg" alt="Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam (center) commends electric co-ops for pursuing broadband, which will help the state’s rural economy. Central Virginia Electric Cooperative CEO and President Gary Wood (right) accepted a nearly $672,000 grant to connect Fluvanna County. Evan Feinman (left) is the governor’s broadband adviser. (Photo By: Cathy Cash/NRECA)" class="wp-image-6246" srcset="https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/cvec-virginia-ralph-northram-1024x682.jpg 1024w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/cvec-virginia-ralph-northram-300x200.jpg 300w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/cvec-virginia-ralph-northram-768x512.jpg 768w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/cvec-virginia-ralph-northram.jpg 1174w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption>Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam (center) commends electric co-ops for pursuing broadband, which will help the state’s rural economy. Central Virginia Electric Cooperative CEO and President Gary Wood (right) accepted a nearly $642,000 grant to connect Fluvanna County. Evan Feinman (left) is the governor’s broadband adviser. (Photo By: Cathy Cash/NRECA)</figcaption></figure> <p>PALMYRA, Va.—Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam grew up on electric cooperative lines and lauds their record of “reliable and efficient energy service.” But at a historic church surrounded by woods in the state’s rural center, he recognized co-ops’ latest role: broadband provider to the underserved.</p> <p>Co-ops “absolutely” have a role in his administration’s goal of connecting every Virginia resident to highspeed internet access, he said. </p> <p>“To have the cooperation of the co-ops—we are all in this together—that’s the way we will move forward,” Northam said in an interview in rural Fluvanna County, where he traveled to announce a state broadband grant for <a href="https://www.mycvec.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label="Central Virginia Electric Cooperative (opens in a new tab)">Central Virginia Electric Cooperative</a>. </p> <p>“We want universal broadband, but every region has its own challenges,” he said. “A role co-ops have taken, by stepping up and using their [infrastructure], has really helped and has been part of the process to move forward. I commend the co-ops throughout Virginia.” </p> <p>The grant to CVEC of $641,967 “will help connect 570 premises, including Lyles Baptist Church where we are today,” he told state, county and co-op officials and members gathered outside the redbrick edifice built in 1774. </p> <p>Northam underscored the need for rural broadband to lift the state’s economy.</p> <p>“If we’re going to have a business coming into Virginia, especially rural Virginia, if we’re going to help a business grow, there is no way we can do it without access to the internet,” he said. “Businesses are not going to come to regions of Virginia or this country when they don’t have access to broadband in the year 2019. It’s just that simple.”</p> <p>CVEC’s board of directors, who attended the July 11 event, last year approved a $110 million investment to connect all 37,000 co-op members in parts of 14 counties by 2023. </p> <p>“Rural people in Virginia are very patient,” said Gary Wood, CVEC CEO and president. “They’ve been waiting here to stream some congregation moments, and they’re going to have access to that pretty soon.” </p> <p>The state grant will cover 25% of CVEC’s cost to build broadband in Fluvanna County and “open doors” to extend gigabit fiber —the fastest available connection—to neighboring counties, Wood said. </p> <p>“Rural communities need broadband, and CVEC has made that commitment to us,” said Eric Dahl, administrator of Fluvanna County. </p> <p>The grant is one of several won by co-ops across the state.</p> <p>“We don’t have a better partner than our electric cooperatives,” said Evan Feinman, the governor’s chief broadband adviser. He updated the gathering on how 70,000 homes and businesses have been connected, including “hundreds” by electric co-ops, since Northam took office in 2018. </p> <p>For many in the crowd, the excitement of broadband arriving will be akin to the first time a switch flipped electricity into their childhood homes.</p> <p>Longtime CVEC member Joseph Stanley, 79, traveled 30 miles to hear the latest on the co-op’s broadband development. He said he hopes it soon comes to his Buckingham County home so he can stay connected to his sons who live near Richmond. </p> <p>Stanley recalled how, as a child, his family home in Russell County initially lacked electricity and indoor bathrooms: “It was like a party every time we got a little more electricity turned on at our house.” </p> <p>What will he do when he gets broadband? “Most of my partygoers have passed on,” Stanley said. “I’m going to have to invite a younger crowd.” </p> <p><em>Cathy Cash is a staff writer at NRECA.</em></p> </div> </section> </div> <div class="row"> <div class="col-md-12"> <section class="timeline-article-footer"> <small>Next in the Issue</small> <a class="article-next-post" data-next-article="timeline-modal-6151" title="A Texas Triple Play: Bandera Offers Members Solar, Storage and Broadband">A Texas Triple Play: Bandera Offers Members Solar, Storage and Broadband <span class="arrow"><i class="ci-long-arrow-right"></i></span></a> </section> </div> </div> </div> </article>  </section>  <section id="timeline-modal-6151" class="timeline-issues-article hidden"> <div class="jumbotron hero article bg-image" style="background-image: url('');"></div>  <article class="single"> <div class="container">  <div class="row"> <header class="col-md-12"> <div class="article-header"> <small class="article-category"> <a href="https://www.electric.coop/issues-and-policy/broadband">Broadband</a> </small> <h1 class="article-title">A Texas Triple Play: Bandera Offers Members Solar, Storage and Broadband</h1> <h3 class="article-subtitle"></h3> </div> </header> </div>  <div class="row"> <section class="col-md-3"> <div class="article-meta"> <div class="row"> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-date"> <span>Published</span>July 8, 2019 </div> </div> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-author"> <span>Author</span> Derrill Holly </div> </div> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-share">  <div class="social-share post"> <ul class="social"> <li><a class="facebook-share" href="https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=&title=" target="_blank"></a></li> <li><a class="twitter-share" href="https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?source=&text=&via=NRECANews " target="_blank"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewBox="0 0 512 512"><path d="M389.2 48h70.6L305.6 224.2 487 464H345L233.7 318.6 106.5 464H35.8L200.7 275.5 26.8 48H172.4L272.9 180.9 389.2 48zM364.4 421.8h39.1L151.1 88h-42L364.4 421.8z"/></svg></a></li> <li><a class="linkedin-share" href="http://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=&title=&summary=" target="_blank"></a></li> </ul> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </section> <section class="col-md-9"> <div class="article-content">  <figure class="wp-block-image"><a href="https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/bandera-electric-solar-pipe-creek.jpg"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="682" src="https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/bandera-electric-solar-pipe-creek-1024x682.jpg" alt="Solar panels on the home of a Bandera Electric Cooperative member near Pipe Creek, Texas, are arrayed to capture sunlight even on partly cloudy days. (Photo By: BEC)" class="wp-image-6153" srcset="https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/bandera-electric-solar-pipe-creek-1024x682.jpg 1024w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/bandera-electric-solar-pipe-creek-300x200.jpg 300w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/bandera-electric-solar-pipe-creek-768x512.jpg 768w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/bandera-electric-solar-pipe-creek.jpg 2000w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></a><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Solar panels on the home of a Bandera Electric Cooperative member near Pipe Creek, Texas, are arrayed to capture sunlight even on partly cloudy days. (Photo By: BEC)</figcaption></figure> <p>A Texas-based distribution cooperative is tripling up to meet demand for renewable energy and high-speed internet in its service territory by selling site-installed solar panels, energy storage technology and broadband services connected to its fiber network.</p> <p>“We listened to our members who said they wanted more renewable energy options, specifically solar energy,” said Bill Hetherington, CEO of <a href="https://www.banderaelectric.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label="Bandera Electric Cooperative (opens in a new tab)">Bandera Electric Cooperative</a>, adding that members also want fast, reliable internet service.  </p> <p>“As a co-op, we are uniquely positioned to partner with members who want to invest in solar energy. We can now provide design expertise, installation and ongoing monitoring built on the long-term commitment of the cooperative.”</p> <p>Since launching BEC Solar in 2016, the co-op found that over 40 percent of members who buy solar arrays also add battery storage to their systems.</p> <p>The co-op-provided storage systems are scalable, so up to 10 can be installed on a single system, said Todd Horsman, manager of technologies for BEC Solar. “That makes them a good fit for customizing solar installations to meet the needs of individual members’ homes or commercial account needs.”</p> <figure class="wp-block-image"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="682" src="https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/bandera-solar-commericial-1-1024x682.jpg" alt="Installers lower a 75-pound solar panel into place on the roof of a business in San Antonio. The installation was BEC Solar’s first commercial solar project outside of its service territory. (Photo By: BEC)" class="wp-image-6154" srcset="https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/bandera-solar-commericial-1-1024x682.jpg 1024w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/bandera-solar-commericial-1-300x200.jpg 300w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/bandera-solar-commericial-1-768x512.jpg 768w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/bandera-solar-commericial-1.jpg 2000w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Installers lower a 75-pound solar panel into place on the roof of a business in San Antonio. The installation was BEC Solar’s first commercial solar project outside of its service territory. (Photo By: BEC)</figcaption></figure> <p>During the design phase, the co-op reviews several years of a member’s electricity use and makes system-sizing recommendations, said Horsman. “That sets us apart from a lot of solar dealers, who will look at the available space and try to sell as many panels as possible. We don’t want members buying more of a system than they can reasonably use.”</p> <p>The co-op is also providing maintenance and upkeep on the solar systems it installs. In the three years since its first systems went in, the co-op has made several reliability improvements. </p> <p>“We now deploy solar panels equipped with individual inverters, reducing disruptions that can occur as a result of lightning strikes or severe hail or storm damage,” said Horsman. “With micro-inverters, you can lose one panel, and the rest of the array continues to operate.”</p> <p>Both the co-op’s broadband and solar arms were launched as a direct result of responses to customer satisfaction surveys. </p> <p>“We’re offering these products and services to bring more value to our members and the communities we serve,” Hetherington said.</p> <p>BEC Solar has installed more than 150 solar energy systems, including its first commercial system, saving the co-op’s members more than $200,000 a year in power costs.  BEC Fiber has connected more than 3,200 members to high-speed internet and helped fuel growth in BEC’s overall member base, said Hetherington. </p> <figure class="wp-block-image"><a href="https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/bandera-electric-fiber-install.jpg"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="768" src="https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/bandera-electric-fiber-install-1024x768.jpg" alt="Bandera Electric Cooperative is extending its fiber network to the homes of BEC Fiber subscribers to provide high-speed broadband service. (Photo By: BEC)" class="wp-image-6152" srcset="https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/bandera-electric-fiber-install-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/bandera-electric-fiber-install-300x225.jpg 300w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/bandera-electric-fiber-install-768x576.jpg 768w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/bandera-electric-fiber-install.jpg 2000w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></a><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Bandera Electric Cooperative is extending its fiber network to the homes of BEC Fiber subscribers to provide high-speed broadband service. (Photo By: BEC)</figcaption></figure> <p>“Since 2017, we have seen more than 10 percent member growth annually,” Hetherington said. “The deployment of fiber has not only provided added revenue, it has also improved the electric system’s reliability.” </p> <p>The co-op has also added several new skillsets to its workforce, leading to significant employment growth. Since their respective launches, BEC Solar has added six team members, and BEC Fiber has added 12 team members.</p> <p>Overall, BEC has grown across the organization from 83 employees in January 2016 to 116 employees now, said Hetherington, adding that the co-op also operates a community solar farm that’s 93 percent subscribed.  “Our primary focus remains providing reliable electric service, and offering solar solutions enables us to keep rates low for all members.” </p> </div> </section> </div> <div class="row"> <div class="col-md-12"> <section class="timeline-article-footer"> <small>Next in the Issue</small> <a class="article-next-post" data-next-article="timeline-modal-6144" title="Co-op Leader Testifies to Congress About Faulty Federal Broadband Data">Co-op Leader Testifies to Congress About Faulty Federal Broadband Data <span class="arrow"><i class="ci-long-arrow-right"></i></span></a> </section> </div> </div> </div> </article>  </section>  <section id="timeline-modal-6144" class="timeline-issues-article hidden"> <div class="jumbotron hero article bg-image" style="background-image: url('');"></div>  <article class="single"> <div class="container">  <div class="row"> <header class="col-md-12"> <div class="article-header"> <small class="article-category"> <a href="https://www.electric.coop/issues-and-policy/broadband">Broadband</a> </small> <h1 class="article-title">Co-op Leader Testifies to Congress About Faulty Federal Broadband Data</h1> <h3 class="article-subtitle"></h3> </div> </header> </div>  <div class="row"> <section class="col-md-3"> <div class="article-meta"> <div class="row"> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-date"> <span>Published</span>June 25, 2019 </div> </div> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-author"> <span>Author</span> Erin Kelly </div> </div> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-share">  <div class="social-share post"> <ul class="social"> <li><a class="facebook-share" href="https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=&title=" target="_blank"></a></li> <li><a class="twitter-share" href="https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?source=&text=&via=NRECANews " target="_blank"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewBox="0 0 512 512"><path d="M389.2 48h70.6L305.6 224.2 487 464H345L233.7 318.6 106.5 464H35.8L200.7 275.5 26.8 48H172.4L272.9 180.9 389.2 48zM364.4 421.8h39.1L151.1 88h-42L364.4 421.8z"/></svg></a></li> <li><a class="linkedin-share" href="http://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=&title=&summary=" target="_blank"></a></li> </ul> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </section> <section class="col-md-9"> <div class="article-content">  <figure class="wp-block-image"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="663" src="https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/stelpflug-broadband-1024x663.jpg" alt="Dan Stelpflug, director of operations, engineering and technology for Allamakee Clayton Electric Cooperative, tells a House subcommittee about the problems that inaccurate federal broadband data causes co-ops. (Photo By: Dennis Gainer/NRECA)" class="wp-image-6147" srcset="https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/stelpflug-broadband-1024x663.jpg 1024w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/stelpflug-broadband-300x194.jpg 300w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/stelpflug-broadband-768x497.jpg 768w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/stelpflug-broadband.jpg 2000w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption>Dan Stelpflug, director of operations, engineering and technology for Allamakee Clayton Electric Cooperative, tells a House subcommittee about the problems that inaccurate federal broadband data causes co-ops. (Photo By: Dennis Gainer/NRECA)</figcaption></figure> <p>Inaccurate federal broadband data is creating big problems for electric cooperatives striving to bring high-speed internet service to rural America, a co-op leader told a House committee Tuesday.</p> <p>Dan Stelpflug, director of operations, engineering and technology for <a href="http://www.acrec.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label="Allamakee Clayton Electric Cooperative (opens in a new tab)">Allamakee Clayton Electric Cooperative</a> in Postville, Iowa, said faulty data from the Federal Communications Commission may force the co-op to pay back 23% of a $1.4 million broadband grant it received in 2014, causing a financial hardship for the co-op and its roughly 10,000 consumer-members. </p> <p>The FCC grant was awarded based on agency data that said the co-op could reach 665 potential customers in 209 census blocks with broadband service, Stelpflug said. But the co-op later conducted its own count and found 510 potential customers, 23% fewer than the FCC data showed. </p> <p>Co-op leaders discovered the discrepancy while preparing progress reports required by the FCC. Allamakee Clayton asked the agency last fall to waive some of its rules to allow the co-op to meet the requirements of the grant program based on the actual number of potential customers, but the agency has not responded, Stelpflug told members of the <a href="https://smallbusiness.house.gov/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label="House Small Business Subcommittee on Contracting and Infrastructure (opens in a new tab)">House Small Business Subcommittee on Contracting and Infrastructure</a>. He said the co-op is hesitant to buy or update equipment because it may have to pay back nearly a quarter of the grant to the FCC.</p> <p>“The bidding process required us to ask for a subsidy per subscriber per month,” he said. “Our bid was based on the subscriber count provided by the FCC, and at the time, the cooperative had no process or procedure in place to verify that the FCC data was correct. Had we known that the subscriber count was inaccurate, our bid per subscriber would have been incrementally higher.”</p> <p>The co-op asked the FCC to verify how their count was done, but the agency refused to do so, Stelpflug said.</p> <p> “In a perfect world, we would have been able to identify this discrepancy earlier,” he testified. “But the realities of a small business, the timeline, and our initial trust in the accuracy of the FCC data didn’t allow for that to happen.”</p> <p>There was no process to resolve the issue, even if the co-op had discovered the discrepancy earlier, Stelpflug said.</p> <p>Allamakee Clayton’s frustration with bad federal broadband data is not unique. Many co-ops have struggled with trying to ensure that broadband grants go to areas that need it most. NRECA and its member co-ops have been lobbying Congress and federal agencies to improve the accuracy of broadband data, especially of maps that purport to show which areas have high-speed internet service.</p> <p>Several bills to address the problem have been introduced recently. Stelpflug praised the bipartisan <a href="https://mcmorris.house.gov/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/House-BDIA-Draft.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label="Broadband Data Improvement Act of 2019 (opens in a new tab)">Broadband Data Improvement Act of 2019</a>, which would require more granular data to be reported and create a way for the public to give feedback.</p> <p>NRECA supports the bill, which is sponsored in the House by Reps. Tom O’Halleran, D-Ariz., Cathy McMorris Rodgers, R-Wash., G.K. Butterfield, D-N.C., Annie Kuster, D-N.H., and David McKinley, R-W.Va. An identical Senate bill is being sponsored by Sens. Shelley Moore Capito, R-W.Va., Brian Schatz, D-Hawaii, Jerry Moran, R-Kan., and Jon Tester, D-Mont.</p> <p>Another cause of misleading data is broadband carriers, who can report advertised maximum internet speeds for entire census blocks even if they only provide high-speed service to one customer, Stelpflug said.</p> <p>“Grant money is not available in these areas because the FCC assumes the census block is adequately covered with high-speed service,” he said.</p> <p>The lack of high-speed internet is hurting farmers in the co-op’s territory because they cannot engage in “precision agriculture,” Stelpflug said in response to a lawmaker’s question. That practice allows farmers to use information technology, including GPS guidance, sensors, robotics and drones, to help manage their crops and livestock more efficiently. The tools require high-speed internet access to work.</p> <p>“These farmers are really dependent on this stuff, and they’re kind of falling behind,” he said. “To be competitive with everybody, they need access.”</p> <p>Reaching all rural Americans with high-speed internet service has become this century’s most complex challenge for co-ops, just as bringing electricity to remote areas was last century’s biggest struggle, Stelpflug said.</p> <p>“More accurate maps showing broadband availability are a key part of reaching that goal, enabling us to clarify existing gaps in coverage and harmonize the diverse solutions that will be required to help rural Americans keep pace with their urban counterparts,” he said. </p> <p><a rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label=" (opens in a new tab)" href="https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/DanStelpflugWrittenTestimony_HouseSmallBusiness_BroadbandMapping_06.25.19_FINAL.pdf" target="_blank">Read Stelpflug’s statement (PDF) to the House Small Business Subcommittee on Contracting and Infrastructure.</a></p> <p><em>Listen to a recent NRECA podcast episode on rural broadband:</em></p>  <iframe loading="lazy" src="//html5-player.libsyn.com/embed/episode/id/7486256/height/90/theme/custom/autoplay/no/autonext/no/thumbnail/yes/preload/no/no_addthis/no/direction/forward/render-playlist/no/custom-color/000000/" height="90" allowfullscreen webkitallowfullscreen mozallowfullscreen oallowfullscreen msallowfullscreen width="100%" scrolling="yes" class="iframe-class" frameborder="0"></iframe> <div style="height:32px" aria-hidden="true" class="wp-block-spacer"></div> <p><em>Read more on rural broadband:</em></p> <p><a rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label="Case Studies on Co-op Broadband (opens in a new tab)" href="https://www.cooperative.com/programs-services/bts/Pages/Broadband-Co-op-Case-Studies.aspx" target="_blank">Case Studies on Co-op Broadband Initiatives</a><br><a href="https://www.electric.coop/new-state-laws-clear-hurdles-for-co-ops-that-choose-to-pursue-broadband/">New State Laws Clear Hurdles for Co-ops That Choose to Pursue Broadband</a><br><a href="https://www.electric.coop/nreca-fcc-auction-broadband-rural-america/">NRECA Urges FCC to Advance $20B Auction to Deliver Broadband to Rural America</a></p> </div> </section> </div> <div class="row"> <div class="col-md-12"> <section class="timeline-article-footer"> <small>Next in the Issue</small> <a class="article-next-post" data-next-article="timeline-modal-6118" title="New State Laws Clear Hurdles for Co-ops That Choose to Pursue Broadband">New State Laws Clear Hurdles for Co-ops That Choose to Pursue Broadband <span class="arrow"><i class="ci-long-arrow-right"></i></span></a> </section> </div> </div> </div> </article>  </section>  <section id="timeline-modal-6118" class="timeline-issues-article hidden"> <div class="jumbotron hero article bg-image" style="background-image: url('');"></div>  <article class="single"> <div class="container">  <div class="row"> <header class="col-md-12"> <div class="article-header"> <small class="article-category"> <a href="https://www.electric.coop/issues-and-policy/broadband">Broadband</a> </small> <h1 class="article-title">New State Laws Clear Hurdles for Co-ops That Choose to Pursue Broadband</h1> <h3 class="article-subtitle"></h3> </div> </header> </div>  <div class="row"> <section class="col-md-3"> <div class="article-meta"> <div class="row"> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-date"> <span>Published</span>June 11, 2019 </div> </div> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-author"> <span>Author</span> Cathy Cash </div> </div> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-share">  <div class="social-share post"> <ul class="social"> <li><a class="facebook-share" href="https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=&title=" target="_blank"></a></li> <li><a class="twitter-share" href="https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?source=&text=&via=NRECANews " target="_blank"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewBox="0 0 512 512"><path d="M389.2 48h70.6L305.6 224.2 487 464H345L233.7 318.6 106.5 464H35.8L200.7 275.5 26.8 48H172.4L272.9 180.9 389.2 48zM364.4 421.8h39.1L151.1 88h-42L364.4 421.8z"/></svg></a></li> <li><a class="linkedin-share" href="http://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=&title=&summary=" target="_blank"></a></li> </ul> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </section> <section class="col-md-9"> <div class="article-content">  <figure class="wp-block-image"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="682" src="https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/alabama-broadband-1024x682.jpg" alt="Alabama electric co-ops now have a bright line on how to pursue broadband thanks to a new law signed by Gov. Kay Ivey. (Photo Courtesy of Alabama Rural Electric Association of Cooperatives)" class="wp-image-6120" srcset="https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/alabama-broadband-1024x682.jpg 1024w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/alabama-broadband-300x200.jpg 300w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/alabama-broadband-768x512.jpg 768w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/alabama-broadband.jpg 2000w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption>Alabama electric co-ops now have a bright line on how to pursue broadband thanks to a new law signed by Gov. Kay Ivey. (Photo Courtesy of Alabama Rural Electric Association of Cooperatives)</figcaption></figure> <p>The path to broadband internet access for more than a million rural Americans just got a little clearer.</p> <p>On May 30, the governors of Alabama and North Carolina signed new laws that lift major hurdles for electric cooperatives to provide high-speed connectivity to unserved and underserved communities in their states.</p> <p>Both laws authorize—but do not mandate—electric co-ops to deploy retail broadband and pursue any federal funds available for the task. The laws also allow co-ops to use their existing easements and infrastructure to deploy fiber to the home and ban class action suits against doing so.</p> <p><a rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label="Georgia (opens in a new tab)" href="https://www.electric.coop/new-georgia-law-makes-clear-that-electric-co-ops-can-enter-the-broadband-space/" target="_blank">Georgia</a>, <a rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label="Indiana (opens in a new tab)" href="https://www.cooperative.com/news/pages/jackson-county-remc-indiana-broadband.aspx" target="_blank">Indiana</a>, <a rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label="Missouri and Tennessee (opens in a new tab)" href="https://www.electric.coop/missouri-tennessee-pass-easement-laws-helpful-rural-broadband/" target="_blank">Missouri, Tennessee</a> and <a href="https://www.electric.coop/easement-clarity-would-help-texas-co-ops-deliver-broadband/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label="Texas (opens in a new tab)">Texas</a> have recently passed laws that facilitate rural broadband.</p> <p>“These new broadband laws with provisions tailored to each state recognize the important role electric co-ops play in upholding the economic health, education and well-being of their consumer-members,” said Brian O’Hara, NRECA regulatory issues director for telecom and broadband.</p> <p>Under Alabama’s new <a href="https://www.electric.coop/co-op-broadband-brightens-future-of-rural-alabama/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label="Broadband Using Electric Easements Accessibility Act (opens in a new tab)">Broadband Using Electric Easements Accessibility Act</a>, legal challenges to electric co-ops and utilities over easement use have a three-year statute of limitations and plaintiffs only may sue for actual damages, not punitive or consequential.</p> <p>The <a href="http://www.areapower.coop/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label="Alabama Rural Electric Association of Cooperatives (opens in a new tab)">Alabama Rural Electric Association of Cooperatives</a> and its member co-ops helped shape the law to deliver broadband to what it estimates as 1 million residents without service. </p> <p>“The law sets a bright line as to what co-ops can and cannot do,” said Sean Strickler, vice president of public affairs at the Alabama statewide. “We didn’t want to spend $1 million in a court case to prove we can do what we know we can do. This law removes those questions or concerns.” </p> <p>Alabama co-ops and utilities that elect to provide broadband must provide a minimum speed of 25 megabits per second for download and upload under the new law. This prevents rural communities from having to settle for lower speeds based on obsolete technology, Strickler said.</p> <p>The Federal Communications Commission defines broadband as 25 Mbps/3 Mbps and estimates at least 21.3 million Americans lack that level of internet access.</p> <p>“We wanted to set ourselves to a higher standard,” said Strickler. </p> <p>Two Alabama co-ops, <a rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label="Tombigbee Electric Cooperative (opens in a new tab)" href="http://www.tombigbee.net/" target="_blank">Tombigbee Electric Cooperative</a> and <a href="https://www.naecoop.com/fiber/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label="North Alabama Electric (opens in a new tab)">North Alabama Electric</a>, already offer broadband. The new law plus the legislature’s approval of $20 million in state grants for rural broadband has several other co-ops exploring the broadband space, he said.</p> <p>North Carolina’s new Electric Co-op Rural Broadband Services law allows co-ops to form broadband partnerships and subsidiaries and lifts a 20-year state ban on using U.S. Department of Agriculture funds for telecom initiatives. </p> <p>“We now have more flexibility to utilize co-op broadband infrastructure to not only deliver innovative energy solutions, but also provide access to economic development, education and health care opportunities that are critical to rural prosperity and quality of life,” said Nelle Hotchkiss, North Carolina’s Electric Cooperatives’ senior vice president and chief operating officer.</p> <p><a href="https://www.ncelectriccooperatives.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label="North Carolina’s Electric Cooperatives (opens in a new tab)">North Carolina’s Electric Cooperatives</a> recently established a partnership with RiverStreet Networks, a subsidiary of Wilkes Telephone Membership Corp., to assist the state’s electric co-ops in the deployment of broadband by facilitating the use of the existing cooperative fiber network. </p> <p>“The models developed by this partnership may help sketch a broadband solution unique to a co-op’s situation and its pockets of areas that are unserved or underserved,” said Hotchkiss. </p> <p>The North Carolina government has not yet released an official estimate on the number of residents without broadband, but high-speed internet advocate <a href="https://broadbandnow.com/North-Carolina" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label="Broadband Now puts the figure at 468,000 (opens in a new tab)">Broadband Now puts the figure at 468,000</a>.</p> <p><em>Listen to a recent NRECA podcast episode on rural broadband:</em></p>  <iframe loading="lazy" src="//html5-player.libsyn.com/embed/episode/id/7486256/height/90/theme/custom/autoplay/no/autonext/no/thumbnail/yes/preload/no/no_addthis/no/direction/forward/render-playlist/no/custom-color/000000/" height="90" allowfullscreen webkitallowfullscreen mozallowfullscreen oallowfullscreen msallowfullscreen width="100%" scrolling="yes" class="iframe-class" frameborder="0"></iframe> <p><em>Read more on rural broadband:</em></p> <p><a href="https://www.electric.coop/pennsylvania-co-opwins-51-million-for-broadband/">Co-op Wins $51 Million for Broadband Networks Before Groundbreaking</a></p> <p><a href="https://www.cooperative.com/programs-services/bts/Documents/Reports/Report-Broadband-Case-Studies-Summary-March-2019.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label="Takeaways From NRECA’s Broadband Case Studies (PDF) (opens in a new tab)">Takeaways From NRECA’s Broadband Case Studies (PDF)</a></p> <p><em>Cathy Cash is a staff writer at NRECA.</em></p> </div> </section> </div> <div class="row"> <div class="col-md-12"> <section class="timeline-article-footer"> <small>Next in the Issue</small> <a class="article-next-post" data-next-article="timeline-modal-6076" title="Tennessee Tried-and-True: Making Broadband Work for Members the Co-op Way">Tennessee Tried-and-True: Making Broadband Work for Members the Co-op Way <span class="arrow"><i class="ci-long-arrow-right"></i></span></a> </section> </div> </div> </div> </article>  </section>  <section id="timeline-modal-6076" class="timeline-issues-article hidden"> <div class="jumbotron hero article bg-image" style="background-image: url('');"></div>  <article class="single"> <div class="container">  <div class="row"> <header class="col-md-12"> <div class="article-header"> <small class="article-category"> <a href="https://www.electric.coop/issues-and-policy/broadband">Broadband</a> </small> <h1 class="article-title">Tennessee Tried-and-True: Making Broadband Work for Members the Co-op Way</h1> <h3 class="article-subtitle"></h3> </div> </header> </div>  <div class="row"> <section class="col-md-3"> <div class="article-meta"> <div class="row"> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-date"> <span>Published</span>May 29, 2019 </div> </div> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-author"> <span>Author</span> Derrill Holly </div> </div> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-share">  <div class="social-share post"> <ul class="social"> <li><a class="facebook-share" href="https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=&title=" target="_blank"></a></li> <li><a class="twitter-share" href="https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?source=&text=&via=NRECANews " target="_blank"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewBox="0 0 512 512"><path d="M389.2 48h70.6L305.6 224.2 487 464H345L233.7 318.6 106.5 464H35.8L200.7 275.5 26.8 48H172.4L272.9 180.9 389.2 48zM364.4 421.8h39.1L151.1 88h-42L364.4 421.8z"/></svg></a></li> <li><a class="linkedin-share" href="http://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=&title=&summary=" target="_blank"></a></li> </ul> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </section> <section class="col-md-9"> <div class="article-content">  <figure class="wp-block-image"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="682" src="https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/gibson-broadband-JHaskins-1024x682.jpg" alt="Apprentice line technician Jay Haskins of Gibson EMC installs a fiber connection to extend Gibson Connect high-speed broadband. (Photo By: Jenni Lynn Rachels/Gibson EMC)" class="wp-image-6077" srcset="https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/gibson-broadband-JHaskins-1024x682.jpg 1024w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/gibson-broadband-JHaskins-300x200.jpg 300w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/gibson-broadband-JHaskins-768x512.jpg 768w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/gibson-broadband-JHaskins.jpg 2000w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption>P.J. Haskins, a first class lineworker for Gibson EMC, installs a fiber connection to extend Gibson Connect high-speed broadband. (Photo By: Jenni Lynn Rachels/Gibson EMC)</figcaption></figure> <p>An electric cooperative in Tennessee is going back to its roots to bring high-speed internet service to its members. And co-op officials believe what worked more than 80 years ago could be even more effective today. </p> <p>“In the 1930s, co-op leaders went door-to-door getting their neighbors to commit to joining Gibson Electric Membership Corp.,” said Dan Rodamaker, the Trenton-based distribution co-op’s president and CEO.  “We’re using a similar approach to build Gibson Connect, and we believe every member who wants high-speed internet will have access to the service within five years.”</p> <p>The electric co-op’s membership fee has always been $5, and Gibson Connect, its wholly owned subsidiary, is being built with the same co-op model, with a one-time registration fee of $20. </p> <p>“We want our members to drive this process, so by paying the minimal $20 registration fee it shows they support the project and are committed to taking the service,” said Charles Phillips, Gibson EMC vice president of technical services. He said about half of Gibson EMC’s members had access to internet service from other providers but often expressed dissatisfaction with their service.</p> <p>Passage of <a href="https://www.cooperative.com/publications/lrs/Pages/Secure/tennessee-permits-cooperative-broadband.aspx" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label="broadband accessibility legislation by Tennessee legislators (opens in a new tab)">broadband accessibility legislation by Tennessee legislators</a> in 2017 cleared the way for electric co-ops to offer the service in areas not served by telephone cooperatives.  A projected market of 36,000 potential subscribers was identified among Gibson EMC’s eligible membership.</p> <p>“We divided our service territory into 27 zones created with a community focus,” said Phillips, who also serves as vice president of operations for <a href="https://www.gibsonconnect.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label="Gibson Connect (opens in a new tab)">Gibson Connect</a>. He said each district was designed around landmarks or characteristics familiar to area residents. </p> <p>“Building more than 600 miles of fiber-to-the-home per phase is a large and time-intensive process,” Phillips adds.  “The good news is that those members who have been connected say they love the service.”</p> <figure class="wp-block-image"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="683" src="https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/Gibson-Broadband-Trey-Haywood1-1024x683.jpg" alt="Broadband service technician Trey Haywood of Gibson Connect installs high-speed internet components in the home of a Gibson EMC member. (Photo By: Jenni Lynn Rachels/Gibson EMC)" class="wp-image-6078" srcset="https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/Gibson-Broadband-Trey-Haywood1-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/Gibson-Broadband-Trey-Haywood1-300x200.jpg 300w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/Gibson-Broadband-Trey-Haywood1-768x512.jpg 768w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/Gibson-Broadband-Trey-Haywood1.jpg 1701w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption>Broadband service technician Trey Haywood of Gibson Connect installs high-speed internet components in the home of a Gibson EMC member. (Photo By: Jenni Lynn Rachels/Gibson EMC)</figcaption></figure> <p>So far, at least 30 percent of the members in 11 of the Gibson Connect zones are signed up, with some areas doubling the required advanced participation commitment. Work to extend broadband service from the co-op’s fiber-optic network to homes and businesses began in six zones as part of a phase one rollout. Five additional zones will be tackled in the recently announced phase two construction.</p> <p>“The broadband project has been promoted at grocery stores, parades and other events held throughout the co-op’s service territory,” said Rita Alexander, Gibson EMC’s vice president of human resources and member services. “We want our members to be a part of it so that the communities where they live and work will be able to get service sooner rather than later.”</p> <p>Co-op officials expect to have their broadband backbone completed before 2025.  </p> <p>“To help move the project along and hold down costs, we are vigorously pursuing grants for those areas that qualify,” said Rodamaker. Grants totaling more than $3 million have already been obtained from state and federal sources, and Gibson Connect will also seek additional low-interest loans and grants from USDA’s Rural Utilities Service as they become available. </p> <p><em>Read more on rural broadband:</em></p> <p><strong><a href="https://www.electric.coop/nreca-fcc-auction-broadband-rural-america/">Co-op Wins $51 Million for Broadband Networks Before Groundbreaking</a></strong></p> <p><a href="https://www.electric.coop/nreca-fcc-auction-broadband-rural-america/"><strong>NRECA Urges FCC to Advance $20 Billion Auction to Deliver Broadband to Rural America</strong></a></p> <p><a href="https://www.cooperative.com/programs-services/bts/Documents/Reports/Report-Broadband-Case-Studies-Summary-March-2019.pdf"><strong>Takeaways From NRECA’s Broadband Case Studies</strong></a><strong></strong></p> <p><em>Listen to a recent NRECA podcast episode on rural broadband:</em></p>  <iframe loading="lazy" src="//html5-player.libsyn.com/embed/episode/id/7486256/height/90/theme/custom/autoplay/no/autonext/no/thumbnail/yes/preload/no/no_addthis/no/direction/forward/render-playlist/no/custom-color/000000/" height="90" allowfullscreen webkitallowfullscreen mozallowfullscreen oallowfullscreen msallowfullscreen width="100%" scrolling="yes" class="iframe-class" frameborder="0"></iframe> </div> </section> </div> <div class="row"> <div class="col-md-12"> <section class="timeline-article-footer"> <small>Next in the Issue</small> <a class="article-next-post" data-next-article="timeline-modal-6065" title="Co-op Wins $51 Million for Broadband Networks Before Groundbreaking">Co-op Wins $51 Million for Broadband Networks Before Groundbreaking <span class="arrow"><i class="ci-long-arrow-right"></i></span></a> </section> </div> </div> </div> </article>  </section>  <section id="timeline-modal-6065" class="timeline-issues-article hidden"> <div class="jumbotron hero article bg-image" style="background-image: url('');"></div>  <article class="single"> <div class="container">  <div class="row"> <header class="col-md-12"> <div class="article-header"> <small class="article-category"> <a href="https://www.electric.coop/issues-and-policy/broadband">Broadband</a> </small> <h1 class="article-title">Co-op Wins $51 Million for Broadband Networks Before Groundbreaking</h1> <h3 class="article-subtitle"></h3> </div> </header> </div>  <div class="row"> <section class="col-md-3"> <div class="article-meta"> <div class="row"> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-date"> <span>Published</span>May 23, 2019 </div> </div> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-author"> <span>Author</span> Cathy Cash </div> </div> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-share">  <div class="social-share post"> <ul class="social"> <li><a class="facebook-share" href="https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=&title=" target="_blank"></a></li> <li><a class="twitter-share" href="https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?source=&text=&via=NRECANews " target="_blank"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewBox="0 0 512 512"><path d="M389.2 48h70.6L305.6 224.2 487 464H345L233.7 318.6 106.5 464H35.8L200.7 275.5 26.8 48H172.4L272.9 180.9 389.2 48zM364.4 421.8h39.1L151.1 88h-42L364.4 421.8z"/></svg></a></li> <li><a class="linkedin-share" href="http://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=&title=&summary=" target="_blank"></a></li> </ul> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </section> <section class="col-md-9"> <div class="article-content">  <figure class="wp-block-image"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="682" src="https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/tri-county-broadband-may-2019-1024x682.jpg" alt="Craig Eccher, president and CEO of Tri-County REC, explains the importance of broadband in rural Pennsylvania and his co-op’s strategy to deliver it. (Photo By: Cathy Cash/NRECA)" class="wp-image-6066" srcset="https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/tri-county-broadband-may-2019-1024x682.jpg 1024w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/tri-county-broadband-may-2019-300x200.jpg 300w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/tri-county-broadband-may-2019-768x511.jpg 768w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/tri-county-broadband-may-2019.jpg 1500w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption>Craig Eccher, president and CEO of Tri-County REC, explains the importance of broadband in rural Pennsylvania and his co-op’s strategy to deliver it. (Photo By: Cathy Cash/NRECA)</figcaption></figure> <p>A broadband buildout to more than 16,500 members of a Pennsylvania electric cooperative is nearly paid for before the first fiber cable is spliced.</p> <p>Through a convergence of federal, state and local funds and partnering, Tri-County Rural Electric Cooperative’s broadband subsidiary has acquired $51 million in grants to deliver high-speed internet access to its seven-county territory within three to six years. </p> <p>Groundbreaking for the 3,250-mile fiber network is slated for August.</p> <p>“We want to build broadband to deliver a better quality of life for our members,” said Craig Eccher, president and CEO of the <a href="http://www.tri-countyrec.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label="co-op based in Mansfield, Pennsylvania (opens in a new tab)">co-op based in Mansfield, Pennsylvania</a>. Eccher participated in an urban-rural digital divide discussion at the National League of Cities in Washington, D.C., on May 15.</p> <p>“We have the funding in place to build the system. We have infrastructure to make it happen.”</p> <p>Tri-Co Connections won a $32.5 million bid in the <a href="https://www.electric.coop/electric-co-ops-get-big-boost-rural-broadband-efforts-fcc-auction/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label="Federal Communications Commission’s Connect America Fund II (opens in a new tab)">Federal Communications Commission’s Connect America Fund II</a> auction to serve rural census blocks rejected by the large national broadband providers.</p> <p>That led to the “first marriage” between a co-op and the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation and a $17.5 million grant for broadband infrastructure, Eccher said. Then came a $1.5 million grant from the Pennsylvania Redevelopment Assistance Capital Project program.</p> <p>“If we didn’t win CAF II money, we didn’t win state money,” he said.</p> <p>In April, the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission determined that Tri-Co Connections met its criteria to serve as an “eligible telecommunications carrier.” It was the state’s first such designation to an electric co-op broadband subsidiary, which potentially carries additional regulatory obligations. </p> <p>Three years ago, Tri-County REC sent out grassroots teams to discover the connectivity needs for health care, education and economic development in north-central Pennsylvania. </p> <p>Almost half the school-age children receive subsidized breakfasts, and more than half will not seek secondary education. Instead, they will enter the military or the workforce, securing jobs created by the natural gas industry and others, he said. Broadband could spur economic development and teleworking to meet their needs. </p> <p>“The infrastructure is in the school, [but] when they go home there is no connectivity. How do they get their schoolwork done?” said Eccher.</p> <p>“It is important that we get this connectivity. We are concerned about these kids when these gas jobs dry up. We need to be smart about this and do better for that generation.”</p> <p><em>Read more on rural broadband:</em></p> <p><a href="https://www.electric.coop/nreca-fcc-auction-broadband-rural-america/"><strong>NRECA Urges FCC to Advance $20 Billion Auction to Deliver Broadband to Rural America</strong></a></p> <p><a href="https://www.cooperative.com/programs-services/bts/Documents/Reports/Report-Broadband-Case-Studies-Summary-March-2019.pdf"><strong>Takeaways From NRECA’s Broadband Case Studies</strong></a></p> <p><em>Listen to a recent NRECA podcast episode on rural broadband:</em></p>  <iframe loading="lazy" src="//html5-player.libsyn.com/embed/episode/id/7486256/height/90/theme/custom/autoplay/no/autonext/no/thumbnail/yes/preload/no/no_addthis/no/direction/forward/render-playlist/no/custom-color/000000/" height="90" allowfullscreen webkitallowfullscreen mozallowfullscreen oallowfullscreen msallowfullscreen width="100%" scrolling="yes" class="iframe-class" frameborder="0"></iframe> </div> </section> </div> <div class="row"> <div class="col-md-12"> <section class="timeline-article-footer"> <small>Next in the Issue</small> <a class="article-next-post" data-next-article="timeline-modal-6041" title="FCC Appoints NRECA’s Matheson to Broadband Deployment Advisory Committee">FCC Appoints NRECA’s Matheson to Broadband Deployment Advisory Committee <span class="arrow"><i class="ci-long-arrow-right"></i></span></a> </section> </div> </div> </div> </article>  </section>  <section id="timeline-modal-6041" class="timeline-issues-article hidden"> <div class="jumbotron hero article bg-image" style="background-image: url('');"></div>  <article class="single"> <div class="container">  <div class="row"> <header class="col-md-12"> <div class="article-header"> <small class="article-category"> <a href="https://www.electric.coop/issues-and-policy/broadband">Broadband</a> </small> <h1 class="article-title">FCC Appoints NRECA’s Matheson to Broadband Deployment Advisory Committee</h1> <h3 class="article-subtitle"></h3> </div> </header> </div>  <div class="row"> <section class="col-md-3"> <div class="article-meta"> <div class="row"> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-date"> <span>Published</span>May 17, 2019 </div> </div> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-author"> <span>Author</span> Media Relations </div> </div> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-share">  <div class="social-share post"> <ul class="social"> <li><a class="facebook-share" href="https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=&title=" target="_blank"></a></li> <li><a class="twitter-share" href="https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?source=&text=&via=NRECANews " target="_blank"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewBox="0 0 512 512"><path d="M389.2 48h70.6L305.6 224.2 487 464H345L233.7 318.6 106.5 464H35.8L200.7 275.5 26.8 48H172.4L272.9 180.9 389.2 48zM364.4 421.8h39.1L151.1 88h-42L364.4 421.8z"/></svg></a></li> <li><a class="linkedin-share" href="http://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=&title=&summary=" target="_blank"></a></li> </ul> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </section> <section class="col-md-9"> <div class="article-content">  <p><strong>ARLINGTON, Va.</strong> – Federal Communications Commission Chairman Ajit Pai has appointed National Rural Electric Cooperative Association CEO Jim Matheson to serve on a Broadband Deployment Advisory Committee. The committee will identify new ways to encourage the expansion of broadband to rural and urban low-income communities, as well as disaster response and recovery capabilities in the communications sector.</p> <p>“Expanded broadband access is a key ingredient for a healthy 21<sup>st</sup> century rural economy,” Matheson said.  “Electric co-ops are committed to improving the quality of life in America’s rural communities. I look forward to bringing that community focus to the FCC and fostering a conversation around policy changes to bridge the digital divide.”  </p> <p>Matheson will serve on the committee with 35 other leaders from various sectors. The committee will meet for the first time on June 13.</p> <p>About 24 million Americans lack broadband access, most of them in rural communities. More than 100 electric cooperatives are working to solve this problem by leveraging partnerships and investments in communications infrastructure to connect communities.</p> <p><em>The </em><a href="http://www.electric.coop/#_blank"><em>National Rural Electric Cooperative Association</em></a><em> is the national trade association representing more than 900 local electric cooperatives. From growing suburbs to remote farming communities, electric co-ops serve as engines of economic development for 42 million Americans across 56 percent of the nation’s landscape. As local businesses built by the consumers they serve, electric cooperatives have meaningful ties to rural America and invest $12 billion annually in their communities.</em></p> <p style="text-align:center">-###-</p> </div> </section> </div> <div class="row"> <div class="col-md-12"> <section class="timeline-article-footer"> <small>Next in the Issue</small> <a class="article-next-post" data-next-article="timeline-modal-6027" title="New Georgia Law Makes Clear That Electric Co-ops Can Enter the Broadband Space">New Georgia Law Makes Clear That Electric Co-ops Can Enter the Broadband Space <span class="arrow"><i class="ci-long-arrow-right"></i></span></a> </section> </div> </div> </div> </article>  </section>  <section id="timeline-modal-6027" class="timeline-issues-article hidden"> <div class="jumbotron hero article bg-image" style="background-image: url('');"></div>  <article class="single"> <div class="container">  <div class="row"> <header class="col-md-12"> <div class="article-header"> <small class="article-category"> <a href="https://www.electric.coop/issues-and-policy/broadband">Broadband</a> </small> <h1 class="article-title">New Georgia Law Makes Clear That Electric Co-ops Can Enter the Broadband Space</h1> <h3 class="article-subtitle"></h3> </div> </header> </div>  <div class="row"> <section class="col-md-3"> <div class="article-meta"> <div class="row"> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-date"> <span>Published</span>May 14, 2019 </div> </div> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-author"> <span>Author</span> Cathy Cash </div> </div> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-share">  <div class="social-share post"> <ul class="social"> <li><a class="facebook-share" href="https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=&title=" target="_blank"></a></li> <li><a class="twitter-share" href="https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?source=&text=&via=NRECANews " target="_blank"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewBox="0 0 512 512"><path d="M389.2 48h70.6L305.6 224.2 487 464H345L233.7 318.6 106.5 464H35.8L200.7 275.5 26.8 48H172.4L272.9 180.9 389.2 48zM364.4 421.8h39.1L151.1 88h-42L364.4 421.8z"/></svg></a></li> <li><a class="linkedin-share" href="http://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=&title=&summary=" target="_blank"></a></li> </ul> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </section> <section class="col-md-9"> <div class="article-content">  <figure class="wp-block-image"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="654" src="https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/georgia-emc-broadband-1024x654.jpg" alt="Electric co-op leaders were among those on hand as Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp signed a law clarifying co-op authority to pursue broadband services. (Photo Courtesy of Georgia EMC)" class="wp-image-6028" srcset="https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/georgia-emc-broadband-1024x654.jpg 1024w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/georgia-emc-broadband-300x192.jpg 300w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/georgia-emc-broadband-768x491.jpg 768w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/georgia-emc-broadband.jpg 1870w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption>Electric co-op leaders were among those on hand as Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp signed a law clarifying co-op authority to pursue broadband services. (Photo Courtesy of Georgia EMC)</figcaption></figure> <p>Georgia electric cooperatives now have legal clarity to pursue retail broadband for their consumer-members and federal funding to make it happen.  </p> <p>A new state law gives the go-ahead to co-ops that want to deliver broadband services or improve internet access in their service territories. </p> <p>“This will open the door for more of our co-ops to take a serious look at broadband where they might have been reluctant before,” said Dennis Chastain<em>,</em> president and CEO of the <a href="https://georgiaemc.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label="Georgia Electric Membership Corp (opens in a new tab)">Georgia Electric Membership Corp</a>.</p> <p>“Access to broadband services can give rural Georgians a fair chance in our state’s evolving economy.” <em> </em></p> <p>The law also removes the uncertainty that has kept co-ops in Georgia from accessing federal funds for rural broadband, said Jason Bragg, Georgia EMC’s vice president of government affairs. </p> <p>The Department of Agriculture’s <a href="https://www.cooperative.com/news/Pages/co-ops-eligible-for-usda-grants-loans-rural-broadband.aspx" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label="ReConnect loan and grant program (opens in a new tab)">ReConnect loan and grant program</a> for rural broadband awards additional points to applicants from states that have granted utilities specific legal authority to provide broadband. </p> <p>“Now, large urban co-ops and small rural co-ops can look at what works best for them in their market,” Bragg said.</p> <p>The law further clears up the “gray area” for co-ops that want to lease dark fiber—excess fiber optic connections from their internal communications network—to internet providers, he said.</p> <p>Chastain said he expects most co-ops may consider partnerships rather than take on the operational and budgetary challenges involved in entering the broadband space. </p> <p>For <a rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label="Habersham EMC (opens in a new tab)" href="http://www.habershamemc.com/" target="_blank">Habersham EMC</a> in Clarkesville, Georgia, and <a href="https://www.brmemc.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label="Blue Ridge Mountain Electric Membership Corp. (opens in a new tab)">Blue Ridge Mountain Electric Membership Corp.</a>, which are already in the broadband business, the new law “gives them the legal certainty they did not have before,” he said.</p> <p>BRMEMC, based in Young Harris, this winter <a href="https://www.electric.coop/georgia-co-op-broadband-fiber-drone-improves-safety/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label="delivered broadband to Blood Mountain (opens in a new tab)">delivered broadband to Blood Mountain</a> and a well-known hikers’ shelter on the Appalachian Trail.</p> <p>Georgia joins <a rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label="Mississippi (opens in a new tab)" href="https://www.electric.coop/mississippi-law-frees-co-ops-to-pursue-broadband-issues-remain/" target="_blank">Mississippi</a>, <a rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label="Indiana (opens in a new tab)" href="https://www.cooperative.com/news/pages/jackson-county-remc-indiana-broadband.aspx" target="_blank">Indiana</a>, <a href="https://www.electric.coop/missouri-tennessee-pass-easement-laws-helpful-rural-broadband/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label="Tennessee (opens in a new tab)">Tennessee</a> and others in recently lifting legal hurdles for electric co-ops to explore ways to deliver high-speed internet access.  </p> <p>Chastain praised Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp, state Sen. Steve Gooch and state Rep. Jay Powell for their recent action to get the broadband bill enacted.</p> <p>“The passage of Senate Bill 2 encourages continued dialogue among a variety of stakeholders to identify the best and most efficient way to expand broadband service,” he said. “Georgia’s EMCs have a reputation for the careful planning of reliable, safe and affordable delivery of electricity. The same due diligence will be essential when evaluating broadband services.”</p> <p><em>Cathy Cash is a staff writer for NRECA.<br><br></em></p> </div> </section> </div> <div class="row"> <div class="col-md-12"> <section class="timeline-article-footer"> <small>Next in the Issue</small> <a class="article-next-post" data-next-article="timeline-modal-6018" title="NRECA Urges FCC to Advance $20 Billion Auction to Deliver Broadband to Rural America">NRECA Urges FCC to Advance $20 Billion Auction to Deliver Broadband to Rural America <span class="arrow"><i class="ci-long-arrow-right"></i></span></a> </section> </div> </div> </div> </article>  </section>  <section id="timeline-modal-6018" class="timeline-issues-article hidden"> <div class="jumbotron hero article bg-image" style="background-image: url('');"></div>  <article class="single"> <div class="container">  <div class="row"> <header class="col-md-12"> <div class="article-header"> <small class="article-category"> <a href="https://www.electric.coop/issues-and-policy/broadband">Broadband</a> </small> <h1 class="article-title">NRECA Urges FCC to Advance $20 Billion Auction to Deliver Broadband to Rural America</h1> <h3 class="article-subtitle"></h3> </div> </header> </div>  <div class="row"> <section class="col-md-3"> <div class="article-meta"> <div class="row"> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-date"> <span>Published</span>May 14, 2019 </div> </div> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-author"> <span>Author</span> Cathy Cash </div> </div> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-share">  <div class="social-share post"> <ul class="social"> <li><a class="facebook-share" href="https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=&title=" target="_blank"></a></li> <li><a class="twitter-share" href="https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?source=&text=&via=NRECANews " target="_blank"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewBox="0 0 512 512"><path d="M389.2 48h70.6L305.6 224.2 487 464H345L233.7 318.6 106.5 464H35.8L200.7 275.5 26.8 48H172.4L272.9 180.9 389.2 48zM364.4 421.8h39.1L151.1 88h-42L364.4 421.8z"/></svg></a></li> <li><a class="linkedin-share" href="http://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=&title=&summary=" target="_blank"></a></li> </ul> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </section> <section class="col-md-9"> <div class="article-content">  <figure class="wp-block-image"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="683" src="https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/BARC63-nreca-matsui-1024x683.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-6019" srcset="https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/BARC63-nreca-matsui-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/BARC63-nreca-matsui-300x200.jpg 300w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/BARC63-nreca-matsui-768x512.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption>NRECA, along with America’s Communications Association and NTCA–The Rural Broadband Association, are asking the FCC to advance a new $20 billion auction for building rural broadband. (Photo By: NRECA)</figcaption></figure> <p>About $20 billion in federal funds may be available as early as next year for electric cooperatives pursuing broadband service in rural America.</p> <p>A new auction, dubbed the Rural Digital Opportunities Fund (RDOF), is expected to offer up to $20.4 billion to build broadband in unserved or underserved census blocks identified by the Federal Communications Commission. </p> <p>RDOF will be a huge encore to the FCC’s $2 billion Connect America Fund II auction in 2018. CAF II marked the first time that electric co-ops were allowed to bid in such an auction, and <a href="https://www.electric.coop/electric-co-ops-get-big-boost-rural-broadband-efforts-fcc-auction/">about 35 co-ops won over $225 million</a>, which will be distributed over 10 years.</p> <p>NRECA is urging the commission to expedite rules for the RDOF so the auction can be held in 2020 and not pushed back to a later date.  </p> <p>“The RDOF presents an unparalleled opportunity for electric cooperatives interested in deploying broadband to their communities,” said Brian O’Hara, NRECA regulatory issues director for telecom and broadband.</p> <p>“Electric cooperatives accounted for about 30 percent of all winning CAF II bids. A majority of these co-ops are deploying gigabit networks, which is about 1,000 times faster than FCC-defined broadband,” he said. “We will be working to build on that success with the FCC to ensure our members can compete and succeed in the next auction.”</p> <p>NRECA, along with America’s Communications Association and NTCA–The Rural Broadband Association, asked the FCC in a <a href="https://www.cooperative.com/programs-services/government-relations/regulatory-issues/Pages/Letter-FCC-Rural-Digital-Opportunities-Fund.aspx">May 9 letter</a> to fast-track its efforts for the new auction. </p> <p>The trade groups also recommended that the FCC use the most current information to determine where high-speed internet access remains unavailable. “[B]y using the latest [semiannual] Form 477 data in conjunction with a robust challenge process, the commission can more accurately identify unserved census blocks and target support to where it is needed,” the groups told the FCC. </p> <p>“NRECA looks forward to the FCC opening a proceeding to establish the rules for the RDOF auction and will be actively involved at the agency in helping shape the rules,” O’Hara said. </p> <p>The FCC holds a broadband benchmark of 25 megabits per second download/3 Mbps upload, according to its 2018 Broadband Deployment Report.</p> <p><em>Listen to a recent NRECA podcast episode on rural broadband: </em></p>  <iframe loading="lazy" src="//html5-player.libsyn.com/embed/episode/id/7486256/height/90/theme/custom/autoplay/no/autonext/no/thumbnail/yes/preload/no/no_addthis/no/direction/forward/render-playlist/no/custom-color/000000/" height="90" allowfullscreen webkitallowfullscreen mozallowfullscreen oallowfullscreen msallowfullscreen width="100%" scrolling="yes" class="iframe-class" frameborder="0"></iframe> <p></p> <p></p> <p><em>Read more on rural broadband:<br></em><strong><a href="https://www.cooperative.com/programs-services/bts/Documents/Reports/Report-Broadband-Case-Studies-Summary-March-2019.pdf">Takeaways From NRECA’s Broadband Case Studies</a></strong></p> <p></p> </div> </section> </div> <div class="row"> <div class="col-md-12"> <section class="timeline-article-footer"> <small>Next in the Issue</small> <a class="article-next-post" data-next-article="timeline-modal-5805" title="Easement Clarity Would Help Texas Co-ops Deliver Broadband">Easement Clarity Would Help Texas Co-ops Deliver Broadband <span class="arrow"><i class="ci-long-arrow-right"></i></span></a> </section> </div> </div> </div> </article>  </section>  <section id="timeline-modal-5805" class="timeline-issues-article hidden"> <div class="jumbotron hero article bg-image" style="background-image: url('');"></div>  <article class="single"> <div class="container">  <div class="row"> <header class="col-md-12"> <div class="article-header"> <small class="article-category"> <a href="https://www.electric.coop/issues-and-policy/broadband">Broadband</a> </small> <h1 class="article-title">Easement Clarity Would Help Texas Co-ops Deliver Broadband</h1> <h3 class="article-subtitle"></h3> </div> </header> </div>  <div class="row"> <section class="col-md-3"> <div class="article-meta"> <div class="row"> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-date"> <span>Published</span>April 8, 2019 </div> </div> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-author"> <span>Author</span> Cathy Cash </div> </div> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-share">  <div class="social-share post"> <ul class="social"> <li><a class="facebook-share" href="https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=&title=" target="_blank"></a></li> <li><a class="twitter-share" href="https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?source=&text=&via=NRECANews " target="_blank"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewBox="0 0 512 512"><path d="M389.2 48h70.6L305.6 224.2 487 464H345L233.7 318.6 106.5 464H35.8L200.7 275.5 26.8 48H172.4L272.9 180.9 389.2 48zM364.4 421.8h39.1L151.1 88h-42L364.4 421.8z"/></svg></a></li> <li><a class="linkedin-share" href="http://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=&title=&summary=" target="_blank"></a></li> </ul> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </section> <section class="col-md-9"> <div class="article-content">  <figure class="wp-block-image"><a href="https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/gvec-broadband-april-2019.jpg"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="682" src="https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/gvec-broadband-april-2019-1024x682.jpg" alt="A GVEC technician installs broadband fiber-to-the-home in south-central Texas. The co-op plans to offer service to as many as 14,000 customers this year. (Photo By: GVEC)" class="wp-image-5806" srcset="https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/gvec-broadband-april-2019-1024x682.jpg 1024w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/gvec-broadband-april-2019-300x200.jpg 300w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/gvec-broadband-april-2019-768x512.jpg 768w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/gvec-broadband-april-2019.jpg 2000w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></a><figcaption>A GVEC technician installs broadband fiber-to-the-home in south-central Texas. The co-op plans to offer service to as many as 14,000 customers this year. (Photo By: GVEC)</figcaption></figure> <p>Guadalupe Valley Electric Cooperative knows a thing or two about providing internet access to rural America on a co-op’s budget. It’s been doing so for 20 years.</p> <p>“We entered the business when the internet was just gaining traction,” said <a href="https://www.gvec.org/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label="GVEC (opens in a new tab)">GVEC</a> General Manager Darren Schauer. </p> <p>Today, more than 12,500 GVEC members in south-central Texas are receiving broadband services over its wireless and fiber-to-the home networks. </p> <p>“We are seeing strong demand for our service,” he said. “We are realizing customer take rates in the range of 60 to 80 percent within the first 18 months of having the service available.”</p> <p>GVEC, based in Gonzales, and a handful of Texas co-ops looking into FTTH are hopeful new state legislation will alleviate a major delay and cost for co-op broadband: easement renegotiations. </p> <p>Texas law requires co-ops to sign new right-of-way agreements with landowners to add fiber to utility infrastructure. A bill moving through the legislature would make it clear that electric co-ops could use existing easements to provide broadband.</p> <p>Distances across properties are huge in Texas, and absentee landowners are common. Hiring contractors to obtain easement permission from thousands of landowners can cost the co-op up to $500,000 per year, said Schauer, who recently testified before a state Senate committee considering the bill.</p> <p>“We can install fiber on the pole but we can’t deliver broadband without receiving a new easement,” he said. “If we can get legislation passed, we can take those resources and apply them to building additional fiber.” </p> <p>Low population density in rural communities also carries higher service costs, but Schauer said, “We want to be sure we are doing something in each of the counties that we serve.”</p> <p>GVEC, which serves electricity in five counties and parts of 13 others, is building broadband into each of the five primary counties. The meters in these areas range from nine to four per mile. </p> <p>GVEC first offered dial-up connection to the World Wide Web to its members in 1998 when no other provider would. Next, the co-op offered multi-point wireless access with speeds up to 25 megabits per second—what the Federal Communications Commission today calls broadband.</p> <p>The co-op began exploring FTTH in 2013, targeting a small, densely populated area and developing a team to test itself on planning and design. </p> <p>GVEC has since reached more than 9,000 homes and businesses with broadband fiber starting at 100 mbps and plans to build access to another 4,000 to 5,000 this year, Schauer said.</p> <p>“From our perspective, broadband fiber-to-the-home has to pay for itself,” said Schauer. “We saw what type of take rates we could get. The investment and return we made was in line with our projections.” </p> <p>Schauer believes broadband delivered by electric co-ops is here to stay.</p> <p>“Broadband is really lagging across rural areas,” he said. “It is only going to grow in the future as more and more people become dependent on high-speed internet.”</p> <p><em>Cathy Cash is a staff writer at NRECA.</em></p> </div> </section> </div> <div class="row"> <div class="col-md-12"> <section class="timeline-article-footer"> <small>Next in the Issue</small> <a class="article-next-post" data-next-article="timeline-modal-5647" title="At USDA Forum, NRECA Chief Economist Details Local Impact of Rural Broadband Gap">At USDA Forum, NRECA Chief Economist Details Local Impact of Rural Broadband Gap <span class="arrow"><i class="ci-long-arrow-right"></i></span></a> </section> </div> </div> </div> </article>  </section>  <section id="timeline-modal-5647" class="timeline-issues-article hidden"> <div class="jumbotron hero article bg-image" style="background-image: url('');"></div>  <article class="single"> <div class="container">  <div class="row"> <header class="col-md-12"> <div class="article-header"> <small class="article-category"> <a href="https://www.electric.coop/issues-and-policy/broadband">Broadband</a> </small> <h1 class="article-title">At USDA Forum, NRECA Chief Economist Details Local Impact of Rural Broadband Gap</h1> <h3 class="article-subtitle"></h3> </div> </header> </div>  <div class="row"> <section class="col-md-3"> <div class="article-meta"> <div class="row"> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-date"> <span>Published</span>March 4, 2019 </div> </div> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-author"> <span>Author</span> Cathy Cash </div> </div> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-share">  <div class="social-share post"> <ul class="social"> <li><a class="facebook-share" href="https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=&title=" target="_blank"></a></li> <li><a class="twitter-share" href="https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?source=&text=&via=NRECANews " target="_blank"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewBox="0 0 512 512"><path d="M389.2 48h70.6L305.6 224.2 487 464H345L233.7 318.6 106.5 464H35.8L200.7 275.5 26.8 48H172.4L272.9 180.9 389.2 48zM364.4 421.8h39.1L151.1 88h-42L364.4 421.8z"/></svg></a></li> <li><a class="linkedin-share" href="http://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=&title=&summary=" target="_blank"></a></li> </ul> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </section> <section class="col-md-9"> <div class="article-content">  <p><figure id="attachment_5648" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-5648" style="width: 1024px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><a href="https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/broadband-march-2019.jpg"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="size-large wp-image-5648" src="https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/broadband-march-2019-1024x682.jpg" alt="Millions of rural Americans without broadband access are missing out on billions of dollars in quality-of-life benefits, such as better health care, jobs and education, NRECA Chief Economist Russell Tucker says. (Photo By: Alexis Matsui/NRECA)" width="1024" height="682" srcset="https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/broadband-march-2019-1024x682.jpg 1024w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/broadband-march-2019-300x200.jpg 300w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/broadband-march-2019-768x512.jpg 768w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/broadband-march-2019.jpg 2000w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-5648" class="wp-caption-text">Millions of rural Americans without broadband access are missing out on billions of dollars in quality-of-life benefits, such as better health care, jobs and education, NRECA Chief Economist Russell Tucker says. (Photo By: Alexis Matsui/NRECA)</figcaption></figure></p> <p>Millions of rural Americans without broadband internet access today are losing out on billions of dollars in quality-of-life benefits ranging from better employment and education to commerce and health care.</p> <p>That’s the word from NRECA Chief Economist Russell Tucker in his presentation at the <a href="https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/NRECA_Broadband_Infrastructure_AgForum_2-21-2019.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">USDA’s 95th Annual Agricultural Outlook Forum</a> in late February.</p> <p>“Access to broadband is essential for the economic health of rural communities,” said Tucker, lead author of the recent NRECA report “<a href="https://www.cooperative.com/topics/telecommunications-broadband/Pages/Unlocking-the-Value-of-Broadband-for-Electric-Cooperative-Consumer-Members.aspx">Unlocking the Value of Broadband for Electric Cooperative Consumer-Members</a>.”</p> <p>Co-ops deliver electricity to at least 6.3 million households that NRECA estimates to be without broadband access. This lack of access limits economic value for consumer-members on several fronts to the tune of $68 billion over 20 years, Tucker said.</p> <p>“Many electric co-ops are concerned about the economic health and long-term viability of their communities if broadband access is not attained,” he said. “If broadband is not available in rural America, will parts of the rural population decide to move to where it is available? This is critical because the labor force is drawn from the population.”</p> <p>The bright spot? Electric co-ops are already working hard to bridge the digital divide.</p> <p>“Today, more than 100 co-ops are at varying stages of delivering retail broadband solutions. Many more are assessing the feasibility of providing retail service,” Tucker said.</p> <p>“To the extent that broadband access provides an opportunity to maintain or grow the rural workforce combined with productivity-enhancing applications—such as precision agriculture—then this bodes well for local economic growth.”</p> <p>Co-ops are finding ways to deliver high-speed internet as a byproduct of <a href="https://www.cooperative.com/topics/telecommunications-broadband/Pages/The-Value-of-a-Broadband-Backbone-for-Electric-Cooperatives.aspx">broadband backbone communications systems</a> they are building to enable the application of smart grid technologies. These high-capacity, low-latency communications networks offer a cost-efficient opportunity to deliver retail broadband to communities served by the co-ops, Tucker said.</p> <p>“In this way, electric co-ops are part of the solution to the digital divide,” he said.</p> <p>By connecting critical infrastructure and delivering high volumes of data quickly, a broadband backbone alone improves grid reliability and saves money even for smaller co-ops.</p> <p>A 10,000-member electric co-op could avoid grid operation costs of about $2 million to $3 million a year from smart grid applications enabled by operating a broadband backbone, NRECA research found.</p> <p><strong>Read More:</strong></p> <p><a href="https://www.electric.coop/5-takeaways-nrecas-study-value-broadband-consumer-members/">5 Takeaways From NRECA’s Study on the Value of Broadband for Consumer-Members</a></p> <p><a href="https://www.cooperative.com/news/Pages/q-and-a-benefits-and-challenges-electric-co-op-broadband.aspx">Q&A: The Benefits and Challenges of Building a Broadband Backbone</a></p> <p><a href="https://www.cooperative.com/conferences-education/web-based-learning/the-value-of-a-broadband-backbone/Pages/default.aspx">The Value of a Broadband Backbone for America’s Electric Cooperatives: A Benefit Assessment Study</a></p> </div> </section> </div> <div class="row"> <div class="col-md-12"> <section class="timeline-article-footer"> <small>Next in the Issue</small> <a class="article-next-post" data-next-article="timeline-modal-5554" title="Mississippi Law Frees Co-ops to Pursue Broadband, but Cost, Density Issues Remain">Mississippi Law Frees Co-ops to Pursue Broadband, but Cost, Density Issues Remain <span class="arrow"><i class="ci-long-arrow-right"></i></span></a> </section> </div> </div> </div> </article>  </section>  <section id="timeline-modal-5554" class="timeline-issues-article hidden"> <div class="jumbotron hero article bg-image" style="background-image: url('');"></div>  <article class="single"> <div class="container">  <div class="row"> <header class="col-md-12"> <div class="article-header"> <small class="article-category"> <a href="https://www.electric.coop/issues-and-policy/broadband">Broadband</a> </small> <h1 class="article-title">Mississippi Law Frees Co-ops to Pursue Broadband, but Cost, Density Issues Remain</h1> <h3 class="article-subtitle"></h3> </div> </header> </div>  <div class="row"> <section class="col-md-3"> <div class="article-meta"> <div class="row"> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-date"> <span>Published</span>February 11, 2019 </div> </div> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-author"> <span>Author</span> Cathy Cash </div> </div> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-share">  <div class="social-share post"> <ul class="social"> <li><a class="facebook-share" href="https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=&title=" target="_blank"></a></li> <li><a class="twitter-share" href="https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?source=&text=&via=NRECANews " target="_blank"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewBox="0 0 512 512"><path d="M389.2 48h70.6L305.6 224.2 487 464H345L233.7 318.6 106.5 464H35.8L200.7 275.5 26.8 48H172.4L272.9 180.9 389.2 48zM364.4 421.8h39.1L151.1 88h-42L364.4 421.8z"/></svg></a></li> <li><a class="linkedin-share" href="http://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=&title=&summary=" target="_blank"></a></li> </ul> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </section> <section class="col-md-9"> <div class="article-content">  <p><figure id="attachment_5555" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-5555" style="width: 1024px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><a href="https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/Mississippi-statewide-broadband-Bill-Signing.jpg"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="wp-image-5555 size-large" src="https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/Mississippi-statewide-broadband-Bill-Signing-1024x683.jpg" alt="Mississippi Gov. Phil Bryant signs a law to allow electric co-ops to pursue broadband as supporters, including statewide CEO Michael Callahan (third from left, second row), look on. (Photo By: Electric Cooperatives of Mississippi)" width="1024" height="683" srcset="https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/Mississippi-statewide-broadband-Bill-Signing-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/Mississippi-statewide-broadband-Bill-Signing-300x200.jpg 300w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/Mississippi-statewide-broadband-Bill-Signing-768x512.jpg 768w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/Mississippi-statewide-broadband-Bill-Signing.jpg 1800w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-5555" class="wp-caption-text">Mississippi Gov. Phil Bryant signs a law to allow electric co-ops to pursue broadband as supporters, including statewide CEO Michael Callahan (third from left, second row), look on. (Photo By: Electric Cooperatives of Mississippi)</figcaption></figure></p> <p>A new law in Mississippi is unleashing electric cooperatives to explore broadband internet access for their members. But significant financial and density barriers for rural connectivity remain.</p> <p>“We got permission from the legislature, now we need patience from everybody,” said Michael Callahan, CEO of <a href="http://ecm.coop/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Electric Cooperatives of Mississippi</a>.</p> <p>Gov. Phil Bryant signed the bipartisan Mississippi Broadband Enabling Act on Jan. 30 after it cleared the state Senate unanimously and the House 115-3.</p> <p>The new law does not mandate that electric co-ops pursue broadband but expands their authority to do so through an affiliate that is separate from their electric service. Co-ops can hang broadband fiber on their existing power poles and lease it to the affiliate. Or, the affiliate can partner with an internet provider to get the job done.</p> <p>With internet access below standard or nonexistent across Mississippi, alliances of businesses, civic groups and colleges last year requested legal clarity for electric co-ops to enter the broadband space.</p> <p>“There was a large push from citizens in Mississippi who live in rural areas,” said Jason Siegfried, president and CEO of <a href="https://www.southernpine.coop/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Southern Pine Electric</a>, headquartered in Taylorsville.</p> <p>When it comes to internet access in his co-op’s service territory, “a large portion has none at all,” he said.</p> <p>That means a high percentage of children cannot do online homework assignments, houses are harder to sell, and farmers lack the advantage of smart equipment to run their poultry houses, he said.</p> <p>Upon learning of Southern Pine’s internal fiber network, one elderly member made a personal plea to the co-op. “His doctors told him that if he had a good enough internet connection, he wouldn’t have to drive 30 miles one-way for them to get data from his pacemaker,” Siegfried said.</p> <p>Southern Pine Electric is one of many co-ops undertaking feasibility studies on how to bring their members affordable high-speed internet.</p> <p>“Once we have a fully vetted business plan that our board is confident in, and our members are absolutely supportive of us doing this, we can move forward,” Siegfried said.</p> <h4>Biggest Boardroom Decision</h4> <p>The rural nature of Mississippi makes broadband delivery an expensive proposition.</p> <p>“Projects of this magnitude could be the biggest decision made in the boardroom in some time,” said Siegfried.</p> <p>A study commissioned by a majority of Mississippi’s 25 co-ops estimates costs at $1.5 billion to deliver broadband fiber-to-the-home to 75 percent of their members.</p> <p>“Our biggest problem is our density,” said Callahan. “Each co-op will have to look at its own demographics and density and whether it makes sense for them to do this.”</p> <p>Co-ops in some parts of the state have as few as four customers per mile of powerline, he said. The national average for co-ops is about eight customers per mile.</p> <p>With the new law, two co-ops have said they may build a broadband business and initiate connections as early as next year, and already internet providers “are upgrading their speeds and bringing their prices down,” said Callahan. One general manager told him the local cable company now plans to expand service and deploy fiber.</p> <p>“Several independent telephone companies have also reached out to co-ops to work together. They are exploring those possibilities,” he said.</p> <p>“The new law provides our electric co-ops various opportunities to provide or assist in delivering broadband services in Mississippi. And that was the goal of the bill.”</p> <p><em>Cathy Cash is a staff writer at NRECA.</em></p> </div> </section> </div> <div class="row"> <div class="col-md-12"> <section class="timeline-article-footer"> <small>Next in the Issue</small> <a class="article-next-post" data-next-article="timeline-modal-5531" title="NRECA’s Matheson on SOTU: Find Common Ground, Work Together for Needs of Rural America">NRECA’s Matheson on SOTU: Find Common Ground, Work Together for Needs of Rural America <span class="arrow"><i class="ci-long-arrow-right"></i></span></a> </section> </div> </div> </div> </article>  </section>  <section id="timeline-modal-5531" class="timeline-issues-article hidden"> <div class="jumbotron hero article bg-image" style="background-image: url('');"></div>  <article class="single"> <div class="container">  <div class="row"> <header class="col-md-12"> <div class="article-header"> <small class="article-category"> <a href="https://www.electric.coop/issues-and-policy/broadband">Broadband</a> </small> <h1 class="article-title">NRECA’s Matheson on SOTU: Find Common Ground, Work Together for Needs of Rural America</h1> <h3 class="article-subtitle"></h3> </div> </header> </div>  <div class="row"> <section class="col-md-3"> <div class="article-meta"> <div class="row"> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-date"> <span>Published</span>February 5, 2019 </div> </div> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-author"> <span>Author</span> Media Relations </div> </div> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-share">  <div class="social-share post"> <ul class="social"> <li><a class="facebook-share" href="https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=&title=" target="_blank"></a></li> <li><a class="twitter-share" href="https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?source=&text=&via=NRECANews " target="_blank"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewBox="0 0 512 512"><path d="M389.2 48h70.6L305.6 224.2 487 464H345L233.7 318.6 106.5 464H35.8L200.7 275.5 26.8 48H172.4L272.9 180.9 389.2 48zM364.4 421.8h39.1L151.1 88h-42L364.4 421.8z"/></svg></a></li> <li><a class="linkedin-share" href="http://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=&title=&summary=" target="_blank"></a></li> </ul> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </section> <section class="col-md-9"> <div class="article-content">  <p><strong>ARLINGTON, Va.</strong> – National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA) CEO Jim Matheson issued the following statement in response to President Trump’s State of the Union address:</p> <p>“Rural America is counting on policymakers to find common ground and work together to address the needs of rural communities — needs that transcend politics and demand compromise and collaboration,” said Matheson. “Improving our nation’s aging infrastructure is a great place to start.</p> <p>“In the 21<sup>st</sup> century economy, updated roads and bridges have diminished value if they lead to rural communities that lack modern infrastructure like broadband access. It’s important for policymakers to work together and explore new infrastructure initiatives to help maintain and modernize the electric grid and bridge the digital divide.</p> <p>“Electric cooperatives work arm in arm with more than 42 million Americans and serve as engines of economic development throughout their communities. We stand ready to work with every policymaker who shares our goal of a brighter future for rural America.”</p> <p>According to the FCC, an estimated 24 million rural Americans lack broadband internet access. <a href="https://www.electric.coop/matheson-want-consumer-real-broadband/">More than 100 electric cooperatives</a> are working to bridge the digital divide by bringing broadband to their communities. Hundreds more are conducting broadband deployment feasibility studies.</p> <p><em>The </em><a href="https://www.electric.coop/"><em>National Rural Electric Cooperative Association</em></a><em> is the national trade association representing more than 900 local electric cooperatives. From growing suburbs to remote farming communities, electric co-ops serve as engines of economic development for 42 million Americans across 56 percent of the nation’s landscape. As local businesses built by the consumers they serve, electric cooperatives have meaningful ties to rural America and invest $12 billion annually in their communities.</em></p> <p style="text-align: center">-###-</p> </div> </section> </div> <div class="row"> <div class="col-md-12"> <section class="timeline-article-footer"> <small>Next in the Issue</small> <a class="article-next-post" data-next-article="timeline-modal-5518" title="Co-op Fiber and Drone Capability Improve Safety on a Georgia Mountain Pass">Co-op Fiber and Drone Capability Improve Safety on a Georgia Mountain Pass <span class="arrow"><i class="ci-long-arrow-right"></i></span></a> </section> </div> </div> </div> </article>  </section>  <section id="timeline-modal-5518" class="timeline-issues-article hidden"> <div class="jumbotron hero article bg-image" style="background-image: url('');"></div>  <article class="single"> <div class="container">  <div class="row"> <header class="col-md-12"> <div class="article-header"> <small class="article-category"> <a href="https://www.electric.coop/issues-and-policy/broadband">Broadband</a> </small> <h1 class="article-title">Co-op Fiber and Drone Capability Improve Safety on a Georgia Mountain Pass</h1> <h3 class="article-subtitle"></h3> </div> </header> </div>  <div class="row"> <section class="col-md-3"> <div class="article-meta"> <div class="row"> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-date"> <span>Published</span>February 1, 2019 </div> </div> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-author"> <span>Author</span> Cathy Cash </div> </div> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-share">  <div class="social-share post"> <ul class="social"> <li><a class="facebook-share" href="https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=&title=" target="_blank"></a></li> <li><a class="twitter-share" href="https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?source=&text=&via=NRECANews " target="_blank"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewBox="0 0 512 512"><path d="M389.2 48h70.6L305.6 224.2 487 464H345L233.7 318.6 106.5 464H35.8L200.7 275.5 26.8 48H172.4L272.9 180.9 389.2 48zM364.4 421.8h39.1L151.1 88h-42L364.4 421.8z"/></svg></a></li> <li><a class="linkedin-share" href="http://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=&title=&summary=" target="_blank"></a></li> </ul> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </section> <section class="col-md-9"> <div class="article-content">  <p><figure id="attachment_5519" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-5519" style="width: 1024px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><a href="https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/BRMEMC-Georgia-Broadband-Drone.jpg"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="size-large wp-image-5519" src="https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/BRMEMC-Georgia-Broadband-Drone-1024x682.jpg" alt="A Blue Ridge Mountain EMC crew watches a drone take off carrying a pull line to connect fiber to a weather station on an Appalachian Trail peak. (Photo By: Byron McCombs/ BRMEMC)" width="1024" height="682" srcset="https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/BRMEMC-Georgia-Broadband-Drone-1024x682.jpg 1024w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/BRMEMC-Georgia-Broadband-Drone-300x200.jpg 300w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/BRMEMC-Georgia-Broadband-Drone-768x512.jpg 768w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/BRMEMC-Georgia-Broadband-Drone.jpg 2000w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-5519" class="wp-caption-text">A Blue Ridge Mountain EMC crew watches a drone take off carrying a pull line to connect fiber to a weather station on an Appalachian Trail peak. (Photo By: Byron McCombs/ BRMEMC)</figcaption></figure></p> <p>Lamar Paris is no stranger to winter’s treachery on the roads that wind through the mountains of North Georgia.</p> <p>He’s been elected sole commissioner of Union County for the past 18 years, and among his unofficial duties have been frequent hazardous drives up nearby Blood Mountain to report, via his Facebook page, on road conditions through the highly traveled Neels Gap.</p> <p>“This is our main transportation artery out of Union County for 80% of all critical medical needs,” said Paris. “Anytime there was a bad snow or ice storm, I’d physically drive up the mountain to check the road conditions. I’ve done it for several years, often in the middle of the night. It’s dangerous for me [but] I felt it was something I always needed to do. I couldn’t ask anybody else to do it, so I’d do it myself.”</p> <p>Now, thanks to broadband internet access installed by <a href="https://www.brmemc.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Blue Ridge Mountain EMC</a> and the time-saving work of an intrepid drone, the need for Paris’s pre-dawn ascents has disappeared.</p> <p>“It’s almost like a dream for me,” he said.</p> <p>The Georgia Department of Transportation installed a weather station with cameras on the mountaintop with internet connection through a distant cell tower. But when winter storms blew in—the most critical time to obtain weather data—the signal would frequently drop.</p> <p>“It was a nice amount of equipment, but we didn’t have a way to access it on a regular basis,” said Paris. “That’s why I went to see Jeremy Nelms.”</p> <p>Nelms is the CEO of Blue Ridge Mountain EMC, which has offered fiber-to-the-home broadband to its members for more than 10 years. After hearing Paris’s weather-station concerns, Nelms offered to help connect the system to the co-op’s fiber network.</p> <p>“This link is necessary so the local government has connectivity to a weather station and cameras atop the mountain,” said Nelms. “Understanding winter weather conditions is critically important, because this passage is a main thoroughfare for citizens of Union County and its surrounding counties who travel south to get to work and to health care facilities in the Gainesville and north Atlanta areas.</p> <p>“The benefits of the project will show themselves during the first good snow, when people know they can or cannot go over that mountain. It could save lives.”</p> <p>The co-op in late 2018 planned to extend 7,000 feet of fiber cable up the mountain. But the path to the top included a deep gorge and 100-foot-tall pine trees.</p> <p>Keeping the project on track and getting it finished before winter required an unconventional solution: drones.</p> <p>“Drone technology is starting to become a game-changer in the utility industry,” Nelms said. “From supporting line construction efforts to system inspection and storm restoration assistance, drones are just another arrow in the quiver of the utility worker of the future.”</p> <p>The co-op based in Young Harris, Georgia, partnered with Southern Company Services to fly a drone from ridge top to ridge top carrying a pull line that would later be attached to fiber cable. Co-op crews climbed steep embankments to follow the drone, which used a mechanical release to drop the pull line and sometimes even flew low enough for the crew to grab it.</p> <p>“Without the drone, we would have been looking at weeks and not hours to complete this effort,” Nelms said.</p> <hr /> <p><div class="row infographic"><div class="col-md-4 col-sm-12"><div class="infographic-description">BRMEMC crew uses a drone to help install 7,000 feet of broadband fiber up to Blood Mountain along the Appalachian Trail. The broadband connection will enable a weather station to provide real-time information on conditions of a busy mountain pass.</div></div><div class="col-md-8 col-sm-12"><div class="embed-responsive embed-responsive-16by9 aec-video"><iframe loading="lazy" width="100%" height="400" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/jmZPhVgOt6I" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen><a href="http://www.youtube.com/embed/jmZPhVgOt6I">View Video</a></iframe></div></div></div></p> <hr /> <h4>Improving Public Safety</h4> <p>The co-op connected the weather station on Dec. 13, 2018, after getting a permit from the Georgia DOT and approval from the U.S. Forest Service.</p> <p>With fiber service to the weather station, data and pictures will soon be able to be livestreamed during extreme weather conditions. Eventually, the goal is for any would-be mountain driver with an internet connection to be able to access the information as well.</p> <p>It could even help some of the 2,000 hikers that transit the area every year. The weather station is adjacent to the popular Walasi-Yi Interpretive Center, the only man-made structure that the 2,175-mile Appalachian Trail passes through.</p> <p>“This fiber line will be incredible for the safety of this area,” said Paris. “Sometimes hikers don’t realize how tough it can be, or they can get caught in a snowstorm.”</p> <p>A reliable connection will be invaluable for mountain rescues, when timely communication by voice or data is critical, Paris added.</p> <p>“Having this quality signal will help emergency personnel get data to doctors before they even leave the scene.”</p> <p><figure id="attachment_5520" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-5520" style="width: 1024px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><a href="https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/Georgia-Drone-Broadband-Storm-Conditions.jpg"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="size-large wp-image-5520" src="https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/Georgia-Drone-Broadband-Storm-Conditions-1024x683.jpg" alt="Road conditions at Neels Gap, Georgia, can get dicey in the winter even for emergency vehicles. (Photo By: Lamar Paris)" width="1024" height="683" srcset="https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/Georgia-Drone-Broadband-Storm-Conditions-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/Georgia-Drone-Broadband-Storm-Conditions-300x200.jpg 300w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/Georgia-Drone-Broadband-Storm-Conditions-768x512.jpg 768w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/Georgia-Drone-Broadband-Storm-Conditions.jpg 1524w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-5520" class="wp-caption-text">Road conditions at Neels Gap, Georgia, can get dicey in the winter even for emergency vehicles. (Photo By: Lamar Paris)</figcaption></figure></p> <h4>‘A Historical Project’</h4> <p>Blue Ridge Mountain EMC first offered internet access in its remote mountain territory way back in 2002. It began its fiber rollout in 2006.</p> <p>“Members were asking for it,” said Daniel Frizzell, the co-op’s director of engineering. “In our area, there is no opportunity for rail or air or interstate—it doesn’t exist up here. We had to find a way to jump-start growth, meet the [broadband] demands for education, medical and industry.”</p> <p>Now the co-op has 1,100 miles of fiber across its system bringing broadband to more than 7,800 members in the counties of Fannin, Union and Towns in Georgia and Cherokee and Clay in North Carolina.</p> <p>“When you are in a rural area like we are here, it is of critical importance to minimize any barrier to companies being successful,” said Erik Brinke, the co-op’s director of administrative service and external relations. “It makes a difference if we are able to mitigate one biggie—internet connectivity.”</p> <p>For Paris, the co-op’s commitment means he can rest a little easier knowing his constituents have timely information about icy mountain road conditions.</p> <p>“I can’t tell you how much we appreciate the EMC taking interest in the project,” he said. “It is not mundane. It’s a historical project for this area.”</p> <hr /> <p><div class="row infographic"><div class="col-md-4 col-sm-12"><div class="infographic-description">A drone delivers pull line up the north Georgia Mountains and over a deep gorge to allow BRMEMC to build a broadband connection to a weather station on an Appalachian Trail peak.</div></div><div class="col-md-8 col-sm-12"><div class="embed-responsive embed-responsive-16by9 aec-video"><iframe loading="lazy" width="100%" height="400" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/efBpphQaQiY" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen><a href="http://www.youtube.com/embed/efBpphQaQiY">View Video</a></iframe></div></div></div></p> <hr /> <p><em>Cathy Cash is a staff writer at NRECA.</em></p> </div> </section> </div> <div class="row"> <div class="col-md-12"> <section class="timeline-article-footer"> <small>Next in the Issue</small> <a class="article-next-post" data-next-article="timeline-modal-5446" title="Six Electric Co-op Policy Priorities for the New Congress">Six Electric Co-op Policy Priorities for the New Congress <span class="arrow"><i class="ci-long-arrow-right"></i></span></a> </section> </div> </div> </div> </article>  </section>  <section id="timeline-modal-5446" class="timeline-issues-article hidden"> <div class="jumbotron hero article bg-image" style="background-image: url('https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/capitol-440.jpg');"></div>  <article class="single"> <div class="container">  <div class="row"> <header class="col-md-12"> <div class="article-header"> <small class="article-category"> <a href="https://www.electric.coop/issues-and-policy/broadband">Broadband</a> </small> <h1 class="article-title">Six Electric Co-op Policy Priorities for the New Congress</h1> <h3 class="article-subtitle"></h3> </div> </header> </div>  <div class="row"> <section class="col-md-3"> <div class="article-meta"> <div class="row"> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-date"> <span>Published</span>January 4, 2019 </div> </div> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-author"> <span>Author</span> NRECA </div> </div> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-share">  <div class="social-share post"> <ul class="social"> <li><a class="facebook-share" href="https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=&title=" target="_blank"></a></li> <li><a class="twitter-share" href="https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?source=&text=&via=NRECANews " target="_blank"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewBox="0 0 512 512"><path d="M389.2 48h70.6L305.6 224.2 487 464H345L233.7 318.6 106.5 464H35.8L200.7 275.5 26.8 48H172.4L272.9 180.9 389.2 48zM364.4 421.8h39.1L151.1 88h-42L364.4 421.8z"/></svg></a></li> <li><a class="linkedin-share" href="http://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=&title=&summary=" target="_blank"></a></li> </ul> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </section> <section class="col-md-9"> <div class="article-content">  <p><figure id="attachment_5442" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-5442" style="width: 1024px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><a href="https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/capitol-main.jpg"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="size-large wp-image-5442" src="https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/capitol-main-1024x683.jpg" alt="" width="1024" height="683" srcset="https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/capitol-main-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/capitol-main-300x200.jpg 300w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/capitol-main-768x512.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-5442" class="wp-caption-text">The U.S. Capitol is reflected in a Capitol Visitor Center fountain. (Photo By: Bloomberg Creative Photos)</figcaption></figure></p> <p>NRECA advocates on many public policy issues on behalf of electric cooperatives. As the new Congress kicks off, here’s a look at several electric co-op policy priorities for 2019.</p> <h4><strong>Energy Policy/Infrastructure</strong></h4> <p>The potential for energy and infrastructure legislation presents a significant opportunity as electric cooperatives work to meet the growing needs of their communities. NRECA will work to ensure that any infrastructure package focuses on more than roads and bridges, including opportunities to modernize the electric grid and expand rural broadband access.</p> <h4><strong>Environment</strong></h4> <p>NRECA will promote and encourage bipartisan support for energy research and development programs—including on renewables and programs that focus on finding a viable use for carbon capture, utilization and storage.</p> <h4><strong>Broadband</strong></h4> <p><a href="https://www.electric.coop/on-the-issues/on-the-issues-broadband/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Expanded rural broadband access</a> remains a priority for NRECA. As electric co-ops engage the new Congress, we will work to ensure that all rural broadband discussions include the electric co-op perspective.</p> <p><figure id="attachment_5447" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-5447" style="width: 1024px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><a href="https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/20180201-rd-pjk-1290_toned_40087261982_o.jpg"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="size-large wp-image-5447" src="https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/20180201-rd-pjk-1290_toned_40087261982_o-1024x683.jpg" alt="" width="1024" height="683" srcset="https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/20180201-rd-pjk-1290_toned_40087261982_o-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/20180201-rd-pjk-1290_toned_40087261982_o-300x200.jpg 300w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/20180201-rd-pjk-1290_toned_40087261982_o-768x512.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-5447" class="wp-caption-text">Contract lineman Brandon Sims helps with BARC Electric Cooperative’s broadband efforts in Lexington, Virginia. (USDA Photo by Preston Keres)</figcaption></figure></p> <h4><strong>Employee Benefits</strong></h4> <p>NRECA provides benefits to 56,000 electric cooperative employees nationwide. We will continue working to protect electric cooperative employee retirement benefits by supporting legislation to <a href="https://www.electric.coop/nreca-seeks-80-percent-reduction-insurance-premiums-co-op-retirement-plans/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">substantially reduce the insurance premiums</a> that co-ops pay to the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation.</p> <h4><strong>Tax Policy</strong></h4> <p>The 2017 tax reform law included a provision that treated federal grants as income, <a href="https://www.electric.coop/inadvertent-tax-bill-language-jeopardize-exempt-status-electric-co-ops/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">threatening the tax-exempt status</a> of some electric cooperatives. NRECA will seek to fix this unintended consequence of the tax law.</p> <h4><strong>Grid Resilience</strong></h4> <p>Protecting our nation’s vast power grid is a national priority and focus for electric cooperatives. Ensuring appropriate information sharing and preserving existing partnerships and structures are essential to these efforts.  We will advocate for resources and technologies that meet the unique cybersecurity and recovery needs of small and medium-sized utilities to help protect our systems.</p> <p><em>Listen to our podcast episode on how NRECA works with Congress to advocate for co-op priorities: </em><br />  <iframe loading="lazy" src="//html5-player.libsyn.com/embed/episode/id/8268914/height/90/theme/custom/autoplay/no/autonext/no/thumbnail/yes/preload/no/no_addthis/no/direction/forward/render-playlist/no/custom-color/000000/" height="90" allowfullscreen webkitallowfullscreen mozallowfullscreen oallowfullscreen msallowfullscreen width="100%" scrolling="yes" class="iframe-class" frameborder="0"></iframe> </p> </div> </section> </div> <div class="row"> <div class="col-md-12"> <section class="timeline-article-footer"> <small>Next in the Issue</small> <a class="article-next-post" data-next-article="timeline-modal-5423" title="Farm Bill Advances Electric Co-op Interests in Rural Development, Broadband">Farm Bill Advances Electric Co-op Interests in Rural Development, Broadband <span class="arrow"><i class="ci-long-arrow-right"></i></span></a> </section> </div> </div> </div> </article>  </section>  <section id="timeline-modal-5423" class="timeline-issues-article hidden"> <div class="jumbotron hero article bg-image" style="background-image: url('');"></div>  <article class="single"> <div class="container">  <div class="row"> <header class="col-md-12"> <div class="article-header"> <small class="article-category"> <a href="https://www.electric.coop/issues-and-policy/broadband">Broadband</a> </small> <h1 class="article-title">Farm Bill Advances Electric Co-op Interests in Rural Development, Broadband</h1> <h3 class="article-subtitle"></h3> </div> </header> </div>  <div class="row"> <section class="col-md-3"> <div class="article-meta"> <div class="row"> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-date"> <span>Published</span>December 13, 2018 </div> </div> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-author"> <span>Author</span> Cathy Cash </div> </div> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-share">  <div class="social-share post"> <ul class="social"> <li><a class="facebook-share" href="https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=&title=" target="_blank"></a></li> <li><a class="twitter-share" href="https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?source=&text=&via=NRECANews " target="_blank"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewBox="0 0 512 512"><path d="M389.2 48h70.6L305.6 224.2 487 464H345L233.7 318.6 106.5 464H35.8L200.7 275.5 26.8 48H172.4L272.9 180.9 389.2 48zM364.4 421.8h39.1L151.1 88h-42L364.4 421.8z"/></svg></a></li> <li><a class="linkedin-share" href="http://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=&title=&summary=" target="_blank"></a></li> </ul> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </section> <section class="col-md-9"> <div class="article-content">  <p><figure id="attachment_5424" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-5424" style="width: 1024px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><a href="https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/John-Lowery-RE-Photo-Challenge.jpg"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="size-large wp-image-5424" src="https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/John-Lowery-RE-Photo-Challenge-1024x768.jpg" alt="Congress has passed a Farm Bill that will enable co-ops to invest in the grid, rural broadband deployment and their communities. (Photo By: John Lowrey)" width="1024" height="768" srcset="https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/John-Lowery-RE-Photo-Challenge-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/John-Lowery-RE-Photo-Challenge-300x225.jpg 300w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/John-Lowery-RE-Photo-Challenge-768x576.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-5424" class="wp-caption-text">Congress has passed a Farm Bill that will enable co-ops to invest in the grid, rural broadband deployment and their communities. (Photo By: John Lowrey)</figcaption></figure></p> <p>From community development to broadband and renewable energy, electric cooperatives stand to benefit from the Farm Bill overwhelmingly passed by Congress this week and now headed to President Trump, who’s expected to sign it.</p> <p>The House voted 369-47 in favor of the bill on Wednesday, a day after the Senate approved it, 87-13.</p> <p>“The bill advances the interests of rural America,” said NRECA CEO Jim Matheson. “Its strong rural development provisions will enable co-ops to invest in modernizing the electric grid and continue key economic development activities in the communities they serve.”</p> <p>Lawmakers agreed to keep or expand several programs important to electric co-ops.</p> <p>The bill preserves the Rural Economic Development Loan and Grant Program beyond 2021, when funding was scheduled to expire. Electric co-ops use this program to finance economic development projects in their communities.</p> <p>Funding also is maintained for the Rural Energy for America Program, which offers loans and grants for renewable energy initiatives.</p> <p>The bill also extends the Rural Energy Savings Program to provide loans for home energy retrofits. Electric co-ops created the program as part of the 2014 Farm Bill. The new language increases the allowance for administrative expenses from 3 percent to 5 percent of the loan.</p> <h4><strong>Big Win for Rural Broadband</strong></h4> <p>Several provisions in the bill will help electric co-ops bridge the digital divide:</p> <ul> <li>Authorization for $350 million a year in grants and loans for deploying rural broadband. (Funding for this new program is in addition to the Department of Agriculture’s $600 million broadband loan/grant pilot program included in the budget passed by Congress in March.)</li> <li>Areas with low population density will be eligible for the highest proportion of federal grants. Broadband projects in areas with fewer than seven people per square mile may be eligible for grants covering up to 75 percent of the total project.</li> <li>Grants will be available for areas where 90 percent of the homes lack internet service at the minimum level of 25 megabits per second to download data and 3 Mbps to upload. In areas where half the homes are without 25/3 Mbps service, applicants will be eligible for loans.</li> <li>Loan or grant applicants must now commit to build broadband service at speeds that will meet the areas’ future needs.</li> <li>The bill does not prevent the use of Rural Utilities Service funding for broadband projects in areas that have received Federal Communications Commission funding.</li> </ul> <h4><strong>Mixed Results on ‘Cushion of Credit’ Program </strong></h4> <p>The RUS cushion of credit program has provided escrow-like accounts for borrowers to deposit excess money and earn a steady return. The Farm Bill modifies the program to allow for withdrawals from the cushion of credit account for purposes of paying down RUS debt without penalty. The bill will eventually lower the interest rate paid on cushion of credit balances.</p> <p>The bill includes these changes to the cushion of credit program:</p> <ul> <li>No new cushion of credit deposits will be allowed after the bill is enacted.</li> <li>Co-ops in the program may transfer their cushion of credit money to prepay RUS loans without penalty through Sept. 30, 2020.</li> <li>Remaining cushion of credit funds after 30, 2020, may be applied only to regular RUS debt service payments.</li> <li>Existing cushion of credit balances will earn 5 percent interest until Oct. 1, 2020, when that rate will drop to 4 percent. Beginning Oct. 1, 2021, interest on remaining balances will be paid at a floating 1-year Treasury rate.</li> </ul> <p><em>Cathy Cash is a staff writer at NRECA.</em></p> </div> </section> </div> <div class="row"> <div class="col-md-12"> <section class="timeline-article-footer"> <small>Next in the Issue</small> <a class="article-next-post" data-next-article="timeline-modal-5422" title="America’s Electric Cooperatives Applaud USDA Rural Broadband Pilot Program">America’s Electric Cooperatives Applaud USDA Rural Broadband Pilot Program <span class="arrow"><i class="ci-long-arrow-right"></i></span></a> </section> </div> </div> </div> </article>  </section>  <section id="timeline-modal-5422" class="timeline-issues-article hidden"> <div class="jumbotron hero article bg-image" style="background-image: url('');"></div>  <article class="single"> <div class="container">  <div class="row"> <header class="col-md-12"> <div class="article-header"> <small class="article-category"> <a href="https://www.electric.coop/issues-and-policy/broadband">Broadband</a> </small> <h1 class="article-title">America’s Electric Cooperatives Applaud USDA Rural Broadband Pilot Program</h1> <h3 class="article-subtitle"></h3> </div> </header> </div>  <div class="row"> <section class="col-md-3"> <div class="article-meta"> <div class="row"> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-date"> <span>Published</span>December 13, 2018 </div> </div> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-author"> <span>Author</span> twarren </div> </div> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-share">  <div class="social-share post"> <ul class="social"> <li><a class="facebook-share" href="https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=&title=" target="_blank"></a></li> <li><a class="twitter-share" href="https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?source=&text=&via=NRECANews " target="_blank"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewBox="0 0 512 512"><path d="M389.2 48h70.6L305.6 224.2 487 464H345L233.7 318.6 106.5 464H35.8L200.7 275.5 26.8 48H172.4L272.9 180.9 389.2 48zM364.4 421.8h39.1L151.1 88h-42L364.4 421.8z"/></svg></a></li> <li><a class="linkedin-share" href="http://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=&title=&summary=" target="_blank"></a></li> </ul> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </section> <section class="col-md-9"> <div class="article-content">  <p><strong>ARLINGTON, Va.</strong> – NRECA CEO Jim Matheson today welcomed an announcement by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) on the launch of its e-Connectivity pilot program established by Congress.</p> <p>“Today is a good day for rural America and the families and businesses that call it home,” Matheson said. “Secretary Perdue’s announcement lays the groundwork for an improved approach to making broadband a reality across rural America. This pilot program, and the strong broadband provisions included in the 2018 Farm Bill, highlight a much-needed shift in federal policy to make rural broadband a possibility for the estimated 23 million Americans who lack it.</p> <p>“Electric cooperatives are driven by a deep connection to their communities. That community-focus has led more than 100 electric co-ops to launch broadband deployment projects to help modernize rural economies. Broadband access at the right speed is absolutely essential for the growth of communities that today are suffering because of the digital divide. We look forward to working with federal policymakers and other stakeholders as we build on these positive developments and make new strides to close that divide.”</p> <p>America’s electric cooperatives played a key role in the development of this new pilot program. We are very pleased that the pilot program adopts a 25/3 sufficiency standard and will prioritize applications that would deliver speeds in excess of the 25/3 minimum standard.</p> <p>NRECA supports five success factors for making rural broadband available to every American. They include:</p> <ul> <li>Providing additional financing support through a combination of grants and loans.</li> <li>Encouraging better broadband coverage data collection to spotlight service gaps.</li> <li>Allowing all capable providers to have equal access to federal funding, regardless of technology.</li> <li>Prioritizing grants to projects in areas with the lowest population density, given that is a prime cost driver of the lack of broadband deployment.</li> <li>Ensuring that broadband systems funded with federal money meet the growing speed and data consumption needs of today and the future.</li> </ul> <p><em>The </em><a href="https://www.electric.coop/"><em>National Rural Electric Cooperative Association</em></a><em> is the national trade association representing more than 900 local electric cooperatives. From growing suburbs to remote farming communities, electric co-ops serve as engines of economic development for 42 million Americans across 56 percent of the nation’s landmass. As local businesses built by the consumers they serve, electric cooperatives have meaningful ties to rural America and invest $12 billion annually in their communities.</em></p> </div> </section> </div> <div class="row"> <div class="col-md-12"> <section class="timeline-article-footer"> <small>Next in the Issue</small> <a class="article-next-post" data-next-article="timeline-modal-5386" title="NRECA: FCC’s Broadband Deployment Advisory Committee Missed an Opportunity to Improve Rural Broadband Access">NRECA: FCC’s Broadband Deployment Advisory Committee Missed an Opportunity to Improve Rural Broadband Access <span class="arrow"><i class="ci-long-arrow-right"></i></span></a> </section> </div> </div> </div> </article>  </section>  <section id="timeline-modal-5386" class="timeline-issues-article hidden"> <div class="jumbotron hero article bg-image" style="background-image: url('');"></div>  <article class="single"> <div class="container">  <div class="row"> <header class="col-md-12"> <div class="article-header"> <small class="article-category"> <a href="https://www.electric.coop/issues-and-policy/broadband">Broadband</a> </small> <h1 class="article-title">NRECA: FCC’s Broadband Deployment Advisory Committee Missed an Opportunity to Improve Rural Broadband Access</h1> <h3 class="article-subtitle"></h3> </div> </header> </div>  <div class="row"> <section class="col-md-3"> <div class="article-meta"> <div class="row"> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-date"> <span>Published</span>December 10, 2018 </div> </div> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-author"> <span>Author</span> twarren </div> </div> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-share">  <div class="social-share post"> <ul class="social"> <li><a class="facebook-share" href="https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=&title=" target="_blank"></a></li> <li><a class="twitter-share" href="https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?source=&text=&via=NRECANews " target="_blank"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewBox="0 0 512 512"><path d="M389.2 48h70.6L305.6 224.2 487 464H345L233.7 318.6 106.5 464H35.8L200.7 275.5 26.8 48H172.4L272.9 180.9 389.2 48zM364.4 421.8h39.1L151.1 88h-42L364.4 421.8z"/></svg></a></li> <li><a class="linkedin-share" href="http://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=&title=&summary=" target="_blank"></a></li> </ul> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </section> <section class="col-md-9"> <div class="article-content">  <p><em>Arlington, VA</em> – NRECA CEO Jim Matheson today released the following statement regarding the FCC’s Broadband Deployment Advisory Committee (BDAC) vote to approve a model code for states.</p> <p>“Existing federal programs have failed to close the digital divide and the BDAC missed an opportunity to offer meaningful solutions to expand broadband access in rural America,” said Matheson. “Just two of the ten articles in the state model code specifically address rural issues. Instead of focusing on solutions for unserved and underserved rural communities, many of the recommendations focus on issues specific to urban areas where broadband is already available.</p> <p>“Ignoring the precedent of federal law and laws in 20 states, the state model code would treat co-op poles like those belonging to large investor-owned utilities. The state model code would also cap pole attachment rates in state statute, effectively making those rates permanent. This code, in effect, increases regulatory burdens while giving co-ops less time and less money to comply with those regulations. There is no evidence that such a proposal will lead to better broadband access in rural areas, and I encourage state legislatures to find a better way.”</p> <p>NRECA believes a genuine effort to bridge the digital divide will:</p> <ul> <li>Provide financing support with a combination of grants and loans.</li> <li>Improve the data to enhance our understanding of broadband coverage gaps.</li> <li>Allow all capable providers equal access to federal funding, regardless of technology.</li> <li>Prioritize grants funding for areas with the low population density.</li> <li>Future proof investments by making project funding contingent on providing speeds greater than 25/3.</li> </ul> <p style="text-align: center">-###-</p> <p><em>The <a href="https://www.electric.coop/">National Rural Electric Cooperative Association</a> is the national trade association representing more than 900 local electric cooperatives. From growing suburbs to remote farming communities, electric co-ops serve as engines of economic development for 42 million Americans across 56 percent of the nation’s landmass. As local businesses built by the consumers they serve, electric cooperatives have meaningful ties to rural America and invest $12 billion annually in their communities.</em></p> </div> </section> </div> <div class="row"> <div class="col-md-12"> <section class="timeline-article-footer"> <small>Next in the Issue</small> <a class="article-next-post" data-next-article="timeline-modal-5329" title="Matheson: ‘We Want the Consumer to Have Real Broadband’">Matheson: ‘We Want the Consumer to Have Real Broadband’ <span class="arrow"><i class="ci-long-arrow-right"></i></span></a> </section> </div> </div> </div> </article>  </section>  <section id="timeline-modal-5329" class="timeline-issues-article hidden"> <div class="jumbotron hero article bg-image" style="background-image: url('');"></div>  <article class="single"> <div class="container">  <div class="row"> <header class="col-md-12"> <div class="article-header"> <small class="article-category"> <a href="https://www.electric.coop/issues-and-policy/broadband">Broadband</a> </small> <h1 class="article-title">Matheson: ‘We Want the Consumer to Have Real Broadband’</h1> <h3 class="article-subtitle"></h3> </div> </header> </div>  <div class="row"> <section class="col-md-3"> <div class="article-meta"> <div class="row"> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-date"> <span>Published</span>November 20, 2018 </div> </div> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-author"> <span>Author</span> Cathy Cash </div> </div> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-share">  <div class="social-share post"> <ul class="social"> <li><a class="facebook-share" href="https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=&title=" target="_blank"></a></li> <li><a class="twitter-share" href="https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?source=&text=&via=NRECANews " target="_blank"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewBox="0 0 512 512"><path d="M389.2 48h70.6L305.6 224.2 487 464H345L233.7 318.6 106.5 464H35.8L200.7 275.5 26.8 48H172.4L272.9 180.9 389.2 48zM364.4 421.8h39.1L151.1 88h-42L364.4 421.8z"/></svg></a></li> <li><a class="linkedin-share" href="http://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=&title=&summary=" target="_blank"></a></li> </ul> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </section> <section class="col-md-9"> <div class="article-content">  <p><figure id="attachment_5327" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-5327" style="width: 1024px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><a href="https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/matheson-bloomberg-broadband.jpg"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="wp-image-5327 size-large" src="https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/matheson-bloomberg-broadband-1024x683.jpg" alt="NRECA CEO Jim Matheson talks broadband and policy for the survival of the communities that electric co-ops serve at the Next.2018 conference held by Bloomberg BNA. (Photo Courtesy Bloomberg Government/Next.2018)" width="1024" height="683" srcset="https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/matheson-bloomberg-broadband-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/matheson-bloomberg-broadband-300x200.jpg 300w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/matheson-bloomberg-broadband-768x512.jpg 768w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/matheson-bloomberg-broadband.jpg 1500w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-5327" class="wp-caption-text">NRECA CEO Jim Matheson talks broadband and policy for the survival of the communities that electric co-ops serve at the Next.2018 conference held by Bloomberg BNA. (Photo Courtesy Bloomberg Government/Next.2018)</figcaption></figure></p> <p>NRECA CEO Jim Matheson, speaking before a Washington audience of business strategists, outlined how federal policymakers can help close the digital divide and what innovative electric cooperatives are doing to meet rural America’s broadband needs in the meantime.</p> <p>High-speed internet service “is important to us as electric cooperatives because we are owned by the communities we serve, communities that won’t have much of a future without broadband,” Matheson said at the Next.2018 conference held Nov. 13-15 by Bloomberg BNA, a news and analysis company.</p> <p>Matheson underscored how electric co-ops are leaders in smart technology, yet Federal Communications Commission policies fail to make the most of co-op investments for broadband development.</p> <p>“The FCC has spent $114 billion, and there are still 23 million people without access to broadband,” he said. This gap in service is due in part to the commission’s reliance on self-reported and unverified data about internet service from incumbent providers.</p> <p>In addition to better data collection, Matheson said there needs to be greater government financing of rural broadband through grant-loan combinations. The most sparsely populated areas should receive more grant money to offset the higher costs of building rural broadband, he said.</p> <p>Federally funded broadband providers also should provide the highest speeds available to meet growing communities’ education, health care and business needs, he added.</p> <p>Matheson described how a Missouri co-op with fewer than 7,000 meters deployed broadband to its membership with the help of a $10 million federal grant and a $10 million loan. <a href="http://www.rallscountyelectric.com/test/index.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Ralls County Electric Cooperative</a> in New London has had a 70 percent take rate across its service territory.</p> <p>“When it comes to delivering broadband, government aid should not favor any type of technology or business provider,” said Matheson. “When electric cooperatives come to the table, we just want the consumer to have real broadband.”</p> <p>On the legislative front, Matheson sees the potential for an infrastructure package in the new Congress that should include provisions to advance rural broadband.</p> <p>He noted that a bill to improve the nation’s connectivity and other infrastructure has been advocated by the Trump administration and is an area where lawmakers of both parties could reach an accord.</p> <p>“Co-ops want infrastructure [legislation] in ways that expand the smart grid and broadband,” said Matheson. “That’s one area where Congress can work constructively in a bipartisan way.”</p> <p><em>Cathy Cash is a staff writer at NRECA.</em></p> <p><em>Watch: “Connecting Rural Communities” at the Bloomberg Next.2018 conference.</em></p> <div class="epyt-video-wrapper"><iframe loading="lazy" id="_ytid_10615" width="800" height="450" data-origwidth="800" data-origheight="450" data-relstop="1" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/dfrv9TfFEH0?enablejsapi=1&autoplay=0&cc_load_policy=0&cc_lang_pref=&iv_load_policy=1&loop=0&modestbranding=1&rel=0&fs=1&playsinline=0&autohide=2&theme=dark&color=red&controls=1&" class="__youtube_prefs__ epyt-is-override no-lazyload" title="YouTube player" allow="fullscreen; accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen data-no-lazy="1" data-skipgform_ajax_framebjll=""></iframe></div> <p><strong>Read More:</strong></p> <p><a href="https://www.electric.coop/5-takeaways-nrecas-study-value-broadband-consumer-members/">On the Front Lines of the Digital Divide: Co-ops Push for Better Broadband</a></p> <p><a href="https://www.electric.coop/on-the-issues/on-the-issues-broadband/">NRECA Coverage and Resources on Rural Broadband</a></p> <p><em>Listen to our Along Those Lines podcast episode on co-ops and rural broadband:</em></p> <p>  <iframe loading="lazy" src="//html5-player.libsyn.com/embed/episode/id/7486256/height/90/theme/custom/autoplay/no/autonext/no/thumbnail/yes/preload/no/no_addthis/no/direction/forward/render-playlist/no/custom-color/000000/" height="90" allowfullscreen webkitallowfullscreen mozallowfullscreen oallowfullscreen msallowfullscreen width="100%" scrolling="yes" class="iframe-class" frameborder="0"></iframe> </p> </div> </section> </div> <div class="row"> <div class="col-md-12"> <section class="timeline-article-footer"> <small>Next in the Issue</small> <a class="article-next-post" data-next-article="timeline-modal-5267" title="Along Those Lines, Episode 2: Can Electric Co-ops Bridge the Digital Divide?">Along Those Lines, Episode 2: Can Electric Co-ops Bridge the Digital Divide? <span class="arrow"><i class="ci-long-arrow-right"></i></span></a> </section> </div> </div> </div> </article>  </section>  <section id="timeline-modal-5267" class="timeline-issues-article hidden"> <div class="jumbotron hero article bg-image" style="background-image: url('');"></div>  <article class="single"> <div class="container">  <div class="row"> <header class="col-md-12"> <div class="article-header"> <small class="article-category"> <a href="https://www.electric.coop/issues-and-policy/broadband">Broadband</a> </small> <h1 class="article-title">Along Those Lines, Episode 2: Can Electric Co-ops Bridge the Digital Divide?</h1> <h3 class="article-subtitle"></h3> </div> </header> </div>  <div class="row"> <section class="col-md-3"> <div class="article-meta"> <div class="row"> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-date"> <span>Published</span>November 8, 2018 </div> </div> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-author"> <span>Author</span> NRECA </div> </div> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-share">  <div class="social-share post"> <ul class="social"> <li><a class="facebook-share" href="https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=&title=" target="_blank"></a></li> <li><a class="twitter-share" href="https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?source=&text=&via=NRECANews " target="_blank"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewBox="0 0 512 512"><path d="M389.2 48h70.6L305.6 224.2 487 464H345L233.7 318.6 106.5 464H35.8L200.7 275.5 26.8 48H172.4L272.9 180.9 389.2 48zM364.4 421.8h39.1L151.1 88h-42L364.4 421.8z"/></svg></a></li> <li><a class="linkedin-share" href="http://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=&title=&summary=" target="_blank"></a></li> </ul> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </section> <section class="col-md-9"> <div class="article-content">  <p><figure id="attachment_5268" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-5268" style="width: 1024px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><a href="https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/20180201-rd-pjk-1290_toned_40087261982_o.jpg"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="size-large wp-image-5268" src="https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/20180201-rd-pjk-1290_toned_40087261982_o-1024x683.jpg" alt="" width="1024" height="683" srcset="https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/20180201-rd-pjk-1290_toned_40087261982_o-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/20180201-rd-pjk-1290_toned_40087261982_o-300x200.jpg 300w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/20180201-rd-pjk-1290_toned_40087261982_o-768x512.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-5268" class="wp-caption-text">Contract lineman Brandon Sims prepares a BARC Electric pole for installing fiber optic cables in February 2018. (USDA Photo by Preston Keres)</figcaption></figure></p> <p>In rural America, today’s efforts to deploy high-speed internet have been equated with the push for rural electrification 80 years ago. Billions of federal dollars have been allocated to help bring broadband to the heartland, and some say it could ultimately determine whether some small towns survive into the future.</p> <p><a href="https://www.electric.coop/podcast"><div class="article article-snippet right"><img decoding="async" class="article-snippet-image" src="https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/Along_Those_Lines_logo_1x1.jpg" /></div></a></p> <p>For electric co-ops, the possibility of bridging the digital divide is a huge opportunity to not only leverage the infrastructure they already have in place and to draw on their expertise in serving their members, but also to continue their long history of improving the quality of life in their communities.</p> <p>But is that the right move for co-ops? On the second episode of Along Those Lines, our host, <a href="https://www.cooperative.com/remagazine/Pages/default.aspx" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><em>RE Magazine</em></a> Editor Scot Hoffman asks a couple of broadband experts about that and other key issues that co-ops face when determining whether to pursue a broadband project. You’ll hear from Mike Keyser, CEO of BARC Electric Cooperative in Millboro, Virginia, which launched its broadband subsidiary last year, and Brian O’Hara, regulatory issues director for NRECA’s government relations team, whose portfolio includes broadband.</p> <p>Listen to the episode below:</p> <p>  <iframe loading="lazy" src="//html5-player.libsyn.com/embed/episode/id/7486256/height/90/theme/custom/autoplay/no/autonext/no/thumbnail/yes/preload/no/no_addthis/no/direction/forward/render-playlist/no/custom-color/000000/" height="90" allowfullscreen webkitallowfullscreen mozallowfullscreen oallowfullscreen msallowfullscreen width="100%" scrolling="yes" class="iframe-class" frameborder="0"></iframe> </p> <p>You can also listen and subscribe to Along Those Lines on your preferred podcast service:<br /> <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/along-those-lines/id1436857701?mt=2" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Apple Podcasts</a> | <a href="https://www.google.com/podcasts?feed=aHR0cDovL2Fsb25ndGhvc2VsaW5lcy5saWJzeW4uY29tL3Jzcw%3D%3D" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Google Podcasts</a> | <a href="https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/nreca/along-those-lines?refid=stpr" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Stitcher</a> | <a href="https://open.spotify.com/show/3W0inRR6llFNLxd1LOC5KV" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Spotify</a> | <a href="https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLpJntTwNLWwrKOA7eURFxf5FfNfVOqCSl" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label=" (opens in a new tab)">YouTube</a></p> <h4><strong>Related Content:</strong></h4> <p><a href="https://www.cooperative.com/remagazine/articles/Pages/barc-electric-broadband-project.aspx">‘The Beauty of Fiber’: Lessons From a Small Co-op’s Big Broadband Project</a><br /> <a href="https://www.electric.coop/on-the-issues/on-the-issues-broadband/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">NRECA Coverage and Resources on Rural Broadband</a><br /> <a href="https://www.electric.coop/electric-co-ops-get-big-boost-rural-broadband-efforts-fcc-auction" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Electric Co-ops Get a Big Boost for Rural Broadband Efforts in FCC Auction</a><br /> <a href="https://www.electric.coop/front-lines-digital-divide-co-ops-push-better-broadband/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">On the Front Lines of the Digital Divide: Co-ops Push for Better Broadband</a><br /> <a href="https://www.electric.coop/arkansas-co-ops-point-power-success-promote-rural-broadband-technology/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Arkansas Co-ops Point to Power Success to Promote Broadband Technology</a></p> <p><em>Find out more about <a href="https://www.electric.coop/podcast" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">NRECA’s podcast</a>. Questions or suggestions? Email us at <a href="mailto:AlongThoseLines@nreca.coop">AlongThoseLines@nreca.coop</a>.</em></p> </div> </section> </div> <div class="row"> <div class="col-md-12"> <section class="timeline-article-footer"> <small>Next in the Issue</small> <a class="article-next-post" data-next-article="timeline-modal-5190" title="Arkansas Co-ops Point to Power Success to Promote Broadband Technology">Arkansas Co-ops Point to Power Success to Promote Broadband Technology <span class="arrow"><i class="ci-long-arrow-right"></i></span></a> </section> </div> </div> </div> </article>  </section>  <section id="timeline-modal-5190" class="timeline-issues-article hidden"> <div class="jumbotron hero article bg-image" style="background-image: url('');"></div>  <article class="single"> <div class="container">  <div class="row"> <header class="col-md-12"> <div class="article-header"> <small class="article-category"> <a href="https://www.electric.coop/issues-and-policy/broadband">Broadband</a> </small> <h1 class="article-title">Arkansas Co-ops Point to Power Success to Promote Broadband Technology</h1> <h3 class="article-subtitle"></h3> </div> </header> </div>  <div class="row"> <section class="col-md-3"> <div class="article-meta"> <div class="row"> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-date"> <span>Published</span>October 24, 2018 </div> </div> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-author"> <span>Author</span> Derrill Holly </div> </div> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-share">  <div class="social-share post"> <ul class="social"> <li><a class="facebook-share" href="https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=&title=" target="_blank"></a></li> <li><a class="twitter-share" href="https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?source=&text=&via=NRECANews " target="_blank"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewBox="0 0 512 512"><path d="M389.2 48h70.6L305.6 224.2 487 464H345L233.7 318.6 106.5 464H35.8L200.7 275.5 26.8 48H172.4L272.9 180.9 389.2 48zM364.4 421.8h39.1L151.1 88h-42L364.4 421.8z"/></svg></a></li> <li><a class="linkedin-share" href="http://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=&title=&summary=" target="_blank"></a></li> </ul> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </section> <section class="col-md-9"> <div class="article-content">  <p><figure id="attachment_5191" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-5191" style="width: 1024px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><a href="https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/LB-and-Duane-and-Group.jpg"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="wp-image-5191 size-large" src="https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/LB-and-Duane-and-Group-1024x682.jpg" alt="Lori Burrows and Duane Highley (center) of Arkansas Electric Cooperatives worked with Clinton School of Public Service graduate students on a video promoting cooperation to meet community challenges such as rural broadband. (Photo By: AECC)" width="1024" height="682" srcset="https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/LB-and-Duane-and-Group-1024x682.jpg 1024w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/LB-and-Duane-and-Group-300x200.jpg 300w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/LB-and-Duane-and-Group-768x512.jpg 768w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/LB-and-Duane-and-Group.jpg 2000w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-5191" class="wp-caption-text">Lori Burrows and Duane Highley (center) of Arkansas Electric Cooperatives worked with Clinton School of Public Service graduate students on a video promoting cooperation to meet community challenges. (Photo By: AECC)</figcaption></figure></p> <p>Those who remember when electric cooperatives in Arkansas extended lines to serve their homes and farms are sharing memories to explain how those same co-ops can harness rural broadband to forge better futures for their members.</p> <p>“My parents lived in hard times, and [electricity] has made me a better person,” said Marylyn Cox, a member of Corning, Arkansas-based <a href="http://www.claycountyelectric.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Clay County Electric Cooperative</a>. “At first there was just one light hanging from the ceiling, but it was just so wonderful to have a light.”</p> <p>Cox was one of several members of Arkansas’ cooperative family featured in a video titled Empowering Rural Arkansas.</p> <p>“For rural Arkansans in the early-to-mid 20th century, electrification changed their lives and transformed their communities,” said Duane Highley, president and CEO of the <a href="http://aeci.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Electric Cooperatives of Arkansas</a>. “Our heritage of service is a testament to our pledge to continue our mission.”</p> <p>Graduate students from the University of Arkansas’ Clinton School of Public Service combined historic film footage with contemporary interviews to show the potential electric co-ops can have in bridging the internet divide.</p> <p>“We work diligently to improve the quality of life for the present and future generations of electric cooperative consumers, just like the electric cooperative pioneers,” said Highley.</p> <p>A team of graduate researchers conducted about 50 interviews across the state as research for the project. The materials are now part of an educational resource focused on technology development and public-private partnerships, including electric co-ops that help strengthen the state’s economy.</p> <p>“This fits quite well with ongoing cooperative efforts to connect the state’s co-ops to high-speed broadband,” said Rob Roedel, director of corporate communications for the Electric Cooperatives of Arkansas. “By showing audiences how we worked together to bring power and lights to rural communities, the possibilities become easier to see.”</p> <p>Interviews featured in the 17-minute video are interspersed with clips from <em>Power and the Land,</em> an informational film produced in 1940 for the Rural Electrification Administration to help promote electric cooperative organizing.</p> <p>“The results of this project will educate generations to come about the importance of cooperatives and electrification,” said Lori L. Burrows, the statewide association’s vice president and general counsel, who led the project. “Capturing this oral history in a video format ensures that this important part of our state’s history is preserved in a meaningful and accessible manner.”</p> <p>“Co-ops have always meant power to the members,” said Roedel. “This is another way of using our past to tell the story of what we can do in the future to help make their lives better and build a stronger future for our state.”</p> <p>Watch the<em> Empowering Rural Arkansas </em>video:</p> <div class="embed-responsive embed-responsive-16by9 aec-video"><iframe loading="lazy" title="Empowering Rural Arkansas" src="https://player.vimeo.com/video/285147960?dnt=1&app_id=122963" width="500" height="281" frameborder="0" allow="autoplay; fullscreen; picture-in-picture; clipboard-write"></iframe></div> </div> </section> </div> <div class="row"> <div class="col-md-12"> <section class="timeline-article-footer"> <small>Next in the Issue</small> <a class="article-next-post" data-next-article="timeline-modal-5176" title="On the Front Lines of the Digital Divide: Co-ops Push for Better Broadband">On the Front Lines of the Digital Divide: Co-ops Push for Better Broadband <span class="arrow"><i class="ci-long-arrow-right"></i></span></a> </section> </div> </div> </div> </article>  </section>  <section id="timeline-modal-5176" class="timeline-issues-article hidden"> <div class="jumbotron hero article bg-image" style="background-image: url('');"></div>  <article class="single"> <div class="container">  <div class="row"> <header class="col-md-12"> <div class="article-header"> <small class="article-category"> <a href="https://www.electric.coop/issues-and-policy/broadband">Broadband</a> </small> <h1 class="article-title">On the Front Lines of the Digital Divide: Co-ops Push for Better Broadband</h1> <h3 class="article-subtitle"></h3> </div> </header> </div>  <div class="row"> <section class="col-md-3"> <div class="article-meta"> <div class="row"> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-date"> <span>Published</span>October 22, 2018 </div> </div> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-author"> <span>Author</span> Cathy Cash </div> </div> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-share">  <div class="social-share post"> <ul class="social"> <li><a class="facebook-share" href="https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=&title=" target="_blank"></a></li> <li><a class="twitter-share" href="https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?source=&text=&via=NRECANews " target="_blank"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewBox="0 0 512 512"><path d="M389.2 48h70.6L305.6 224.2 487 464H345L233.7 318.6 106.5 464H35.8L200.7 275.5 26.8 48H172.4L272.9 180.9 389.2 48zM364.4 421.8h39.1L151.1 88h-42L364.4 421.8z"/></svg></a></li> <li><a class="linkedin-share" href="http://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=&title=&summary=" target="_blank"></a></li> </ul> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </section> <section class="col-md-9"> <div class="article-content">  <p><figure id="attachment_5177" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-5177" style="width: 1024px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><a href="https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/BroadbandPanel8.jpg"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="size-large wp-image-5177" src="https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/BroadbandPanel8-1024x683.jpg" alt="NRECA COO Jeffrey Connor (far left) moderates a panel on rural broadband with (l-r) Russell Tucker, NRECA economist; Mike Keyser, CEO, BARC Electric; Lynn Hodges, CEO, RCEC; and Bryon Stilley, CEO, Chariton Valley Electric, at the 2018 Co-op IMPACT Conference. (Photo By: NRECA/Alexis Matsui)" width="1024" height="683" srcset="https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/BroadbandPanel8-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/BroadbandPanel8-300x200.jpg 300w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/BroadbandPanel8-768x512.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-5177" class="wp-caption-text">NRECA COO Jeffrey Connor (far left) moderates a panel on rural broadband with (l-r) Russell Tucker, NRECA economist; Mike Keyser, CEO, BARC Electric; Lynn Hodges, CEO, RCEC; and Bryon Stilley, CEO, Chariton Valley Electric, at the 2018 Co-op IMPACT Conference. (Photo By: Alexis Matsui/NRECA)</figcaption></figure></p> <p>Facing challenges that mirror those seen bringing power to rural America decades ago, electric cooperatives today are entering the broadband market knowing that in some cases, it may be the only way to save their communities.</p> <p>That was a key message of a panel of co-op leaders at the recent Co-op IMPACT Conference in Arlington, Virginia.</p> <p>“We are really talking about the ability of communities in parts of the American countryside to survive,” Jeffrey Connor, chief operating officer of NRECA, told the audience. “We have to compete.”</p> <p>Public policies have failed to ensure adequate internet service in rural communities for commerce, education and medicine among other necessities, leaving more than 23 million Americans unserved or underserved, he said.</p> <p>“That number will remain static unless we do something about it,” said Connor, who moderated the broadband panel. “We are already community-focused. We just want to be able to participate.”</p> <p>Today, about 100 electric co-ops have taken on the task of closing the digital divide. Their reasons, Connor said, are not unlike those behind the electric cooperative movement of the 1930s and ’40s: an urgent need in the community for better economic and educational opportunities and the likelihood that no other entity will deliver.</p> <p>Mike Keyser, CEO of <a href="http://www.barcelectric.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">BARC Electric Cooperative</a> in Millboro, Virginia, said that the resources required to launch and manage a fiber-to-the-home (FTTH) build has him convinced that “electric cooperatives are the only ones capable of undertaking projects of this magnitude.”</p> <p>“Nobody else is going to make the kind of investment, in both time and money that we’ve made in our community,” said Keyser. BARC, which serves members along the Blue Ridge Mountains, began building its fiber network for retail broadband a year ago.</p> <p><a href="http://www.rallscountyelectric.com/test/index.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Ralls County Electric Cooperative</a> in New London, Missouri, was a pioneer when it deployed broadband internet to its members in 2004.</p> <p>“We were losing quality people. They were moving out because of the lack of opportunities,” said Lynn Hodges, RCEC’s CEO and general manager. “We are actually growing now. It’s reverse brain drain.”</p> <p><figure id="attachment_5178" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-5178" style="width: 1024px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><a href="https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/BroadbandPanel16.jpg"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="size-large wp-image-5178" src="https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/BroadbandPanel16-1024x683.jpg" alt="Bryon Stilley, CEO of Chariton Valley Electric, discusses the hurdles of building broadband in rural Iowa at the 2018 Co-op IMPACT Conference. (Photo By: NRECA/Alexis Matsui)" width="1024" height="683" srcset="https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/BroadbandPanel16-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/BroadbandPanel16-300x200.jpg 300w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/BroadbandPanel16-768x512.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-5178" class="wp-caption-text">Bryon Stilley, CEO of Chariton Valley Electric, discusses the hurdles of building broadband in rural Iowa at the 2018 Co-op IMPACT Conference. (Photo By: Alexis Matsui/NRECA)</figcaption></figure></p> <p>In <a href="https://www.cvrec.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Chariton Valley Electric Cooperative’s</a> thinly populated territory, the lack of broadband access remains painfully evident.</p> <p>Big employers struggle without reliable high-speed internet in the Albia, Iowa-based co-op’s seven-county territory, which comprises some of the lowest-income areas in the state. Critical internet-based services like telemedicine are out of the question, said Bryon Stilley, CVEC’s general manager and CEO.</p> <p>“Students can’t even do their homework from home,” he said.</p> <p><a href="https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/Unlocking-the-Value-of-Broadband-for-Co-op-Consumer-Members_Sept_2018.pdf">An NRECA study on the value of broadband</a> shows that at the minimum 6.3 million co-op-served households are without broadband as defined by the Federal Communications Commission: 25 megabits per second download; 3 mbps upload.</p> <p>Electric co-op consumer-members without broadband access will lose at least $68 billion in economic value over a 20-year period, said Russell Tucker, NRECA’s chief economist and lead author of the report.</p> <p>“We know this number is underestimated. We don’t know by how much,” said Tucker, noting that the lost value is substantially higher than the estimated cost to deploy broadband to co-op homes nationwide.</p> <p>The panel of co-op leaders underscored the importance of federal loans and grants to help get their multimillion-dollar networks built. “Combination loan/grant programs are absolutely critical to reduce the high capital costs, especially in low-density areas,” said Keyser.</p> <p>Stilley told the audience about how a recent change in FCC’s funding process whittled an $8 million broadband grant for his co-op down to $56,000 through the Connect America Fund II Auction. The cut was based on inaccurate self-reported information, or “477 data,” collected by the FCC about available internet service as advertised by for-profit providers, he said.</p> <p>He said CVEC will continue to search for funding for the project, which could cost around $36 million. The co-op serves 6,100 members and has a density of 2.8 members per mile in the rural areas it serves. When the city of Albia is taken into account, the density grows to 4.8 members per mile.</p> <p>“We do what we can for members,” said Stilley. “We want to provide the same reliability of broadband that we do with electricity.”</p> <p><em>Cathy Cash is a staff writer at NRECA.</em></p> <p><strong>Read more:</strong></p> <p><a href="https://www.electric.coop/5-takeaways-nrecas-study-value-broadband-consumer-members/">5 Takeaways From NRECA’s Study on the Value of Broadband for Consumer-Members</a></p> <p><a href="https://www.electric.coop/electric-co-ops-get-big-boost-rural-broadband-efforts-fcc-auction/">Electric Co-ops Get a Big Boost for Rural Broadband Efforts in FCC Auction</a></p> <p><a href="https://www.electric.coop/on-the-issues/on-the-issues-broadband/"><u>NRECA Coverage and Resources on Rural Broadband</u></a></p> <p> </p> </div> </section> </div> <div class="row"> <div class="col-md-12"> <section class="timeline-article-footer"> <small>Next in the Issue</small> <a class="article-next-post" data-next-article="timeline-modal-4660" title="5 Takeaways From NRECA’s Study on the Value of Broadband for Consumer-Members">5 Takeaways From NRECA’s Study on the Value of Broadband for Consumer-Members <span class="arrow"><i class="ci-long-arrow-right"></i></span></a> </section> </div> </div> </div> </article>  </section>  <section id="timeline-modal-4660" class="timeline-issues-article hidden"> <div class="jumbotron hero article bg-image" style="background-image: url('');"></div>  <article class="single"> <div class="container">  <div class="row"> <header class="col-md-12"> <div class="article-header"> <small class="article-category"> <a href="https://www.electric.coop/issues-and-policy/broadband">Broadband</a> </small> <h1 class="article-title">5 Takeaways From NRECA’s Study on the Value of Broadband for Consumer-Members</h1> <h3 class="article-subtitle"></h3> </div> </header> </div>  <div class="row"> <section class="col-md-3"> <div class="article-meta"> <div class="row"> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-date"> <span>Published</span>September 11, 2018 </div> </div> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-author"> <span>Author</span> Cathy Cash </div> </div> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-share">  <div class="social-share post"> <ul class="social"> <li><a class="facebook-share" href="https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=&title=" target="_blank"></a></li> <li><a class="twitter-share" href="https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?source=&text=&via=NRECANews " target="_blank"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewBox="0 0 512 512"><path d="M389.2 48h70.6L305.6 224.2 487 464H345L233.7 318.6 106.5 464H35.8L200.7 275.5 26.8 48H172.4L272.9 180.9 389.2 48zM364.4 421.8h39.1L151.1 88h-42L364.4 421.8z"/></svg></a></li> <li><a class="linkedin-share" href="http://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=&title=&summary=" target="_blank"></a></li> </ul> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </section> <section class="col-md-9"> <div class="article-content">  <p><figure id="attachment_4661" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-4661" style="width: 1024px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><a href="https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/CVEC22-broadband.jpg"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="size-large wp-image-4661" src="https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/CVEC22-broadband-1024x683.jpg" alt="NRECA’s study on the value of broadband finds a loss in economic value of $68 billion as at least 6.3 million electric co-op households nationwide lack high-speed internet access. (Photo By: Alexis Matsui/NRECA)" width="1024" height="683" srcset="https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/CVEC22-broadband-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/CVEC22-broadband-300x200.jpg 300w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/CVEC22-broadband-768x512.jpg 768w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/CVEC22-broadband.jpg 1200w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-4661" class="wp-caption-text">NRECA’s study on the value of broadband finds a loss in economic value of $68 billion as at least 6.3 million electric co-op households nationwide lack high-speed internet access. (Photo By: Alexis Matsui/NRECA)</figcaption></figure></p> <p>A new NRECA study finds that approximately $70 billion in consumer value will be lost over 20 years if broadband internet access remains elusive for millions of electric cooperative members in rural America.</p> <p>“High-speed broadband is essential infrastructure for modern life. Unfortunately, broadband access and adoption are not ubiquitous,” said Russell Tucker, NRECA chief economist and lead author of <a href="https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/Unlocking-the-Value-of-Broadband-for-Co-op-Consumer-Members_Sept_2018.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Unlocking the Value of Broadband for Co-op Consumer Members</a>.</p> <p>“The digital divide is real, and many Americans remain without adequate broadband service,” said Tucker.</p> <p><a href="https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/NCS-3072_Broadband-Map-for-Underserved-Co-ops_Social-Media.jpg"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="img-responsive aligncenter wp-image-4617 size-large" src="https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/NCS-3072_Broadband-Map-for-Underserved-Co-ops_Social-Media-1024x581.jpg" alt="" width="1024" height="581" srcset="https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/NCS-3072_Broadband-Map-for-Underserved-Co-ops_Social-Media-1024x581.jpg 1024w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/NCS-3072_Broadband-Map-for-Underserved-Co-ops_Social-Media-300x170.jpg 300w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/NCS-3072_Broadband-Map-for-Underserved-Co-ops_Social-Media-768x436.jpg 768w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/NCS-3072_Broadband-Map-for-Underserved-Co-ops_Social-Media.jpg 1619w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></a></p> <p>For purposes of the study released Sept. 11, broadband or high-speed internet access is defined by the Federal Communications Commission as 25 megabits per second download and 3 megabits per second upload.</p> <p>Here are some key takeaways from the study:</p> <h4>1. Millions of Co-op Members Lack Broadband</h4> <p>About 34 million Americans are without access to 25 Mbps/3 Mbps internet service, according to the FCC. Of that number, at least 13.4 million people in 6.3 million electric co-op households across the country lack broadband access.</p> <p>Within every state served by electric co-ops, there are areas without high-speed internet service. This underscores how deficient broadband access is a multistate issue.</p> <h4>2. Private Carriers Fear Rural Costs</h4> <p>When it comes to connecting rural Americans to the internet, there is a huge gap between the benefits to consumers and what a private service provider will earn by deploying broadband in areas with low population density. Many of these areas are electric co-op territories.</p> <p>Private carriers often find their returns fail to justify their per-customer investment cost even when the lost value for these rural consumers could exceed deployment costs by 70 percent.</p> <h4>3. Billions of Dollars Left on the Table</h4> <p>The FCC estimates that nearly all of the areas in the U.S. without broadband could be connected with an initial capital expenditure of $40 billion. In comparison, NRECA estimates that the lost consumer value of not connecting electric co-op members with broadband is $68 billion over a 20-year period.</p> <p><a href="https://www.electric.coop/indiana-study-rural-broadband-provide-billions-economic-benefits/">A recent study by the Purdue Center for Regional Development</a> calculated that the state of Indiana would receive about $12 billion in net benefits if the broadband investment were made in co-op territories statewide.</p> <h4>4. Broadband Backbone Eases Co-op Entry</h4> <p>A modern electric co-op requires up-to-the-minute smart communications technology, and that requires a <a href="https://www.cooperative.com/news/pages/q-and-a-benefits-and-challenges-electric-co-op-broadband.aspx" target="_blank" rel="noopener">broadband backbone</a>. Such a system would allow the co-op to communicate with its substations, better oversee powerlines to restore or even prevent outages in a timely fashion, and provide smart meters and other advances that consumers demand.</p> <p>A broadband backbone also affords co-ops the opportunity to provide retail high-speed internet, when possible, as it passes fiber-optic cable by members’ homes and businesses. Thus, co-ops that build a broadband backbone for their electric power system can more economically connect rural areas.</p> <h4>5. A Good Partner Can Help</h4> <p>Many hands lighten the load, and that rings true for rural broadband. While electric co-ops may have infrastructure in place and brand recognition among consumers in rural areas they serve, the cost to deliver high-speed internet can give many pause.</p> <p><a href="https://www.electric.coop/electric-co-ops-get-big-boost-rural-broadband-efforts-fcc-auction/">Government loans and loan guarantees and grants for rural broadband</a> can help close the digital divide and narrow the gap between investments and lost consumer value. Partnerships between co-ops and private carriers are an economical way to deliver internet service to members at the end of the line.</p> <p><em>NRECA, NRTC and Ericsson partnered on <a href="https://www.cooperative.com/topics/telecommunications-broadband/Pages/The-Value-of-a-Broadband-Backbone-for-Electric-Cooperatives.aspx" target="_blank" rel="noopener">“The Value of a Broadband Backbone for America’s Electric Cooperatives: A Benefit Assessment Study,” available on cooperative.com</a>. Also check out <a href="https://www.cooperative.com/programs-services/bts/Pages/Broadband-Co-op-Case-Studies.aspx" target="_blank" rel="noopener">several co-op broadband case studies</a>.</em></p> <p><em>Cathy Cash is a staff writer at NRECA.</em></p> </div> </section> </div> <div class="row"> <div class="col-md-12"> <section class="timeline-article-footer"> <small>Next in the Issue</small> <a class="article-next-post" data-next-article="timeline-modal-4659" title="Rural Communities Losing $68 Billion in Economic Value Due to Digital Divide, New NRECA Study Finds">Rural Communities Losing $68 Billion in Economic Value Due to Digital Divide, New NRECA Study Finds <span class="arrow"><i class="ci-long-arrow-right"></i></span></a> </section> </div> </div> </div> </article>  </section>  <section id="timeline-modal-4659" class="timeline-issues-article hidden"> <div class="jumbotron hero article bg-image" style="background-image: url('');"></div>  <article class="single"> <div class="container">  <div class="row"> <header class="col-md-12"> <div class="article-header"> <small class="article-category"> <a href="https://www.electric.coop/issues-and-policy/broadband">Broadband</a> </small> <h1 class="article-title">Rural Communities Losing $68 Billion in Economic Value Due to Digital Divide, New NRECA Study Finds</h1> <h3 class="article-subtitle"></h3> </div> </header> </div>  <div class="row"> <section class="col-md-3"> <div class="article-meta"> <div class="row"> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-date"> <span>Published</span>September 11, 2018 </div> </div> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-author"> <span>Author</span> twarren </div> </div> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-share">  <div class="social-share post"> <ul class="social"> <li><a class="facebook-share" href="https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=&title=" target="_blank"></a></li> <li><a class="twitter-share" href="https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?source=&text=&via=NRECANews " target="_blank"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewBox="0 0 512 512"><path d="M389.2 48h70.6L305.6 224.2 487 464H345L233.7 318.6 106.5 464H35.8L200.7 275.5 26.8 48H172.4L272.9 180.9 389.2 48zM364.4 421.8h39.1L151.1 88h-42L364.4 421.8z"/></svg></a></li> <li><a class="linkedin-share" href="http://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=&title=&summary=" target="_blank"></a></li> </ul> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </section> <section class="col-md-9"> <div class="article-content">  <p><strong>Arlington, VA</strong> – The lack of broadband access for 6.3 million electric co-op households results in more than $68 billion in lost economic value, according to new research by the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA). The new report investigates the cost of the digital divide and the growing economic advantages to America’s rural communities.</p> <p>The <a href="https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/Unlocking-the-Value-of-Broadband-for-Co-op-Consumer-Members_Sept_2018.pdf">study</a> analyzed the value that households place on broadband access. It noted that households in parts of America with broadband access receive, on average, a benefit of $1,950 annually. Applying this value to 6.3 million electric co-op households without broadband, the study finds a total lost value of $68.2 billion to cooperative members nationwide.</p> <p>Importantly, the deployment of broadband would be expected to enable additional economic benefits such as expanded jobs, education and economic growth. None of these factors were examined in the NRECA study.</p> <p>“Closing the digital divide is imperative for rural communities and will help improve the economic outlook for the entire country,” said NRECA CEO Jim Matheson. “Millions of Americans are locked out of the new digital economy simply by virtue of their zip code. Electric co-ops recognize the importance of expanded broadband access and are working to be part of the solution.”</p> <p>High costs and low population density are two barriers to rural broadband deployment. Nonetheless, roughly 100 electric cooperatives are bridging the digital divide and bringing broadband to their communities.</p> <p>Electric cooperatives are playing a central role in improving access to high-speed internet in and around their service territories. For this reason, NRECA has been encouraged by two recent policy changes. Thirty-five electric co-ops will receive funding from <a href="https://www.electric.coop/fcc-approves-220-million-33-electric-cooperatives-provide-rural-broadband/">the Federal Communications Commission Connect America Fund II</a> reverse auction, which for the first time allowed cooperatives to participate as broadband service providers.</p> <p>In comments on the Department of Agriculture’s Rural Utilities Service e-Connectivity Pilot Program, NRECA urged the RUS to 1) make 25/3 the minimum standard for an area to be considered served; 2) set 25/3 as the minimum “build-to” standard, but give priority to applications that would exceed the minimum speed and provide symmetrical broadband; 3) make population density a key factor in determining areas eligible for grants; and 4) allow flexible approaches to ensure affordable service.</p> <p style="text-align: center">– ### –</p> <p> </p> <p><em>The </em><a href="https://www.electric.coop/"><em>National Rural Electric Cooperative Association</em></a><em> is the national trade association representing more than 900 local electric cooperatives. From growing suburbs to remote farming communities, electric co-ops serve as engines of economic development for 42 million Americans across 56 percent of the nation’s landscape. As local businesses built by the consumers they serve, electric cooperatives have meaningful ties to rural America and invest $12 billion annually in their communities.</em></p> </div> </section> </div> <div class="row"> <div class="col-md-12"> <section class="timeline-article-footer"> <small>Next in the Issue</small> <a class="article-next-post" data-next-article="timeline-modal-4634" title="Electric Co-ops Get a Big Boost for Rural Broadband Efforts in FCC Auction">Electric Co-ops Get a Big Boost for Rural Broadband Efforts in FCC Auction <span class="arrow"><i class="ci-long-arrow-right"></i></span></a> </section> </div> </div> </div> </article>  </section>  <section id="timeline-modal-4634" class="timeline-issues-article hidden"> <div class="jumbotron hero article bg-image" style="background-image: url('');"></div>  <article class="single"> <div class="container">  <div class="row"> <header class="col-md-12"> <div class="article-header"> <small class="article-category"> <a href="https://www.electric.coop/issues-and-policy/broadband">Broadband</a> </small> <h1 class="article-title">Electric Co-ops Get a Big Boost for Rural Broadband Efforts in FCC Auction</h1> <h3 class="article-subtitle"></h3> </div> </header> </div>  <div class="row"> <section class="col-md-3"> <div class="article-meta"> <div class="row"> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-date"> <span>Published</span>August 31, 2018 </div> </div> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-author"> <span>Author</span> Cathy Cash </div> </div> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-share">  <div class="social-share post"> <ul class="social"> <li><a class="facebook-share" href="https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=&title=" target="_blank"></a></li> <li><a class="twitter-share" href="https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?source=&text=&via=NRECANews " target="_blank"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewBox="0 0 512 512"><path d="M389.2 48h70.6L305.6 224.2 487 464H345L233.7 318.6 106.5 464H35.8L200.7 275.5 26.8 48H172.4L272.9 180.9 389.2 48zM364.4 421.8h39.1L151.1 88h-42L364.4 421.8z"/></svg></a></li> <li><a class="linkedin-share" href="http://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=&title=&summary=" target="_blank"></a></li> </ul> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </section> <section class="col-md-9"> <div class="article-content">  <p><figure id="attachment_4635" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-4635" style="width: 1024px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><a href="https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/fcc-auction-rural-broadband-lineworker.jpg"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="size-large wp-image-4635" src="https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/fcc-auction-rural-broadband-lineworker-1024x682.jpg" alt="Electric co-ops pursuing broadband service for their consumer-members got a big boost from winning bids in an FCC auction. (Photo By: Preston Keres/USDA)" width="1024" height="682" srcset="https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/fcc-auction-rural-broadband-lineworker-1024x682.jpg 1024w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/fcc-auction-rural-broadband-lineworker-300x200.jpg 300w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/fcc-auction-rural-broadband-lineworker-768x512.jpg 768w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/fcc-auction-rural-broadband-lineworker.jpg 2000w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-4635" class="wp-caption-text">Electric co-ops pursuing broadband service for their consumer-members got a big boost from winning bids in an FCC auction. (Photo By: Preston Keres/USDA)</figcaption></figure></p> <p>Electric cooperatives’ mission to deliver high-speed internet access to rural America got a <a href="https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/CAF-Co-op-FCC-winning-bidders-chart.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">$225 million boost from the Federal Communication Commission’s auction of funds</a> earmarked for the country’s underserved or unserved communities.</p> <p>The FCC opened its Connect America Fund (CAF) II auction to broadband providers outside traditional telecom companies for the first time. About 45 electric co-ops placed bids to serve census blocks identified by the commission.</p> <p>Thirteen individual electric co-ops won bids worth more than $39 million in 11 states. Separately, the Rural Electric Cooperative Consortium, which is made up of 22 co-ops, won bids totaling $186 million in eight states. The FCC will distribute the funds to the winners over 10 years.</p> <p>The Rural Electric Cooperative Consortium placed the single largest bid for gigabit service—the fastest speed available through fiber to the home. The consortium was formed by <a href="http://remagazine.coop/ozark-rural-broadband-connection/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Conexon, a consulting and analytics firm</a> dedicated to electric co-op fiber-to-the-home projects.</p> <p>“The success we had as a group in the CAF II auction will propel the expansion of fiber-optic networks across the country and improve the quality of life for those we serve,” said Gary Wood, CEO at <a href="https://www.mycvec.com/community/broadband" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Central Virginia Electric Cooperative</a> in Colleen, a consortium member. CVEC is embarking on a $110 million, five-year <a href="http://remagazine.coop/cvec-opts-to-go-it-alone-on-broadband-build-out/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">fiber-to-the-home build</a> to serve its 36,000 members.</p> <p>Overall, 73 percent of the nearly 1 million locations up for auction won bids. These areas are expected to receive better internet service or service for the first time with the help of these funds.</p> <p>In 2019, the FCC is planning to auction about $100 million from the CAF for more remote areas. The next phase of the CAF auction is expected to take place in 2021.</p> <p>“We thank the FCC for allowing electric co-ops to participate in this auction, and look forward to building on this success moving forward,” said NRECA CEO Jim Matheson.</p> <p>“We are committed to continuing the rural broadband conversation and working with policymakers at the federal, state and local level on technology and funding solutions that will enrich the lives of rural American families and businesses.”</p> <p>The CAF II auction pot of $2 billion was derived from past offers by the FCC to large telecom providers that declined to provide internet service in rural parts of the country. Bidders could offer service with download/upload speeds as low as 10/1 megabits per second. The FCC holds a broadband benchmark of 25 Mbps download/3 Mbps upload, according to the commission’s 2018 Broadband Deployment Report.</p> <p><em>Cathy Cash is a staff writer at NRECA.</em></p> </div> </section> </div> <div class="row"> <div class="col-md-12"> <section class="timeline-article-footer"> <small>Next in the Issue</small> <a class="article-next-post" data-next-article="timeline-modal-4638" title="Indiana Broadband: State Commits $100M; New Study Shows Value of High-Speed Access">Indiana Broadband: State Commits $100M; New Study Shows Value of High-Speed Access <span class="arrow"><i class="ci-long-arrow-right"></i></span></a> </section> </div> </div> </div> </article>  </section>  <section id="timeline-modal-4638" class="timeline-issues-article hidden"> <div class="jumbotron hero article bg-image" style="background-image: url('');"></div>  <article class="single"> <div class="container">  <div class="row"> <header class="col-md-12"> <div class="article-header"> <small class="article-category"> <a href="https://www.electric.coop/issues-and-policy/broadband">Broadband</a> </small> <h1 class="article-title">Indiana Broadband: State Commits $100M; New Study Shows Value of High-Speed Access</h1> <h3 class="article-subtitle"></h3> </div> </header> </div>  <div class="row"> <section class="col-md-3"> <div class="article-meta"> <div class="row"> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-date"> <span>Published</span>August 31, 2018 </div> </div> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-author"> <span>Author</span> Cathy Cash </div> </div> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-share">  <div class="social-share post"> <ul class="social"> <li><a class="facebook-share" href="https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=&title=" target="_blank"></a></li> <li><a class="twitter-share" href="https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?source=&text=&via=NRECANews " target="_blank"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewBox="0 0 512 512"><path d="M389.2 48h70.6L305.6 224.2 487 464H345L233.7 318.6 106.5 464H35.8L200.7 275.5 26.8 48H172.4L272.9 180.9 389.2 48zM364.4 421.8h39.1L151.1 88h-42L364.4 421.8z"/></svg></a></li> <li><a class="linkedin-share" href="http://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=&title=&summary=" target="_blank"></a></li> </ul> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </section> <section class="col-md-9"> <div class="article-content">  <p><figure id="attachment_4639" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-4639" style="width: 1024px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><a href="https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/purdue-rural-broadband.jpg"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="size-large wp-image-4639" src="https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/purdue-rural-broadband-1024x682.jpg" alt="A Purdue University study finds that broadband internet access in rural areas could mean billions in economic benefits for Indiana. (Photo By: Jenna Wagner, iStock/Getty Images)" width="1024" height="682" srcset="https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/purdue-rural-broadband-1024x682.jpg 1024w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/purdue-rural-broadband-300x200.jpg 300w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/purdue-rural-broadband-768x512.jpg 768w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/purdue-rural-broadband.jpg 2000w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-4639" class="wp-caption-text">A Purdue University study finds that broadband internet access in rural areas could mean billions in economic benefits for Indiana. (Photo By: Jenna Wagner, iStock/Getty Images)</figcaption></figure></p> <p><em>Updated: Sept. 4, 2018</em></p> <p>The state of Indiana will invest $100 million to develop high-speed internet access in its sparsely populated counties. The announcement comes on the heels of new research showing the state could gain $12 billion in economic benefits from rural broadband service.</p> <p>“Today we’re sending a big message to the world that Indiana is making a huge investment in our quality of life and for those who aspire to join us,” Gov. Eric Holcomb said at a Sept. 4 gathering of elected officials and community leaders at <a href="https://www.sciremc.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">South Central Indiana REMC</a> in Martinsville. “We are linking Hoosiers to each other and to the world.”</p> <p>The funds will be used for a new grant program “to bring high-speed, affordable broadband access to unserved and underserved areas of the state,” Holcomb said. Online education and better crop management are just a few of the benefits Indiana residents will reap from rural broadband, he said.</p> <p>Tom VanParis, CEO of <a href="https://www.indianaec.org/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Indiana Electric Cooperatives</a>, said the announcement demonstrates the governor’s “commitment to eliminating the ‘haves and have-nots’ and to reshaping how this vital service is made available to all Hoosiers, regardless of location.”</p> <p>The <a href="https://www.pcrd.purdue.edu/files/media/006-RPINsights-Indiana-Broadband-Study.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">study released last week by the Purdue Center for Regional Development</a> examined the costs, benefits and investments of broadband deployment in seven Indiana co-op territories. A $4 return to the local economy was estimated for every dollar spent on the infrastructure.</p> <p>“Extrapolating the net benefits for these seven REMCs to the state, the total for the state of Indiana would be $11,976,222,899. In other words, the state of Indiana would receive about $12 billion in net benefits if the broadband investment were made statewide,” according to the study.</p> <p>“Across rural communities in this country, the need for access to reliable internet is undeniable,” said Bill LaDuca, sector vice president for electric distribution at CoBank. “This groundbreaking study has immediate implications for rural Indiana’s healthcare, education, economy and way of life. It also has implications nation-wide as to the economic return of this vital infrastructure investment.”</p> <p>Indiana Electric Cooperatives and Tipmont REMC commissioned the study, and <a href="https://www.cobank.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">CoBank</a> funded it.</p> <p>“The areas of the state that lack affordable and reliable high-speed internet are largely the same as those served by electric cooperatives,” said VanParis. “The study clearly shows the return on the investment to the state is significant and justifies a meaningful state investment to supporting broadband deployment in Indiana.”</p> <p>“It is fundamentally important to us to improve the overall economic health, vitality and quality of life in the communities we serve,” he said. “These findings validate the feedback from our consumers that reliable internet service is as vital to modern economic development, education and health care as electricity is.”</p> <p><a href="https://www.tipmont.org/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Tipmont REMC</a>, <a href="http://www.hcremc.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Henry County REMC</a>, <a href="http://www.jacksonremc.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Jackson County REMC</a>, <a href="http://www.marshallremc.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Marshall County REMC</a>, <a href="https://www.nobleremc.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Noble REMC</a>, <a href="http://myremc.coop/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Orange County REMC</a> and <a href="https://www.wwvremc.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Whitewater Valley REMC</a> were examined for the report.</p> <p>Indiana’s 38 co-ops distribute electricity in 89 of the state’s 92 counties, or about 80 percent of the landmass. About 10 electric co-ops in Indiana are building out a broadband network themselves or through a partnership.</p> <p>In 2017, Indiana Electric Cooperatives <a href="https://www.electric.coop/indiana-broadband-jackson-county-remc/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">successfully urged state lawmakers</a> to allow co-ops to use existing easements for the purpose of delivering broadband without having to renegotiate. The new law eliminates a major obstacle to delivering this service to members.</p> <p><em>Cathy Cash is a staff writer at NRECA.</em></p> </div> </section> </div> <div class="row"> <div class="col-md-12"> <section class="timeline-article-footer"> <small>Next in the Issue</small> <a class="article-next-post" data-next-article="timeline-modal-4616" title="FCC Approves $250 million for 32 Electric Cooperatives to Provide Rural Broadband">FCC Approves $250 million for 32 Electric Cooperatives to Provide Rural Broadband <span class="arrow"><i class="ci-long-arrow-right"></i></span></a> </section> </div> </div> </div> </article>  </section>  <section id="timeline-modal-4616" class="timeline-issues-article hidden"> <div class="jumbotron hero article bg-image" style="background-image: url('');"></div>  <article class="single"> <div class="container">  <div class="row"> <header class="col-md-12"> <div class="article-header"> <small class="article-category"> <a href="https://www.electric.coop/issues-and-policy/broadband">Broadband</a> </small> <h1 class="article-title">FCC Approves $250 million for 32 Electric Cooperatives to Provide Rural Broadband</h1> <h3 class="article-subtitle"></h3> </div> </header> </div>  <div class="row"> <section class="col-md-3"> <div class="article-meta"> <div class="row"> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-date"> <span>Published</span>August 28, 2018 </div> </div> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-author"> <span>Author</span> twarren </div> </div> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-share">  <div class="social-share post"> <ul class="social"> <li><a class="facebook-share" href="https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=&title=" target="_blank"></a></li> <li><a class="twitter-share" href="https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?source=&text=&via=NRECANews " target="_blank"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewBox="0 0 512 512"><path d="M389.2 48h70.6L305.6 224.2 487 464H345L233.7 318.6 106.5 464H35.8L200.7 275.5 26.8 48H172.4L272.9 180.9 389.2 48zM364.4 421.8h39.1L151.1 88h-42L364.4 421.8z"/></svg></a></li> <li><a class="linkedin-share" href="http://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=&title=&summary=" target="_blank"></a></li> </ul> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </section> <section class="col-md-9"> <div class="article-content">  <p><strong>ARLINGTON, Va.</strong> – Thirty-two electric cooperatives were announced today as winners of the Federal Communications Commission Connect American Fund II (CAF II) reverse auction. Those winning electric cooperatives will collectively receive more than $250 million over ten years to help defray the costs of deploying broadband in unserved areas.</p> <p>The CAF II auction marks the first time that the FCC allowed electric cooperatives to bid for funding as broadband service providers. Click <a href="https://auctiondata.fcc.gov/public/projects/auction903/reports/winning_bidders">here</a> for a full list of winning bidders.</p> <p>“Today’s auction results highlight the power of cooperative partnerships and collaboration as electric co-ops work to bring broadband to unserved communities in rural America,” said NRECA CEO Jim Matheson. “We thank the FCC for allowing electric co-ops to participate in this auction, and look forward to building on this success moving forward. We are committed to continuing the rural broadband conversation and working with policymakers at the federal, state and local level on technology and funding solutions that will enrich the lives of rural American families and businesses.”</p> <p><em>The </em><a href="https://www.electric.coop/"><em>National Rural Electric Cooperative Association</em></a><em> is the national trade association representing more than 900 local electric cooperatives. From growing suburbs to remote farming communities, electric co-ops serve as engines of economic development for 42 million Americans across 56 percent of the nation’s landscape. As local businesses built by the consumers they serve, electric cooperatives have meaningful ties to rural America and invest $12 billion annually in their communities.</em></p> <ul> <li>3E8 Broadband Solutions, LLC <strong>(AR)</strong></li> <li>Barry Electric Cooperative <strong>(MO)</strong></li> <li>HolstonConnect, LLC <strong>(TN)</strong></li> <li>Illinois Electric Cooperative <strong>(IL)</strong></li> <li>Lake Region Technology & Communications, LLC <strong>(OK)</strong></li> <li>Maquoketa Valley Rural Electric Cooperative <strong>(IA)</strong></li> <li>Meriwether Lewis Connect LLC <strong>(TN)</strong></li> <li>Mid-States Services, LLC<strong> (MO)</strong></li> <li>Orange County REMC <strong>(IN)</strong></li> <li>Roseau Electric Cooperative, Inc. <strong>(MN)</strong></li> <li>Tombigbee Communications, LLC <strong>(AL)</strong></li> <li>Tri-County Electric Cooperative <strong>(MI)</strong></li> <li>Tri-County Rural Electric Cooperative, Inc. <strong>(PA)</strong></li> </ul> <p>Rural Electric Cooperative Consortium includes the following cooperatives:</p> <ul> <li>Arkansas Valley Electric Cooperative Corporation <strong>(AR)</strong></li> <li>B-A-R-C Electric Cooperative <strong>(VA)</strong></li> <li>Callabyte Technology, LLC <strong>(MO)</strong></li> <li>Central Virginia Electric Cooperative <strong>(VA)</strong></li> <li>Co-Mo Comm, Inc. <strong>(MO)</strong></li> <li>Consolidated Electric Cooperative <strong>(MO)</strong></li> <li>Douglas Services, Inc. <strong>(OR)</strong></li> <li>Great Lakes Energy Cooperative <strong>(MI)</strong></li> <li>Midwest Energy Cooperative <strong>(MI)</strong></li> <li>NEXT, Powered by NAEC, LLC <strong>(AR)</strong></li> <li>OzarksGo, LLC <strong>(AR)</strong></li> <li>Prince George Electric Cooperative <strong>(VA)</strong></li> <li>GoSEMO, LLC <strong>(MO)</strong></li> <li>South Central Arkansas Electric Cooperative, Inc. <strong>(AR)</strong></li> <li>Sullivan County Rural Electric Cooperative, Inc. <strong>(PA)</strong></li> <li>Gibson Connect, LLC <strong>(TN)</strong></li> <li>Mecklenburg Electric Cooperative <strong>(VA)</strong></li> <li>Oklahoma Electric Cooperative <strong>(OK)</strong></li> <li>East Central Oklahoma Cooperative, Inc. <strong>(OK)</strong></li> <li>United Services, Inc. <strong>(MO)</strong></li> <li>Electric Cooperatives of Mississippi (A.A.L.) <strong>(MS)</strong></li> <li>Conexon, LLC <strong>(AR)</strong></li> </ul> </div> </section> </div> <div class="row"> <div class="col-md-12"> <section class="timeline-article-footer"> <small>Next in the Issue</small> <a class="article-next-post" data-next-article="timeline-modal-4567" title="NRECA Concerns Remain for FCC Broadband Panel’s State Model Code">NRECA Concerns Remain for FCC Broadband Panel’s State Model Code <span class="arrow"><i class="ci-long-arrow-right"></i></span></a> </section> </div> </div> </div> </article>  </section>  <section id="timeline-modal-4567" class="timeline-issues-article hidden"> <div class="jumbotron hero article bg-image" style="background-image: url('');"></div>  <article class="single"> <div class="container">  <div class="row"> <header class="col-md-12"> <div class="article-header"> <small class="article-category"> <a href="https://www.electric.coop/issues-and-policy/broadband">Broadband</a> </small> <h1 class="article-title">NRECA Concerns Remain for FCC Broadband Panel’s State Model Code</h1> <h3 class="article-subtitle"></h3> </div> </header> </div>  <div class="row"> <section class="col-md-3"> <div class="article-meta"> <div class="row"> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-date"> <span>Published</span>August 7, 2018 </div> </div> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-author"> <span>Author</span> Cathy Cash </div> </div> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-share">  <div class="social-share post"> <ul class="social"> <li><a class="facebook-share" href="https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=&title=" target="_blank"></a></li> <li><a class="twitter-share" href="https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?source=&text=&via=NRECANews " target="_blank"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewBox="0 0 512 512"><path d="M389.2 48h70.6L305.6 224.2 487 464H345L233.7 318.6 106.5 464H35.8L200.7 275.5 26.8 48H172.4L272.9 180.9 389.2 48zM364.4 421.8h39.1L151.1 88h-42L364.4 421.8z"/></svg></a></li> <li><a class="linkedin-share" href="http://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=&title=&summary=" target="_blank"></a></li> </ul> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </section> <section class="col-md-9"> <div class="article-content">  <p><figure id="attachment_4568" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-4568" style="width: 1024px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><a href="https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/broadband-state-model.jpg"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="size-large wp-image-4568" src="https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/broadband-state-model-1024x682.jpg" alt="A FCC panel is preparing model code for state legislatures to adopt that would be problematic for electric co-ops hoping to deploy broadband internet service for members. (Photo By: NRECA)" width="1024" height="682" srcset="https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/broadband-state-model-1024x682.jpg 1024w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/broadband-state-model-300x200.jpg 300w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/broadband-state-model-768x512.jpg 768w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/broadband-state-model.jpg 2000w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-4568" class="wp-caption-text">A FCC panel is preparing model code for state legislatures to adopt that would be problematic for electric co-ops hoping to deploy broadband internet service for members. (Photo By: NRECA)</figcaption></figure></p> <p>A Federal Communications Commission panel will call for the regulation of power poles owned by electric cooperatives as one way for states to accelerate broadband deployment, drawing serious concern from NRECA.</p> <p>The FCC Broadband Deployment Advisory Committee (BDAC) included a dozen other provisions that the association said threaten co-op operations as part of a model code for states to employ as laws and regulations for delivering high-speed internet.</p> <p>BDAC is expected to give final approval to the state model code by late August or early September. NRECA has had a <a href="https://www.electric.coop/nreca-ceo-jim-matheson-fcc-broadband-committee/">seat on the committee</a> that is dominated by telecom representatives since its launch in 2017.</p> <p>“When the BDAC approves the model code, state legislatures will be encouraged to take it up as how the FCC believes broadband should be deployed,” warned Brian O’Hara, NRECA regulatory issues director.</p> <p>State model code provisions opposed by NRECA involve rights of access to existing network support infrastructure and rights of access to poles in the communications space. One of the most troublesome articles would classify electric co-ops as infrastructure “owners” and subject them to regulations under the code.</p> <p>“The state model code, as drafted, ignores current exemptions from pole attachment regulation allowed by Congress for electric co-ops. It also ignores that all 20 states that have enacted laws streamlining attachments for small cell/5G networks allow that same exemption for co-ops,” said O’Hara.</p> <p>The committee on July 27 failed to reach final agreement on the state model code and is revising the draft. The final state model code, however, is unlikely to allay concerns by NRECA, said O’Hara.</p> <p>“We do expect it to eventually pass. We do not anticipate the provisions with which NRECA has concerns to be improved,” he said. “Once adopted by the BDAC, we fully expect the telecom industry to push hard for adoption of the model code in state capitals across the country.”</p> <p>NRECA supported the only three articles it felt would assist rural broadband. One that established a broadband assistance fund remained in the document. NRECA managed to get co-ops and other non-incumbent telecom providers included as eligible participants.</p> <p>Another provision that would create a state broadband infrastructure manager and Broadband Infrastructure Advisory Council was struck from the code. The third, to allow co-ops and municipalities to partner to deliver broadband, was set aside for possible reconsideration.</p> <p><em>Cathy Cash is a staff writer at NRECA.</em></p> </div> </section> </div> <div class="row"> <div class="col-md-12"> <section class="timeline-article-footer"> <small>Next in the Issue</small> <a class="article-next-post" data-next-article="timeline-modal-4541" title="Electric Co-ops Advocate Top Three Farm Bill Priorities for Conference Committee">Electric Co-ops Advocate Top Three Farm Bill Priorities for Conference Committee <span class="arrow"><i class="ci-long-arrow-right"></i></span></a> </section> </div> </div> </div> </article>  </section>  <section id="timeline-modal-4541" class="timeline-issues-article hidden"> <div class="jumbotron hero article bg-image" style="background-image: url('');"></div>  <article class="single"> <div class="container">  <div class="row"> <header class="col-md-12"> <div class="article-header"> <small class="article-category"> <a href="https://www.electric.coop/issues-and-policy/broadband">Broadband</a> </small> <h1 class="article-title">Electric Co-ops Advocate Top Three Farm Bill Priorities for Conference Committee</h1> <h3 class="article-subtitle"></h3> </div> </header> </div>  <div class="row"> <section class="col-md-3"> <div class="article-meta"> <div class="row"> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-date"> <span>Published</span>July 27, 2018 </div> </div> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-author"> <span>Author</span> Cathy Cash </div> </div> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-share">  <div class="social-share post"> <ul class="social"> <li><a class="facebook-share" href="https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=&title=" target="_blank"></a></li> <li><a class="twitter-share" href="https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?source=&text=&via=NRECANews " target="_blank"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewBox="0 0 512 512"><path d="M389.2 48h70.6L305.6 224.2 487 464H345L233.7 318.6 106.5 464H35.8L200.7 275.5 26.8 48H172.4L272.9 180.9 389.2 48zM364.4 421.8h39.1L151.1 88h-42L364.4 421.8z"/></svg></a></li> <li><a class="linkedin-share" href="http://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=&title=&summary=" target="_blank"></a></li> </ul> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </section> <section class="col-md-9"> <div class="article-content">  <p><figure id="attachment_4542" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-4542" style="width: 1024px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><a href="https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/EauClaire_Solar12.jpg"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="size-large wp-image-4542" src="https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/EauClaire_Solar12-1024x683.jpg" alt="NRECA advocates electric co-ops’ priorities for Farm Bill, including the Rural Electrification Act loan program, as lawmakers prepare for compromise legislation. (Photo By: Alange' Jacobs/NRECA)" width="1024" height="683" srcset="https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/EauClaire_Solar12-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/EauClaire_Solar12-300x200.jpg 300w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/EauClaire_Solar12-768x512.jpg 768w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/EauClaire_Solar12.jpg 1200w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-4542" class="wp-caption-text">NRECA advocates electric co-ops’ priorities for Farm Bill, including the Rural Electrification Act loan program, as lawmakers prepare for compromise legislation.<br />(Photo By: Alange’ Jacobs/NRECA)</figcaption></figure></p> <p>As Congress enters the August recess, NRECA is urging conferees to reach a compromise on the Farm Bill that achieves electric co-ops’ priorities for the legislation.</p> <p>“We are encouraging Congress to pass a final Farm Bill that supports several key policy issues for electric co-ops and their member-consumers in rural America,” said NRECA CEO Jim Matheson.</p> <p>The House and Senate each passed versions of the <a href="https://www.electric.coop/matheson-urges-rus-broadband-support-compromise-farm-bill/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Farm Bill</a> in June and are seeking to reach a compromise in the fall.</p> <p>House leaders have named <a href="https://agriculture.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=4415" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Republican</a> and <a href="https://www.democraticleader.gov/newsroom/71818/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Democratic</a> members to serve on the Farm Bill conference committee, and Senate conferees are expected to be named in the coming days.</p> <p>Electric cooperatives have three priorities for the final version of the bill:</p> <h4><strong>Remove Senate changes to Rural Electrification Act loan program</strong></h4> <p>The House Farm Bill retains existing escrow accounts for co-op loan repayments and treatment of deposits into those accounts. The Senate-passed version eliminates the escrow or “cushion of credit” program that allows greater financial flexibility to co-ops and benefits the government by having funds pre-deposited toward loan payments.</p> <p>“Cooperatives depend on the USDA’s electric loan program and its escrow treatment to serve the most rural, hardest-to-serve areas of the country,” said Matheson.</p> <h4><strong>Promote true high-speed broadband for rural areas</strong></h4> <p>The House version provides for significant financial investment in broadband development by electric co-ops and other providers in rural areas that have either no internet service or substandard service.</p> <p>The Senate Farm Bill increases funds for rural broadband but provides only limited support for projects in areas with existing but inadequate service.</p> <p>“Deployment of rural broadband is essential to keeping rural communities competitive,” said Matheson. “NRECA is working to ensure co-op member-consumers get high-speed internet service on par with the rest of the country.”</p> <h4><strong>Include funds for rural economic development and innovation</strong></h4> <p>Co-ops use the Rural Economic Development Loan and Grant Program (REDLG) to finance economic development projects, such as refurbishing a library or buying emergency response vehicles. Both bills reauthorize and improve the program through 2021. NRECA supports the Senate provision, which also provides $5 million for the program each year.</p> <p><em>Cathy Cash is a staff writer at NRECA.</em></p> </div> </section> </div> <div class="row"> <div class="col-md-12"> <section class="timeline-article-footer"> <small>Next in the Issue</small> <a class="article-next-post" data-next-article="timeline-modal-4440" title="Matheson Urges RUS, Broadband Support in Compromise Farm Bill">Matheson Urges RUS, Broadband Support in Compromise Farm Bill <span class="arrow"><i class="ci-long-arrow-right"></i></span></a> </section> </div> </div> </div> </article>  </section>  <section id="timeline-modal-4440" class="timeline-issues-article hidden"> <div class="jumbotron hero article bg-image" style="background-image: url('');"></div>  <article class="single"> <div class="container">  <div class="row"> <header class="col-md-12"> <div class="article-header"> <small class="article-category"> <a href="https://www.electric.coop/issues-and-policy/broadband">Broadband</a> </small> <h1 class="article-title">Matheson Urges RUS, Broadband Support in Compromise Farm Bill</h1> <h3 class="article-subtitle"></h3> </div> </header> </div>  <div class="row"> <section class="col-md-3"> <div class="article-meta"> <div class="row"> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-date"> <span>Published</span>July 3, 2018 </div> </div> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-author"> <span>Author</span> Cathy Cash </div> </div> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-share">  <div class="social-share post"> <ul class="social"> <li><a class="facebook-share" href="https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=&title=" target="_blank"></a></li> <li><a class="twitter-share" href="https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?source=&text=&via=NRECANews " target="_blank"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewBox="0 0 512 512"><path d="M389.2 48h70.6L305.6 224.2 487 464H345L233.7 318.6 106.5 464H35.8L200.7 275.5 26.8 48H172.4L272.9 180.9 389.2 48zM364.4 421.8h39.1L151.1 88h-42L364.4 421.8z"/></svg></a></li> <li><a class="linkedin-share" href="http://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=&title=&summary=" target="_blank"></a></li> </ul> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </section> <section class="col-md-9"> <div class="article-content">  <p><figure id="attachment_4441" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-4441" style="width: 1024px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><a href="https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/farm-bill-july-2018.jpg"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="size-large wp-image-4441" src="https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/farm-bill-july-2018-1024x682.jpg" alt="NRECA is urging the House and Senate to reach a compromise Farm Bill that strengthens RUS, rural broadband and other programs critical to electric co-ops and rural America. (Photo By: Preston Keres/USDA)" width="1024" height="682" srcset="https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/farm-bill-july-2018-1024x682.jpg 1024w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/farm-bill-july-2018-300x200.jpg 300w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/farm-bill-july-2018-768x512.jpg 768w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/farm-bill-july-2018.jpg 2000w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-4441" class="wp-caption-text">NRECA is urging the House and Senate to reach a compromise Farm Bill that strengthens RUS, rural broadband and other programs critical to electric co-ops and rural America. (Photo By: Preston Keres/USDA)</figcaption></figure></p> <p>NRECA CEO Jim Matheson is urging House and Senate leaders to achieve a compromise Farm Bill that strengthens programs critical to electric cooperatives and rural America.</p> <p>“Through the Farm Bill, Congress has an opportunity to strengthen the economic engines that are rural communities with job-creating loan programs for electric co-ops and support of rural broadband internet,” said Matheson.</p> <p>“America’s electric co-ops strongly encourage lawmakers to negotiate a Farm Bill that can be supported by the 42 million Americans we serve.”</p> <p>The Senate voted 86-11 for its Farm Bill June 28. The House cleared its version June 21 in a narrow 213-211 vote. A conference between both chambers is expected later this year to resolve the bills’ differences.</p> <p>Here’s how the two Farm Bills treat provisions key to electric co-ops:</p> <table border="1" width="100%"> <tbody> <tr> <td style="padding: 5px;width: 25%;background-color: #35bbc3"> <h4 style="color: black">Farm Bill Provision</h4> </td> <td style="padding: 5px;width: 25%;background-color: #35bbc3"> <h4 style="color: black">House Version</h4> </td> <td style="padding: 5px;width: 25%;background-color: #35bbc3"> <h4 style="color: black">Senate Version</h4> </td> <td style="padding: 5px;width: 25%;background-color: #35bbc3"> <h4 style="color: black">NRECA Position</h4> </td> </tr> <tr> <td style="padding: 5px;width: 25%"><strong>Rural Electrification Act (REA) Cushion of Credit Program</strong></td> <td style="padding: 5px;width: 25%">Retains the existing escrow accounts for co-op loan repayments and current treatment of deposits</td> <td style="padding: 5px;width: 25%">Ends the program; reduces interest on current deposits</td> <td style="padding: 5px;width: 25%">Retain and strengthen the program to address continued low interest rates</td> </tr> <tr> <td style="padding: 5px;width: 25%"><strong>Guaranteed Underwriter Program (GUP)</strong></td> <td style="padding: 5px;width: 25%">Reauthorizes the program with technical changes to improve loan terms</td> <td style="padding: 5px;width: 25%">Reauthorizes the program with technical changes to improve loan terms; allows GUP loans for generation</td> <td style="padding: 5px;width: 25%">Reauthorize the program with technical changes to improve loan terms</td> </tr> <tr> <td style="padding: 5px;width: 25%"><strong>Rural Energy for America Program (REAP)</strong></td> <td style="padding: 5px;width: 25%">Reauthorizes without mandatory money</td> <td style="padding: 5px;width: 25%">Reauthorizes with mandatory money</td> <td style="padding: 5px;width: 25%">Reauthorize with mandatory money</td> </tr> <tr> <td style="padding: 5px;width: 25%"><strong>Rural Energy Savings Program (RESP)</strong></td> <td style="padding: 5px;width: 25%">Reauthorizes with user-friendly changes; increases from 3 percent to 5 percent the amount available for administrative costs</td> <td style="padding: 5px;width: 25%">Reauthorizes with user-friendly changes; increases from 3 percent to 6 percent the amount available for administrative costs</td> <td style="padding: 5px;width: 25%">Reauthorize with technical changes</td> </tr> <tr> <td style="padding: 5px;width: 25%"><strong>Rural Economic Development Loan and Grant (REDLG) Program</strong></td> <td style="padding: 5px;width: 25%">Reauthorizes and extends funding beyond 2021</td> <td style="padding: 5px;width: 25%">Reauthorizes and extends funding beyond 2021; $5 million/year in mandatory money</td> <td style="padding: 5px;width: 25%">Reauthorize with technical changes</td> </tr> <tr> <td style="padding: 5px;width: 25%"><strong>Rural Cooperative Development Grant (RCDG) Program</strong></td> <td style="padding: 5px;width: 25%">Reauthorizes</td> <td style="padding: 5px;width: 25%">Reauthorizes</td> <td style="padding: 5px;width: 25%">Reauthorize</td> </tr> <tr> <td style="padding: 5px;width: 25%"><strong>Broadband grants</strong></td> <td style="padding: 5px;width: 25%">Creates grant program that can be paired with other RUS loans; grants are based on density served; requires agriculture secretary to establish forward-looking speed/quality standards; moderate FCC coordination</td> <td style="padding: 5px;width: 25%">Creates grant program with 90 percent “unserved” requirement; defines “served” as 25/3 Mbps; moderate FCC coordination</td> <td style="padding: 5px;width: 25%">Favors new grant program paired with RUS loans; grants based on density; aggressive on speeds; avoid barriers to program deployment</td> </tr> <tr> <td style="padding: 5px;width: 25%"><strong>Use of electric loans for broadband</strong></td> <td style="padding: 5px;width: 25%">Allows 10 percent of electric loans, under certain conditions, to be used for broadband</td> <td style="padding: 5px;width: 25%">Allows 10 percent of electric loans to be used for broadband</td> <td style="padding: 5px;width: 25%">Not requested</td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </div> </section> </div> <div class="row"> <div class="col-md-12"> <section class="timeline-article-footer"> <small>Next in the Issue</small> <a class="article-next-post" data-next-article="timeline-modal-4394" title="NRECA Applauds House Farm Bill’s Support for Electric Co-op Priorities">NRECA Applauds House Farm Bill’s Support for Electric Co-op Priorities <span class="arrow"><i class="ci-long-arrow-right"></i></span></a> </section> </div> </div> </div> </article>  </section>  <section id="timeline-modal-4394" class="timeline-issues-article hidden"> <div class="jumbotron hero article bg-image" style="background-image: url('');"></div>  <article class="single"> <div class="container">  <div class="row"> <header class="col-md-12"> <div class="article-header"> <small class="article-category"> <a href="https://www.electric.coop/issues-and-policy/broadband">Broadband</a> </small> <h1 class="article-title">NRECA Applauds House Farm Bill’s Support for Electric Co-op Priorities</h1> <h3 class="article-subtitle"></h3> </div> </header> </div>  <div class="row"> <section class="col-md-3"> <div class="article-meta"> <div class="row"> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-date"> <span>Published</span>June 21, 2018 </div> </div> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-author"> <span>Author</span> Media Relations </div> </div> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-share">  <div class="social-share post"> <ul class="social"> <li><a class="facebook-share" href="https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=&title=" target="_blank"></a></li> <li><a class="twitter-share" href="https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?source=&text=&via=NRECANews " target="_blank"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewBox="0 0 512 512"><path d="M389.2 48h70.6L305.6 224.2 487 464H345L233.7 318.6 106.5 464H35.8L200.7 275.5 26.8 48H172.4L272.9 180.9 389.2 48zM364.4 421.8h39.1L151.1 88h-42L364.4 421.8z"/></svg></a></li> <li><a class="linkedin-share" href="http://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=&title=&summary=" target="_blank"></a></li> </ul> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </section> <section class="col-md-9"> <div class="article-content">  <p><strong>ARLINGTON, Va.</strong> – National Rural Electric Cooperative Association CEO Jim Matheson today welcomed House passage of the Farm Bill, which includes several electric cooperative priorities.</p> <p>“The Farm Bill is crucial for the future of rural America, which makes it a priority for America’s electric cooperatives,” Matheson said. “The House bill includes critical support for expanded rural broadband access and improved rural economic development programs used by electric co-ops to improve the quality of life in their communities. We welcome House passage of the bill, which will help ensure that the future of rural America remains bright.”</p> <p>NRECA applauds provisions in the bill that create a broadband grant program at USDA that is focused on rural areas that need it most. The bill also maintains or expands other rural development programs to spur economic development and help electric co-ops modernize the electric grid while undertaking innovative, cost-effective energy projects. “Over the past decade, these USDA programs have saved and created thousands of jobs in rural America while expanding essential services,” Matheson said.</p> <p>NRECA has <a href="https://www.electric.coop/nreca-expresses-concern-senate-farm-bill/">expressed serious concerns</a> with the Senate Farm Bill, which would retroactively impact escrow accounts for rural electrification and likely lead to increased costs for electric cooperative consumers.</p> <p>Matheson recently <a href="http://thehill.com/opinion/technology/382189-investing-in-rural-america-would-lift-nations-economy">called for</a> investment in rural America as a way to lift the nation’s economy and urged that the Farm Bill include the following elements, which were adopted by the House:</p> <ul> <li>Additional funding for rural broadband grants and loans.</li> <li>Funding for proven rural economic development programs.</li> <li>Accelerating energy innovation in the development of renewable energy resources and electric grid modernization.</li> <li>Tools to finance rural electrification.</li> </ul> <p><em>The </em><a href="https://www.electric.coop/"><em>National Rural Electric Cooperative Association</em></a><em> is the national trade association representing more than 900 local electric cooperatives. From growing suburbs to remote farming communities, electric co-ops serve as engines of economic development for 42 million Americans across 56 percent of the nation’s landscape. As local businesses built by the consumers they serve, electric cooperatives have meaningful ties to rural America and invest $12 billion annually in their communities.</em></p> <p style="text-align: center">-###-</p> </div> </section> </div> <div class="row"> <div class="col-md-12"> <section class="timeline-article-footer"> <small>Next in the Issue</small> <a class="article-next-post" data-next-article="timeline-modal-4307" title="NRECA to Senate: Oppose Rural Broadband Restrictions; Seek USDA Grants, Loans">NRECA to Senate: Oppose Rural Broadband Restrictions; Seek USDA Grants, Loans <span class="arrow"><i class="ci-long-arrow-right"></i></span></a> </section> </div> </div> </div> </article>  </section>  <section id="timeline-modal-4307" class="timeline-issues-article hidden"> <div class="jumbotron hero article bg-image" style="background-image: url('https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/fiber-optics-broadband-header.jpg');"></div>  <article class="single"> <div class="container">  <div class="row"> <header class="col-md-12"> <div class="article-header"> <small class="article-category"> <a href="https://www.electric.coop/issues-and-policy/broadband">Broadband</a> </small> <h1 class="article-title">NRECA to Senate: Oppose Rural Broadband Restrictions; Seek USDA Grants, Loans</h1> <h3 class="article-subtitle"></h3> </div> </header> </div>  <div class="row"> <section class="col-md-3"> <div class="article-meta"> <div class="row"> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-date"> <span>Published</span>May 29, 2018 </div> </div> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-author"> <span>Author</span> Cathy Cash </div> </div> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-share">  <div class="social-share post"> <ul class="social"> <li><a class="facebook-share" href="https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=&title=" target="_blank"></a></li> <li><a class="twitter-share" href="https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?source=&text=&via=NRECANews " target="_blank"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewBox="0 0 512 512"><path d="M389.2 48h70.6L305.6 224.2 487 464H345L233.7 318.6 106.5 464H35.8L200.7 275.5 26.8 48H172.4L272.9 180.9 389.2 48zM364.4 421.8h39.1L151.1 88h-42L364.4 421.8z"/></svg></a></li> <li><a class="linkedin-share" href="http://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=&title=&summary=" target="_blank"></a></li> </ul> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </section> <section class="col-md-9"> <div class="article-content">  <p><figure id="attachment_4309" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-4309" style="width: 1024px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><a href="https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/fiber-optics-broadband.jpg"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="size-large wp-image-4309" src="https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/fiber-optics-broadband-1024x682.jpg" alt="NRECA is urging Senate Farm Bill drafters to create a grant-loan combination program at the U.S. Department of Agriculture to help build broadband networks in rural America. (Photo By: Getty Images)" width="1024" height="682" srcset="https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/fiber-optics-broadband-1024x682.jpg 1024w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/fiber-optics-broadband-300x200.jpg 300w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/fiber-optics-broadband-768x512.jpg 768w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/fiber-optics-broadband.jpg 2000w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-4309" class="wp-caption-text">NRECA is urging Senate Farm Bill drafters to create a grant-loan combination program at the U.S. Department of Agriculture to help build broadband networks in rural America. (Photo By: Getty Images)</figcaption></figure></p> <p>When it comes to rural high-speed internet, federal funding should not impose restrictions on where broadband can be built nor limit who can provide that service.</p> <p>That’s the message NRECA CEO Jim Matheson delivered to the Senate Agriculture Committee that is drafting the 2018 Farm Bill.</p> <p>“Expanding access to high-speed internet service should be one of the most important elements of the Senate Farm Bill,” Matheson said in <a href="https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/NRECA_Matheson_Broadband_Senate_May-2018.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">a letter to Sen. Pat Roberts, R-Kan., and Sen. Debbie Stabenow, D-Mich.</a>, the committee chairman and ranking member, respectfully.</p> <p>Matheson voiced strong opposition to adding provisions that would prevent the use of Rural Utilities Service funds to deploy broadband in areas that have received support from the Federal Communications Commission’s Universal Service Fund, even in areas where systems deliver substandard internet service.</p> <p>“Unfortunately, there are policy proposals being disseminated that are designed to simply protect the status quo and will leave parts of rural America with second-class broadband service for decades to come,” he told the senators.</p> <p>NRECA is urging the bill drafters instead to create a grant-loan combination program at the U.S. Department of Agriculture that is technology-neutral to help build broadband networks in remote parts of the country.</p> <p>“A new approach to broadband deployment is needed to ensure that rural America does not continue to be relegated to ‘good enough for rural’ service standards,” Matheson said, noting that some systems only provide download/upload speeds of 10/1 or 4/1 megabits per second. The Federal Communications Commission benchmarks fixed broadband at 25 Mbps/3Mbps.</p> <p>“The people we serve in rural America recognize that without access to modern, high-speed broadband on par with their urban counterparts, rural competitiveness, productivity and quality of life will suffer.”</p> <p>The fate of multiyear legislation to address agriculture is uncertain this year as Congress nears its August recess. The Senate committee is expected to finish writing a farm bill in June. The U.S. House of Representatives failed to pass its own version of the bill May 18.</p> <p><em>Cathy Cash is a staff writer at NRECA.</em></p> </div> </section> </div> <div class="row"> <div class="col-md-12"> <section class="timeline-article-footer"> <small>Next in the Issue</small> <a class="article-next-post" data-next-article="timeline-modal-4274" title="Missouri, Tennessee Pass Easement Laws Helpful to Rural Broadband">Missouri, Tennessee Pass Easement Laws Helpful to Rural Broadband <span class="arrow"><i class="ci-long-arrow-right"></i></span></a> </section> </div> </div> </div> </article>  </section>  <section id="timeline-modal-4274" class="timeline-issues-article hidden"> <div class="jumbotron hero article bg-image" style="background-image: url('https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/broadband-easements-header.jpg');"></div>  <article class="single"> <div class="container">  <div class="row"> <header class="col-md-12"> <div class="article-header"> <small class="article-category"> <a href="https://www.electric.coop/issues-and-policy/broadband">Broadband</a> </small> <h1 class="article-title">Missouri, Tennessee Pass Easement Laws Helpful to Rural Broadband</h1> <h3 class="article-subtitle">Co-op grass-roots efforts pay off</h3> </div> </header> </div>  <div class="row"> <section class="col-md-3"> <div class="article-meta"> <div class="row"> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-date"> <span>Published</span>May 22, 2018 </div> </div> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-author"> <span>Author</span> Cathy Cash </div> </div> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-share">  <div class="social-share post"> <ul class="social"> <li><a class="facebook-share" href="https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=&title=" target="_blank"></a></li> <li><a class="twitter-share" href="https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?source=&text=&via=NRECANews " target="_blank"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewBox="0 0 512 512"><path d="M389.2 48h70.6L305.6 224.2 487 464H345L233.7 318.6 106.5 464H35.8L200.7 275.5 26.8 48H172.4L272.9 180.9 389.2 48zM364.4 421.8h39.1L151.1 88h-42L364.4 421.8z"/></svg></a></li> <li><a class="linkedin-share" href="http://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=&title=&summary=" target="_blank"></a></li> </ul> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </section> <section class="col-md-9"> <div class="article-content">  <p><figure id="attachment_4275" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-4275" style="width: 1024px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><a href="https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/broadband-easements-body.jpg"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="size-large wp-image-4275" src="https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/broadband-easements-body-1024x682.jpg" alt="State legislatures are addressing easements as more co-ops pursue broadband fiber solutions for members. (USDA Photo by Preston Keres)" width="1024" height="682" srcset="https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/broadband-easements-body-1024x682.jpg 1024w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/broadband-easements-body-300x200.jpg 300w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/broadband-easements-body-768x512.jpg 768w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/broadband-easements-body.jpg 2000w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-4275" class="wp-caption-text">State legislatures are addressing easements as more co-ops pursue broadband fiber solutions for members. (USDA Photo by Preston Keres)</figcaption></figure></p> <p>The Association of Missouri Electric Cooperatives is lauding recently passed state legislation that addresses existing utility rights of way and easements to deliver broadband internet access to co-op members at the end of the line.</p> <p>“This is a crucial step in bringing high-speed internet service to rural people across the state who desperately need it,” said Caleb Jones, <a href="http://www.amec.org/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">AMEC</a> vice president. “It took a true grass-roots effort to make this happen. Getting this legislation passed this quickly is a testament to the hard work of our legislative staff and the entire Missouri Co-ops grass-roots team who descended on the Capitol several times to encourage their elected officials to support it.”</p> <p>Easement considerations have received increased attention as electric co-ops consider running fiber optic cable, leasing their unused fiber, or allowing other providers to attach fiber or 5G wireless equipment to their poles to provide broadband service.</p> <p>NRECA encourages co-ops to carefully review their state laws and easements whenever adding anything beyond electric poles and wires or using existing facilities for non-electric purposes.</p> <p>Jones noted that getting the bill passed was extremely difficult because of the complexity of easement issues. “We had to overcome a lengthy and heated Senate committee hearing, two Senate filibusters and had to engage in some very stressful negotiations on amendments in order to keep moving forward.”</p> <p>In Tennessee, Gov. Bill Haslam signed a law in March clarifying that an electric co-op can use existing infrastructure for delivery of high-speed internet access. The law stated that “any easement owned, held, or otherwise used by the cooperative in pursuit of a primary purpose may be used for any secondary purpose.”</p> <p>“Ensuring co-op electric easements can be used for broadband services was a huge win for Tennessee co-ops,” said Mike Knotts, vice president of government affairs at the <a href="http://www.tnelectric.org/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Tennessee Electric Cooperative Association</a>.</p> <p>“Not only does it reduce the risk of lawsuits, it helps co-ops deploy broadband in the most efficient and cost-effective manner possible. That means more people get connected to modern high-speed internet and they get connected sooner,” said Knotts.</p> <p>In April 2017, Haslam also signed into law the <a href="https://www.electric.coop/tennessee-electric-cooperative-broadband/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Tennessee Broadband Accessibility Act</a>, which allowed electric co-ops in the state to provide, through a subsidiary, broadband and other similar services within their service territory.</p> <p>“In so many places across rural America, quality broadband service is the No. 1 challenge facing our communities,” said Knotts. “Electric co-ops are uniquely positioned to help solve this problem.”</p> </div> </section> </div> <div class="row"> <div class="col-md-12"> <section class="timeline-article-footer"> <small>Next in the Issue</small> <a class="article-next-post" data-next-article="timeline-modal-4240" title="Making Way for 5G">Making Way for 5G <span class="arrow"><i class="ci-long-arrow-right"></i></span></a> </section> </div> </div> </div> </article>  </section>  <section id="timeline-modal-4240" class="timeline-issues-article hidden"> <div class="jumbotron hero article bg-image" style="background-image: url('https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/5GArray-header.jpg');"></div>  <article class="single"> <div class="container">  <div class="row"> <header class="col-md-12"> <div class="article-header"> <small class="article-category"> <a href="https://www.electric.coop/issues-and-policy/broadband">Broadband</a> </small> <h1 class="article-title">Making Way for 5G</h1> <h3 class="article-subtitle">The next generation of wireless communications could present weighty challenges for co-ops</h3> </div> </header> </div>  <div class="row"> <section class="col-md-3"> <div class="article-meta"> <div class="row"> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-date"> <span>Published</span>May 15, 2018 </div> </div> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-author"> <span>Author</span> Derrill Holly </div> </div> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-share">  <div class="social-share post"> <ul class="social"> <li><a class="facebook-share" href="https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=&title=" target="_blank"></a></li> <li><a class="twitter-share" href="https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?source=&text=&via=NRECANews " target="_blank"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewBox="0 0 512 512"><path d="M389.2 48h70.6L305.6 224.2 487 464H345L233.7 318.6 106.5 464H35.8L200.7 275.5 26.8 48H172.4L272.9 180.9 389.2 48zM364.4 421.8h39.1L151.1 88h-42L364.4 421.8z"/></svg></a></li> <li><a class="linkedin-share" href="http://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=&title=&summary=" target="_blank"></a></li> </ul> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </section> <section class="col-md-9"> <div class="article-content">  <p><figure id="attachment_4243" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-4243" style="width: 1024px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><a href="https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/5GArray-1.jpg"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="size-large wp-image-4243" src="https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/5GArray-1-1024x683.jpg" alt="Wi-fi signals relayed through 5G broadband antenna systems mounted atop utility poles could dramatically improve signal strength and data transfer capacity. (Photo By: Denny Gainer/NRECA)" width="1024" height="683" srcset="https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/5GArray-1.jpg 1024w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/5GArray-1-300x200.jpg 300w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/5GArray-1-768x512.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-4243" class="wp-caption-text">Wi-Fi signals relayed through 5G antenna systems mounted atop utility poles could dramatically improve signal strength and data transfer capacity. (Photo By: Denny Gainer/NRECA)</figcaption></figure></p> <p>5G is coming.</p> <p>The much-anticipated next generation of wireless communication, expected to be launched as early as later this year, promises to deliver on a host of futuristic technologies, including self-driving cars, real-time virtual reality, and smart cities and towns.</p> <p>“With the proliferation of mobile technology and the growing popularity of data-intensive services like video streaming, 5G represents the next generation of communications,” said Michael Leitman, an NRECA strategic analyst.</p> <p>It’s a promising development, but one that has brought some consternation to electric cooperatives and other utilities, whose distribution poles will likely bear part of the burden of the expanded infrastructure.</p> <p>“Any foreign attachment that departs from the design and construction of the original overhead line may introduce significant engineering, safety, and reliability issues which must be considered,” said Robert Harris, senior principal engineer for NRECA’s Business and Technology Strategies department.</p> <p>“Co-ops and other utility providers are concerned about the added weight on the poles, and how that will affect their stability and integrity during wind and ice storms, or prolonged rain events,” said Harris.</p> <p>The technology is expected to take root at first in densely populated areas, before extending into nearby suburbs. It could be several years before it arrives in rural communities distant from major metropolitan areas, and it will not likely ever be extended to isolated locations.</p> <p>5G will be able to deliver extremely fast speeds, low latency (responsiveness), and high capacity in part because it will rely on a dense network of small, connected antennae. A single 5G antenna weighs only a few grams, but some parts of the system are designed for so-called block-matrix mounting, where hundreds of the devices are housed in arrays.</p> <p>“The 5G attachment that will be placed in the communications space on a pole is being sold as pizza-box-sized equipment,” said Tammy Embrey, an NRECA senior legislative adviser.  “The reality is that when you factor in the total amount of equipment that will be added, this could add 300 to 400 pounds of weight to a pole.”</p> <p>Additional equipment includes control units, auxiliary backup batteries and other support equipment housed in metal or composite refrigerator-sized boxes.</p> <p>“This equipment is fundamentally different than any other type of attachment we’ve ever put on our poles,” said Embrey. “There’s more weight, wind and ice loading involved, there are reliability and worker safety issues, and most designs include a communications conduit running the length of the pole.”</p> <p>Servicing that communications equipment is also a major concern, said NRECA’s Harris.  “Some of that equipment could be near or above energized lines, so training, safety and potential service reliability issues need to be considered.”</p> <h4>Keeping Connections Local</h4> <p><figure id="attachment_4244" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-4244" style="width: 1024px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><a href="https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/5GSupport.jpg"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="size-large wp-image-4244" src="https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/5GSupport-1024x683.jpg" alt="Control units, back-up batteries and other support equipment connected to 5G broadband antenna arrays is installed beneath power lines, and could restrict climbing access. (Photo By: Denny Gainer/NRECA) " width="1024" height="683" srcset="https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/5GSupport.jpg 1024w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/5GSupport-300x200.jpg 300w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/5GSupport-768x512.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-4244" class="wp-caption-text">Control units, back-up batteries and other support equipment connected to 5G antenna arrays is installed beneath power lines, and could restrict climbing access. (Photo By: Denny Gainer/NRECA)</figcaption></figure></p> <p>The race to 5G could have a major impact on pole attachment oversight and cooperatives’ local control, as the wireless industry pushes for streamlined and uniform pole attachment procedures and lower rates nationally. That could lead to increased federal regulation of right-of-way relationships electric cooperatives have spent decades developing with private landowners and state and local jurisdictions.</p> <p>NRECA and its member cooperatives are supporting a resolution opposing regulatory authority over pole attachments by the Federal Communications Commission.</p> <p>“Congress long ago recognized the consumer-focused nature and democratic local control inherent in the cooperative business model and exempted electric cooperatives from federal pole attachment regulation,” said Embrey.</p> <p>Over the last few years, 19 states have enacted legislation to streamline pole attachment policies and reduce rates for small cell and 5G deployment.</p> <p>“Legislators in all of those states have had the foresight to make sure these rules do not apply to electric cooperatives,” said Brian O’Hara, NRECA’s senior director of regulatory issues, adding that several states have excluded electric utilities more broadly from new pole attachment regulations, citing their critical infrastructure status.</p> <p>“In some cases, the addition of foreign attachments may necessitate installation of taller or stronger poles, relocation of poles, or additional poles, increasing costs to the electric cooperative members,” said O’Hara.</p> <p>“Each cooperative is unique and faces specific challenges and costs.  Pole attachment rates should reflect the actual cost of providing attachment service.”</p> <p><a href="https://www.cooperative.com/programs-services/government-relations/Documents/Legislative%20Issues/fast_facts_poleattachments-feb-2018.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">According to NRECA</a>, receiving full compensation for pole attachment costs cannot be guaranteed with a uniform regulatory policy. Artificially low rates could burden co-op members with undue costs, effectively subsidizing large, for-profit telecommunications companies.</p> <p>NRECA has joined several entities representing utility, telecommunication and communications technology interests in calling for cross-industry compromises on spectrum issues related to 5G technology and its deployment. <a href="https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/CBRS-Coalition-Letter-filed-050918.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">A letter outlining their position was submitted to the FCC</a> on May 9. It includes measures that will help ensure options of some local involvement in how the technology is deployed and administered.</p> <p><em>Derrill Holly is a staff writer at NRECA.</em></p> </div> </section> </div> <div class="row"> <div class="col-md-12"> <section class="timeline-article-footer"> <small>Next in the Issue</small> <a class="article-next-post" data-next-article="timeline-modal-4236" title="Broadband and the Opioid Epidemic: The Power of Connection in Rural America">Broadband and the Opioid Epidemic: The Power of Connection in Rural America <span class="arrow"><i class="ci-long-arrow-right"></i></span></a> </section> </div> </div> </div> </article>  </section>  <section id="timeline-modal-4236" class="timeline-issues-article hidden"> <div class="jumbotron hero article bg-image" style="background-image: url('');"></div>  <article class="single"> <div class="container">  <div class="row"> <header class="col-md-12"> <div class="article-header"> <small class="article-category"> <a href="https://www.electric.coop/issues-and-policy/broadband">Broadband</a> </small> <h1 class="article-title">Broadband and the Opioid Epidemic: The Power of Connection in Rural America</h1> <h3 class="article-subtitle"></h3> </div> </header> </div>  <div class="row"> <section class="col-md-3"> <div class="article-meta"> <div class="row"> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-date"> <span>Published</span>May 14, 2018 </div> </div> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-author"> <span>Author</span> Anne Hazlett </div> </div> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-share">  <div class="social-share post"> <ul class="social"> <li><a class="facebook-share" href="https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=&title=" target="_blank"></a></li> <li><a class="twitter-share" href="https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?source=&text=&via=NRECANews " target="_blank"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewBox="0 0 512 512"><path d="M389.2 48h70.6L305.6 224.2 487 464H345L233.7 318.6 106.5 464H35.8L200.7 275.5 26.8 48H172.4L272.9 180.9 389.2 48zM364.4 421.8h39.1L151.1 88h-42L364.4 421.8z"/></svg></a></li> <li><a class="linkedin-share" href="http://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=&title=&summary=" target="_blank"></a></li> </ul> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </section> <section class="col-md-9"> <div class="article-content">  <p>As many of you may know unfortunately firsthand, one of the monumental challenges facing our country today is the opioid epidemic. The numbers are staggering.</p> <p>In 2016, nearly 64,000 Americans died from a drug overdose. At 174 people each day, this is more than the number of lives lost in car accidents or gun-related homicides. And, while no corner of the United States has gone untouched by this crisis, rural America has been hit particularly hard.</p> <p>Last fall, a survey conducted by two leading farm and rural organizations, the American Farm Bureau and National Farmers Union, showed that nearly 50 percent of rural adults—and 74 percent of farmers—have been directly impacted by opioid misuse.</p> <p>The roots of the opioid epidemic are multi-faceted and complex. This crisis stems from deep and challenging issues such as generational poverty, overprescribing of medication, and lack of economic opportunity. These contributing factors are often then compounded in rural communities where there is a heavy dependence on physical labor, lack of access to quality medical care, and a sense of isolation.</p> <p>A critical tool for rural leaders on the front lines of the battle against this epidemic is something well within our means as a nation: increased access to high-speed internet. According to the Federal Communications Commission, rural areas continue to lag urban areas in broadband deployment. In fact, the FCC in March reported that, of the 24 million American households that do not have access to reliable, affordable high-speed internet, 80 percent are in rural communities. Similarly, of the schools that lack access to high-speed internet service, 75 percent are in rural areas.</p> <p>This unacceptable divide means that our next generation of children living in rural America do not have access to the same quality education as their urban peers. Modern tools of distance learning for adults seeking to advance their personal economic prospects are also unavailable to too many rural Americans. And the shortage of e-Connectivity also prevents farms and other rural businesses from participating in the global marketplace.</p> <p>As we expand access to broadband in rural America, more rural communities can access telemedicine for treatment and recovery. Today, there are less than 40 physicians per 100,000 people in rural areas. Fewer physicians often translates to reduced availability and accessibility to medical care. But with telemedicine, people can connect with services to get healthy in their own community.</p> <p>Beyond access to health care, we know that broadband is critical to building prosperity in rural communities. This connection will link farms, homes, schools, and health care facilities to the rest of the world. Broadband will make farms and factories more productive. Lastly, this infrastructure will expand access to education and health care resources and also connect businesses to new markets, acting as a catalyst for prosperity in rural communities and throughout America.</p> <p>With those impacts, e-Connectivity is a central driver in quality of life and economic opportunity in rural America. Communities realize greater prosperity as jobs are created, schools can access new resources, and people are empowered to improve their health. However, the transformative power of broadband for rural communities is more than a mere idea.</p> <p>Just ask Ken Johnson, the new administrator of our Rural Utilities Service.</p> <p>Ken came to USDA from Tipton, Missouri, where he was the <a href="https://www.electric.coop/co-op-leader-takes-helm-rural-utilities-service/">CEO of a successful rural electric cooperative</a>. Through innovation and a belief that rural Americans deserve e-Connectivity on par with urban citizens, Ken’s co-op was the first rural electric cooperative in America to deliver broadband, by building a fiber gigabyte network to deliver high-speed internet service to its members.</p> <p>Ken often talks about how that high-speed internet service changed his community. This connectivity made it possible for kids to do their homework at home and college students to take classes from home. That connection has had such a big impact that grateful neighbors have actually stopped Ken on the street to tell him how their newfound access to high-speed internet has changed their lives.</p> <p>In the American Heartland and beyond, broadband e-Connectivity is truly a foundation for rural prosperity, from quality of life to a healthy workforce, innovation and economic development. With solid infrastructure enabling modern e-Connectivity, rural leaders battling opioid misuse can find new opportunity which then brings hope.</p> <p>Where there is hope, we find resilient communities rallying to combat the tragedy of drugs and successfully reclaiming their future. In that, I find great promise and a reaffirmation of the role that each of us can play to build prosperity in rural America in the face of this epidemic, supported by 21<sup>st</sup> century infrastructure and the tradition of believing in the best of one another.</p> <p><em>Anne Hazlett serves as the assistant to the secretary for Rural Development at the U.S. Department of Agriculture.</em></p> <p><strong>Related coverage:<br /> </strong><a href="https://www.electric.coop/usda-roundtables-rural-opioid-crisis/">USDA to Sponsor Roundtables on Rural Opioid Crisis</a><br /> <a href="https://www.electric.coop/now-online-usda-opioid-crisis-website-rural-areas/">Now Online: USDA Website on Opioid Crisis and Rural Areas</a></p> </div> </section> </div> <div class="row"> <div class="col-md-12"> <section class="timeline-article-footer"> <small>Next in the Issue</small> <a class="article-next-post" data-next-article="timeline-modal-4227" title="Co-op Broadband Brightens Future of Rural Alabama">Co-op Broadband Brightens Future of Rural Alabama <span class="arrow"><i class="ci-long-arrow-right"></i></span></a> </section> </div> </div> </div> </article>  </section>  <section id="timeline-modal-4227" class="timeline-issues-article hidden"> <div class="jumbotron hero article bg-image" style="background-image: url('');"></div>  <article class="single"> <div class="container">  <div class="row"> <header class="col-md-12"> <div class="article-header"> <small class="article-category"> <a href="https://www.electric.coop/issues-and-policy/broadband">Broadband</a> </small> <h1 class="article-title">Co-op Broadband Brightens Future of Rural Alabama</h1> <h3 class="article-subtitle">USDA grant will help wire a community beset by poverty</h3> </div> </header> </div>  <div class="row"> <section class="col-md-3"> <div class="article-meta"> <div class="row"> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-date"> <span>Published</span>May 4, 2018 </div> </div> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-author"> <span>Author</span> Cathy Cash </div> </div> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-share">  <div class="social-share post"> <ul class="social"> <li><a class="facebook-share" href="https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=&title=" target="_blank"></a></li> <li><a class="twitter-share" href="https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?source=&text=&via=NRECANews " target="_blank"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewBox="0 0 512 512"><path d="M389.2 48h70.6L305.6 224.2 487 464H345L233.7 318.6 106.5 464H35.8L200.7 275.5 26.8 48H172.4L272.9 180.9 389.2 48zM364.4 421.8h39.1L151.1 88h-42L364.4 421.8z"/></svg></a></li> <li><a class="linkedin-share" href="http://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=&title=&summary=" target="_blank"></a></li> </ul> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </section> <section class="col-md-9"> <div class="article-content">  <p><figure id="attachment_4225" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-4225" style="width: 1609px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="size-full wp-image-4225" src="https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/Tombigbee-Press-Event.jpg" alt="(L-R) Tombigbee CEO Steve Foshee, Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey, Rep. Robert Aderholt and Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue celebrate a $3 million grant to the co-op for broadband. (Photo By: Active8 Communications)" width="1609" height="843" srcset="https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/Tombigbee-Press-Event.jpg 1609w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/Tombigbee-Press-Event-300x157.jpg 300w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/Tombigbee-Press-Event-768x402.jpg 768w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/Tombigbee-Press-Event-1024x537.jpg 1024w" sizes="(max-width: 1609px) 100vw, 1609px" /><figcaption id="caption-attachment-4225" class="wp-caption-text">(L-R) Tombigbee CEO Steve Foshee, Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey, Rep. Robert Aderholt and Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue celebrate a $3 million grant to the co-op for broadband. (Photo By: Active8 Communications)</figcaption></figure></p> <p>The future of tiny Brilliant, Alabama, just got brighter with a clear path to broadband.</p> <p>Thanks to <a href="http://www.tombigbee.net/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Tombigbee Electric Cooperative</a>, state leadership and funds from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, residents of a rural community beset by persistent poverty will soon have the fastest internet service available.</p> <p>U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue on Thursday presented a $2.98 million grant to Steve Foshee, president and CEO of the electric co-op and its broadband subsidiary, <a href="http://www.freedomfiber.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Tombigbee Communications</a>, in an event crowded with elected officials and residents in Hamilton, Alabama.</p> <p>“To compete in today’s global marketplace, we must remove the infrastructure gaps in rural communities,” said Perdue, who lauded Tombigbee’s participation in the USDA grant program and encouraged others to follow.</p> <p>“We want more … partners like Tombigbee across the country to participate.”</p> <p>The award comes from the <a href="https://www.rd.usda.gov/programs-services/community-connect-grants" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Community Connect Broadband Grant Program</a> under the USDA’s Rural Utilities Service. The grant will help extend freedom FIBER, the co-op’s ultra-high-speed fiber optic service, into the town of Brilliant. Construction will begin in July, and residential service will start in October.</p> <p>Residential customers may choose upload/download speeds of 100/100 megabits per second, or 1/1 gigabits per second. Businesses will receive 10 gigabit services, according to the co-op.</p> <p>The USDA grant will help Tombigbee deliver fiber-to-the-home across 80 square miles of rural Marion County and provide 1 gigabit service to more than 425 homes, Foshee said.</p> <p>In addition to connecting homes and businesses with freedom FIBER, Tombigbee will deliver service to a community center for people to use free of charge as part of the grant’s requirements.</p> <p>USDA is accepting applications through May 14 for Community Connect grants from $100,000 to $3 million for state and local governments, federally recognized tribes, nonprofits and for-profit corporations.</p> <p>The co-op already is delivering broadband to Hamilton and nearby Winfield. So far, the co-op has invested more than $10 million into broadband and built more than 400 miles of fiber line, Foshee said.</p> <p>“We have another 1,600 miles to go,” said Foshee. “We intend to get to every home at the end of the line in the most rural part of northwest Alabama.”</p> <p>Foshee thanked Perdue, USDA, Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey, the Alabama Legislature and Rep. Robert Aderholt, R-Ala., for their support of delivering broadband to a community where nearly a quarter of its residents live in poverty.</p> <p>“Bringing broadband access to rural homes and businesses in 2018 is comparable to bringing electricity to rural homes and businesses in the 1930s—it is a critical necessity that we are honored and fortunate to provide,” said Foshee.</p> <p>Aderholt called access to high-speed internet “just as important to a high quality of life as electricity, water and sewer.” The governor agreed. “The internet is vital to economic development, health care, education, and to be honest, all areas of our modern life,” said Ivey.</p> </div> </section> </div> <div class="row"> <div class="col-md-12"> <section class="timeline-article-footer"> <small>Next in the Issue</small> <a class="article-next-post" data-next-article="timeline-modal-4148" title="Digital Divide: How Can the ‘Uneven Landscape’ of Broadband Access Be Fixed?">Digital Divide: How Can the ‘Uneven Landscape’ of Broadband Access Be Fixed? <span class="arrow"><i class="ci-long-arrow-right"></i></span></a> </section> </div> </div> </div> </article>  </section>  <section id="timeline-modal-4148" class="timeline-issues-article hidden"> <div class="jumbotron hero article bg-image" style="background-image: url('https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/broadband440.jpg');"></div>  <article class="single"> <div class="container">  <div class="row"> <header class="col-md-12"> <div class="article-header"> <small class="article-category"> <a href="https://www.electric.coop/issues-and-policy/broadband">Broadband</a> </small> <h1 class="article-title">Digital Divide: How Can the ‘Uneven Landscape’ of Broadband Access Be Fixed?</h1> <h3 class="article-subtitle">Key stakeholders discuss solutions at first e-Connectivity Forum</h3> </div> </header> </div>  <div class="row"> <section class="col-md-3"> <div class="article-meta"> <div class="row"> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-date"> <span>Published</span>April 19, 2018 </div> </div> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-author"> <span>Author</span> Cathy Cash </div> </div> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-share">  <div class="social-share post"> <ul class="social"> <li><a class="facebook-share" href="https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=&title=" target="_blank"></a></li> <li><a class="twitter-share" href="https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?source=&text=&via=NRECANews " target="_blank"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewBox="0 0 512 512"><path d="M389.2 48h70.6L305.6 224.2 487 464H345L233.7 318.6 106.5 464H35.8L200.7 275.5 26.8 48H172.4L272.9 180.9 389.2 48zM364.4 421.8h39.1L151.1 88h-42L364.4 421.8z"/></svg></a></li> <li><a class="linkedin-share" href="http://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=&title=&summary=" target="_blank"></a></li> </ul> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </section> <section class="col-md-9"> <div class="article-content">  <p><figure id="attachment_4149" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-4149" style="width: 5760px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="size-full wp-image-4149" src="https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/econnectivitymain.jpg" alt="NRECA CEO Jim Matheson tells the first e-Connectivity Forum in Washington that existing programs for broadband internet access fail to meet the needs of rural America. (Photo By: Alexis Matsui/NRECA)" width="5760" height="3840" srcset="https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/econnectivitymain.jpg 5760w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/econnectivitymain-300x200.jpg 300w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/econnectivitymain-768x512.jpg 768w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/econnectivitymain-1024x683.jpg 1024w" sizes="(max-width: 5760px) 100vw, 5760px" /><figcaption id="caption-attachment-4149" class="wp-caption-text">NRECA CEO Jim Matheson tells the first e-Connectivity Forum in Washington that existing programs for broadband internet access fail to meet the needs of rural America. (Photo By: Alexis Matsui/NRECA)</figcaption></figure></p> <p>NRECA CEO Jim Matheson is urging policymakers, including Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue, and key stakeholders to include electric cooperatives and their members in the quest to address the “uneven landscape” created by a lack of broadband internet access in rural America.</p> <p>“NRECA is a group health care plan provider, and we cover people in rural places where health care providers gather at the McDonald’s parking lot to upload and download radiology images and diagnoses because they aren’t connected in their offices or where they provide home health care,” <a href="https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/Jim-Matheson-Remarks-at-USDA-e-connectivity-forum-041818.pdf">Matheson told the audience</a> at the first e-Connectivity Forum in Washington on April 18.</p> <p>“NRECA sponsors a telemedicine program that can bring a consultation right into a home, but it doesn’t work best unless it’s broadband-enabled,” he said.</p> <p>“And that’s the situation in far too many communities. Existing programs for expanding high-speed internet access are falling short of meeting the needs of rural America.”</p> <p>For bridging the digital divide, Matheson highlighted three policy recommendations:</p> <ul> <li>Priority for higher speeds and providers who put their own capital in play</li> <li>Federal grant support with a preference for minimum upload/download speeds of 25Mbps/3Mbps, and higher speeds—even in low-density areas</li> <li>Rigorous reviews upfront to ensure that applicants who bring broadband to rural America can deliver the speeds they promise</li> </ul> <p>“The only way for 23 million unserved and underserved Americans to gain equal access to modern education, health care, economic and civic institutions is if they are connected,” he said. Until then, rural Americans “are living and working in an uneven landscape where those with connectivity have these opportunities and those who lack connectivity do not.”</p> <p>The forum featured Perdue, Federal Communications Commission Chairman Ajit Pai, USDA Rural Utilities Service Administrator Ken Johnson, and Mel Coleman, CEO of <a href="https://www.naeci.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">North Arkansas Electric Co-op</a> and NRECA Arkansas director.</p> <p>Coleman said his co-op in Salem, Arkansas, is in the midst of a five-year fiber-to-the-home project driven by the need for telemedicine, educational opportunities, modern farming and growing small business. The 36,000-member co-op has launched a broadband pilot program, delivering service to 650 people so far.</p> <p>“I can’t go anywhere where someone is not begging me, ‘please put me in your next phase to bring broadband to my house,’” Coleman said. “It’s all about quality of life.”</p> <p>The high cost of building fiber broadband remains the “biggest obstacle” to serving each member, especially in low-density areas, he said. NAEC estimates that providing high-speed internet to every member will cost $140 million, Coleman said.</p> <p>Johnson talked of his experience of building broadband as the general manager of <a href="http://www.co-mo.coop/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Co-Mo Electric</a> before joining USDA April 16. With board support, the Tipton, Missouri, co-op in 2011 began <a href="http://remagazine.coop/co-mo-broadband/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">a broadband project</a> to bring 1 gigabit—the fastest speed—to all 32,000 members. He recalled the “sense of urgency coming from our members that really got us … to move forward.”</p> <p>As head of the RUS, Johnson said he wants programs that lends to co-ops to run “as efficiently, as effectively as we possibly can.”</p> <p>“We want to be simple and easy to do business with, however, we still need to maintain integrity in the process and make sure we spend tax dollars wisely,” he said.</p> <p>Perdue told the audience that rather than imposing a federal solution on every community, delivering broadband to rural America will require partnerships among the federal and state governments and the private sector. He noted that a broadband solution will “be dependent on local communities, states, municipalities to help guide us in what direction they want to go.”</p> <p>Perdue added that, like when the Rural Electrification Act was signed, the federal government does not have enough money to deliver broadband across the country and he hoped that this transformation of America will sustain itself with a subscriber model.</p> <p>Matheson underscored how electric co-ops already are building fiber-optic broadband to their substations and meters primarily to improve efficiency, manage load and substantially lower bills to members, especially those in rural persistent-poverty households served by co-ops.</p> <p>“We are highly effective in this space because we understand the game-changing effect of rural access to connectivity in the same way we understood the game-changing effect of rural access to electricity,” said Matheson.</p> <p>Sponsors of the event included NRECA, USDA, <a href="http://www.cobank.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">CoBank</a>, <a href="https://www.nrucfc.coop/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">National Rural Utilities Cooperative Finance Corporation (CFC)</a>, the Rural Broadband Association, and the Farm Foundation.</p> </div> </section> </div> <div class="row"> <div class="col-md-12"> <section class="timeline-article-footer"> <small>Next in the Issue</small> <a class="article-next-post" data-next-article="timeline-modal-4128" title="Secretary Perdue, Chairman Pai to join Stakeholders for Rural Broadband Forum">Secretary Perdue, Chairman Pai to join Stakeholders for Rural Broadband Forum <span class="arrow"><i class="ci-long-arrow-right"></i></span></a> </section> </div> </div> </div> </article>  </section>  <section id="timeline-modal-4128" class="timeline-issues-article hidden"> <div class="jumbotron hero article bg-image" style="background-image: url('');"></div>  <article class="single"> <div class="container">  <div class="row"> <header class="col-md-12"> <div class="article-header"> <small class="article-category"> <a href="https://www.electric.coop/issues-and-policy/broadband">Broadband</a> </small> <h1 class="article-title">Secretary Perdue, Chairman Pai to join Stakeholders for Rural Broadband Forum</h1> <h3 class="article-subtitle"></h3> </div> </header> </div>  <div class="row"> <section class="col-md-3"> <div class="article-meta"> <div class="row"> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-date"> <span>Published</span>April 16, 2018 </div> </div> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-author"> <span>Author</span> Media Relations </div> </div> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-share">  <div class="social-share post"> <ul class="social"> <li><a class="facebook-share" href="https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=&title=" target="_blank"></a></li> <li><a class="twitter-share" href="https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?source=&text=&via=NRECANews " target="_blank"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewBox="0 0 512 512"><path d="M389.2 48h70.6L305.6 224.2 487 464H345L233.7 318.6 106.5 464H35.8L200.7 275.5 26.8 48H172.4L272.9 180.9 389.2 48zM364.4 421.8h39.1L151.1 88h-42L364.4 421.8z"/></svg></a></li> <li><a class="linkedin-share" href="http://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=&title=&summary=" target="_blank"></a></li> </ul> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </section> <section class="col-md-9"> <div class="article-content">  <p><strong>WASHINGTON</strong> – On Wednesday, April 18, U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue and Federal Communications Commission Chairman Ajit Pai will join organizations from across rural America for a conversation about expanding broadband access in rural America.</p> <p>The “E-Connectivity Forum” is the kickoff event for a series of regional conversations designed to gather insights into solutions for bridging the digital divide.</p> <p>The event and subsequent regional sessions are being organized by the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association, Farm Foundation, NTCA-The Rural Broadband Association, National Rural Utilities Cooperative Finance Corporation (CFC), and CoBank.</p> <p><strong>WHO:</strong></p> <p>U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue<br /> FCC Chairman Ajit Pai<br /> Rural Utilities Service Administrator Ken Johnson<br /> Jannine Miller, USDA Senior Advisor to the Secretary for Infrastructure<br /> Tennessee Telecommunications Association Executive Director Levoy Knowles<br /> North Arkansas Electric Cooperative CEO Mel Coleman<br /> Jim Matheson, CEO, NRECA<br /> Shirley Bloomfield, CEO, NTCA-The Rural Broadband Association<br /> Thomas Halverson, President and CEO, CoBank<br /> Sheldon Petersen, CEO, National Rural Utilities Cooperative Finance Corp. (CFC)<br /> Joe Swedberg, Chairman of the Board, Farm Foundation</p> <p><strong>WHAT:</strong> E-Connectivity Forum and Kickoff Event</p> <p><strong>WHERE:</strong></p> <p>Whitten Patio, U.S. Department of Agriculture<br /> 1400 Jefferson Dr. SW<br /> Washington, DC 20024</p> <p><strong>WHEN:</strong> Wednesday, April 18, 2018, 9:15 to 11:30 a.m</p> <p><strong>RSVP:</strong> RSVP required by 10 a.m. Tuesday by emailing <a href="mailto:Michelle@farmfoundation.org">Michelle@farmfoundation.org</a></p> <p>The <a href="https://www.electric.coop/">National Rural Electric Cooperative Association</a> is the national trade association representing more than 900 local electric cooperatives. From growing suburbs to remote farming communities, electric co-ops serve as engines of economic development for 42 million Americans across 56 percent of the nation’s landscape. As local businesses built by the consumers they serve, electric cooperatives have meaningful ties to rural America and invest $12 billion annually in their communities.</p> <p>FOR MORE INFORMATION:<br /> <a href="mailto:stephen.bell@nreca.coop">Stephen Bell</a>, NRECA, 571-205-7719<br /> <a href="mailto:jsolonika@cobank.com">Jo Solonika,</a> CoBank, 720-583-9180<br /> <a href="mailto:publicrelations@nrucfc.coop">Brad Captain</a>, CFC, 800-424-2954<br /> <a href="mailto:mary@farmfoundation.org">Mary Thompson</a>, Farm Foundation, 630-601-4152<br /> <a href="mailto:kwismer@ntca.org">Kelly Wismer</a>, NTCA, 703-351-2015</p> <p style="text-align: center">###</p> <p> </p> </div> </section> </div> <div class="row"> <div class="col-md-12"> <section class="timeline-article-footer"> <small>Next in the Issue</small> <a class="article-next-post" data-next-article="timeline-modal-4125" title="While Rural Prosperity Is Making Headlines, Co-ops Can Keep Heat on Congress">While Rural Prosperity Is Making Headlines, Co-ops Can Keep Heat on Congress <span class="arrow"><i class="ci-long-arrow-right"></i></span></a> </section> </div> </div> </div> </article>  </section>  <section id="timeline-modal-4125" class="timeline-issues-article hidden"> <div class="jumbotron hero article bg-image" style="background-image: url('');"></div>  <article class="single"> <div class="container">  <div class="row"> <header class="col-md-12"> <div class="article-header"> <small class="article-category"> <a href="https://www.electric.coop/issues-and-policy/broadband">Broadband</a> </small> <h1 class="article-title">While Rural Prosperity Is Making Headlines, Co-ops Can Keep Heat on Congress</h1> <h3 class="article-subtitle"></h3> </div> </header> </div>  <div class="row"> <section class="col-md-3"> <div class="article-meta"> <div class="row"> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-date"> <span>Published</span>April 13, 2018 </div> </div> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-author"> <span>Author</span> Victoria A. Rocha </div> </div> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-share">  <div class="social-share post"> <ul class="social"> <li><a class="facebook-share" href="https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=&title=" target="_blank"></a></li> <li><a class="twitter-share" href="https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?source=&text=&via=NRECANews " target="_blank"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewBox="0 0 512 512"><path d="M389.2 48h70.6L305.6 224.2 487 464H345L233.7 318.6 106.5 464H35.8L200.7 275.5 26.8 48H172.4L272.9 180.9 389.2 48zM364.4 421.8h39.1L151.1 88h-42L364.4 421.8z"/></svg></a></li> <li><a class="linkedin-share" href="http://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=&title=&summary=" target="_blank"></a></li> </ul> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </section> <section class="col-md-9"> <div class="article-content">  <p><figure id="attachment_4126" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-4126" style="width: 3223px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="size-full wp-image-4126" src="https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/LCinfrastructure1.jpg" alt="" width="3223" height="2149" srcset="https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/LCinfrastructure1.jpg 3223w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/LCinfrastructure1-300x200.jpg 300w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/LCinfrastructure1-768x512.jpg 768w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/LCinfrastructure1-1024x683.jpg 1024w" sizes="(max-width: 3223px) 100vw, 3223px" /><figcaption id="caption-attachment-4126" class="wp-caption-text">At the 2018 NRECA Legislative Conference, panelists discuss the prospects of rural infrastructure legislation. From left: NRECA’s Hill Thomas; CQ Roll Call’s Jacob Fischler; Agri-Pulse’s Philip Brasher. (Photo By: Luis Gomez Photos)</figcaption></figure></p> <p>When was the last time rural infrastructure made headlines?</p> <p>Philip Brasher, senior editor at <em>Agri-Pulse</em>, can’t recall, saying “a couple or three decades or close to it.” Brasher, a panelist at an April 9 forum on infrastructure legislation at the 2018 NRECA Legislative Conference, said it’s significant that members of Congress are discussing the issue.</p> <p>“The No. 1 point I want to make is that rural broadband and rural infrastructure are a priority. They’ve been a priority in this Congress more than I’ve seen than they ever have been.”</p> <p>Released earlier this year, President Trump’s <a href="https://www.usda.gov/sites/default/files/documents/rural-prosperity-report.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Rebuilding Infrastructure in America</a> proposal elevated rural prosperity to the national stage. The plan asks that 25 percent of funding be set aside as a block grant to states for rural infrastructure projects.</p> <p>Noting that Trump’s plan has had a cool reception in Congress, moderator Hill Thomas, legislative affairs director at NRECA, suggested “a little-piece strategy” in which lawmakers attach portions of an infrastructure package to several bills, such as the $600 million in loans and grants for rural broadband in the spending bill passed last month.</p> <p>Other legislation could include reauthorization of the Federal Aviation Administration and the Water Resources Development Act, the panelists said.</p> <p>“You could be cynical and say that was stuff that Congress was going to do anyway, but it does provide an opportunity to do a little bit more, to attach some extra infrastructure funding or regulatory policy that provides kind of an avenue to do that,” said panelist Jacob Fischler, a reporter at CQ Roll Call<em>. </em></p> <p>The Department of Agriculture is another source of momentum on rural infrastructure. “They don’t have a timetable yet” to spend the $600 million in broadband grants and loans in the spending bill, said Brasher. “Secretary Perdue has told [Anne Hazlett, assistant to the secretary for rural development] they want to have it ready as soon as possible.”</p> <p>Even if a formal rural infrastructure package doesn’t clear Congress this year, electric co-ops should still continue to engage lawmakers, said panelists. “You don’t build coalitions overnight,” said Brasher. “You don’t educate members of Congress and staff overnight. It takes time.”</p> </div> </section> </div> <div class="row"> <div class="col-md-12"> <section class="timeline-article-footer"> <small>Next in the Issue</small> <a class="article-next-post" data-next-article="timeline-modal-4122" title="Key Takeaways: Senators Laud Work of Co-ops">Key Takeaways: Senators Laud Work of Co-ops <span class="arrow"><i class="ci-long-arrow-right"></i></span></a> </section> </div> </div> </div> </article>  </section>  <section id="timeline-modal-4122" class="timeline-issues-article hidden"> <div class="jumbotron hero article bg-image" style="background-image: url('https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/capitol440.jpg');"></div>  <article class="single"> <div class="container">  <div class="row"> <header class="col-md-12"> <div class="article-header"> <small class="article-category"> <a href="https://www.electric.coop/issues-and-policy/broadband">Broadband</a> </small> <h1 class="article-title">Key Takeaways: Senators Laud Work of Co-ops</h1> <h3 class="article-subtitle"></h3> </div> </header> </div>  <div class="row"> <section class="col-md-3"> <div class="article-meta"> <div class="row"> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-date"> <span>Published</span>April 12, 2018 </div> </div> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-author"> <span>Author</span> Cathy Cash </div> </div> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-share">  <div class="social-share post"> <ul class="social"> <li><a class="facebook-share" href="https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=&title=" target="_blank"></a></li> <li><a class="twitter-share" href="https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?source=&text=&via=NRECANews " target="_blank"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewBox="0 0 512 512"><path d="M389.2 48h70.6L305.6 224.2 487 464H345L233.7 318.6 106.5 464H35.8L200.7 275.5 26.8 48H172.4L272.9 180.9 389.2 48zM364.4 421.8h39.1L151.1 88h-42L364.4 421.8z"/></svg></a></li> <li><a class="linkedin-share" href="http://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=&title=&summary=" target="_blank"></a></li> </ul> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </section> <section class="col-md-9"> <div class="article-content">  <p><figure id="attachment_4113" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-4113" style="width: 2000px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="size-full wp-image-4113" src="https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/robertsAEC.jpg" alt="Senate Agriculture Committee Chairman Pat Roberts, R-Kan., tells electric co-op leaders at NRECA’s 2018 Legislative Conference that work continues on the Farm Bill. (Photo By: Luis Gomez Photos)" width="2000" height="1334" srcset="https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/robertsAEC.jpg 2000w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/robertsAEC-300x200.jpg 300w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/robertsAEC-768x512.jpg 768w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/robertsAEC-1024x683.jpg 1024w" sizes="(max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px" /><figcaption id="caption-attachment-4113" class="wp-caption-text">Senate Agriculture Committee Chairman Pat Roberts, R-Kan., tells electric co-op leaders at NRECA’s 2018 Legislative Conference that work continues on the Farm Bill. (Photo By: Luis Gomez Photos)</figcaption></figure></p> <p>Electric cooperative leaders at the 2018 Legislative Conference April 9-10 heard firsthand how key lawmakers on Capitol Hill respect the pivotal role of co-ops in rural economies across the nation.</p> <p>Senate Agriculture Committee Chairman Pat Roberts, R-Kan., told the audience of 2,000 that lawmakers continue to work on a Farm Bill. Roberts expects the bill to include essential provisions for the success of rural America, including funding for the Rural Utilities Service and the Rural Economic Development Loan and Grant Program. On REDLG, he noted the “important role this program plays in no-cost financing” for rural projects in the current environment of tight budgets.</p> <p>Roberts did not indicate a timeline for releasing the Senate’s draft of the Farm Bill but indicated he’s pursuing a bipartisan approach to ensure the legislation can get more than 60 votes to clear the Senate.</p> <p>Roberts also emphasized the need to achieve “a common sense approach to regulation.”</p> <h4><strong>Senate Energy Chair Highlights Co-op Innovation</strong></h4> <p><figure id="attachment_4112" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-4112" style="width: 2000px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="size-full wp-image-4112" src="https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/murkowsiAEC.jpg" alt="Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee Chairwoman Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, lauds co-op innovation at NRECA’s 2018 Legislative Conference. (Photo By: Denny Gainer)" width="2000" height="1333" srcset="https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/murkowsiAEC.jpg 2000w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/murkowsiAEC-300x200.jpg 300w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/murkowsiAEC-768x512.jpg 768w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/murkowsiAEC-1024x682.jpg 1024w" sizes="(max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px" /><figcaption id="caption-attachment-4112" class="wp-caption-text">Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee Chairwoman Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, lauds co-op innovation at NRECA’s 2018 Legislative Conference. (Photo By: Denny Gainer)</figcaption></figure></p> <p>Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee Chairman Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, extolled the electric co-ops across her state for delivering reliable, affordable and cleaner energy to their members.</p> <p>“Alaska is becoming a proving ground for innovation and success” in rural energy development, she said.</p> <p>Murkowski highlighted the work at <a href="https://www.cordovaelectric.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Cordova Electric Cooperative</a> in energy efficiency, renewables and storage as well as its participation in a Department of Energy Radiance project with several labs and universities. Her <a href="https://www.electric.coop/microgrids-potential-for-alaska-power/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">committee met with Alaska co-ops</a>, including Clay Koplin, the co-op CEO and mayor of the city, in Cordova last year.</p> <p>Murkowski also commended Meera Kohler, CEO of <a href="http://avec.org/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Alaska Village Electric Cooperative</a> and NRECA Alaska director. She noted how Alaska co-ops are displacing diesel generation with hydro, wind, solar and “improving lives and protecting the environment.”</p> <p>“Your willingness to travel here to engage with Congress is truly, truly appreciated,” she said.</p> <p>The Senate Energy panel will explore rural energy in an April 19 hearing, she told the conference. Doug Hardy, general manager of Central Montana Electric Power Cooperative, and Matt Greek, senior vice president of research, development and technology at Basin Electric Power Cooperative, will testify.</p> <h4><strong>Klobuchar: Co-ops Are ‘Good for This Country’</strong></h4> <p><figure id="attachment_4111" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-4111" style="width: 2000px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="size-full wp-image-4111" src="https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/klobucharAEC.jpg" alt="Sen. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., underscores the importance of broadband to rural America at NRECA’s 2018 Legislative Conference. (Photo By: Luis Gomez Photos)" width="2000" height="1334" srcset="https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/klobucharAEC.jpg 2000w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/klobucharAEC-300x200.jpg 300w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/klobucharAEC-768x512.jpg 768w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/klobucharAEC-1024x683.jpg 1024w" sizes="(max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px" /><figcaption id="caption-attachment-4111" class="wp-caption-text">Sen. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., underscores the importance of broadband to rural America at NRECA’s 2018 Legislative Conference. (Photo By: Luis Gomez Photos)</figcaption></figure></p> <p>“The whole idea of a co-op is good for this country and for energy,” said Sen. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., who serves on the Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry Committee and Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee.</p> <p>Klobuchar recalled her visits with electric co-ops in her home state and some of their energy efficiency programs, including <a href="http://swce.coop/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Steele-Waseca Electric Cooperative</a>’s free large-capacity water heater with the purchase of a solar panel. The “battery in the basement” saves energy in rural areas.</p> <p>“When we do policy, we need to acknowledge it’s not one-size-fits all,” she said.</p> <p>The senator also helped form a rural broadband caucus among colleagues. “In rural America, we want kids who grow up there to be able to live there,” she said. “They believe they are not going to be able to compete without broadband.”</p> <p><b>More coverage from Legislative Conference:<br /> </b><a href="https://www.electric.coop/sonny-perdue-legislative-conference-rural-broadband/">Perdue Underscores ‘Seismic Shift’ of Rural Broadband</a><br /> <a href="https://www.electric.coop/matheson-member-advocacy-vital-for-policy-success/">Matheson: Member Advocacy Vital for Policy Success</a></p> </div> </section> </div> <div class="row"> <div class="col-md-12"> <section class="timeline-article-footer"> <small>Next in the Issue</small> <a class="article-next-post" data-next-article="timeline-modal-4120" title="Electric Co-ops Applaud Rural Development, Broadband Provisions of House Farm Bill">Electric Co-ops Applaud Rural Development, Broadband Provisions of House Farm Bill <span class="arrow"><i class="ci-long-arrow-right"></i></span></a> </section> </div> </div> </div> </article>  </section>  <section id="timeline-modal-4120" class="timeline-issues-article hidden"> <div class="jumbotron hero article bg-image" style="background-image: url('');"></div>  <article class="single"> <div class="container">  <div class="row"> <header class="col-md-12"> <div class="article-header"> <small class="article-category"> <a href="https://www.electric.coop/issues-and-policy/broadband">Broadband</a> </small> <h1 class="article-title">Electric Co-ops Applaud Rural Development, Broadband Provisions of House Farm Bill</h1> <h3 class="article-subtitle"></h3> </div> </header> </div>  <div class="row"> <section class="col-md-3"> <div class="article-meta"> <div class="row"> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-date"> <span>Published</span>April 12, 2018 </div> </div> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-author"> <span>Author</span> Media Relations </div> </div> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-share">  <div class="social-share post"> <ul class="social"> <li><a class="facebook-share" href="https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=&title=" target="_blank"></a></li> <li><a class="twitter-share" href="https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?source=&text=&via=NRECANews " target="_blank"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewBox="0 0 512 512"><path d="M389.2 48h70.6L305.6 224.2 487 464H345L233.7 318.6 106.5 464H35.8L200.7 275.5 26.8 48H172.4L272.9 180.9 389.2 48zM364.4 421.8h39.1L151.1 88h-42L364.4 421.8z"/></svg></a></li> <li><a class="linkedin-share" href="http://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=&title=&summary=" target="_blank"></a></li> </ul> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </section> <section class="col-md-9"> <div class="article-content">  <p><strong>ARLINGTON, Va.</strong> – National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA) CEO Jim Matheson today applauded the inclusion of electric co-op priorities in the House Farm Bill:</p> <p>“The Farm Bill is an essential tool to strengthen rural America and drive our nation’s economy,” Matheson said. “Provisions in the House Farm Bill will enable electric cooperatives to continue improving the quality of life in America’s communities. We strongly support efforts to expand rural broadband access and fortify rural development programs, both of which are essential for rural America to fully participate in the 21<sup>st</sup> century economy. We encourage Congress to continue working to reauthorize the Farm Bill before it expires this year.”</p> <p>The House legislation would create a broadband grant program at USDA to better target rural areas that need it most and create workable solutions to bridge the digital divide. The proposal also provides support for other rural development programs that help electric co-ops modernize the electric grid while undertaking innovative, cost-effective energy projects.</p> <p>Matheson recently <a href="http://thehill.com/opinion/technology/382189-investing-in-rural-america-would-lift-nations-economy">called for</a> the Farm Bill to invest in rural America by including:</p> <ul> <li>Additional funding for rural broadband grants and loans.</li> <li>Support for proven rural economic development programs.</li> <li>Accelerating energy innovation in the development of renewable energy resources and electric grid modernization.</li> <li>Funding for rural electrification programs.</li> </ul> <p><em>The </em><a href="https://www.electric.coop/"><em>National Rural Electric Cooperative Association</em></a><em> is the national trade association representing more than 900 local electric cooperatives. From growing suburbs to remote farming communities, electric co-ops serve as engines of economic development for 42 million Americans across 56 percent of the nation’s landscape. As local businesses built by the consumers they serve, electric cooperatives have meaningful ties to rural America and invest $12 billion annually in their communities.</em></p> <p style="text-align: center">-###-</p> </div> </section> </div> <div class="row"> <div class="col-md-12"> <section class="timeline-article-footer"> <small>Next in the Issue</small> <a class="article-next-post" data-next-article="timeline-modal-4103" title="Matheson: Member Advocacy Vital for Policy Success">Matheson: Member Advocacy Vital for Policy Success <span class="arrow"><i class="ci-long-arrow-right"></i></span></a> </section> </div> </div> </div> </article>  </section>  <section id="timeline-modal-4103" class="timeline-issues-article hidden"> <div class="jumbotron hero article bg-image" style="background-image: url('');"></div>  <article class="single"> <div class="container">  <div class="row"> <header class="col-md-12"> <div class="article-header"> <small class="article-category"> <a href="https://www.electric.coop/issues-and-policy/broadband">Broadband</a> </small> <h1 class="article-title">Matheson: Member Advocacy Vital for Policy Success</h1> <h3 class="article-subtitle"></h3> </div> </header> </div>  <div class="row"> <section class="col-md-3"> <div class="article-meta"> <div class="row"> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-date"> <span>Published</span>April 11, 2018 </div> </div> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-author"> <span>Author</span> Cathy Cash </div> </div> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-share">  <div class="social-share post"> <ul class="social"> <li><a class="facebook-share" href="https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=&title=" target="_blank"></a></li> <li><a class="twitter-share" href="https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?source=&text=&via=NRECANews " target="_blank"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewBox="0 0 512 512"><path d="M389.2 48h70.6L305.6 224.2 487 464H345L233.7 318.6 106.5 464H35.8L200.7 275.5 26.8 48H172.4L272.9 180.9 389.2 48zM364.4 421.8h39.1L151.1 88h-42L364.4 421.8z"/></svg></a></li> <li><a class="linkedin-share" href="http://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=&title=&summary=" target="_blank"></a></li> </ul> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </section> <section class="col-md-9"> <div class="article-content">  <p><figure id="attachment_4105" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-4105" style="width: 2000px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="size-full wp-image-4105" src="https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/2018-NRECA-Legislative-Conference_63701.jpg" alt="" width="2000" height="1333" srcset="https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/2018-NRECA-Legislative-Conference_63701.jpg 2000w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/2018-NRECA-Legislative-Conference_63701-300x200.jpg 300w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/2018-NRECA-Legislative-Conference_63701-768x512.jpg 768w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/2018-NRECA-Legislative-Conference_63701-1024x682.jpg 1024w" sizes="(max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px" /><figcaption id="caption-attachment-4105" class="wp-caption-text">NRECA CEO Jim Matheson thanks the thousands of electric co-op leaders at the 2018 Legislative Conference for their vital role in advocating for members. (Photo By: Denny Gainer, NRECA)</figcaption></figure></p> <p>NRECA CEO Jim Matheson thanked electric cooperative leaders for coming to Washington for the 2018 NRECA Legislative Conference and for their work in building relationships with policymakers that improve their members’ lives every day.</p> <p>“That’s so important that you are here today,” he told the more than 2,000 participants from co-ops across the country on April 10. “Thank you for your role and being here and advocating for rural electric cooperatives.”</p> <p>Matheson noted that political engagement helped secure $600 million for rural broadband loans and grants from U.S. Department of Agriculture in the <a href="https://www.electric.coop/how-the-federal-spending-bill-helps-electric-co-ops/">omnibus spending bill passed by Congress</a> in March. That bill also included $5.5 billion for the USDA electric loan program, funding for continued NRECA cybersecurity research and provisions streamlining vegetation management on federal lands.</p> <p>Co-ops’ work in political engagement must continue, however, given that dozens of members of Congress are leaving office at the end of their terms.</p> <p>“We are going to have a bunch of new faces in Washington,” Matheson said, urging co-op leaders to engage with candidates now “so they know us and know our policy issues before the elections.”</p> <p>Meeting with the media at the conference, Matheson called the $600 million for USDA to implement rural broadband “a good start. It’s important to have a loan/grant combination adequate for broadband. In sparse, low-density areas, it’s going to take more than a loan,” Matheson said.</p> <p>NRECA supports population density as criteria to determine the loan and grant amounts for rural broadband. “We are having conversations about how to allocate funds based on density. That’s the paradigm. If there’s a really low-density area, it is going to need a grant to make broadband work,” Matheson said.</p> <p>NRECA and electric co-ops are pursuing legislation in multiple areas to aid the development of high-speed internet, including the Farm Bill and the administration’s proposed infrastructure bill.</p> <p>“We are all for investment in rural America. Whatever vehicle is moving through Congress, it doesn’t change the policy we are pursuing,” he said.</p> </div> </section> </div> <div class="row"> <div class="col-md-12"> <section class="timeline-article-footer"> <small>Next in the Issue</small> <a class="article-next-post" data-next-article="timeline-modal-4096" title="Perdue Addresses Co-op Leaders on ‘Seismic Shift’ of Rural Broadband">Perdue Addresses Co-op Leaders on ‘Seismic Shift’ of Rural Broadband <span class="arrow"><i class="ci-long-arrow-right"></i></span></a> </section> </div> </div> </div> </article>  </section>  <section id="timeline-modal-4096" class="timeline-issues-article hidden"> <div class="jumbotron hero article bg-image" style="background-image: url('');"></div>  <article class="single"> <div class="container">  <div class="row"> <header class="col-md-12"> <div class="article-header"> <small class="article-category"> <a href="https://www.electric.coop/issues-and-policy/broadband">Broadband</a> </small> <h1 class="article-title">Perdue Addresses Co-op Leaders on ‘Seismic Shift’ of Rural Broadband</h1> <h3 class="article-subtitle"></h3> </div> </header> </div>  <div class="row"> <section class="col-md-3"> <div class="article-meta"> <div class="row"> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-date"> <span>Published</span>April 10, 2018 </div> </div> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-author"> <span>Author</span> Cathy Cash </div> </div> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-share">  <div class="social-share post"> <ul class="social"> <li><a class="facebook-share" href="https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=&title=" target="_blank"></a></li> <li><a class="twitter-share" href="https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?source=&text=&via=NRECANews " target="_blank"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewBox="0 0 512 512"><path d="M389.2 48h70.6L305.6 224.2 487 464H345L233.7 318.6 106.5 464H35.8L200.7 275.5 26.8 48H172.4L272.9 180.9 389.2 48zM364.4 421.8h39.1L151.1 88h-42L364.4 421.8z"/></svg></a></li> <li><a class="linkedin-share" href="http://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=&title=&summary=" target="_blank"></a></li> </ul> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </section> <section class="col-md-9"> <div class="article-content">  <div class="embed-responsive embed-responsive-16by9 aec-video"><iframe loading="lazy" title="Sonny Perdue: The rural electrification of the 21st century is broadband" src="https://player.vimeo.com/video/264103022?dnt=1&app_id=122963" width="500" height="281" frameborder="0" allow="autoplay; fullscreen; picture-in-picture; clipboard-write"></iframe></div> <p>Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue, the keynote speaker at NRECA’s 2018 Legislative Conference, underscored a “seismic shift” in technology taking place where broadband internet access will bring new levels of productivity to rural America.</p> <p>“Rural broadband is not just a luxury—it’s essential,” Perdue told more than 2,000 electric cooperative leaders attending the conference in Washington on April 9.</p> <p>Broadband has the greatest potential to drive the U.S. economy, yet 24 million American households lack reliable, affordable high-speed internet access, he said.</p> <p>Perdue likened the challenge of providing broadband to unserved and underserved parts of the country to how co-ops delivered electricity to remote communities nationwide under the Rural Electrification Act (REA) in 1936.</p> <p>“You got the potential to do the same thing in the 21<sup>st</sup> century” with rural broadband, he said, adding that co-ops will play “an integral role.”</p> <p>“I don’t believe that America would ever reach the productivity we have today across our nation without abundant flow of electricity everywhere,” said Perdue. “In the same way, we cannot make America great again without high speed e-connectivity available to every American.”</p> <p>Broadband access will improve rural education, medical care, communication and business, including farming, he said. Perdue described how smart technology can drive precision fertilization and seeding at large farms.</p> <p>“You can’t do that without broadband e-connectivity,” he said.</p> <p>Perdue said USDA is working on how to distribute $600 million in rural broadband grants and loans. He said he welcomed co-op contributions as the department works through the parameters of distributing the funds, part of the fiscal year 2018 budget.</p> <p>NRECA, CoBank and CFC will participate in forums to highlight the need for rural broadband beginning April 18 in Washington and in states this summer.</p> <p>Perdue, the former governor of Georgia, grew up on co-op lines. He recalled how <a href="https://www.flintenergies.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Flint Energies</a> in Reynolds, Georgia, sponsored the local baseball field, where he played Little League, and provided the power for refrigeration of the family dairy farm.</p> <p>“My connections to co-ops run deep,” said Perdue. “I appreciate what you’ve done to serve rural America.”</p> <p>He also lauded the <a href="https://www.electric.coop/co-op-leader-takes-helm-rural-utilities-service/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">new head of the Rural Utilities Service</a>, Ken Johnson, the former CEO/general manager of <a href="http://www.co-mo.coop/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Co-Mo Electric</a> in Tipton, Missouri. Under Johnson, Co-Mo pioneered co-op broadband and built 3,000 miles of broadband fiber to serve every member with high-speed internet.</p> <p>“I’m excited about having Ken Johnson on our team at USDA,” Perdue said. “He brings real world experience to the federal government.”</p> <p><em><strong>More on rural broadband:</strong> Check out this NRECA <a href="https://www.cooperative.com/programs-services/bts/pages/broadband-co-op-case-studies.aspx" target="_blank" rel="noopener">case study series on co-op broadband initiatives</a> on cooperative.com.</em></p> </div> </section> </div> <div class="row"> <div class="col-md-12"> <section class="timeline-article-footer"> <small>Next in the Issue</small> <a class="article-next-post" data-next-article="timeline-modal-4055" title="How the Federal Spending Bill Helps Electric Co-ops">How the Federal Spending Bill Helps Electric Co-ops <span class="arrow"><i class="ci-long-arrow-right"></i></span></a> </section> </div> </div> </div> </article>  </section>  <section id="timeline-modal-4055" class="timeline-issues-article hidden"> <div class="jumbotron hero article bg-image" style="background-image: url('https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/spendingbill440.jpg');"></div>  <article class="single"> <div class="container">  <div class="row"> <header class="col-md-12"> <div class="article-header"> <small class="article-category"> <a href="https://www.electric.coop/issues-and-policy/broadband">Broadband</a> </small> <h1 class="article-title">How the Federal Spending Bill Helps Electric Co-ops</h1> <h3 class="article-subtitle"></h3> </div> </header> </div>  <div class="row"> <section class="col-md-3"> <div class="article-meta"> <div class="row"> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-date"> <span>Published</span>March 23, 2018 </div> </div> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-author"> <span>Author</span> Michael W. Kahn </div> </div> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-share">  <div class="social-share post"> <ul class="social"> <li><a class="facebook-share" href="https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=&title=" target="_blank"></a></li> <li><a class="twitter-share" href="https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?source=&text=&via=NRECANews " target="_blank"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewBox="0 0 512 512"><path d="M389.2 48h70.6L305.6 224.2 487 464H345L233.7 318.6 106.5 464H35.8L200.7 275.5 26.8 48H172.4L272.9 180.9 389.2 48zM364.4 421.8h39.1L151.1 88h-42L364.4 421.8z"/></svg></a></li> <li><a class="linkedin-share" href="http://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=&title=&summary=" target="_blank"></a></li> </ul> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </section> <section class="col-md-9"> <div class="article-content">  <p><figure id="attachment_4059" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-4059" style="width: 2000px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="size-full wp-image-4059" src="https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/spendingbillmain.jpg" alt="" width="2000" height="1333" srcset="https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/spendingbillmain.jpg 2000w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/spendingbillmain-300x200.jpg 300w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/spendingbillmain-768x512.jpg 768w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/spendingbillmain-1024x682.jpg 1024w" sizes="(max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px" /><figcaption id="caption-attachment-4059" class="wp-caption-text">A new spending bill authorizes $600 million for USDA loans and grants to expand rural broadband, such as what BARC Electric Cooperative is doing in Virginia. (Photo By: USDA/Preston Keres)</figcaption></figure></p> <p>A $1.3 trillion spending bill that includes a number of electric cooperative priorities passed Congress and was signed into law by President Trump on March 23.</p> <p>“This bill strengthens programs that are essential to the economic health of rural America while also emphasizing the need to continue pursuing innovative solutions to future energy and economic needs,” NRECA CEO Jim Matheson said of the measure, which keeps the federal government running through Sept. 30, the end of fiscal 2018.</p> <p>One key provision provides a boost to electric co-ops that want to bring broadband to their members. The bill authorizes $600 million for the Agriculture Department to make loans and grants for rural broadband, which Matheson called “a positive step towards connecting the rural economy and closing the digital divide.”</p> <p>“High costs and low population density remain the biggest obstacles to expanding rural broadband access,” said Matheson.</p> <p>Other provisions benefiting electric co-op operations include $5.5 billion for the Agriculture Department’s <a href="https://www.cooperative.com/programs-services/government-relations/Pages/Legislative%20Issues/rural-utilities-service-rus-electric-loan-program.aspx" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">electric loan program</a>. Co-ops that borrow to make infrastructure improvements repay the government with interest.</p> <p>The bill will streamline government red tape that impedes the ability of electric co-ops to <a href="https://www.cooperative.com/programs-services/government-relations/Pages/Legislative%20Issues/improve-federal-land-management-policies-strengthen-grid-reliability.aspx" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">manage vegetation near utility rights of way on public lands</a>. Better land management access will allow co-ops to bolster system reliability.</p> <p>There’s also funding for cybersecurity research and development—a key ingredient as co-ops work to stay ahead of evolving cyber threats. The Cybersecurity for Energy Delivery Systems (CEDS), from which NRECA currently receives funding for the <a href="https://www.cooperative.com/programs-services/bts/rc3/Pages/default.aspx" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Rural Cooperative Cybersecurity Capabilities Program (RC3)</a>, went from $62 million to $75 million.</p> <p>LIHEAP, the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program, will receive $3.64 billion, up from the current $3.39 billion. The increase follows the annual LIHEAP Action Day on March 13, which NRECA supported, and the March 16 release of a bipartisan letter, signed by 171 House members, urging “no less than $4.7 billion” in LIHEAP funding for fiscal 2019.</p> <p>The spending bill is also notable for what’s not included. Congress opposed a Trump administration proposal to <a href="https://www.cooperative.com/programs-services/government-relations/regulatory-issues/Pages/NRECA-Letter-to-Secretary-Perry-Opposing-FY18-PMA-Proposal.aspx" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">sell off the transmission assets of three federal Power Marketing Administrations</a>. The bill also avoids drastic cuts to the <a href="https://www.cooperative.com/programs-services/government-relations/Pages/Legislative%20Issues/rural-utilities-service-rus-electric-loan-program.aspx" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Rural Economic Development Loan & Grant Program (REDLG)</a>.</p> <p><em>Michael W. Kahn is a staff writer at NRECA.</em></p> </div> </section> </div> <div class="row"> <div class="col-md-12"> <section class="timeline-article-footer"> <small>Next in the Issue</small> <a class="article-next-post" data-next-article="timeline-modal-4044" title="House-Passed Omnibus Advances Electric Co-op Priorities">House-Passed Omnibus Advances Electric Co-op Priorities <span class="arrow"><i class="ci-long-arrow-right"></i></span></a> </section> </div> </div> </div> </article>  </section>  <section id="timeline-modal-4044" class="timeline-issues-article hidden"> <div class="jumbotron hero article bg-image" style="background-image: url('');"></div>  <article class="single"> <div class="container">  <div class="row"> <header class="col-md-12"> <div class="article-header"> <small class="article-category"> <a href="https://www.electric.coop/issues-and-policy/broadband">Broadband</a> </small> <h1 class="article-title">House-Passed Omnibus Advances Electric Co-op Priorities</h1> <h3 class="article-subtitle"></h3> </div> </header> </div>  <div class="row"> <section class="col-md-3"> <div class="article-meta"> <div class="row"> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-date"> <span>Published</span>March 22, 2018 </div> </div> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-author"> <span>Author</span> Media Relations </div> </div> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-share">  <div class="social-share post"> <ul class="social"> <li><a class="facebook-share" href="https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=&title=" target="_blank"></a></li> <li><a class="twitter-share" href="https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?source=&text=&via=NRECANews " target="_blank"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewBox="0 0 512 512"><path d="M389.2 48h70.6L305.6 224.2 487 464H345L233.7 318.6 106.5 464H35.8L200.7 275.5 26.8 48H172.4L272.9 180.9 389.2 48zM364.4 421.8h39.1L151.1 88h-42L364.4 421.8z"/></svg></a></li> <li><a class="linkedin-share" href="http://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=&title=&summary=" target="_blank"></a></li> </ul> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </section> <section class="col-md-9"> <div class="article-content">  <p><strong>ARLINGTON, Va.</strong> – NRECA CEO Jim Matheson today issued the following statement after the U.S. House of Representatives voted to pass the omnibus spending bill containing several co-op priorities.</p> <p>“House passage of this bill is a positive step for America’s electric cooperatives as we work to enhance the quality of life in rural communities across the nation,” Matheson said. “This bill strengthens programs that are essential to the economic health of rural America while also emphasizing the need to continue pursuing innovative solutions to future energy and economic needs. We look forward to working with the Senate and the Trump administration as this proposal moves forward.”</p> <p>The omnibus spending bill includes key provisions that are beneficial to electric cooperative operations:</p> <table class="aligncenter" style="border-color: #000000" border="1" cellspacing="10" cellpadding="10"> <tbody> <tr> <td style="width: 488.021px">Program</td> <td style="width: 701.354px">Impact</td> </tr> <tr> <td style="width: 488.021px">$5.5 billion for USDA <strong>electric loan program</strong></td> <td style="width: 701.354px">Electric co-op infrastructure improvements and upgrades. Loans are paid back to the government with interest.</td> </tr> <tr> <td style="width: 488.021px">$600 million to USDA for expanding <strong>rural broadband</strong> access through a pilot loan and grant program</td> <td style="width: 701.354px">Nearly 100 electric co-ops are investing in rural America by bringing high-speed internet access to homes, business and schools. Many more are exploring broadband and could access this funding stream.</td> </tr> <tr> <td style="width: 488.021px">Streamlining government red tape that impedes the ability of electric co-ops to <strong>manage vegetation</strong> near utility rights of way on public lands.</td> <td style="width: 701.354px">Paves the way for electric co-ops to bolster system reliability through improved land management access.</td> </tr> <tr> <td style="width: 488.021px">$353 million for DOE’s <strong>Advanced Research</strong> Projects Agency — Energy</td> <td style="width: 701.354px">Electric cooperatives leverage ARPA-E funding for innovative programs to promote fuel diversity and modernize energy systems.</td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <p> </p> <p>In addition to those provisions, the omnibus bill does not include the Trump administration’s budget proposal to sell PMA transmission assets and avoids drastic cuts to programs like the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program and the Rural Economic Development Loan & Grant Program.</p> <p>The <a href="https://www.electric.coop/">National Rural Electric Cooperative Association</a> is the national service organization that represents the nation’s more than 900 not-for-profit, consumer-owned electric cooperatives, which provide service to 42 million people in 47 states.</p> <p style="text-align: center">###</p> <p> </p> </div> </section> </div> <div class="row"> <div class="col-md-12"> <section class="timeline-article-footer"> <small>Next in the Issue</small> <a class="article-next-post" data-next-article="timeline-modal-4040" title="Electric Cooperatives Applaud Rural Broadband Funding in Omnibus Spending Bill">Electric Cooperatives Applaud Rural Broadband Funding in Omnibus Spending Bill <span class="arrow"><i class="ci-long-arrow-right"></i></span></a> </section> </div> </div> </div> </article>  </section>  <section id="timeline-modal-4040" class="timeline-issues-article hidden"> <div class="jumbotron hero article bg-image" style="background-image: url('');"></div>  <article class="single"> <div class="container">  <div class="row"> <header class="col-md-12"> <div class="article-header"> <small class="article-category"> <a href="https://www.electric.coop/issues-and-policy/broadband">Broadband</a> </small> <h1 class="article-title">Electric Cooperatives Applaud Rural Broadband Funding in Omnibus Spending Bill</h1> <h3 class="article-subtitle"></h3> </div> </header> </div>  <div class="row"> <section class="col-md-3"> <div class="article-meta"> <div class="row"> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-date"> <span>Published</span>March 22, 2018 </div> </div> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-author"> <span>Author</span> Media Relations </div> </div> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-share">  <div class="social-share post"> <ul class="social"> <li><a class="facebook-share" href="https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=&title=" target="_blank"></a></li> <li><a class="twitter-share" href="https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?source=&text=&via=NRECANews " target="_blank"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewBox="0 0 512 512"><path d="M389.2 48h70.6L305.6 224.2 487 464H345L233.7 318.6 106.5 464H35.8L200.7 275.5 26.8 48H172.4L272.9 180.9 389.2 48zM364.4 421.8h39.1L151.1 88h-42L364.4 421.8z"/></svg></a></li> <li><a class="linkedin-share" href="http://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=&title=&summary=" target="_blank"></a></li> </ul> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </section> <section class="col-md-9"> <div class="article-content">  <p><strong>ARLINGTON, Va.</strong> – Electric cooperatives today applauded congressional action to allocate $600 million to the U.S. Department of Agriculture for rural broadband grants and loans. The measure is part of the omnibus spending bill unveiled by Congressional leaders last night.</p> <p>Electric co-ops have <a href="https://www.wsj.com/articles/congress-should-make-rural-broadband-a-high-priority-1519231444">encouraged Congress</a> to set aside funding for accelerating rural broadband deployment.</p> <p>“This is a positive step towards connecting the rural economy and closing the digital divide,” said NRECA CEO Jim Matheson. “Expanded broadband access is equally important to the people who live in rural America and operations of the electric co-ops that serve them.</p> <p>“High costs and low population density remain the biggest obstacles to expanding rural broadband access. In order to close the digital divide for the 23 million rural Americans who lack broadband internet access, an expanded combination of federal grant and loan funding through USDA is essential. We look forward to working with Congress and the Trump administration as they consider the omnibus and other legislation to help deploy rural broadband and modernize rural America.”</p> <p>Nearly 100 electric co-ops are investing in rural America by bringing high-speed internet access to homes, business and schools and many more are exploring broadband projects. These newly connected co-op communities are creating new jobs, attracting new employers, and directly jump starting local economies.</p> <p>In addition to the omnibus spending bill, electric co-ops are encouraging Congress to continue pursuing other legislative vehicles to secure additional rural broadband funding. Other vehicles include the FY2019 spending bills, any potential infrastructure legislation, and the 2018 Farm Bill.</p> <p>The Bipartisan Budget Agreement enacted by Congress on February 9 contained a $20 billion “infrastructure initiative” for FY18 and 19. Electric cooperatives <a href="https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/NRECA-rural-broadband-infrastructure-funding-request-House.pdf">called</a> on <a href="https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/NRECA-rural-broadband-infrastructure-funding-request-senate.pdf">Congress</a> to dedicate funding each year for rural broadband deployment through USDA’s Rural Utilities Service.</p> <p>The <a href="https://www.electric.coop/">National Rural Electric Cooperative Association</a> is the national service organization that represents the nation’s more than 900 not-for-profit, consumer-owned electric cooperatives, which provide service to 42 million people in 47 states.</p> <p style="text-align: center">###</p> </div> </section> </div> <div class="row"> <div class="col-md-12"> <section class="timeline-article-footer"> <small>Next in the Issue</small> <a class="article-next-post" data-next-article="timeline-modal-3794" title="Budget Proposal a Mixed Bag for Co-ops">Budget Proposal a Mixed Bag for Co-ops <span class="arrow"><i class="ci-long-arrow-right"></i></span></a> </section> </div> </div> </div> </article>  </section>  <section id="timeline-modal-3794" class="timeline-issues-article hidden"> <div class="jumbotron hero article bg-image" style="background-image: url('https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/GettyImages-515835492-header.jpg');"></div>  <article class="single"> <div class="container">  <div class="row"> <header class="col-md-12"> <div class="article-header"> <small class="article-category"> <a href="https://www.electric.coop/issues-and-policy/broadband">Broadband</a> </small> <h1 class="article-title">Budget Proposal a Mixed Bag for Co-ops</h1> <h3 class="article-subtitle">Request boosts cybersecurity and broadband, cuts PMAs, rural development, LIHEAP</h3> </div> </header> </div>  <div class="row"> <section class="col-md-3"> <div class="article-meta"> <div class="row"> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-date"> <span>Published</span>February 16, 2018 </div> </div> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-author"> <span>Author</span> Cathy Cash </div> </div> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-share">  <div class="social-share post"> <ul class="social"> <li><a class="facebook-share" href="https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=&title=" target="_blank"></a></li> <li><a class="twitter-share" href="https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?source=&text=&via=NRECANews " target="_blank"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewBox="0 0 512 512"><path d="M389.2 48h70.6L305.6 224.2 487 464H345L233.7 318.6 106.5 464H35.8L200.7 275.5 26.8 48H172.4L272.9 180.9 389.2 48zM364.4 421.8h39.1L151.1 88h-42L364.4 421.8z"/></svg></a></li> <li><a class="linkedin-share" href="http://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=&title=&summary=" target="_blank"></a></li> </ul> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </section> <section class="col-md-9"> <div class="article-content">  <p><figure id="attachment_3796" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-3796" style="width: 1024px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><a href="https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/GettyImages-515835492-body.jpg"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="size-large wp-image-3796" src="https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/GettyImages-515835492-body-1024x682.jpg" alt="President Trump's FY19 budget request is a mixed bag for co-ops-taking away LIHEAP funds and selling PMAs while boosting broadband and cybersecurity. (Photo By: Getty Images)" width="1024" height="682" srcset="https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/GettyImages-515835492-body-1024x682.jpg 1024w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/GettyImages-515835492-body-300x200.jpg 300w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/GettyImages-515835492-body-768x512.jpg 768w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/GettyImages-515835492-body.jpg 2000w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-3796" class="wp-caption-text">President Trump’s FY19 budget request is a mixed bag for co-ops, taking away LIHEAP funds and selling PMAs while boosting broadband and cybersecurity. (Photo By: Getty Images)</figcaption></figure></p> <p>President Trump’s budget proposal for fiscal 2019 would boost funds for rural broadband and grid cybersecurity but eliminate funding for the Rural Economic Development Loan and Grant program and LIHEAP, which helps low-income Americans pay to heat and cool their homes.</p> <p>It also proposes to sell the transmission assets of the power marketing administrations.</p> <p>“NRECA will respond to these budget proposals as we have in the past, by strongly supporting ideas that are in the best interest of electric cooperatives and vigorously opposing suggestions that negatively impact our members,” said Kirk Johnson, NRECA senior vice president, government relations.</p> <p>“Through a lot of hard work, Congress has rejected proposals in the past to sell PMA assets and eliminate funding for rural development programs. We’re going to spend the next several months making sure that trend continues.”</p> <p><a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/budget-fy2019.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Feb. 12 proposal (PDF)</a> outlines Trump’s ideas for deep budget cuts in FY19. It was developed before Congress passed the $300 billion deal Feb. 9 that increased spending for the next two years. The budget proposal included a brief “addendum” suggesting where the higher spending should occur.</p> <p>The president’s FY19 plan maintains the USDA’s <a href="https://www.electric.coop/rural-utilities-service-funding-electric-loan-program/">Rural Utilities Service electric program</a> at $5.5 billion and includes $23.1 million for broadband loans and $30 million for broadband grants.</p> <p>No funds are proposed for the Rural Business Cooperative Service, which includes REDLG and the Rural Cooperative Development Grant Program. Further, RUS would no longer provide interest payments to co-op borrowers on future deposits to their “cushion of credit” account. Congress already rejected similar suggestions from last year’s budget proposal.</p> <p>Electric co-ops help meet their rural communities’ needs by obtaining loans from REDLG and then passing the money on to local businesses and projects, ranging from firetrucks to libraries to job-creating initiatives.</p> <p>Trump also would abolish the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program, which mostly serves the elderly, the disabled and low-income households with children. Congress <a href="https://www.cooperative.com/news/Pages/liheap-three-billion-funds.aspx" target="_blank" rel="noopener">funded LIHEAP</a> at $3.4 billion last year. Many electric co-op members rely on the program during economic downturns or severe weather.</p> <p>In <a href="https://www.cooperative.com/public/news/Pages/opposition-power-marketing-association-selloff.aspx" target="_blank" rel="noopener">a move opposed by electric co-ops</a>, the budget recommends divesting the Tennessee Valley Authority, Bonneville Power Administration, Southwestern Power Administration and Western Area Power Administration of their transmission assets. The budget also would allow them to charge market-based rates, which could boost electricity bills for millions of co-op members and result in more volatile power prices.</p> <p>To bolster cybersecurity and grid modernization, the proposed budget would apply $96 million to create the Office of Cybersecurity, Energy Security and Emergency Response at the Department of Energy. The Cybersecurity for Energy Delivery Systems office would see its budget double to $70 million. NRECA receives DOE funding for its <a href="https://www.electric.coop/rural-cooperative-cybersecurity-capabilities-program-rc3/">Rural Cooperative Cybersecurity Capabilities Program (RC3)</a>.</p> <p>The budget also seeks to ease access to federal lands and resources under the Department of the Interior by providing $1 billion for the Bureau of Reclamation. It further calls for streamlining the permitting and review process to facilitate infrastructure projects.</p> <p>A proposed 30 percent cut in State Department development assistance programs also would result in a major setback for <a href="https://www.electric.coop/our-mission/international-electrification/">NRECA International electrification programs</a> that bring power to developing countries.</p> <p><em>Cathy Cash is a staff writer at NRECA.</em></p> </div> </section> </div> <div class="row"> <div class="col-md-12"> <section class="timeline-article-footer"> <small>Next in the Issue</small> <a class="article-next-post" data-next-article="timeline-modal-3767" title="Budget Deal Extends Energy Tax Credits">Budget Deal Extends Energy Tax Credits <span class="arrow"><i class="ci-long-arrow-right"></i></span></a> </section> </div> </div> </div> </article>  </section>  <section id="timeline-modal-3767" class="timeline-issues-article hidden"> <div class="jumbotron hero article bg-image" style="background-image: url('https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/2018-budget-carbon-capture-and-storage-header.jpg');"></div>  <article class="single"> <div class="container">  <div class="row"> <header class="col-md-12"> <div class="article-header"> <small class="article-category"> <a href="https://www.electric.coop/issues-and-policy/broadband">Broadband</a> </small> <h1 class="article-title">Budget Deal Extends Energy Tax Credits</h1> <h3 class="article-subtitle"></h3> </div> </header> </div>  <div class="row"> <section class="col-md-3"> <div class="article-meta"> <div class="row"> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-date"> <span>Published</span>February 12, 2018 </div> </div> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-author"> <span>Author</span> Cathy Cash </div> </div> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-share">  <div class="social-share post"> <ul class="social"> <li><a class="facebook-share" href="https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=&title=" target="_blank"></a></li> <li><a class="twitter-share" href="https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?source=&text=&via=NRECANews " target="_blank"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewBox="0 0 512 512"><path d="M389.2 48h70.6L305.6 224.2 487 464H345L233.7 318.6 106.5 464H35.8L200.7 275.5 26.8 48H172.4L272.9 180.9 389.2 48zM364.4 421.8h39.1L151.1 88h-42L364.4 421.8z"/></svg></a></li> <li><a class="linkedin-share" href="http://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=&title=&summary=" target="_blank"></a></li> </ul> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </section> <section class="col-md-9"> <div class="article-content">  <p><figure id="attachment_3768" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-3768" style="width: 1024px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><a href="https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/2018-budget-carbon-capture-and-storage.jpg"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="wp-image-3768 size-large" src="https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/2018-budget-carbon-capture-and-storage-1024x682.jpg" alt="A bipartisan budget deal extends energy tax credits for geothermal, carbon capture and storage and nuclear energy that can benefit electric co-ops. (Photo By: Getty Images)" width="1024" height="682" srcset="https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/2018-budget-carbon-capture-and-storage-1024x682.jpg 1024w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/2018-budget-carbon-capture-and-storage-300x200.jpg 300w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/2018-budget-carbon-capture-and-storage-768x512.jpg 768w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/2018-budget-carbon-capture-and-storage.jpg 2000w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-3768" class="wp-caption-text">A bipartisan budget deal extends energy tax credits for geothermal, carbon capture and nuclear energy that can benefit electric co-ops. (Photo By: Getty Images)</figcaption></figure></p> <p>The two-year budget deal signed by President Trump Feb. 9 extends energy tax incentives for geothermal resources, development of carbon capture technologies and advanced nuclear power, and it adds billions of dollars for natural disaster recovery and infrastructure projects.</p> <p>“The energy tax incentives contained in the budget bill will help co-ops improve the quality of life in rural America and keep electricity costs affordable,” said Kirk Johnson, NRECA senior vice president, government relations. “The infrastructure funding is also welcome news, and we will continue encouraging Congress to invest those funds in rural infrastructure.”</p> <p>Under the budget agreement, electric cooperative members may continue to earn a <a href="https://www.electric.coop/geothermal-program-makes-sense-members/">tax credit for geothermal energy technologies</a> at homes and businesses through 2021. Members of about 40 percent of America’s electric co-ops have earned geothermal tax credits by making highly efficient geothermal heat pumps affordable to their members.</p> <p>The budget bill also advances the current carbon capture tax credit by expanding its construction start requirement from five to seven years and extending the time to claim the credit from 10 to 12 years.</p> <p>Sen. Heidi Heitkamp, D-N.D., led the effort to improve the tax credit to incentivize development of large-scale carbon capture technologies, which could dramatically reduce emissions from coal-based power plants.</p> <p><a href="https://www.basinelectric.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Basin Electric Power Cooperative</a> in Bismarck, North Dakota, and <a href="https://www.tristategt.org/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Tri-State</a> in Denver are collaborating with researchers at a Wyoming test center for large-scale carbon capture technologies.</p> <p>The budget agreement also allows electric co-ops to take advantage of a production tax credit for advanced nuclear energy projects. The tax credit applies only to the first 6,000 megawatts of advanced nuclear generation. The bill lifts a restriction that reactors be placed in service by 2020 to qualify.</p> <p>U.S. infrastructure projects will get a lift from the budget deal, which commits $20 billion over two years toward rural broadband, energy, water, wastewater, surface transportation and capital projects. NRECA CEO Jim Matheson sent <a href="https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/NRECA-rural-broadband-infrastructure-funding-request-senate.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">a letter to Senate and House appropriators</a> on Feb. 9 recommending that $2.5 billion be dedicated to rural broadband projects this year.</p> <p>With natural disasters at historic proportions in 2017, lawmakers agreed to beef up federal aid to $89.3 billion for the next two fiscal years.</p> <p>The budget bill allocates $23.5 billion to the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s disaster relief fund. Portions of this money will be made available for infrastructure rebuilding by co-ops, among other entities.</p> <p>The bill also provides incentives to states to further invest in disaster preparedness. Related agencies would receive additional funds for recovery efforts from the hurricanes and wildfires of 2017. Some funds will go toward addressing future natural disasters</p> <p>Thousands of electric co-op members were affected when Hurricane Harvey pounded the Texas Gulf Coast and parts of Louisiana, flooding Houston and other communities last August. That disaster was quickly followed by hurricanes Irma and Maria, which battered parts of Florida and devastated Puerto Rico.</p> <p><em>Cathy Cash is a staff writer at NRECA.</em></p> </div> </section> </div> <div class="row"> <div class="col-md-12"> <section class="timeline-article-footer"> <small>Next in the Issue</small> <a class="article-next-post" data-next-article="timeline-modal-3771" title="Electric Cooperatives Encouraged by Trump’s Rural Infrastructure Emphasis">Electric Cooperatives Encouraged by Trump’s Rural Infrastructure Emphasis <span class="arrow"><i class="ci-long-arrow-right"></i></span></a> </section> </div> </div> </div> </article>  </section>  <section id="timeline-modal-3771" class="timeline-issues-article hidden"> <div class="jumbotron hero article bg-image" style="background-image: url('');"></div>  <article class="single"> <div class="container">  <div class="row"> <header class="col-md-12"> <div class="article-header"> <small class="article-category"> <a href="https://www.electric.coop/issues-and-policy/broadband">Broadband</a> </small> <h1 class="article-title">Electric Cooperatives Encouraged by Trump’s Rural Infrastructure Emphasis</h1> <h3 class="article-subtitle"></h3> </div> </header> </div>  <div class="row"> <section class="col-md-3"> <div class="article-meta"> <div class="row"> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-date"> <span>Published</span>February 12, 2018 </div> </div> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-author"> <span>Author</span> Media Relations </div> </div> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-share">  <div class="social-share post"> <ul class="social"> <li><a class="facebook-share" href="https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=&title=" target="_blank"></a></li> <li><a class="twitter-share" href="https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?source=&text=&via=NRECANews " target="_blank"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewBox="0 0 512 512"><path d="M389.2 48h70.6L305.6 224.2 487 464H345L233.7 318.6 106.5 464H35.8L200.7 275.5 26.8 48H172.4L272.9 180.9 389.2 48zM364.4 421.8h39.1L151.1 88h-42L364.4 421.8z"/></svg></a></li> <li><a class="linkedin-share" href="http://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=&title=&summary=" target="_blank"></a></li> </ul> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </section> <section class="col-md-9"> <div class="article-content">  <p><strong>ARLINGTON, Va.</strong> – National Rural Electric Cooperative Association CEO Jim Matheson issued the following statement on the Trump Administration’s principles for an infrastructure package:</p> <p>“The success of rural America is critical to the wellbeing of our entire nation. The president’s proposal to improve and expand rural energy, broadband, and surface transportation will help rural communities adapt and thrive in the modern American economy. As the president and Congress work together to finalize an infrastructure proposal, it’s important that the package continue to focus on more than roads and bridges. A vibrant 21<sup>st</sup> century rural economy depends on expanded high speed internet access and electric grid modernization efforts. We look forward to supporting an infrastructure bill that addresses the needs of rural families and communities.”</p> <p>The Bipartisan Budget Agreement enacted by Congress contained a $20 billion “infrastructure initiative” for FY 18 and 19. Electric cooperatives have <a href="https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/NRECA-rural-broadband-infrastructure-funding-request-House.pdf">called</a> on <a href="https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/NRECA-rural-broadband-infrastructure-funding-request-senate.pdf">Congress</a> to dedicate at least $2.5 billion of that funding per year to “broadband deployment in rural areas of the country.”</p> <p>The <a href="https://www.electric.coop/">National Rural Electric Cooperative Association</a> is the national service organization that represents the nation’s more than 900 not-for-profit, consumer-owned electric cooperatives, which provide service to 42 million people in 47 states.</p> <p style="text-align: center">-###-</p> </div> </section> </div> <div class="row"> <div class="col-md-12"> <section class="timeline-article-footer"> <small>Next in the Issue</small> <a class="article-next-post" data-next-article="timeline-modal-3760" title="Electric Co-op Leader Takes Helm of RUS">Electric Co-op Leader Takes Helm of RUS <span class="arrow"><i class="ci-long-arrow-right"></i></span></a> </section> </div> </div> </div> </article>  </section>  <section id="timeline-modal-3760" class="timeline-issues-article hidden"> <div class="jumbotron hero article bg-image" style="background-image: url('https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/KenJohnson-CoMo-2-header.jpg');"></div>  <article class="single"> <div class="container">  <div class="row"> <header class="col-md-12"> <div class="article-header"> <small class="article-category"> <a href="https://www.electric.coop/issues-and-policy/broadband">Broadband</a> </small> <h1 class="article-title">Electric Co-op Leader Takes Helm of RUS</h1> <h3 class="article-subtitle"></h3> </div> </header> </div>  <div class="row"> <section class="col-md-3"> <div class="article-meta"> <div class="row"> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-date"> <span>Published</span>February 8, 2018 </div> </div> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-author"> <span>Author</span> Cathy Cash </div> </div> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-share">  <div class="social-share post"> <ul class="social"> <li><a class="facebook-share" href="https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=&title=" target="_blank"></a></li> <li><a class="twitter-share" href="https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?source=&text=&via=NRECANews " target="_blank"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewBox="0 0 512 512"><path d="M389.2 48h70.6L305.6 224.2 487 464H345L233.7 318.6 106.5 464H35.8L200.7 275.5 26.8 48H172.4L272.9 180.9 389.2 48zM364.4 421.8h39.1L151.1 88h-42L364.4 421.8z"/></svg></a></li> <li><a class="linkedin-share" href="http://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=&title=&summary=" target="_blank"></a></li> </ul> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </section> <section class="col-md-9"> <div class="article-content">  <p><figure id="attachment_3761" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-3761" style="width: 1024px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><a href="https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/KenJohnson-CoMo-2.jpg"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="size-large wp-image-3761" src="https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/KenJohnson-CoMo-2-1024x649.jpg" alt="Ken Johnson, general manager/CEO of Co-Mo Electric, is taking the helm of USDA's RUS program among accolades from the administration, NRECA and other co-ops. (Photo Credit: Co-Mo Electric)" width="1024" height="649" srcset="https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/KenJohnson-CoMo-2-1024x649.jpg 1024w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/KenJohnson-CoMo-2-300x190.jpg 300w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/KenJohnson-CoMo-2-768x487.jpg 768w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/KenJohnson-CoMo-2.jpg 1730w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-3761" class="wp-caption-text">Ken Johnson, general manager/CEO of Co-Mo Electric, is taking the helm of USDA’s RUS program among accolades from the administration, NRECA and other co-ops.<br />(Photo Credit: Co-Mo Electric)</figcaption></figure></p> <p>Co-Mo Electric Cooperative CEO Ken Johnson is taking the helm of the USDA’s Rural Utilities Service with a proven record in electric co-op leadership when it comes to efficiency, infrastructure and broadband.</p> <p>“The ongoing collaboration between RUS and electric co-ops remains essential to the success of rural communities across the nation as co-ops invest in infrastructure upgrades to modernize the grid and meet consumer expectations. Ken is exceptionally qualified to serve in this role, and we look forward to working with him in his new capacity,” <a href="https://www.electric.coop/nreca-applauds-selection-electric-co-op-ceo-rus-administrator/">said NRECA CEO Jim Matheson</a>.</p> <p>Johnson has served as general manager/CEO of <a href="http://www.co-mo.coop/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Co-Mo Electric</a> in Tipton, Missouri, since 2005. As RUS administrator, he will draw upon that co-op experience to benefit all rural Americans.</p> <p>“I am honored and deeply humbled to have been selected for this opportunity to serve,” said Johnson. “I’m looking forward to working with the administration on infrastructure, primarily helping to close the digital divide between urban and rural America. Rural Americans need high-speed broadband. It’s a necessity in order to live a quality of life that all Americans deserve.”</p> <p>In 2011, Johnson pioneered a path to bring the fastest broadband internet access to all his co-op members who were unserved or underserved and falling behind their urban peers in jobs, education and medical services. Electric co-ops seeking to build internet access for their members across the country still look to the <a href="http://remagazine.coop/co-mo-broadband/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">“Co-Mo Model.”</a></p> <p>Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue <a href="https://www.usda.gov/media/press-releases/2018/02/05/secretary-perdue-applauds-president-trumps-selection-usdas-rural" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">lauded Johnson’s appointment</a> and what it means for the rural agriculture economy. RUS provides loans and grants to support critical infrastructure in rural communities, including electricity, water, telecommunications and wastewater systems.</p> <p>“As President Trump pursues his comprehensive agenda of infrastructure improvements like increased broadband access for rural communities, adding Ken Johnson to the USDA team is exciting,” said Perdue. “Ken’s experience with rural utilities, including real success in expanding access to high-speed internet, will serve us well as we strive to increase prosperity across rural America.”</p> <p>Perdue’s <a href="https://www.usda.gov/ruralprosperity" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Agriculture and Rural Prosperity Taskforce report</a> concluded internet access is essential for the economies of small communities dotting the country.</p> <p>Johnson, who grew up on a farm near Edgar, Nebraska, is a director and past president for <a href="http://www.cepc.net/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Central Electric Power Cooperative</a> in Jefferson City and a director for the <a href="http://www.amec.org/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Association of Missouri Electric Cooperatives</a>. He began his career with the Nebraska Public Power District.</p> <p>Barry Hart, executive vice president and CEO of the Missouri statewide, said that Johnson’s leadership, ingenuity and deep appreciation of electric co-ops portends great things to come.</p> <p>“Ken Johnson is one of the top co-op managers I have ever worked with in my 40-year career. He has never forgotten that he works for the co-op members at the end of the line,” said Hart.</p> <p><em>Cathy Cash is a staff writer at NRECA.</em></p> </div> </section> </div> <div class="row"> <div class="col-md-12"> <section class="timeline-article-footer"> <small>Next in the Issue</small> <a class="article-next-post" data-next-article="timeline-modal-3711" title="Perdue Outlines Farm Bill Priorities">Perdue Outlines Farm Bill Priorities <span class="arrow"><i class="ci-long-arrow-right"></i></span></a> </section> </div> </div> </div> </article>  </section>  <section id="timeline-modal-3711" class="timeline-issues-article hidden"> <div class="jumbotron hero article bg-image" style="background-image: url('https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/cjc1_20180125125344935-header1.jpg');"></div>  <article class="single"> <div class="container">  <div class="row"> <header class="col-md-12"> <div class="article-header"> <small class="article-category"> <a href="https://www.electric.coop/issues-and-policy/broadband">Broadband</a> </small> <h1 class="article-title">Perdue Outlines Farm Bill Priorities</h1> <h3 class="article-subtitle"></h3> </div> </header> </div>  <div class="row"> <section class="col-md-3"> <div class="article-meta"> <div class="row"> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-date"> <span>Published</span>January 25, 2018 </div> </div> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-author"> <span>Author</span> Cathy Cash </div> </div> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-share">  <div class="social-share post"> <ul class="social"> <li><a class="facebook-share" href="https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=&title=" target="_blank"></a></li> <li><a class="twitter-share" href="https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?source=&text=&via=NRECANews " target="_blank"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewBox="0 0 512 512"><path d="M389.2 48h70.6L305.6 224.2 487 464H345L233.7 318.6 106.5 464H35.8L200.7 275.5 26.8 48H172.4L272.9 180.9 389.2 48zM364.4 421.8h39.1L151.1 88h-42L364.4 421.8z"/></svg></a></li> <li><a class="linkedin-share" href="http://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=&title=&summary=" target="_blank"></a></li> </ul> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </section> <section class="col-md-9"> <div class="article-content">  <p><figure id="attachment_3713" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-3713" style="width: 1024px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><a href="https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/cjc1_20180125125344935-header.jpg"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="wp-image-3713 size-large" src="https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/cjc1_20180125125344935-header-1024x682.jpg" alt="NRECA welcomed Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue's legislative principles for a 2018 Farm Bill. (Photo by: NRECA)" width="1024" height="682" srcset="https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/cjc1_20180125125344935-header-1024x682.jpg 1024w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/cjc1_20180125125344935-header-300x200.jpg 300w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/cjc1_20180125125344935-header-768x512.jpg 768w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/cjc1_20180125125344935-header.jpg 2000w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-3713" class="wp-caption-text">NRECA welcomed Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue’s legislative principles for a 2018 Farm Bill. (Photo by: NRECA)</figcaption></figure></p> <p>NRECA applauded the principles Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue laid out for a 2018 Farm Bill, which include a call for infrastructure improvements and development of reliable and affordable broadband internet in rural areas.</p> <p>“We are pleased that Secretary Perdue recognizes the vital role of rural development in this year’s Farm Bill,” said <a href="https://www.electric.coop/nreca-welcomes-secretary-perdues-comments-farm-bill-rural-economic-development/">NRECA CEO Jim Matheson</a>. “Investing in rural infrastructure is the foundation of rural innovation and prosperity.”</p> <p>Perdue urged Congress to consider <a href="https://www.usda.gov/media/press-releases/2018/01/24/perdue-announces-usdas-farm-bill-and-legislative-principles-2018" target="_blank" rel="noopener">a package of legislative principles</a> that the agency developed based on meetings with farmers in 30 states.</p> <p>The principles, which Perdue unveiled Jan. 24 in Mifflintown, Pennsylvania, “are our way of letting Congress know what we’ve heard from the hardworking men and women of American agriculture,” he said.</p> <p>The list includes a call for legislators to “expand and enhance the effectiveness of tools available to further connect rural American communities, homes, farms, businesses, first responders, educational facilities, and health care facilities to reliable and affordable high-speed internet services.”</p> <p>USDA says the bill should further provide for investment in infrastructure “to support rural prosperity, innovation and entrepreneurial activity” and “provide the resources and tools that foster greater integration among programs, partners and the rural development customer.”</p> <p>Matheson said USDA’s guideposts for the Farm Bill underscore the important work of electric cooperatives.</p> <p>“Electric cooperatives are engines of economic development and technology drivers in rural communities, including providing energy and broadband solutions to farmers and other businesses that enhance their competitiveness,” said Matheson.</p> <p>“There are many programs administered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture that are crucial to the prosperity of rural areas. We look forward to working with Secretary Perdue, the White House and Congress to ensure that the 2018 Farm Bill addresses the many pressing issues facing rural Americans.”</p> </div> </section> </div> <div class="row"> <div class="col-md-12"> <section class="timeline-article-footer"> <small>Next in the Issue</small> <a class="article-next-post" data-next-article="timeline-modal-3705" title="NRECA Welcomes Secretary Perdue’s Comments on the Farm Bill and Rural Economic Development">NRECA Welcomes Secretary Perdue’s Comments on the Farm Bill and Rural Economic Development <span class="arrow"><i class="ci-long-arrow-right"></i></span></a> </section> </div> </div> </div> </article>  </section>  <section id="timeline-modal-3705" class="timeline-issues-article hidden"> <div class="jumbotron hero article bg-image" style="background-image: url('');"></div>  <article class="single"> <div class="container">  <div class="row"> <header class="col-md-12"> <div class="article-header"> <small class="article-category"> <a href="https://www.electric.coop/issues-and-policy/broadband">Broadband</a> </small> <h1 class="article-title">NRECA Welcomes Secretary Perdue’s Comments on the Farm Bill and Rural Economic Development</h1> <h3 class="article-subtitle"></h3> </div> </header> </div>  <div class="row"> <section class="col-md-3"> <div class="article-meta"> <div class="row"> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-date"> <span>Published</span>January 24, 2018 </div> </div> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-author"> <span>Author</span> Media Relations </div> </div> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-share">  <div class="social-share post"> <ul class="social"> <li><a class="facebook-share" href="https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=&title=" target="_blank"></a></li> <li><a class="twitter-share" href="https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?source=&text=&via=NRECANews " target="_blank"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewBox="0 0 512 512"><path d="M389.2 48h70.6L305.6 224.2 487 464H345L233.7 318.6 106.5 464H35.8L200.7 275.5 26.8 48H172.4L272.9 180.9 389.2 48zM364.4 421.8h39.1L151.1 88h-42L364.4 421.8z"/></svg></a></li> <li><a class="linkedin-share" href="http://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=&title=&summary=" target="_blank"></a></li> </ul> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </section> <section class="col-md-9"> <div class="article-content">  <p><strong>ARLINGTON, Va.</strong> – National Rural Electric Cooperative Association CEO Jim Matheson today released the following statement on Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue’s comments on the Farm Bill and rural economic development:</p> <p>“We are pleased that Secretary Perdue recognizes the vital role of rural development in this year’s Farm Bill. Electric cooperatives are engines of economic development and technology drivers in rural communities, including providing energy and broadband solutions to farmers and other businesses that enhance their competitiveness. Investing in rural infrastructure is the foundation of rural innovation and prosperity.</p> <p>“Maintaining and improving the rural electric grid and providing access to high-speed Internet must be part of any rural economic development package. Electric co-ops are leading on both fronts, partnering with states and communities to strengthen the grid and improve access to broadband.</p> <p>“The Farm Bill is an important vehicle for facilitating the innovative work of electric cooperatives in energy and broadband services as well as their role as economic development organizations in the communities they serve. There are many programs administered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture that are crucial to the prosperity of rural areas. We look forward to working with Secretary Perdue, the White House and Congress to ensure that the 2018 Farm Bill addresses the many pressing issues facing rural Americans.”</p> <p>The <a href="https://www.electric.coop/">National Rural Electric Cooperative Association</a> is the national service organization that represents the nation’s more than 900 not-for-profit, consumer-owned electric cooperatives, which provide service to 42 million people in 47 states.</p> <p style="text-align: center">-###-</p> </div> </section> </div> <div class="row"> <div class="col-md-12"> <section class="timeline-article-footer"> <small>Next in the Issue</small> <a class="article-next-post" data-next-article="timeline-modal-3666" title="Trump Task Force: Broadband Vital to Rural America">Trump Task Force: Broadband Vital to Rural America <span class="arrow"><i class="ci-long-arrow-right"></i></span></a> </section> </div> </div> </div> </article>  </section>  <section id="timeline-modal-3666" class="timeline-issues-article hidden"> <div class="jumbotron hero article bg-image" style="background-image: url('https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/IMG_20180108_154615-header.jpg');"></div>  <article class="single"> <div class="container">  <div class="row"> <header class="col-md-12"> <div class="article-header"> <small class="article-category"> <a href="https://www.electric.coop/issues-and-policy/broadband">Broadband</a> </small> <h1 class="article-title">Trump Task Force: Broadband Vital to Rural America</h1> <h3 class="article-subtitle"></h3> </div> </header> </div>  <div class="row"> <section class="col-md-3"> <div class="article-meta"> <div class="row"> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-date"> <span>Published</span>January 9, 2018 </div> </div> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-author"> <span>Author</span> Cathy Cash </div> </div> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-share">  <div class="social-share post"> <ul class="social"> <li><a class="facebook-share" href="https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=&title=" target="_blank"></a></li> <li><a class="twitter-share" href="https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?source=&text=&via=NRECANews " target="_blank"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewBox="0 0 512 512"><path d="M389.2 48h70.6L305.6 224.2 487 464H345L233.7 318.6 106.5 464H35.8L200.7 275.5 26.8 48H172.4L272.9 180.9 389.2 48zM364.4 421.8h39.1L151.1 88h-42L364.4 421.8z"/></svg></a></li> <li><a class="linkedin-share" href="http://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=&title=&summary=" target="_blank"></a></li> </ul> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </section> <section class="col-md-9"> <div class="article-content">  <p><figure id="attachment_3667" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-3667" style="width: 1024px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><a href="https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/IMG_20180108_154609.jpg"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="wp-image-3667 size-large" src="https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/IMG_20180108_154609-1024x682.jpg" alt="President Trump signs two executive orders to facilitate rural broadband after an address to the American Farm Bureau conference in Nashville. (Photo by: Mike Knotts)" width="1024" height="682" srcset="https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/IMG_20180108_154609-1024x682.jpg 1024w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/IMG_20180108_154609-300x200.jpg 300w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/IMG_20180108_154609-768x512.jpg 768w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/IMG_20180108_154609.jpg 2000w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-3667" class="wp-caption-text">President Trump signs two executive orders to facilitate rural broadband after an address to the American Farm Bureau conference in Nashville. (Photo by: Mike Knotts)</figcaption></figure></p> <p>A task force created by President Trump has recognized the importance of closing the digital divide by emphasizing bringing broadband internet service to rural parts of the country.</p> <p>“The success of rural America is critical to the well-being of our entire nation. This task force report rightfully identifies a number of key areas that are essential to economic growth, and nearly all depend on expanded access to high-speed internet,” said NRECA CEO Jim Matheson.</p> <p>“For decades, electric cooperatives have enhanced the quality of life throughout rural America. Now, co-ops across the nation are helping reinvigorate rural economies by <a href="https://www.electric.coop/electric-co-ops-look-forward-to-working-with-administration-to-promote-rural-economic-development/">bringing broadband access to homes and businesses</a>.”</p> <p>U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue <a href="https://www.usda.gov/sites/default/files/documents/rural-prosperity-report.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">unveiled the report Jan. 8 at the American Farm Bureau’s annual convention in Nashville, Tennessee.</a></p> <p>“Rural electric cooperatives have begun deploying fiber optic networks throughout their service areas to meet the current, growing and future demand for smart grid services, such as demand-side management, distributed generation and renewable integration, and smart home technologies, as well as increased grid security,” the task force report states.</p> <p>“The ability to dynamically manage energy use is critical to ensuring network reliability, enhancing system-wide efficiency and keeping electric rates affordable for rural residents and businesses. The high-speed networks, connecting electric system infrastructure and even direct connections to customer locations, can also provide a platform and catalyst for fiber to rural homes.”</p> <p>Trump tapped Perdue last spring to chair the Interagency Task Force on Agriculture and Rural Prosperity, comprising 22 federal agencies as well as local leaders. The group also recommended expediting infrastructure modernization for rural utilities in addition to enhanced coordination between the USDA and the Federal Communications Commission to help bring broadband to rural communities.</p> <p>“Last April, I commissioned a task force to meet with farmers and local communities and find the greatest barriers to rural prosperity,” Trump said at the AFB meeting. “The task force heard from farmers that broadband internet access is an issue of vital concern to their communities and businesses.”</p> <p>Trump signed two executive orders to facilitate rural broadband. One requires the Department of the Interior to ease access to towers and other infrastructure the department manages. The second calls for departments and agencies to reduce barriers to capital investment and government resources to enable rural broadband projects.</p> <p>“I appreciate the president starting this important conversation, and I commend Secretary Perdue for his leadership of the task force,” Matheson said. “America’s electric cooperatives look forward to continuing the conversation and working together on technology and funding solutions that will enrich the lives of rural American families and businesses.”</p> <p><em>Cathy Cash is a staff writer at NRECA.</em></p> </div> </section> </div> <div class="row"> <div class="col-md-12"> <section class="timeline-article-footer"> <small>Next in the Issue</small> <a class="article-next-post" data-next-article="timeline-modal-3655" title="Electric Co-ops Look Forward to Working with Administration to Promote Rural Economic Development">Electric Co-ops Look Forward to Working with Administration to Promote Rural Economic Development <span class="arrow"><i class="ci-long-arrow-right"></i></span></a> </section> </div> </div> </div> </article>  </section>  <section id="timeline-modal-3655" class="timeline-issues-article hidden"> <div class="jumbotron hero article bg-image" style="background-image: url('');"></div>  <article class="single"> <div class="container">  <div class="row"> <header class="col-md-12"> <div class="article-header"> <small class="article-category"> <a href="https://www.electric.coop/issues-and-policy/broadband">Broadband</a> </small> <h1 class="article-title">Electric Co-ops Look Forward to Working with Administration to Promote Rural Economic Development</h1> <h3 class="article-subtitle"></h3> </div> </header> </div>  <div class="row"> <section class="col-md-3"> <div class="article-meta"> <div class="row"> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-date"> <span>Published</span>January 8, 2018 </div> </div> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-author"> <span>Author</span> Media Relations </div> </div> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-share">  <div class="social-share post"> <ul class="social"> <li><a class="facebook-share" href="https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=&title=" target="_blank"></a></li> <li><a class="twitter-share" href="https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?source=&text=&via=NRECANews " target="_blank"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewBox="0 0 512 512"><path d="M389.2 48h70.6L305.6 224.2 487 464H345L233.7 318.6 106.5 464H35.8L200.7 275.5 26.8 48H172.4L272.9 180.9 389.2 48zM364.4 421.8h39.1L151.1 88h-42L364.4 421.8z"/></svg></a></li> <li><a class="linkedin-share" href="http://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=&title=&summary=" target="_blank"></a></li> </ul> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </section> <section class="col-md-9"> <div class="article-content">  <p><strong>ARLINGTON, Va. – </strong>NRECA CEO Jim Matheson today applauded <a href="https://www.usda.gov/ruralprosperity">recommendations</a> by a White House Interagency Task Force on Agriculture and Rural Prosperity to jump start the rural American economy. The task force was created in April by President Donald Trump.</p> <p>“The success of rural America is critical to the wellbeing of our entire nation,” Matheson said. “This task force report rightfully identifies a number of key areas that are essential to economic growth, and nearly all depend on expanded access to high-speed internet. For decades, electric cooperatives have enhanced the quality of life throughout rural America. Now, co-ops across the nation are helping reinvigorate rural economies by bringing broadband access to homes and businesses.</p> <p>“I appreciate the president starting this important conversation, and I commend Secretary Perdue for his leadership of the task force. America’s electric cooperatives look forward to continuing the conversation and working together on technology and funding solutions that will enrich the lives of rural American families and business. ”</p> <p>The task force focused on five areas essential to rural growth:</p> <ol> <li>Connectivity and enhanced broadband access,</li> <li>Promoting the rural workforce;</li> <li>Quality of life (healthcare access, housing, education support);</li> <li>Technological innovation (food, farm, STEM, biotechnology, etc.)</li> <li>Economic development (infrastructure, access to capital, regulatory reform, natural resource use).</li> </ol> <p>To promote rural broadband deployment, the report recommends:</p> <ol> <li>Reviewing the efficacy of federal broadband funding and determining the total capital investment necessary for rural broadband connectivity.</li> <li>Streamlining the application process for broadband funding.</li> <li>Leveraging federal assets to enhance access to broadband infrastructure.</li> </ol> <p>Roughly 90 electric co-ops across the country are <a href="http://remagazine.coop/getting-rural-broadband-off-the-ground/">deploying broadband</a> in their service territories to enhance their business operations and bridge the digital divide for their members.</p> <p>The <a href="https://www.electric.coop/">National Rural Electric Cooperative Association</a> is the national service organization that represents the nation’s more than 900 not-for-profit, consumer-owned electric cooperatives, which provide service to 42 million people in 47 states.</p> <p style="text-align: center">-###-</p> </div> </section> </div> <div class="row"> <div class="col-md-12"> <section class="timeline-article-footer"> <small>Next in the Issue</small> <a class="article-next-post" data-next-article="timeline-modal-3514" title="Charting a New Broadband Course">Charting a New Broadband Course <span class="arrow"><i class="ci-long-arrow-right"></i></span></a> </section> </div> </div> </div> </article>  </section>  <section id="timeline-modal-3514" class="timeline-issues-article hidden"> <div class="jumbotron hero article bg-image" style="background-image: url('https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/Jackson-County-Broadband-aec-header.jpg');"></div>  <article class="single"> <div class="container">  <div class="row"> <header class="col-md-12"> <div class="article-header"> <small class="article-category"> <a href="https://www.electric.coop/issues-and-policy/broadband">Broadband</a> </small> <h1 class="article-title">Charting a New Broadband Course</h1> <h3 class="article-subtitle"></h3> </div> </header> </div>  <div class="row"> <section class="col-md-3"> <div class="article-meta"> <div class="row"> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-date"> <span>Published</span>November 28, 2017 </div> </div> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-author"> <span>Author</span> Cathy Cash </div> </div> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-share">  <div class="social-share post"> <ul class="social"> <li><a class="facebook-share" href="https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=&title=" target="_blank"></a></li> <li><a class="twitter-share" href="https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?source=&text=&via=NRECANews " target="_blank"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewBox="0 0 512 512"><path d="M389.2 48h70.6L305.6 224.2 487 464H345L233.7 318.6 106.5 464H35.8L200.7 275.5 26.8 48H172.4L272.9 180.9 389.2 48zM364.4 421.8h39.1L151.1 88h-42L364.4 421.8z"/></svg></a></li> <li><a class="linkedin-share" href="http://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=&title=&summary=" target="_blank"></a></li> </ul> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </section> <section class="col-md-9"> <div class="article-content">  <p><figure id="attachment_3515" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-3515" style="width: 1024px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><a href="https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/Jackson-County-Broadband-aec.jpg"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="size-large wp-image-3515" src="https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/Jackson-County-Broadband-aec-1024x683.jpg" alt="With fiber and materials ready, construction begins on Jackson County REMC’s broadband network. (Photo By: Jackson County REMC)" width="1024" height="683" srcset="https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/Jackson-County-Broadband-aec-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/Jackson-County-Broadband-aec-300x200.jpg 300w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/Jackson-County-Broadband-aec-768x512.jpg 768w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/Jackson-County-Broadband-aec.jpg 1512w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-3515" class="wp-caption-text">With fiber and materials ready, construction begins on Jackson County REMC’s broadband network. (Photo By: Jackson County REMC)</figcaption></figure></p> <p>With a major obstacle lifted by state lawmakers and backed by the unanimous support of its board, an Indiana electric cooperative is building a fiber network to deliver broadband to every member.</p> <p>While a few electric cooperatives have managed to provide internet service in Indiana, <a href="http://www.jacksonremc.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Jackson County REMC</a> is the first to undertake a broadband build-out under <a href="https://www.cooperative.com/public/news/Pages/hurdle-lifted-indiana-broadband.aspx" target="_blank" rel="noopener">a new law</a> that eliminates the need to adjust private electric easements with existing above-ground infrastructure, which co-op officials called a key obstacle.</p> <p>“Having to renegotiate the easements and the cost associated with that would be a major setback for the project,” said Mark McKinney, general manager of the Brownstown-based co-op.</p> <p>Scott Bowers, vice president of government relations at <a href="https://www.indianaec.org/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Indiana Electric Cooperatives</a>, said with the new law in place, a number of Indiana co-ops are taking a close look at broadband deployment.</p> <p>“Several cooperatives are assessing the feasibility and discussing how they might be able to fill the gap for their members,” he said.</p> <p>After doing due diligence over 18 months, Jackson County REMC in November sent crews to prep for building the initial 340 miles of what will be a more-than-2,000-mile fiber network. It will include 220 miles of fiber between all 20 substations within the co-op’s service territory and 120 miles of distribution fiber to the home.</p> <p>Completion of the $62 million network is expected to take four to five years. Beta tests to work out the bugs will take place early next year, and member rollout will begin in spring 2018.</p> <p>“Our members want us to do it,” said McKinney.</p> <p>Jackson County REMC conducted a nonscientific member survey in 2016 and received an overwhelming response for it to provide high-speed internet. In February, the co-op did a statistically valid survey with similar results.</p> <p>“Members said they would rather take it from us than somebody else. It comes down to us having a good relationship with members,” said McKinney. “They trust us, they see us as their energy adviser, and they see us as a trusted source.”</p> <p>The green light from directors came “almost 80 years to the date of when we formed the co-op back in 1937,” McKinney said. The board “gave us the directive to come up with the plan so that every member to the last mile would have the option to be served.”</p> <p>Evoking what Jackson County REMC calls “rural connectification,” Matt Persinger, IT manager, said the benefits to members for accessible high-speed internet can be compared to those who first received electricity in what was called “rural electrification.”</p> <p>“It’s the same principle, the same reasons behind the broadband project, and we think it will have similar impact: changing people’s lives,” he said.</p> <p><em>Cathy Cash is a staff writer at NRECA.</em></p> </div> </section> </div> <div class="row"> <div class="col-md-12"> <section class="timeline-article-footer"> <small>Next in the Issue</small> <a class="article-next-post" data-next-article="timeline-modal-3370" title="TEDx Talk: Broadband for Barns">TEDx Talk: Broadband for Barns <span class="arrow"><i class="ci-long-arrow-right"></i></span></a> </section> </div> </div> </div> </article>  </section>  <section id="timeline-modal-3370" class="timeline-issues-article hidden"> <div class="jumbotron hero article bg-image" style="background-image: url('https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/TEDxTalk-header-v1.jpg');"></div>  <article class="single"> <div class="container">  <div class="row"> <header class="col-md-12"> <div class="article-header"> <small class="article-category"> <a href="https://www.electric.coop/issues-and-policy/broadband">Broadband</a> </small> <h1 class="article-title">TEDx Talk: Broadband for Barns</h1> <h3 class="article-subtitle"></h3> </div> </header> </div>  <div class="row"> <section class="col-md-3"> <div class="article-meta"> <div class="row"> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-date"> <span>Published</span>October 16, 2017 </div> </div> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-author"> <span>Author</span> Victoria A. Rocha </div> </div> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-share">  <div class="social-share post"> <ul class="social"> <li><a class="facebook-share" href="https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=&title=" target="_blank"></a></li> <li><a class="twitter-share" href="https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?source=&text=&via=NRECANews " target="_blank"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewBox="0 0 512 512"><path d="M389.2 48h70.6L305.6 224.2 487 464H345L233.7 318.6 106.5 464H35.8L200.7 275.5 26.8 48H172.4L272.9 180.9 389.2 48zM364.4 421.8h39.1L151.1 88h-42L364.4 421.8z"/></svg></a></li> <li><a class="linkedin-share" href="http://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=&title=&summary=" target="_blank"></a></li> </ul> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </section> <section class="col-md-9"> <div class="article-content">  <p><figure id="attachment_3373" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-3373" style="width: 921px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><a href="https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/TEDxTalk-v1.jpg"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="size-full wp-image-3373" src="https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/TEDxTalk-v1.jpg" alt="Rural broadband can improve lives by providing access to broader economies and more ideas, says Wheat Belt PPD’s Tim Lindahl at a TEDx talk in Lincoln, Nebraska. (Photo Courtesy of Randy Bretz)" width="921" height="613" srcset="https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/TEDxTalk-v1.jpg 921w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/TEDxTalk-v1-300x200.jpg 300w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/TEDxTalk-v1-768x511.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 921px) 100vw, 921px" /></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-3373" class="wp-caption-text">Rural broadband can improve lives by providing access to broader economies and more ideas, says Wheat Belt PPD’s Tim Lindahl at a TEDx talk in Lincoln, Nebraska. (Photo Courtesy of Randy Bretz)</figcaption></figure></p> <p>To run a successful operation, Nebraska wheat farmer Chris Morgan needs rain, sun, and a bit of technology.</p> <p>High-speed internet has turned Morgan’s new combine harvester into an on-the-go data analysis center. At his fingertips—autonomous steering enables safe driving with the laptop—is digital data for each square foot harvested, which he can analyze. If the farm used irrigation pivots, he’d be able to switch them off and on, saving water and energy.</p> <p>“Where he sits resembles more of a cockpit that one might find in a fighter jet, than that of a tractor. Chris has broadband access, not only at his home, but in his cockpit, and to his fields,” Tim Lindahl, CEO of <a href="http://www.wheatbelt.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Wheat Belt Public Power District</a>, told a recent <a href="http://www.tedxlincoln.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">TEDx event in Lincoln, Nebraska</a>.</p> <p>Short for technology, entertainment and design, TED talks are videos based on short presentations at a TED conference or satellite event. TEDx talks—the x means it’s an independently organized event—are local programs that bring people together to share a TED-like experience.</p> <p>In a 12-minute talk titled “Barn Raising Broadband,” Lindahl proposed that communities band together to bring affordable high-speed internet, much like the rural electrification effort in the 1930s.</p> <p>That accomplishment “was driven by cooperation, passion and vision. This was not done for profit, it was done for the sheer purpose of improving and growing rural American communities. This innovative thought and the resulting achievement became a foundation to our national success,” he said.</p> <p>Pockets of Wheat Belt’s service area can access a fiber optic ring that surrounds Nebraska, said Lindahl. And when the PPD relocated its headquarters to Sidney, “access to fiber was a consideration. We’re tied into the fiber ring, so there’s good connectivity at the office.”</p> <p>But if homes or businesses can’t access broadband, said Lindahl, “You use cellular, if available, which is very expensive. Or, you come into town, or you go without.”</p> <p>TEDx organizer Randy Bretz met Lindahl at a meeting of the Nebraska Broadband Community Council and invited him to speak. “As a member of the council I became painfully aware” of the urban/rural broadband divide, said Bretz.</p> <p>Lindahl’s August talk “will help move the concept of helping provide broadband for rural Nebraska and rural America in much the same way that our country provided electricity when the [Rural Electrification Administration] was formed,” said Bretz.</p> <p><em>Victoria A. Rocha is a staff writer for NRECA.</em></p> </div> </section> </div> <div class="row"> <div class="col-md-12"> <section class="timeline-article-footer"> <small>Next in the Issue</small> <a class="article-next-post" data-next-article="timeline-modal-3332" title="NRECA Applauds Proposed Investment in Rural Broadband">NRECA Applauds Proposed Investment in Rural Broadband <span class="arrow"><i class="ci-long-arrow-right"></i></span></a> </section> </div> </div> </div> </article>  </section>  <section id="timeline-modal-3332" class="timeline-issues-article hidden"> <div class="jumbotron hero article bg-image" style="background-image: url('');"></div>  <article class="single"> <div class="container">  <div class="row"> <header class="col-md-12"> <div class="article-header"> <small class="article-category"> <a href="https://www.electric.coop/issues-and-policy/broadband">Broadband</a> </small> <h1 class="article-title">NRECA Applauds Proposed Investment in Rural Broadband</h1> <h3 class="article-subtitle"></h3> </div> </header> </div>  <div class="row"> <section class="col-md-3"> <div class="article-meta"> <div class="row"> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-date"> <span>Published</span>September 28, 2017 </div> </div> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-author"> <span>Author</span> Tracy.Warren@nreca.coop </div> </div> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-share">  <div class="social-share post"> <ul class="social"> <li><a class="facebook-share" href="https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=&title=" target="_blank"></a></li> <li><a class="twitter-share" href="https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?source=&text=&via=NRECANews " target="_blank"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewBox="0 0 512 512"><path d="M389.2 48h70.6L305.6 224.2 487 464H345L233.7 318.6 106.5 464H35.8L200.7 275.5 26.8 48H172.4L272.9 180.9 389.2 48zM364.4 421.8h39.1L151.1 88h-42L364.4 421.8z"/></svg></a></li> <li><a class="linkedin-share" href="http://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=&title=&summary=" target="_blank"></a></li> </ul> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </section> <section class="col-md-9"> <div class="article-content">  <p style="text-align: left">ARLINGTON, Va. – National Rural Electric Cooperative Association CEO Jim Matheson today applauded a proposal by House and Senate Democrats to invest $40 billion to expand broadband access in rural communities across the nation.</p> <p>“We’re grateful to see this proposal unveiled, and appreciate the recognition that a significant investment is needed in order to successfully bring high-speed internet to rural America,” Matheson said. “Broadband access is a key ingredient to a healthy 21st century economy, especially in America’s rural communities. Expanded high-speed internet access should be a top economic priority for policymakers, and I’m glad that a growing number in Congress recognize the need to solve this problem. We look forward to continuing to work on the details of this and other proposals. Congress, the Federal Communications Commission and other stakeholders should work together and move swiftly to help make broadband a reality for those who call rural America home.”</p> <p>Jim Matheson serves on the Federal Communications Commission’s Broadband Deployment Advisory Committee. As the economic need for broadband has become more acute, an increasing numbers of electric cooperatives are stepping in either to provide the service themselves or find other solutions. More than 80 electric cooperatives are deploying or planning to deploy broadband in rural communities across the country.</p> <p>The National Rural Electric Cooperative Association is the national service organization that represents the nation’s more than 900 not-for-profit, consumer-owned electric cooperatives, which provide service to 42 million people in 47 states.</p> <p style="text-align: center">-###-</p> </div> </section> </div> <div class="row"> <div class="col-md-12"> <section class="timeline-article-footer"> <small>Next in the Issue</small> <a class="article-next-post" data-next-article="timeline-modal-3277" title="Why Broadband Isn’t Like 1930s Electrification">Why Broadband Isn’t Like 1930s Electrification <span class="arrow"><i class="ci-long-arrow-right"></i></span></a> </section> </div> </div> </div> </article>  </section>  <section id="timeline-modal-3277" class="timeline-issues-article hidden"> <div class="jumbotron hero article bg-image" style="background-image: url('');"></div>  <article class="single"> <div class="container">  <div class="row"> <header class="col-md-12"> <div class="article-header"> <small class="article-category"> <a href="https://www.electric.coop/issues-and-policy/broadband">Broadband</a> </small> <h1 class="article-title">Why Broadband Isn’t Like 1930s Electrification</h1> <h3 class="article-subtitle">NRECA VP Curtis Wynn says today’s technology won’t last 8 years, much less 80</h3> </div> </header> </div>  <div class="row"> <section class="col-md-3"> <div class="article-meta"> <div class="row"> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-date"> <span>Published</span>September 16, 2017 </div> </div> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-author"> <span>Author</span> sjohnson </div> </div> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-share">  <div class="social-share post"> <ul class="social"> <li><a class="facebook-share" href="https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=&title=" target="_blank"></a></li> <li><a class="twitter-share" href="https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?source=&text=&via=NRECANews " target="_blank"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewBox="0 0 512 512"><path d="M389.2 48h70.6L305.6 224.2 487 464H345L233.7 318.6 106.5 464H35.8L200.7 275.5 26.8 48H172.4L272.9 180.9 389.2 48zM364.4 421.8h39.1L151.1 88h-42L364.4 421.8z"/></svg></a></li> <li><a class="linkedin-share" href="http://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=&title=&summary=" target="_blank"></a></li> </ul> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </section> <section class="col-md-9"> <div class="article-content">  <p><figure id="attachment_3278" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-3278" style="width: 1024px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><a href="https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/Curtis-Wynn.jpg"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="wp-image-3278 size-large" src="https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/Curtis-Wynn-1024x682.jpg" alt="NRECA Vice President Curtis Wynn says it’s not quite right to compare co-ops providing broadband today to bringing electricity to members 80 years ago. (NRECA File Photo By: Denny Gainer)" width="1024" height="682" srcset="https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/Curtis-Wynn-1024x682.jpg 1024w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/Curtis-Wynn-300x200.jpg 300w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/Curtis-Wynn-768x512.jpg 768w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/Curtis-Wynn.jpg 1400w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-3278" class="wp-caption-text">NRECA Vice President Curtis Wynn says it’s not quite right to compare co-ops providing broadband today to bringing electricity to members 80 years ago. (NRECA File Photo By: Denny Gainer)</figcaption></figure></p> <p>Rural broadband in 2017 might sound similar to the mission of providing electricity for rural America in 1937. But an NRECA Board leader says it’s not exactly an apples-to-apples comparison.</p> <p>“When we started 80 years ago, we were investing in poles and wires and transformers that had a very long shelf life. We’ve got some of that equipment still on our systems,” NRECA Vice President Curtis Wynn said Sept. 13 at the Senate Democratic Rural Summit.</p> <p>“With telecommunications, this is a completely different story. The shelf life for 5G—we don’t know if it’s going to be five years, three years, or what the case may be,” said Wynn.</p> <p>“For any type of broadband investment, you’ve got to keep that in mind, and that’s a part of the equation that all of our systems are looking at,” Wynn told senators and others gathered for the Capitol Hill event.</p> <p>That hardly means broadband should be ignored; quite the opposite, said Wynn, noting it’s vital to running a modern electric utility.</p> <p>“Broadband and cooperative operations are beginning to merge together. To run a smart utility you have to have access to broadband,” said Wynn, who is CEO of <a href="http://roanokeelectric.com/">Roanoke Electric Cooperative</a> in Aulander, North Carolina.</p> <p>The co-op has completed a broadband project that connects 12 substations with fiber. Roanoke EC is in the early stages of expanding this connectivity deeper into its service territory using a combination of fiber and fixed wireless technology.</p> <p>“The goal is to expand that to every home in our service territory,” said Wynn. His members want broadband service for fast internet that’s vital to modern life, but there’s another component.</p> <p>“We need it for smart [utility] operations so that every member can help us reduce the cost of electricity that we purchase on the wholesale level,” said Wynn. “That’s a big thing for us to be able to do.”</p> <p><em>Michael W. Kahn is a staff writer at NRECA.</em></p> </div> </section> </div> <div class="row"> <div class="col-md-12"> <section class="timeline-article-footer"> <small>Next in the Issue</small> <a class="article-next-post" data-next-article="timeline-modal-2939" title="Mo. Co-ops Seek More Broadband">Mo. Co-ops Seek More Broadband <span class="arrow"><i class="ci-long-arrow-right"></i></span></a> </section> </div> </div> </div> </article>  </section>  <section id="timeline-modal-2939" class="timeline-issues-article hidden"> <div class="jumbotron hero article bg-image" style="background-image: url('https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/MoBBGovGreitens.jpg');"></div>  <article class="single"> <div class="container">  <div class="row"> <header class="col-md-12"> <div class="article-header"> <small class="article-category"> <a href="https://www.electric.coop/issues-and-policy/broadband">Broadband</a> </small> <h1 class="article-title">Mo. Co-ops Seek More Broadband</h1> <h3 class="article-subtitle">Meetings with U.S. senators and other officials underscore need to wire rural parts of the state</h3> </div> </header> </div>  <div class="row"> <section class="col-md-3"> <div class="article-meta"> <div class="row"> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-date"> <span>Published</span>August 22, 2017 </div> </div> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-author"> <span>Author</span> Cathy Cash </div> </div> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-share">  <div class="social-share post"> <ul class="social"> <li><a class="facebook-share" href="https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=&title=" target="_blank"></a></li> <li><a class="twitter-share" href="https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?source=&text=&via=NRECANews " target="_blank"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewBox="0 0 512 512"><path d="M389.2 48h70.6L305.6 224.2 487 464H345L233.7 318.6 106.5 464H35.8L200.7 275.5 26.8 48H172.4L272.9 180.9 389.2 48zM364.4 421.8h39.1L151.1 88h-42L364.4 421.8z"/></svg></a></li> <li><a class="linkedin-share" href="http://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=&title=&summary=" target="_blank"></a></li> </ul> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </section> <section class="col-md-9"> <div class="article-content">  <p><figure id="attachment_2940" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-2940" style="width: 801px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><a href="https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/MoBBGovGreitens.jpg"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="size-full wp-image-2940" src="https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/MoBBGovGreitens.jpg" alt="Mo. Gov. Eric Greitens talks on rural broadband as (l-r) Barry Hart of Mo. statewide, Sen. Roy Blunt (R-Mo) and Blake Hurst, president of the Missouri Farm Bureau, which hosted the event. (Photo By: Zach Smith, Rural Missouri magazine)" width="801" height="547" srcset="https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/MoBBGovGreitens.jpg 801w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/MoBBGovGreitens-300x205.jpg 300w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/MoBBGovGreitens-768x524.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 801px) 100vw, 801px" /></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-2940" class="wp-caption-text">Missouri. Gov. Eric Greitens talks about rural broadband with (l-r) Barry Hart of the Missouri statewide; Sen. Roy Blunt, R-Mo.; and Blake Hurst, president of the Missouri Farm Bureau, which hosted the event. (Photo By: Zach Smith/Rural Missouri magazine)</figcaption></figure></p> <p>Electric cooperatives in Missouri are urging U.S. senators to guide more federal dollars toward their efforts to build broadband for their members and improve the quality of life in rural America.</p> <p>“Two-thirds of the rural areas of the state don’t have adequate broadband. It is a serious situation in Missouri,” said Barry Hart, CEO of the <a href="http://www.amec.coop/">Association of Missouri Electric Cooperatives</a>.</p> <p>“Some people think rural areas do not need the same speed cities need. That is false. We have courthouses, healthcare clinics, farms, businesses, schools that need high-speed internet,” said Hart.</p> <p>Hart and other electric co-op leaders in Missouri emphasized that need Aug. 17 at public events with Sen. Claire McCaskill, D-Mo., Sen. Roy Blunt, R-Mo., Gov. Eric Greitens, and other federal and state leaders.</p> <p>“If we do it right, ultimately we will bring high-speed internet to members, which will lead to economic opportunities and learning opportunities for our students and businesses,” said Sean Vanslyke, CEO of <a href="https://gosemo.com/">SEMO Electric Cooperative</a> in Sikeston. The co-op will hook up its first internet customer to <a href="https://gosemofiber.com/">GoSEMO Fiber</a> before January 2018.</p> <p>At a roundtable hosted by McCaskill, several co-op leaders “mentioned the challenges we face and how these opportunities will keep rural Missouri and rural America vital in the U.S. economy,” said Jim Bagley, CEO of <a href="http://www.ueci.coop">United Electric Cooperative</a> in Maryville.</p> <p>“We talked about the role broadband plays in rural medicine and education and how important it is to support our students and local schools. They are the lifeblood keeping rural communities intact.”</p> <p><figure id="attachment_2941" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-2941" style="width: 1024px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><a href="https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/McCaskill-Vanslykeimage004.jpg"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="size-large wp-image-2941" src="https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/McCaskill-Vanslykeimage004-1024x595.jpg" alt="" width="1024" height="595" srcset="https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/McCaskill-Vanslykeimage004-1024x595.jpg 1024w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/McCaskill-Vanslykeimage004-300x174.jpg 300w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/McCaskill-Vanslykeimage004-768x447.jpg 768w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/McCaskill-Vanslykeimage004.jpg 1068w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-2941" class="wp-caption-text">U.S. Sen. Claire McCaskill discusses rural broadband challenges with SEMO Electric CEO Sean Vanslyke at her roundtable in Sedalia, Mo. (Photo By: Zach Smith/Rural Missouri magazine)</figcaption></figure></p> <p>United has linked 4,500 of its 10,000 meters with broadband fiber and has more than 5,000 subscribers. SEMO is one of seven co-ops with plans to provide broadband service to homes in the state. Of Missouri’s 40 distribution co-ops, 22 have completed feasibility studies.</p> <p>“They realized nobody else is going to do it,” said Hart, “and their rural community is going to suffer if they don’t do it.”</p> <p><a href="http://www.co-mo.coop/">Co-Mo Electric Cooperative</a> in Tipton was the first co-op to deliver broadband in Missouri without federal funds. It just completed fiber optics to all of its members.</p> <p>Still, the linchpin is capital for these projects.</p> <p>“Without federal funding, it is very difficult to get the economics to do this in rural areas,” Hart said. Successful bids for funds from the Federal Communications Commission will be key, he said.</p> <p>In Missouri, a 10-year “reverse auction” of $650 million from the FCC’s Connect America Fund II for rural broadband will begin in 2018. Electric co-ops and other potential providers can bid for funds declined by AT&T, the incumbent provider, to build broadband for unserved or underserved residents.</p> <p>Missouri is receiving the largest portion of reverse auction funds that total about $2 billion nationwide. The FCC collects money in the Connect America Fund through fees on monthly telephone bills.</p> <p><a href="http://www.rallscountyelectric.com/test/index.html">Ralls County Electric</a> was one of the first co-ops to get federal stimulus money to launch broadband in 2010. The New London co-op completed deployment to all of its 6,000 meters in 2014 with $10 million in a CAF grant, a $10 million loan and $900,000 from the state. Now through its fiber subsidiary, <a href="https://rallstech.com/">Ralls Technologies</a>, the co-op is providing broadband beyond its electric service area.</p> <p>“For areas underserved and those with no active providers, that funding is just critical,” said CEO Lynn Hodges. “It was critical in our plan with just four people per mile.”</p> <p><em>Cathy Cash is a staff writer at NRECA.</em></p> </div> </section> </div> <div class="row"> <div class="col-md-12"> <section class="timeline-article-footer"> <small>Next in the Issue</small> <a class="article-next-post" data-next-article="timeline-modal-2824" title="Helping Rural America Helps All Americans">Helping Rural America Helps All Americans <span class="arrow"><i class="ci-long-arrow-right"></i></span></a> </section> </div> </div> </div> </article>  </section>  <section id="timeline-modal-2824" class="timeline-issues-article hidden"> <div class="jumbotron hero article bg-image" style="background-image: url('https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/curtis.jpg');"></div>  <article class="single"> <div class="container">  <div class="row"> <header class="col-md-12"> <div class="article-header"> <small class="article-category"> <a href="https://www.electric.coop/issues-and-policy/broadband">Broadband</a> </small> <h1 class="article-title">Helping Rural America Helps All Americans</h1> <h3 class="article-subtitle">NRECA Board official tells Congress that we all suffer when rural areas suffer</h3> </div> </header> </div>  <div class="row"> <section class="col-md-3"> <div class="article-meta"> <div class="row"> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-date"> <span>Published</span>July 19, 2017 </div> </div> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-author"> <span>Author</span> Michael W. Kahn </div> </div> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-share">  <div class="social-share post"> <ul class="social"> <li><a class="facebook-share" href="https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=&title=" target="_blank"></a></li> <li><a class="twitter-share" href="https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?source=&text=&via=NRECANews " target="_blank"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewBox="0 0 512 512"><path d="M389.2 48h70.6L305.6 224.2 487 464H345L233.7 318.6 106.5 464H35.8L200.7 275.5 26.8 48H172.4L272.9 180.9 389.2 48zM364.4 421.8h39.1L151.1 88h-42L364.4 421.8z"/></svg></a></li> <li><a class="linkedin-share" href="http://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=&title=&summary=" target="_blank"></a></li> </ul> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </section> <section class="col-md-9"> <div class="article-content">  <p><figure id="attachment_2830" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-2830" style="width: 1024px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><a href="https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/wynn-inline.jpg"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="wp-image-2830 size-large" src="https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/wynn-inline-1024x682.jpg" alt="Curtis Wynn testifies on the "The State of Infrastructure in Rural America" before the House Committee on Agriculture. (Photo By: Dennis Gainer)" width="1024" height="682" srcset="https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/wynn-inline-1024x682.jpg 1024w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/wynn-inline-300x200.jpg 300w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/wynn-inline-768x512.jpg 768w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/wynn-inline.jpg 2000w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-2830" class="wp-caption-text">Curtis Wynn testifies on the “The State of Infrastructure in Rural America” before the House Committee on Agriculture. (Photo By: Dennis Gainer)</figcaption></figure></p> <p>The vice president of NRECA’s board of directors was blunt in the congressional hearing room: “It seems that too often rural America gets the short end of the stick.”</p> <p>Curtis Wynn knows this all too well, being the CEO of <a href="http://roanokeelectric.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Roanoke Electric Cooperative</a> in Aulander, North Carolina. “We serve some of the poorest, most rural parts of our state,” he said.</p> <p>Wynn came to Capitol Hill to testify before the House Agriculture Committee, where he made it clear that his members—like millions of others across the nation—can’t be left behind.</p> <p>At a July 19 hearing on the state of infrastructure in rural America, Wynn told lawmakers it’s a subject that should be of interest to all lawmakers—urban, suburban and rural.</p> <p>“Most of our country’s food, minerals, energy and manufactured goods still come from rural areas,” said Wynn. “When rural areas suffer, the country as a whole suffers.”</p> <p>He shared with the panel steps that Roanoke EC is taking to meet today’s challenges, including a $4 million project to lay a fiber communications “backbone” in its service territory so that substations can communicate with one another.</p> <p>“This project will reduce outage frequency as well as response time to outages while better equipping Roanoke to help member-owners manage their energy use and reduce system losses,” Wynn explained.</p> <p>And there’s another potential huge benefit.</p> <p>“One option could be providing broadband internet to our consumers’ homes,” said Wynn. “In a world of video streaming, telecommuting, video conferencing, online education, and telemedicine, connectivity is not a luxury. It’s a necessity.”</p> <hr /> <p><div class="row infographic"><div class="col-md-4 col-sm-12"><div class="infographic-description">Roanoke Electric Cooperative CEO Curtis Wynn testifies before House Agriculture Committee</div></div><div class="col-md-8 col-sm-12"><div class="embed-responsive embed-responsive-16by9 aec-video"><iframe loading="lazy" width="100%" height="400" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/g-BEcV3L6Dk" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen><a href="http://www.youtube.com/embed/g-BEcV3L6Dk">View Video</a></iframe></div></div></div></p> <hr /> <p>Committee Chairman Mike Conaway, R-Texas, agreed, saying “improving communications technology remains a tremendous need in rural America.”</p> <p>“Universal instantaneous access to the internet has become essential to our lives, and as communications technology races ahead, we need to ensure rural Americans are not left behind,” added Conaway.</p> <p>Wynn also noted his co-op’s “Upgrade to $ave” program, which allows members to save money by making energy efficiency investments in their homes with no upfront payments or new debt obligations. In return, they share the energy savings with the co-op, which sees full cost recovery.</p> <p>Projects including insulation and HVAC upgrades on more than 200 homes have resulted in energy savings of better than 20 percent in just 18 months.</p> <p>“We can do all this because we received a $6 million loan from the Rural Utilities Service through the new Energy Efficiency & Conservation Loan Program,” Wynn explained.</p> <p>With that in mind, Wynn urged the committee to continue the “robust RUS funding”—noting that “the federal government could earn up to $300 million in net revenue from RUS loans.”</p> <p>Wynn also told lawmakers that North Carolina co-ops are actively supporting community solar projects, and have the state’s first grid-interconnected microgrid, with a second microgrid in development.</p> <p>“Microgrids provide another opportunity to make sure that our systems are more resilient,” said Wynn, adding that “electricity is becoming more and more critical—and the loss of it is becoming more and more of an issue.”</p> <p>“More than ever, whether you live in a rural area or in a city,” Wynn said, “we are all connected in this country.”</p> <p><figure id="attachment_2825" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-2825" style="width: 1024px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><a href="https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/AEC_8152_52003.jpg"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="size-large wp-image-2825" src="https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/AEC_8152_52003.jpg" alt="Curtis Wynn tells the House Agriculture Committee that when rural America is shortchanged the entire country suffers. (Photo By: Alangé Jacobs)" width="1024" height="682" /></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-2825" class="wp-caption-text">Curtis Wynn tells the House Agriculture Committee that when rural America is shortchanged the entire country suffers. (Photo By: Alangé Jacobs)</figcaption></figure></p> <p><em>Read Curtis Wynn’s complete <a href="https://www.electric.coop/curtis-wynn-house-committee-agriculture-infrastructure/">testimony here</a>.</em></p> </div> </section> </div> <div class="row"> <div class="col-md-12"> <section class="timeline-article-footer"> <small>Next in the Issue</small> <a class="article-next-post" data-next-article="timeline-modal-2820" title="Testimony of Curtis Wynn at House Committee on Agriculture">Testimony of Curtis Wynn at House Committee on Agriculture <span class="arrow"><i class="ci-long-arrow-right"></i></span></a> </section> </div> </div> </div> </article>  </section>  <section id="timeline-modal-2820" class="timeline-issues-article hidden"> <div class="jumbotron hero article bg-image" style="background-image: url('');"></div>  <article class="single"> <div class="container">  <div class="row"> <header class="col-md-12"> <div class="article-header"> <small class="article-category"> <a href="https://www.electric.coop/issues-and-policy/broadband">Broadband</a> </small> <h1 class="article-title">Testimony of Curtis Wynn at House Committee on Agriculture</h1> <h3 class="article-subtitle">“The State of Infrastructure in Rural America”</h3> </div> </header> </div>  <div class="row"> <section class="col-md-3"> <div class="article-meta"> <div class="row"> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-date"> <span>Published</span>July 19, 2017 </div> </div> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-author"> <span>Author</span> Curtis Wynn </div> </div> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-share">  <div class="social-share post"> <ul class="social"> <li><a class="facebook-share" href="https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=&title=" target="_blank"></a></li> <li><a class="twitter-share" href="https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?source=&text=&via=NRECANews " target="_blank"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewBox="0 0 512 512"><path d="M389.2 48h70.6L305.6 224.2 487 464H345L233.7 318.6 106.5 464H35.8L200.7 275.5 26.8 48H172.4L272.9 180.9 389.2 48zM364.4 421.8h39.1L151.1 88h-42L364.4 421.8z"/></svg></a></li> <li><a class="linkedin-share" href="http://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=&title=&summary=" target="_blank"></a></li> </ul> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </section> <section class="col-md-9"> <div class="article-content">  <p><em>Curtis Wynn is President and CEO of Roanoke Electric Cooperative. His testimony was given before the House Committee on Agriculture on July 19, 2017.</em></p> <p>Thank you, Chairman Conaway and Ranking Member Peterson, for inviting me to testify today. My name is Curtis Wynn. I am the President and CEO of Roanoke Electric Cooperative headquartered in Aulander, North Carolina. I am also Vice President of the Board of Directors for the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association. Roanoke is a member-owned, not-for-profit, electric distribution cooperative serving around 14,000 residential, agricultural, commercial and industrial customers in northeastern North Carolina. Our system consists of over 2000 miles of line (about 7 members per mile) in 7 counties.</p> <p>We serve some of the poorest, most rural parts of our state. But despite those challenges, we are doing some truly innovative work to improve the quality of life for our members. While our first priority is to deliver clean, safe, reliable, affordable electricity to our members, we have a calling to be more than just a poles, wires and electrons company. Our broader purpose is to provide the services and support that empower our communities to thrive. Rural electric cooperatives are much more than just electric utilities – we are the engines that drive economic opportunity across the heartland and to rural areas everywhere. I am proud of the role we play in these communities.</p> <p>More than ever, whether you live in a rural area or in a city, we are all connected in this country. Rural areas, in particular, still grow most of the food, generate much of the power, and manufacture many of the goods that this country consumes. When rural areas suffer, the country as a whole suffers. That’s why the state of rural infrastructure should be of interest to all Members of Congress, no matter what type of district you represent.</p> <p>Among our biggest challenges going forward are adapting to changes in consumer demand, accommodating an evolving generation mix, and protecting against cyber threats. I’m going to talk today about some investments that my co-op is making to modernize and meet those needs. I am aware that resources will be limited in the upcoming farm bill, but I believe a separate infrastructure package gives us a great opportunity to make further investments in these types of projects to ensure the success and stability of rural America in the 21st Century.</p> <h4>Rural Utilities Service (RUS)</h4> <p>In the early 1900’s, as urban areas began to electrify, rural areas lagged behind. Eventually, farmers and ranchers in remote areas took the initiative to form electric cooperatives and did it themselves. In the past 80 years, a lot has changed, but the same fundamental challenges still exist – how to affordably connect those few customers in low-density, high-cost rural areas. What was then called the Rural Electrification Administration (REA) is now the Rural Utilities Service (RUS) and it is as relevant today as it was back then. REA and RUS loans have helped build, expand, and improve the infrastructure across rural America necessary to provide power, deliver clean water, and deploy advanced telecommunications technologies to rural areas.</p> <p>Today, RUS loans help electric co-ops reduce costs and improve reliability for our members by financing basic maintenance like replacing poles and wires. But it also helps us fund projects to make our systems more modern, efficient, and secure.</p> <p>RUS depends on a yearly appropriation from the Agriculture Appropriations bill. We have historically enjoyed strong support for robust RUS funding in large part because we’re such a good investment for the federal government. The President’s Budget request for 2018 estimates that the federal government could earn up to $300 million in net revenue from RUS loans. We ask that you help us maintain that support.</p> <p>We also ask that you support policies that allow us to use RUS loans to address a broad set of co-op needs – whether for advanced utility communications, renewable generation, baseload generation, or for making environmental upgrades to existing generation. Just as the times have changed and the needs of rural America have changed, so too has the RUS loan program. We have appreciated working with the Committee over the years to help make the program more streamlined and efficient, and we look forward to exploring new ways to continue to improve the program. Modernizing the RUS loan program is good for both electric cooperative borrowers and taxpayers. The RUS annually reviews and approves billions of dollars of loans, and finding ways to more efficiently process those loans reduces burdens on taxpayers while meeting borrowers’ needs more efficiently as well. Another important financing option available to electric cooperatives is loans from cooperative banks. Co-op banks add healthy competition and a diversity of sources of capital to the marketplace. We encourage you to continue that policy.</p> <h4>Robust Communications Infrastructure</h4> <p>In the 21<sup>st</sup> Century, robust communications infrastructure is just as important to our business operations as traditional generation, transmission and distribution assets. This high-speed communications capability makes our system more efficient, it makes our grid more secure, and it has the capability to make our consumers more comfortable and productive.</p> <p>Roanoke Electric Cooperative is currently undertaking a $4 million project to lay a fiber communications “backbone” in our service territory. Our main motivation for bringing this broadband technology to the area is to take care of our internal, operational needs. As a result, this project will reduce outage frequency as well as response time to outages while better equipping Roanoke to help member-owners manage energy and reduce system losses. We want to ensure that all of our substations can communicate with one another in order that we can better predict and manage outages, protect our substations and metering equipment from vandalism and theft, and communicate with each individual member-owner about their usage.</p> <p>Once this foundation is in place, there are a lot of things we can do with it. One option we are currently studying is whether we can leverage this fiber backbone and partner to provide broadband internet to our consumers’ homes. In a world of video streaming, telecommuting, video conferencing, online education, and telemedicine, connectivity is not a luxury. It’s a necessity. A connected home is also a more efficient, comfortable taking advantage of “smart” technologies like thermostats and hot water heaters which assist the cooperative in managing peak load and save money for our members.</p> <p>Unfortunately, many homeowners and businesses in our region do not have access to reliable internet service. The absence of high-speed internet denies our member-owners and others in the region access to all the amenities that most urban areas enjoy. It also discourages businesses from investing in our communities which results in missed job opportunities.</p> <p>Many comparisons are drawn between the lack of access to robust broadband service today and the need for electrification in rural areas 80 years ago – with the urban areas of the country well-served, and rural areas being left behind. We believe that many different types of solutions will be needed to help rural Americans keep pace with their urban counterparts. As Congress contemplates telecommunication and infrastructure policies, we believe that all potential providers including electric cooperatives should have access to a diverse set of tools to help bridge the digital divide.</p> <h4>Innovation and Energy Efficiency</h4> <p><strong>Upgrade to Save</strong></p> <p>For years, electric co-ops across the country have provided information and advice to consumers to help them use electricity more efficiently and cost-effectively. As I mentioned before, because we don’t have a profit motive, we have a unique opportunity to help our consumers use less energy and save money.</p> <p>At Roanoke, we have a program called <em>Upgrade to $ave</em> where we work with our member-owners to make investments in energy efficiency in their homes that allow them to save money on their bills without making any upfront payments or incurring new debt obligation. In return, participating member-owners share the energy savings with the cooperative at a level that assures immediate financial savings for our participants and full cost recovery for our cooperative. In addition to improved comfort and saving money for our members, the program promotes local jobs by using local businesses and contractors to do these building retrofits.</p> <p>We can do all this because we received a $6M loan from the Rural Utilities Service through the new Energy Efficiency & Conservation Loan Program (EECLP). In the first eighteen months of the program, local contractors completed upgrades to over 200 homes with average estimated energy savings above 20%. Most of the projects involved air sealing, duct sealing, insulation, efficient lighting, and installation of high efficiency HVAC equipment such as heat pumps.</p> <p>In addition to generating energy savings, participants in <em>Upgrade to $ave</em> also generate spillover benefits such as reducing demand during periods of extreme weather. As a result, our cooperative benefits from lower wholesale costs for both peak demand and energy. We use some of the surplus benefits that accrue to all member-owners to pay for the cost of administering the program, which is an option open to all member-owners.</p> <p><strong>Community Solar</strong></p> <p>We’re also proud to be partnering with several of our neighbor co-ops to install a 360 panel community solar project in our service territory. Our project was created in the same spirit that drove the creation of Roanoke Electric Cooperative. More than 75 years ago, electricity was out of reach for residents in our community. A group of people joined together to create our electric cooperative and power our lives. Today, solar energy is out of reach for a lot of people. Among other barriers, it can be expensive to set up and maintain. So we answered our members’ call to do something about it.</p> <p>Today, our members have the opportunity to purchase the energy output of these panels, investing in clean renewable energy and lowering their monthly electric bills. We think community solar has a lot of advantages for our members. For example, it can be a cost-effective alternative to installing new panels on your own home, and it provides options for renters who don’t own their own property. Our site is well suited for a solar installation, so you can be sure you’re getting the most out of the sun’s potential. And we take care of the maintenance.</p> <p>Today the North Carolina Electric Cooperatives and its consumer members support more than 2MW of community solar at 11 electric cooperatives throughout the state. To help make these projects more affordable, we have received four Rural Energy for America Program (REAP) grants from USDA. The total cost of all these projects was approximately $5.1 million and the REAP grants offset approximately 20% of the cost, around $1 million.</p> <p><strong>Microgrids</strong></p> <p>A microgrid is a group of interconnected loads and resources connected to the main electric system, which can connect and disconnect from the grid. North Carolina’s electric cooperatives have the state’s first grid-interconnected microgrid on Ocracoke Island and another microgrid in development, the Butler Farms Microgrid. We partnered with several organizations, EPRI, Telsa, and Ecobee to implement the microgrid.</p> <p>The Ocracoke Island microgrid located off the outer banks is an exercise in community resilience, protecting the island that is often in the path of offshore storms, and can be used for demand response, energy arbitrage, and ancillary services in the PJM power market. The resources in the microgrid include a 3 MW diesel generator, a TESLA 500 kW / 1 MWh battery, 15 kW of solar, and 300 internet-connected consumer devices (thermostats and water heaters). These resources also can reduce reliance on the main power grid during times of high demand when the island reaches its peak population in the summer. It also serves as an opportunity to test the integration of this technology as the state’s electric cooperatives look to use the concept elsewhere.</p> <p>The Butler Farms microgrid is an opportunity to integrate swine-waste bio-fuel generation and solar existing on the farm to support the local community. With the addition of a Samsung 250 kW / 750 kWh battery and distribution controls, the generator can continue to produce energy, even if the main grid has been disconnected. Additionally, another first for the state, up to 100 homes in the area can be supported during times of localized outages through these distribution controls. This utility-facing consumer microgrid will also be used for demand response to save consumers money when electricity is most expensive.</p> <p>The North Carolina Electric Cooperatives are working together on these innovative research projects in order to learn how these technologies can be integrated into our distribution systems, while continuing to provide affordable, reliable energy to our members. These demonstration projects with successful outcomes can later be integrated into the grid through multiple applications modernizing the electric system.</p> <h4>Rural Economic Development Loans and Grants (REDL&G)</h4> <p>No matter how successful you are at delivering electricity, if you don’t have an economy that supports good jobs, rural America will languish. Under the Rural Economic Development Loan and Grant (REDLG) program, USDA provides zero-interest loans to utilities (including electric co-ops), which, in turn, pass the funds through to local businesses and other groups that create jobs in rural areas. This positive cycle of business development can strengthen both the co-op and the local community by helping stabilize populations and the co-op’s customer base. Since REDLG is funded in part by the interest and fees paid by co-op borrowers, it’s a good deal for the federal government as well.</p> <p>North Carolina has utilized REDLG loans and grants better than any other state in the country. Since 2012, North Carolina electric cooperatives have used REDLG programs to partner with 99 projects for a total investment of nearly half a billion dollars which have created over 2600 jobs. REDLG funding has been used for weatherization, school construction, libraries, public safety, medical facilities and equipment, industrial buildings and equipment, and infrastructure.</p> <p>For example, Energy United provided a $2 million loan to Davie County and $1 million loan to the town of Mocksville which was used to provide infrastructure to support the recruitment of Gildan manufacturing. Gildan ultimately invested $116 million in their new facilities at the site and created 292 jobs.</p> <p>Another example of how the REDLG program has benefited rural communities is the $950,000 loan made by Lumbee River EMC to the Puppy Creek Fire Department. The fire department is located in a rural area of Hoke County which has grown recently due to its location near military bases. Because the fire department didn’t have the ability to reach the upper floors of some of the newer, taller buildings, insurance rates were going up for everyone in the neighborhood. We were able to facilitate the purchase of a new ladder truck that could better service the community, bringing down insurance premiums for the entire community.</p> <h4>Regulatory Reform</h4> <p>Lastly, we believe electric cooperatives should have broad latitude to take necessary actions they need to take to meet their consumer demands. The cooperative model of local, democratic control makes us good stewards of our communities. The federal government should have a reasonable regulatory philosophy that recognizes that relationship.</p> <p>We support reforms to the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and to the Endangered Species Act (ESA) to promote the development of rural infrastructure. In addition, streamlining federal government management practices on federal lands will make it easier for electric co-ops to maintain safety and reliability by performing needed vegetation management to prevent threats to power lines and respond to emergencies.</p> <h4>Conclusion</h4> <p>We are a healthy nation because we have vibrant, bustling urban cities AND because we have verdant, productive rural areas. Unfortunately, whether it’s infrastructure or jobs or access to health care, it seems that too often rural America gets the short end of the stick. You have an opportunity to address some of those disparities.</p> <p>Electric cooperatives enjoy a productive partnership with the federal government and with the communities we serve to promote the health of rural America. We look forward to continuing to work with you toward that important goal. Thank you again for the opportunity to testify here today. I’m happy to answer any of your questions.</p> </div> </section> </div> <div class="row"> <div class="col-md-12"> <section class="timeline-article-footer"> <small>Next in the Issue</small> <a class="article-next-post" data-next-article="timeline-modal-2740" title="Broadband ‘Essential’ to Rural America">Broadband ‘Essential’ to Rural America <span class="arrow"><i class="ci-long-arrow-right"></i></span></a> </section> </div> </div> </div> </article>  </section>  <section id="timeline-modal-2740" class="timeline-issues-article hidden"> <div class="jumbotron hero article bg-image" style="background-image: url('https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/broadband-header-1400.jpg');"></div>  <article class="single"> <div class="container">  <div class="row"> <header class="col-md-12"> <div class="article-header"> <small class="article-category"> <a href="https://www.electric.coop/issues-and-policy/broadband">Broadband</a> </small> <h1 class="article-title">Broadband ‘Essential’ to Rural America</h1> <h3 class="article-subtitle"></h3> </div> </header> </div>  <div class="row"> <section class="col-md-3"> <div class="article-meta"> <div class="row"> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-date"> <span>Published</span>June 27, 2017 </div> </div> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-author"> <span>Author</span> Cathy Cash </div> </div> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-share">  <div class="social-share post"> <ul class="social"> <li><a class="facebook-share" href="https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=&title=" target="_blank"></a></li> <li><a class="twitter-share" href="https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?source=&text=&via=NRECANews " target="_blank"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewBox="0 0 512 512"><path d="M389.2 48h70.6L305.6 224.2 487 464H345L233.7 318.6 106.5 464H35.8L200.7 275.5 26.8 48H172.4L272.9 180.9 389.2 48zM364.4 421.8h39.1L151.1 88h-42L364.4 421.8z"/></svg></a></li> <li><a class="linkedin-share" href="http://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=&title=&summary=" target="_blank"></a></li> </ul> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </section> <section class="col-md-9"> <div class="article-content">  <p><figure id="attachment_2741" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-2741" style="width: 1024px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><a href="https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/Allendorf-smallbizsubcommitteeIMG_9821.jpg"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="wp-image-2741 size-large" src="https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/Allendorf-smallbizsubcommitteeIMG_9821-1024x682.jpg" alt="Jo-Carroll General Counsel Chris Allendorf urges a House subcommittee to support rural broadband deployment. (Photo By: House Small Business Committee)" width="1024" height="682" srcset="https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/Allendorf-smallbizsubcommitteeIMG_9821-1024x682.jpg 1024w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/Allendorf-smallbizsubcommitteeIMG_9821-300x200.jpg 300w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/Allendorf-smallbizsubcommitteeIMG_9821-768x512.jpg 768w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/Allendorf-smallbizsubcommitteeIMG_9821.jpg 1600w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-2741" class="wp-caption-text">Jo-Carroll General Counsel Chris Allendorf urges a House subcommittee to support rural broadband deployment. (Photo By: House Small Business Committee)</figcaption></figure></p> <p>Candy Crush. Netflix. Access to high-speed internet certainly offers a wealth of entertainment options. But for rural America, broadband can bring family businesses, education and healthcare on par with the world, an electric cooperative leader told Congress.</p> <p>“For rural residents, high-speed broadband is not just about pastimes like Netflix; more importantly it’s about a chance at a better living,” said Christopher Allendorf, vice president of external relations and general counsel for <a href="https://www.jocarroll.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Jo-Carroll Energy</a> in Elizabeth, Illinois.</p> <p>For that to happen, it is imperative that policymakers consider the scope of capital necessary to bring broadband to rural communities nationwide, he told members of the House Subcommittee on Agriculture, Energy and Trade.</p> <p><a href="https://smallbusiness.house.gov/uploadedfiles/6-22-17_allendorf_testimony.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Allendorf urged lawmakers</a> to provide more grant funding to make broadband deployment viable in rural areas. He encouraged the committee to consider deploying broadband akin to the mission of the Rural Electrification Act of 1936 to power remote parts of the country.</p> <p>“The federal government created a strong, lasting partnership with rural cooperatives to accomplish that goal, resulting in the same high quality of life for all Americans,” he said in his June 22 testimony.</p> <p>“Jo-Carroll has seen that broadband access is essential for the continued success and well-being of rural America. It is our hope that Congress and this administration will build upon this partnership with support for the no-less audacious goal of providing rural America with access to broadband service.”</p> <p>Jo-Carroll first offered wireless broadband service in 2009 to meet the needs of members who lacked access or were limited to dial-up. The co-ops switched to “future-proof” fiber for communications for its SCADA (supervisory control and data acquisition) network and began offering members broadband through a fiber pilot program in 2016. Fiber easily integrated with the co-op’s existing overhead and underground infrastructure.</p> <p>Allendorf grew up in the community served by the co-op in the northwest corner of the state and recalled for lawmakers how he didn’t experience the benefits of broadband until he went away to college.</p> <p>With rural broadband “small businesses and farms are able to engage in commerce beyond their local area, which is a necessity in our global economy. Rural students have access to the same quality of education as their urban peers. It’s also critical for rural hospitals and clinics to provide modern patient care,” Allendorf said.</p> <p>“As you consider proposals to spur broadband deployment we believe that all potential providers, including electric cooperatives, should be eligible to participate in an open and inclusive process to compete for funding opportunities.”</p> <p>The co-op also told the subcommittee that it’s pleased that the Federal Communications Commission Chairman Ajit Pai created a <a href="https://www.electric.coop/nreca-ceo-jim-matheson-fcc-broadband-committee/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Broadband Deployment Advisory Committee</a> and appointed NRECA CEO Jim Matheson to a seat. The committee will make recommendations this year for spurring broadband deployment.</p> <p>“Mr. Matheson will undoubtedly make sure that the voice of our consumer-owners in rural America is heard,” Allendorf said.</p> <p><em>Cathy Cash is a staff writer for NRECA.</em></p> </div> </section> </div> <div class="row"> <div class="col-md-12"> <section class="timeline-article-footer"> <small>Next in the Issue</small> <a class="article-next-post" data-next-article="timeline-modal-2562" title="Delta-Montrose Electric Association Launches Elevate Fiber and Wins National Communication Competition">Delta-Montrose Electric Association Launches Elevate Fiber and Wins National Communication Competition <span class="arrow"><i class="ci-long-arrow-right"></i></span></a> </section> </div> </div> </div> </article>  </section>  <section id="timeline-modal-2562" class="timeline-issues-article hidden"> <div class="jumbotron hero article bg-image" style="background-image: url('');"></div>  <article class="single"> <div class="container">  <div class="row"> <header class="col-md-12"> <div class="article-header"> <small class="article-category"> <a href="https://www.electric.coop/issues-and-policy/broadband">Broadband</a> </small> <h1 class="article-title">Delta-Montrose Electric Association Launches Elevate Fiber and Wins National Communication Competition</h1> <h3 class="article-subtitle"></h3> </div> </header> </div>  <div class="row"> <section class="col-md-3"> <div class="article-meta"> <div class="row"> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-date"> <span>Published</span>May 2, 2017 </div> </div> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-author"> <span>Author</span> Media Relations </div> </div> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-share">  <div class="social-share post"> <ul class="social"> <li><a class="facebook-share" href="https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=&title=" target="_blank"></a></li> <li><a class="twitter-share" href="https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?source=&text=&via=NRECANews " target="_blank"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewBox="0 0 512 512"><path d="M389.2 48h70.6L305.6 224.2 487 464H345L233.7 318.6 106.5 464H35.8L200.7 275.5 26.8 48H172.4L272.9 180.9 389.2 48zM364.4 421.8h39.1L151.1 88h-42L364.4 421.8z"/></svg></a></li> <li><a class="linkedin-share" href="http://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=&title=&summary=" target="_blank"></a></li> </ul> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </section> <section class="col-md-9"> <div class="article-content">  <p><strong>TAMPA, Fla. </strong>– Delta-Montrose Electric Association is the 2017 recipient of the Edgar F. Chesnutt Award for Best Total Communication Program, the highest honor in the Spotlight on Excellence Awards program.</p> <p>Located in southwest Colorado, Delta-Montrose Electric Association serves 2,700 members in Montrose, Delta and Gunnison counties. The Delta-Montrose team won the award for its effective and creative Elevate campaign to inform, educate and promote its new fully fiber optic broadband service to its members.</p> <p>The team combined many elements of a promotional campaign, such as advertisements, events, digital marketing, one-on-one discussion with members, and door-to-door visits. The campaign also partnered with local businesses to further engage community members on a grassroots level.</p> <p>“Just like they did many years ago with electricity, today Delta-Montrose is leading the way to provide its members access to high speed internet to communicate and connect with the world,” said NRECA Chief Operating Officer Jeffrey Connor. “Effectively communicating this new offering to members was critical, and the team succeeded using tactics that stress transparency and member support. It takes an imaginative and creative team to succeed in this type of endeavor, and I applaud their efforts.”</p> <p>Delta-Montrose was recognized during the opening session of CONNECT ‘17, a national communications, marketing and member services conference organized by the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA) and Touchstone Energy® Cooperatives.</p> <p>Edgar F. Chesnutt, for whom the award is named, was manager of corporate communication with Arkansas Electric Cooperatives in Little Rock from 1961 until 1987.</p> <p>The Spotlight on Excellence Awards competition recognizes the top-rated communication and marketing efforts by electric cooperatives and related organizations. Participants in the awards competition competed with electric cooperatives of similar sizes in 17 categories. Electric cooperative communicators and marketing professionals submitted more than 780 entries in the Spotlight on Excellence competition, now in its 29th year.</p> <p>The <a href="https://www.electric.coop/#_blank">National Rural Electric Cooperative Association</a> is the national service organization that represents the nation’s more than 900 not-for-profit, consumer-owned electric cooperatives, which provide service to 42 million people in 47 states.</p> <p style="text-align: center">###</p> </div> </section> </div> <div class="row"> <div class="col-md-12"> <section class="timeline-article-footer"> <small>Next in the Issue</small> <a class="article-next-post" data-next-article="timeline-modal-2524" title="NRECA Applauds Creation of Rural America Task Force">NRECA Applauds Creation of Rural America Task Force <span class="arrow"><i class="ci-long-arrow-right"></i></span></a> </section> </div> </div> </div> </article>  </section>  <section id="timeline-modal-2524" class="timeline-issues-article hidden"> <div class="jumbotron hero article bg-image" style="background-image: url('');"></div>  <article class="single"> <div class="container">  <div class="row"> <header class="col-md-12"> <div class="article-header"> <small class="article-category"> <a href="https://www.electric.coop/issues-and-policy/broadband">Broadband</a> </small> <h1 class="article-title">NRECA Applauds Creation of Rural America Task Force</h1> <h3 class="article-subtitle"></h3> </div> </header> </div>  <div class="row"> <section class="col-md-3"> <div class="article-meta"> <div class="row"> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-date"> <span>Published</span>April 26, 2017 </div> </div> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-author"> <span>Author</span> twarren </div> </div> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-share">  <div class="social-share post"> <ul class="social"> <li><a class="facebook-share" href="https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=&title=" target="_blank"></a></li> <li><a class="twitter-share" href="https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?source=&text=&via=NRECANews " target="_blank"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewBox="0 0 512 512"><path d="M389.2 48h70.6L305.6 224.2 487 464H345L233.7 318.6 106.5 464H35.8L200.7 275.5 26.8 48H172.4L272.9 180.9 389.2 48zM364.4 421.8h39.1L151.1 88h-42L364.4 421.8z"/></svg></a></li> <li><a class="linkedin-share" href="http://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=&title=&summary=" target="_blank"></a></li> </ul> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </section> <section class="col-md-9"> <div class="article-content">  <p><strong>ARLINGTON, Va. – </strong>The National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA) applauds President Trump’s creation of the Rural America Task Force.</p> <p>“We appreciate President Trump recognizing the need to prioritize rural American families and businesses,” said NRECA CEO Jim Matheson. “This task force is a key step as we seek to develop rural communities economically. That includes implementing new energy technologies to meet tomorrow’s energy needs while also deploying broadband and other services to enhance daily lives throughout rural America. America’s electric cooperatives are deeply invested in the communities they serve. They look forward to working with this new task force while continuing to empower millions of rural American families and businesses.”</p> <p>The administration’s announcement follows a series of outreach efforts by electric cooperatives and coalitions dedicated to enriching rural America. In a <a href="https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/WH-Rural-Office-Letter-2_08_17.pdf">February letter</a>, NRECA led more than 40 organizations in a coordinated call for the White House to prioritize the interests of rural communities.</p> <p>The <a href="http://www.nreca.coop/#_blank">National Rural Electric Cooperative Association</a> is the national service organization that represents the nation’s nearly 900 private, not-for-profit, consumer-owned electric cooperatives, which provide service to 42 million people in 47 states.</p> <p style="text-align: center">###</p> </div> </section> </div> <div class="row"> <div class="col-md-12"> <section class="timeline-article-footer"> <small>Next in the Issue</small> <a class="article-next-post" data-next-article="timeline-modal-2367" title="Matheson Named to Broadband Panel">Matheson Named to Broadband Panel <span class="arrow"><i class="ci-long-arrow-right"></i></span></a> </section> </div> </div> </div> </article>  </section>  <section id="timeline-modal-2367" class="timeline-issues-article hidden"> <div class="jumbotron hero article bg-image" style="background-image: url('');"></div>  <article class="single"> <div class="container">  <div class="row"> <header class="col-md-12"> <div class="article-header"> <small class="article-category"> <a href="https://www.electric.coop/issues-and-policy/broadband">Broadband</a> </small> <h1 class="article-title">Matheson Named to Broadband Panel</h1> <h3 class="article-subtitle">NRECA CEO appointed to FCC Broadband Deployment Advisory Committee</h3> </div> </header> </div>  <div class="row"> <section class="col-md-3"> <div class="article-meta"> <div class="row"> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-date"> <span>Published</span>April 6, 2017 </div> </div> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-author"> <span>Author</span> Media Relations </div> </div> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-share">  <div class="social-share post"> <ul class="social"> <li><a class="facebook-share" href="https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=&title=" target="_blank"></a></li> <li><a class="twitter-share" href="https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?source=&text=&via=NRECANews " target="_blank"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewBox="0 0 512 512"><path d="M389.2 48h70.6L305.6 224.2 487 464H345L233.7 318.6 106.5 464H35.8L200.7 275.5 26.8 48H172.4L272.9 180.9 389.2 48zM364.4 421.8h39.1L151.1 88h-42L364.4 421.8z"/></svg></a></li> <li><a class="linkedin-share" href="http://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=&title=&summary=" target="_blank"></a></li> </ul> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </section> <section class="col-md-9"> <div class="article-content">  <p><strong>ARLINGTON, Va.</strong> — Federal Communications Commission Chairman Ajit Pai today appointed National Rural Electric Cooperative Association CEO Jim Matheson and 28 others to serve on a newly created Broadband Deployment Advisory Committee.</p> <p><div class="article article-snippet right"><a href="https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/Jim.Matheson-aec-qa-300w.jpg"><img decoding="async" class="article-snippet-image" src="https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/Jim.Matheson-aec-qa-300w.jpg" /></a><div class="article-snippet-excerpt"><i>Jim Matheson</i></div></div></p> <p>“Access to high-speed internet is a key ingredient for a healthy 21st century economy, particularly in rural America,” Matheson said. “I’m honored and excited to sit on this committee, and I look forward to representing the interests of rural America as we work to close the digital divide.”</p> <p>The committee will meet for the first time on April 21, 2017. Its mission is to advise and make recommendations to the FCC on how to accelerate the deployment of broadband by reducing and removing regulatory barriers to infrastructure investment. A full list of BDAC members can be found <a href="https://apps.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DA-17-328A1.pdf">here</a>.</p> <p>The <a href="https://www.electric.coop/">National Rural Electric Cooperative Association</a> is the national service organization that represents the nation’s more than 900 not-for-profit, consumer-owned electric cooperatives, which provide service to 42 million people in 47 states.</p> <p> </p> </div> </section> </div> <div class="row"> <div class="col-md-12"> <section class="timeline-article-footer"> <small>Next in the Issue</small> <a class="article-next-post" data-next-article="timeline-modal-2255" title="Making the Rural Broadband Case">Making the Rural Broadband Case <span class="arrow"><i class="ci-long-arrow-right"></i></span></a> </section> </div> </div> </div> </article>  </section>  <section id="timeline-modal-2255" class="timeline-issues-article hidden"> <div class="jumbotron hero article bg-image" style="background-image: url('https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/iStock-507065925.jpg');"></div>  <article class="single"> <div class="container">  <div class="row"> <header class="col-md-12"> <div class="article-header"> <small class="article-category"> <a href="https://www.electric.coop/issues-and-policy/broadband">Broadband</a> </small> <h1 class="article-title">Making the Rural Broadband Case</h1> <h3 class="article-subtitle">Georgia co-op official sees closing digital divide as part of Farm Bill</h3> </div> </header> </div>  <div class="row"> <section class="col-md-3"> <div class="article-meta"> <div class="row"> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-date"> <span>Published</span>March 14, 2017 </div> </div> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-author"> <span>Author</span> Cathy Cash </div> </div> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-share">  <div class="social-share post"> <ul class="social"> <li><a class="facebook-share" href="https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=&title=" target="_blank"></a></li> <li><a class="twitter-share" href="https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?source=&text=&via=NRECANews " target="_blank"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewBox="0 0 512 512"><path d="M389.2 48h70.6L305.6 224.2 487 464H345L233.7 318.6 106.5 464H35.8L200.7 275.5 26.8 48H172.4L272.9 180.9 389.2 48zM364.4 421.8h39.1L151.1 88h-42L364.4 421.8z"/></svg></a></li> <li><a class="linkedin-share" href="http://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=&title=&summary=" target="_blank"></a></li> </ul> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </section> <section class="col-md-9"> <div class="article-content">  <p><figure id="attachment_2256" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-2256" style="width: 1024px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><a href="https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/chastain.jpg"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="wp-image-2256 size-large" src="https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/chastain-1024x683.jpg" alt="Georgia EMC President & CEO Dennis Chastain told House members working on the next Farm Bill that rural broadband is “increasingly important.” (Photo By: Denny Gainer)" width="1024" height="683" srcset="https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/chastain-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/chastain-300x200.jpg 300w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/chastain-768x512.jpg 768w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/chastain.jpg 1440w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-2256" class="wp-caption-text">Georgia EMC President & CEO Dennis Chastain told House members working on the next Farm Bill that rural broadband is “increasingly important.” (Photo By: Denny Gainer)</figcaption></figure></p> <p>Rural broadband came to the fore on Capitol Hill, where electric co-ops were recognized for their leading role in rural development initiatives as lawmakers began work on a new Farm Bill.</p> <p>“The Farm Bill contains important rural development tools that support our efforts to strengthen our communities,” Dennis Chastain, president and CEO of the <a href="https://georgiaemc.com/">Georgia Electric Membership Corp.</a> told a House panel March 9.</p> <p>“As Congress contemplates telecommunication and infrastructure policies in the Farm Bill and in other legislative packages, we believe that all potential providers, including electric cooperatives, should be eligible for programs designed to bridge the digital divide.”</p> <p><a href="https://agriculture.house.gov/uploadedfiles/chastain_testimony.pdf">Chastain testified on behalf of NRECA</a> as well as the Georgia electric co-ops before the House Agriculture Subcommittee on Commodity Exchanges, Energy, and Credit.</p> <p>“Broadband is absolutely quickly becoming a critical piece of infrastructure for rural communities,” Chastain said. “Rural communities have a lot of challenges already and not having access to broadband is one more brick on their wagon.”</p> <p>The Department of Agriculture offers financial assistance to unserved or underserved communities through its Rural Utilities Service broadband loan program. The last Farm Bill included a Rural Gigabit Network Pilot Program to offer the highest internet speed available.</p> <p>Electric co-ops have been installing fiber-based broadband to connect generation, transmission and distribution assets to run “smarter” and bolster efficiency and reliability. Many also are finding ways to offer broadband internet connections to members.</p> <p><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EKkxSMky8Us">Chairman Austin Scott, R-Ga., questioned the idea</a> of blocking RUS loan recipients from competing with incumbent broadband providers that also receive federal monies yet fail to install adequate high-speed service.</p> <p>“There are cases out there where, unfortunately, incumbent providers who have RUS loans are not providing adequate service,” said Chastain, noting that the Georgia legislature tasked a study committee to examine the issue.</p> <p>He recommended that incumbent providers with RUS loans be allowed “to prove they can provide that service. If not, there should be opportunities for others to come in and be able to provide that service.”</p> <p>Chastain underscored how <a href="http://remagazine.coop/broadband-the-new-greatest-thing/">broadband is becoming “increasingly important” for co-op members</a> and the rural economy. He recalled the challenge of trying to recruit global industries to rural Georgia which lacked adequate broadband and how even “mom and pop” businesses have a hard time competing.</p> <p>Rural broadband “is something that we are going to have to look at, as a nation, as a priority for infrastructure improvement,” he said.</p> <p><em>Cathy Cash is a staff writer for NRECA.</em></p> </div> </section> </div> <div class="row"> <div class="col-md-12"> <section class="timeline-article-footer"> <small>Next in the Issue</small> <a class="article-next-post" data-next-article="timeline-modal-2156" title="NRECA Statement on President Trump’s Joint Address to Congress">NRECA Statement on President Trump’s Joint Address to Congress <span class="arrow"><i class="ci-long-arrow-right"></i></span></a> </section> </div> </div> </div> </article>  </section>  <section id="timeline-modal-2156" class="timeline-issues-article hidden"> <div class="jumbotron hero article bg-image" style="background-image: url('');"></div>  <article class="single"> <div class="container">  <div class="row"> <header class="col-md-12"> <div class="article-header"> <small class="article-category"> <a href="https://www.electric.coop/issues-and-policy/broadband">Broadband</a> </small> <h1 class="article-title">NRECA Statement on President Trump’s Joint Address to Congress</h1> <h3 class="article-subtitle"></h3> </div> </header> </div>  <div class="row"> <section class="col-md-3"> <div class="article-meta"> <div class="row"> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-date"> <span>Published</span>February 28, 2017 </div> </div> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-author"> <span>Author</span> Media Re </div> </div> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-share">  <div class="social-share post"> <ul class="social"> <li><a class="facebook-share" href="https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=&title=" target="_blank"></a></li> <li><a class="twitter-share" href="https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?source=&text=&via=NRECANews " target="_blank"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewBox="0 0 512 512"><path d="M389.2 48h70.6L305.6 224.2 487 464H345L233.7 318.6 106.5 464H35.8L200.7 275.5 26.8 48H172.4L272.9 180.9 389.2 48zM364.4 421.8h39.1L151.1 88h-42L364.4 421.8z"/></svg></a></li> <li><a class="linkedin-share" href="http://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=&title=&summary=" target="_blank"></a></li> </ul> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </section> <section class="col-md-9"> <div class="article-content">  <p><strong>ARLINGTON, Va.</strong> – National Rural Electric Cooperative Association CEO Jim Matheson today issued the following statement in response to President Trump’s joint address to Congress:</p> <p>“A vibrant rural economy is critical to America’s success in the 21st century. Co-ops are proud to serve as the engines of economic development in their communities – providing the affordable and reliable power that drives innovation, expands opportunity, and empowers millions of families and businesses.</p> <p>“Our members support the president’s focus on job creation and enhancing the American economy. Co-ops are answering that call – whether it’s bringing broadband to rural towns left behind by the digital age, partnering with local universities to train the next generation of lineworkers, or hiring highly skilled workers to operate 3-D printers and manufacture drones. We look forward to working with the new administration to advance our common goals and improve the lives of every rural American.</p> <p>“Affordable and reliable power is fundamental to a successful economy. I applaud the president’s commitment to revisit regulations poised to increase costs for electric cooperatives and their consumer-owners. America’s electric cooperatives look forward to working with the administration on proposals that protect our environment and promote a healthy economy. We know that we can do both with the right policy approach.</p> <p>“President Trump’s focus on the need to improve infrastructure is welcomed. We encourage the president and Congress to think beyond roads, bridges, and urban development projects when considering an infrastructure package. Any infrastructure package should address both rural and urban needs – and should prioritize expanded broadband access for rural America.”</p> <p>The <a href="https://www.electric.coop/">National Rural Electric Cooperative Association</a> is the national service organization that represents the nation’s more than 900 not-for-profit, consumer-owned electric cooperatives, which provide service to 42 million people in 47 states.</p> <p align="center">-###-</p> </div> </section> </div> <div class="row"> <div class="col-md-12"> <section class="timeline-article-footer"> <small>Next in the Issue</small> <a class="article-next-post" data-next-article="timeline-modal-2038" title="Scaling the Digital Divide">Scaling the Digital Divide <span class="arrow"><i class="ci-long-arrow-right"></i></span></a> </section> </div> </div> </div> </article>  </section>  <section id="timeline-modal-2038" class="timeline-issues-article hidden"> <div class="jumbotron hero article bg-image" style="background-image: url('https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/broadband-header-1400.jpg');"></div>  <article class="single"> <div class="container">  <div class="row"> <header class="col-md-12"> <div class="article-header"> <small class="article-category"> <a href="https://www.electric.coop/issues-and-policy/broadband">Broadband</a> </small> <h1 class="article-title">Scaling the Digital Divide</h1> <h3 class="article-subtitle">Co-ops hope to topple the broadband barrier</h3> </div> </header> </div>  <div class="row"> <section class="col-md-3"> <div class="article-meta"> <div class="row"> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-date"> <span>Published</span>February 7, 2017 </div> </div> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-author"> <span>Author</span> Cathy Cash </div> </div> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-share">  <div class="social-share post"> <ul class="social"> <li><a class="facebook-share" href="https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=&title=" target="_blank"></a></li> <li><a class="twitter-share" href="https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?source=&text=&via=NRECANews " target="_blank"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewBox="0 0 512 512"><path d="M389.2 48h70.6L305.6 224.2 487 464H345L233.7 318.6 106.5 464H35.8L200.7 275.5 26.8 48H172.4L272.9 180.9 389.2 48zM364.4 421.8h39.1L151.1 88h-42L364.4 421.8z"/></svg></a></li> <li><a class="linkedin-share" href="http://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=&title=&summary=" target="_blank"></a></li> </ul> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </section> <section class="col-md-9"> <div class="article-content">  <p><figure id="attachment_2040" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-2040" style="width: 1024px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><a href="https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/tennessee-gov-haslam.jpg"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="size-large wp-image-2040" src="https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/tennessee-gov-haslam-1024x682.jpg" alt="At the TECA legislative conference, Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam discusses his bill to lift broadband restrictions on electric co-ops. (Photo By: TECA)" width="1024" height="682" srcset="https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/tennessee-gov-haslam-1024x682.jpg 1024w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/tennessee-gov-haslam-300x200.jpg 300w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/tennessee-gov-haslam-768x512.jpg 768w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/tennessee-gov-haslam.jpg 2000w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-2040" class="wp-caption-text">At the TECA legislative conference, Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam discusses his bill to lift broadband restrictions on electric co-ops. (Photo By: TECA)</figcaption></figure></p> <p>Dan Rodamaker has a nagging concern: How long will his co-op members reside on the wrong side of the digital divide?</p> <p>Each year <a href="http://gibsonemc.com/">Gibson EMC</a> hosts district meetings and, over platters of barbeque sandwiches, farmers and residential members urge the co-op to bring broadband to their area.</p> <p>One member told how his son had to travel an hour from his home outside Clinton, Kentucky, to Paducah, Kentucky, for access to high-speed internet just to apply to colleges. Another member studying for a master’s degree described driving 15 miles from Gadsden, Tennessee to Jackson, Tennessee, for enough broadband to download her college coursework.</p> <p>“We feel our students are falling behind their urban peers,” said Rodamaker, president and CEO of the Trenton, Tennessee, co-op that serves nearly 39,000 meters in Tennessee and Kentucky.</p> <p>Gibson EMC members are not alone. One-third of Tennesseans are unserved or underserved when it comes to access to the high-speed information highway, according to the state. Most live in rural areas that are powered by electric co-ops. Yet state law prohibits co-ops from providing members with retail broadband.</p> <p>That could change as early as this year with the help of co-ops and lawmakers working together.</p> <p>Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam has offered a bill to lift the broadband restrictions on co-ops. At <a href="http://www.tnelectric.org/">Tennessee Electric Cooperative Association’s</a> legislative rally Jan. 31 in Nashville, Haslam discussed his plan to develop rural broadband with help from co-ops.</p> <p>“Our proposal uses you—folks who are already in the community, who have those relationships,” <a href="https://youtu.be/24pwywXX38Q" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Haslam told co-op leaders</a>, adding, “I’m really glad you are here today. If you have an interest, it matters that you show up and represent that interest.”</p> <p>The governor’s measure recognizes electric co-ops “as uniquely situated to assist in bridging the broadband accessibility gap” and provides $45 million in grants and tax credits over three years to help them get the job done.</p> <p>“Allowing Tennessee’s private, non-profit electric co-ops to provide retail broadband service and investing $15 million in grants and tax credits annually will help spur deployment in rural unserved areas—opening them up to economic investment and job growth,” Haslam said in his State of the State address.</p> <p>“If we’re serious about putting our rural counties on a level playing field, then opening up broadband access is one of the largest steps forward we can take.”</p> <p>David Callis, executive vice president and general manager of TECA, lauded the governor’s <a href="https://www.tn.gov/assets/entities/governor/attachments/012617_Broadband_Accessibility_One_Pager.pdf">Tennessee Broadband Accessibility Act</a> for acknowledging the role co-ops can play in expanding access to broadband.</p> <p>“We are honored that the governor recognizes the deep roots co-ops have in rural and suburban Tennessee, and we look forward to working with the members of the 110th General Assembly to expand connectivity and opportunity,” Callis said.</p> <p>TECA represents 23 electric co-ops that serve 2.5 million Tennesseans. The association is urging all its members to join its <a href="http://takeaction.tnelectric.org/register.aspx">grassroots effort</a> to encourage the General Assembly to pass the governor’s bill for rural broadband.</p> <p>“We are excited about being able to improve the quality of life for our members—to help them meet the need not served by anyone,” said Rodamaker, adding that he is “quite hopeful” rural broadband legislation will win approval this spring.</p> <p>“One out of three Tennesseans need a different solution than they have today,” he said. “Until that law clears, we are legally not able to provide a solution to their needs.”</p> <p><em>Cathy Cash is a staff writer at NRECA.</em></p> </div> </section> </div> <div class="row"> <div class="col-md-12"> <section class="timeline-article-footer"> <small>Next in the Issue</small> <a class="article-next-post" data-next-article="timeline-modal-2015" title="NRECA Supports Rural Broadband Call">NRECA Supports Rural Broadband Call <span class="arrow"><i class="ci-long-arrow-right"></i></span></a> </section> </div> </div> </div> </article>  </section>  <section id="timeline-modal-2015" class="timeline-issues-article hidden"> <div class="jumbotron hero article bg-image" style="background-image: url('');"></div>  <article class="single"> <div class="container">  <div class="row"> <header class="col-md-12"> <div class="article-header"> <small class="article-category"> <a href="https://www.electric.coop/issues-and-policy/broadband">Broadband</a> </small> <h1 class="article-title">NRECA Supports Rural Broadband Call</h1> <h3 class="article-subtitle"></h3> </div> </header> </div>  <div class="row"> <section class="col-md-3"> <div class="article-meta"> <div class="row"> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-date"> <span>Published</span>February 2, 2017 </div> </div> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-author"> <span>Author</span> twarren </div> </div> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-share">  <div class="social-share post"> <ul class="social"> <li><a class="facebook-share" href="https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=&title=" target="_blank"></a></li> <li><a class="twitter-share" href="https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?source=&text=&via=NRECANews " target="_blank"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewBox="0 0 512 512"><path d="M389.2 48h70.6L305.6 224.2 487 464H345L233.7 318.6 106.5 464H35.8L200.7 275.5 26.8 48H172.4L272.9 180.9 389.2 48zM364.4 421.8h39.1L151.1 88h-42L364.4 421.8z"/></svg></a></li> <li><a class="linkedin-share" href="http://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=&title=&summary=" target="_blank"></a></li> </ul> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </section> <section class="col-md-9"> <div class="article-content">  <p><strong>ARLINGTON, Va.—</strong>America’s Electric Cooperatives today applauded the 71 members of Congress who sent a <a href="https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/Rural_Broadband_Caucust_letter_to_Trump.pdf">letter</a> to President Trump, calling on him to include investments to bring broadband to rural America in his infrastructure proposal.</p> <p align="left">The letter was coordinated by the House Rural Broadband Caucus which is led by co-chairs: Reps. Kevin Cramer, R-N.D., Bob Latta, R-Ohio; Adam Kinzinger, R-Ill.; Mark Pocan, D-Wis.; Peter Welch, D-Vt.; and Dave Loebsack, D-Iowa.</p> <p align="left">“Without access to high-speed internet, rural communities are being left behind in the 21<sup>st</sup> century economy,” said NRECA CEO Jim Matheson. “The Rural Broadband Caucus understands this issue well, and we appreciate their leadership. Expanding broadband access in rural America should be a top economic development priority. We look forward to working with the Trump administration and Congress to address this problem.”</p> <p align="left">The <a href="http://www.nreca.coop/">National Rural Electric Cooperative Association</a> is the national service organization that represents the nation’s more than 900 private, not-for-profit, consumer-owned electric cooperatives, which provide service to 42 million people in 47 states.</p> </div> </section> </div> <div class="row"> <div class="col-md-12"> <section class="timeline-article-footer"> <small>Next in the Issue</small> <a class="article-next-post" data-next-article="timeline-modal-1374" title="RUS Administrator on Electric Co-ops">RUS Administrator on Electric Co-ops <span class="arrow"><i class="ci-long-arrow-right"></i></span></a> </section> </div> </div> </div> </article>  </section>  <section id="timeline-modal-1374" class="timeline-issues-article hidden"> <div class="jumbotron hero article bg-image" style="background-image: url('');"></div>  <article class="single"> <div class="container">  <div class="row"> <header class="col-md-12"> <div class="article-header"> <small class="article-category"> <a href="https://www.electric.coop/issues-and-policy/broadband">Broadband</a> </small> <h1 class="article-title">RUS Administrator on Electric Co-ops</h1> <h3 class="article-subtitle">Brandon McBride talks about the past, present and future relationship with his agency.</h3> </div> </header> </div>  <div class="row"> <section class="col-md-3"> <div class="article-meta"> <div class="row"> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-date"> <span>Published</span>September 26, 2016 </div> </div> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-author"> <span>Author</span> Steven Johnson </div> </div> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-share">  <div class="social-share post"> <ul class="social"> <li><a class="facebook-share" href="https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=&title=" target="_blank"></a></li> <li><a class="twitter-share" href="https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?source=&text=&via=NRECANews " target="_blank"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewBox="0 0 512 512"><path d="M389.2 48h70.6L305.6 224.2 487 464H345L233.7 318.6 106.5 464H35.8L200.7 275.5 26.8 48H172.4L272.9 180.9 389.2 48zM364.4 421.8h39.1L151.1 88h-42L364.4 421.8z"/></svg></a></li> <li><a class="linkedin-share" href="http://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=&title=&summary=" target="_blank"></a></li> </ul> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </section> <section class="col-md-9"> <div class="article-content">  <p><figure id="attachment_1394" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-1394" style="width: 640px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><a href="https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/Regionals-RUS-Brandon-McBride.jpg"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="wp-image-1394 size-full" src="https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/Regionals-RUS-Brandon-McBride.jpg" alt="Brandon McBride speaks to an NRECA Regions 1 & 4 meeting. (Photo By: Steven Johnson)" width="640" height="420" srcset="https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/Regionals-RUS-Brandon-McBride.jpg 640w, https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/Regionals-RUS-Brandon-McBride-300x197.jpg 300w" sizes="(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px" /></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-1394" class="wp-caption-text">Brandon McBride speaks to an NRECA Regions 1 & 4 meeting. (Photo By: Steven Johnson)</figcaption></figure></p> <p><em>Brandon McBride has been administrator of the Rural Utilities Service since 2015. McBride was a senior professional staffer in Congress on rural issues before President Obama appointed him to head RUS. In this Q&A, he answers questions about the role that RUS and rural electric cooperatives can play in meeting the needs of rural America.</em></p> <p><em><strong>Q.</strong> What is the biggest challenge you have faced since becoming administrator of RUS?</em></p> <p><strong>A.</strong> One of the biggest challenges is to keep reminding the public, policy makers and even rural electric cooperatives what a big job they have and how hard it is to serve rural, remote and sparsely populated areas. The success of our program and its partnership with rural electric cooperatives has made too easy to underestimate both the difficulty and importance of providing affordable power to the 80 percent of America’s geography that is rural.</p> <p><em><strong>Q.</strong> What do you see as the major recent accomplishments of RUS in connection with electric co-ops?</em></p> <p><strong>A.</strong> I am very proud that RUS continues to be a reliable, affordable and flexible source of capital for rural electric infrastructure investment. We succeeded in implementing the new Rural Energy Savings Plan, which will make $52 million in zero-interest loans available to energy providers to help rural families and small businesses reduce energy use. This new program, called RESP, is already oversubscribed. RESP builds on our work to increase funding for energy efficiency under the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Loan Program.</p> <p>I am also very pleased that Rural Development published an environmental regulation which considered and carefully balanced the comments of hundreds of Americans concerned with both a cleaner, greener future and affordable power for rural America. The reviews have been good and I believe we got the balance right, thanks to input from NRECA, rural electric cooperatives and commenters on all sides of this issue. Publishing a final rule in this area removed uncertainty and opens the door to investments for the future.</p> <p>It’s also very exciting to see the rural electric cooperative movement continue to grow and provide 21st century leadership for affordable power. For example, I am pleased that RUS helped electric distribution cooperatives serving southern Minnesota acquire a portion of an investor-owned utility’s territory and assets which will improve service, efficiency and reliability for customers and improve the economics of the service territory. The July 2015 acquisition was a win/win for everyone.</p> <p><em><strong>Q.</strong> What do you say to critics who argue RUS has accomplished its mission of electrifying rural America and is no longer needed?</em></p> <p><strong>A.</strong> Distance and density remain the largest barriers to modern utility service for rural Americans. Affordable power, as well as affordable telecommunications, water and sewer services are all critical to the rural quality of life and rural economic development. As long as rural communities need to improve and upgrade electric systems, gain access to affordable, robust broadband service, and invest in clean, safe water, RUS programs will continue to be relevant.</p> <p>Networks need continuous care, modernization and maintenance to survive and thrive. We are also seeing dramatic technology, market and regulatory changes affect the entire electric market. RUS financing is critical for rural utilities to manage their costs in a changing environment. In capital intensive industries, like electric service, low cost capital translates into lower power rates for residential and business consumers.</p> <p>As long as the cooperative business model continues to succeed at providing affordable, reliable electric power to rural communities, RUS and its sister Rural Development programs can help with funding for a variety of community facilities, housing and business needs.</p> <p><em><strong>Q.</strong> What are the strengths of RUS as a financing source versus private lenders and how do you ensure co-ops have flexibility to meet their local needs?</em></p> <p><strong>A.</strong> One of the greatest strengths of the RUS program is that it facilitates the participation of private lenders. I believe that the rural electric system is well served by a diversified portfolio of borrowing. The power of the RUS/REA system is that it is based on years of practical utilities experience and builds borrower equity and creditworthiness as borrowers finance and build their electric systems. As the electric industry evolves with new technologies and renewable energy, investment will be critical not just for rural economies, but nationwide. There is an advantage in portfolio diversity, with a mix of private funds and RUS’ extremely low interest rates.</p> <p>Working with borrowers, co-lenders and applicants, RUS is dedicated to finding financing solutions for rural electric cooperatives which meet the modern needs of rural America.</p> <p><em><strong>Q.</strong> Co-ops and RUS have key partnerships on programs like REDLG and the Rural Energy Savings program. Where do you see these programs going?</em></p> <p><strong>A.</strong> Across America, rural electric cooperatives are leading rural economic development; improving the quality of life and investing in the future. The REDLG program, where co-ops borrow funds to relend for rural economic development, and the Rural Energy Savings Program and the Energy Efficiency Conservation Loan Program where co-ops borrow funds for energy efficiency, help rural electric co-ops meet the needs of their communities. For example, Quinter, Kansas with a population of 1,000, was able to build a new fire station to better meet the needs of the 400-square mile service area, with funding from a REDLG loan from Midwest Energy.</p> <p>These programs can help rural electric cooperatives better meet the needs of their customers and their communities. Whether a co-op wants to help customers reduce power use and costs, or improve access to health care by funding a medical clinic, REDLG and RESP offer solutions that can improve the quality of life in rural communities. These are just two examples of our partnership that works in so many ways to make rural America the great place that it is.</p> <p><em><strong>Q.</strong> How can RUS and co-ops work together to expand access to high-speed Internet in unserved rural areas?</em></p> <p><div class="article article-snippet right"><a href="https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/McBride-in-South-Carolina.jpg"><img decoding="async" class="article-snippet-image" src="https://www.electric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/McBride-in-South-Carolina.jpg" /></a><div class="article-snippet-excerpt"><i>Brandon McBride speaks about broadband service at a session in South Carolina. (Photo By: USDA Rural Development)</i></div></div></p> <p><strong>A.</strong> Today, 40 percent of those who live and work in rural areas lack the same access to affordable high-speed internet service common in non-rural areas. The Obama Administration is very much focused on ways to improve access to broadband service.</p> <p>RUS and the Commerce Department’s National Telecommunications Information Administration are leaders in the Broadband Opportunity Council’s effort to expand broadband access. We clearly need more partnerships in rural areas to leverage all available resources to support broadband deployment. Rural electric cooperatives are in a unique position to help achieve that goal. With changes in the electric utility industry and in rural America, broadband is a critical element in the ability of rural electric cooperatives to respond to new customer needs. And RUS, with experience in both electric and telecommunications systems, is ready to assist them by offering low cost financing to deploy infrastructure for high-speed internet access, including smart grid technologies, through our telecommunications, broadband and electric programs.</p> <p>I also want to recognize Jo Ann Emerson for bringing her passion for rural broadband to NRECA. That is a lasting legacy. As a result of her work, rural electric and telecomm providers have launched a productive dialogue on ways to connect rural America to the world of high speed internet access. This is critical to rural America’s efforts to reach its full potential.</p> </div> </section> </div> <div class="row"> <div class="col-md-12"> <section class="timeline-article-footer"> <small>Next in the Issue</small> <a class="article-next-post" data-next-article="timeline-modal-1725" title="Co-op Bringing Fastest Internet to Rural Oklahoma">Co-op Bringing Fastest Internet to Rural Oklahoma <span class="arrow"><i class="ci-long-arrow-right"></i></span></a> </section> </div> </div> </div> </article>  </section>  <section id="timeline-modal-1725" class="timeline-issues-article hidden"> <div class="jumbotron hero article bg-image" style="background-image: url('');"></div>  <article class="single"> <div class="container">  <div class="row"> <header class="col-md-12"> <div class="article-header"> <small class="article-category"> <a href="https://www.electric.coop/issues-and-policy/broadband">Broadband</a> </small> <h1 class="article-title">Co-op Bringing Fastest Internet to Rural Oklahoma</h1> <h3 class="article-subtitle"></h3> </div> </header> </div>  <div class="row"> <section class="col-md-3"> <div class="article-meta"> <div class="row"> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-date"> <span>Published</span>September 25, 2016 </div> </div> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-author"> <span>Author</span> Cathy Cash </div> </div> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-share">  <div class="social-share post"> <ul class="social"> <li><a class="facebook-share" href="https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=&title=" target="_blank"></a></li> <li><a class="twitter-share" href="https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?source=&text=&via=NRECANews " target="_blank"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewBox="0 0 512 512"><path d="M389.2 48h70.6L305.6 224.2 487 464H345L233.7 318.6 106.5 464H35.8L200.7 275.5 26.8 48H172.4L272.9 180.9 389.2 48zM364.4 421.8h39.1L151.1 88h-42L364.4 421.8z"/></svg></a></li> <li><a class="linkedin-share" href="http://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=&title=&summary=" target="_blank"></a></li> </ul> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </section> <section class="col-md-9"> <div class="article-content">  <p><em>Editor’s note: This story originally appeared in Electric Co-op Today, the predecessor to Electric.coop, on July 15, 2016.</em></p> <p>Close to 90 percent of Mayes County, Okla., residents are without access to high-speed internet. In neighboring Delaware County, 75 percent lack broadband service.</p> <p>Their electric cooperative is about to take them from zero to speeds of up to 1 gigabit—the highest available to homes, businesses, colleges and hospitals—with nearly $4 million from the Federal Communications Commission.</p> <p>BOLT Fiber Optic Services in June landed the winning bid for $3.4 million in FCC’s Rural Broadband Experiments program to build out to Craig and Ottawa counties. It is on the verge of approval for $834,704 to provide broadband to Mayes and Delaware counties.</p> <p>“We hold an annual meeting like every co-op and the No. 1 request is if we can bring reliable broadband to our homes. It is a big deal for our community,” said Shelia Allgood, head of the division of Northeast Rural Services in Vinita, Okla., that provides broadband. “We are very thankful for the money and support.”</p> <p>In total, the NRS subsidiary will expand broadband service to 3,169 rural homes and businesses in the four northeastern Oklahoma counties.</p> <p>“We bid pretty low and we were going to build it out anyway to these really underserved areas,” said Allgood. “That should show the FCC that rural areas are wanting broadband and that electric co-ops are stepping up to plate just as we did 75 years ago when big utilities wouldn’t come in to serve us with electricity.”</p> <p>Within five years BOLT Fiber will provide 1 gigabit service to 693 homes and businesses in Mayes County; 361 homes and businesses in Delaware County; 325 in Craig County and 1,790 in Ottawa County.</p> <p>BOLT has already built 1,500 miles of a 3,200-mile fiber network with $89 million from the Rural Utilities Service Electric Loan Program received last year. About 3,000 of its nearly 6,000 subscribers have been connected. That project will be completed in 2017.</p> <p>Members have relayed praise of the service, especially when a tornado came through the co-op’s territory.</p> <p>“Members were still able to watch the storm updates down in their storm shelters,” said Allgood. “They were very excited that they never lost the signal and they felt safe being able to watch what was going on around them.”</p> <p><em>Cathy Cash is a staff writer at NRECA.</em></p> </div> </section> </div> <div class="row"> <div class="col-md-12"> <section class="timeline-article-footer"> <small>Next in the Issue</small> <a class="article-next-post" data-next-article="timeline-modal-1724" title="Co-op Enters Fiber Broadband Business">Co-op Enters Fiber Broadband Business <span class="arrow"><i class="ci-long-arrow-right"></i></span></a> </section> </div> </div> </div> </article>  </section>  <section id="timeline-modal-1724" class="timeline-issues-article hidden"> <div class="jumbotron hero article bg-image" style="background-image: url('');"></div>  <article class="single"> <div class="container">  <div class="row"> <header class="col-md-12"> <div class="article-header"> <small class="article-category"> <a href="https://www.electric.coop/issues-and-policy/broadband">Broadband</a> </small> <h1 class="article-title">Co-op Enters Fiber Broadband Business</h1> <h3 class="article-subtitle"></h3> </div> </header> </div>  <div class="row"> <section class="col-md-3"> <div class="article-meta"> <div class="row"> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-date"> <span>Published</span>September 25, 2016 </div> </div> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-author"> <span>Author</span> Cathy Cash </div> </div> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-share">  <div class="social-share post"> <ul class="social"> <li><a class="facebook-share" href="https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=&title=" target="_blank"></a></li> <li><a class="twitter-share" href="https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?source=&text=&via=NRECANews " target="_blank"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewBox="0 0 512 512"><path d="M389.2 48h70.6L305.6 224.2 487 464H345L233.7 318.6 106.5 464H35.8L200.7 275.5 26.8 48H172.4L272.9 180.9 389.2 48zM364.4 421.8h39.1L151.1 88h-42L364.4 421.8z"/></svg></a></li> <li><a class="linkedin-share" href="http://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=&title=&summary=" target="_blank"></a></li> </ul> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </section> <section class="col-md-9"> <div class="article-content">  <p><em>Editor’s note: This story originally appeared in Electric Co-op Today, the predecessor to Electric.coop, on July 14, 2016.</em></p> <p>Internet service at the highest speed available will zoom through rural Colorado this winter as the latest fiber broadband company set up by an electric cooperative gets members connected.</p> <p>Elevate Fiber, a new division of Delta-Montrose Electric Association, is on track to provide 1 gigabit of broadband to homes starting in late November or December.</p> <p>Co-op members are ready to embrace the new technology. Within four days of DMEA unveiling Elevate Fiber at its annual meeting in June, enough members in one area signed up to achieve 25 percent of the co-op’s goal for construction to begin in that zone. It will be a multi-phase, multi-zone project that is expected to be completed in five years.</p> <p>“We plan to serve all our members in Delta and Montrose counties, overlaying 4,000 miles of distribution line with fiber to the home,” said Jasen Bronec, CEO of DMEA, which has 33,500 meters. “We have really underserved areas.”</p> <p>The Montrose, Colo., co-op broached fiber to modernize its electricity operations and meet members’ growing desire to save energy through load control, rooftop solar, time-of-use and other demand response functions that require smart infrastructure.</p> <p>“We need fiber to substations, but we also need to extend fiber communications down to meter level,” Bronec said. “By owning distribution lines, we already have access to a lot of locations and members we serve.”</p> <p>That same fiber will provide fast, reliable internet service, reduce costs for members and eventually provide jobs for the area, he noted.</p> <p>Yet entering the broadband business has pitted DMEA against competitors to serve its members for the first time.</p> <p>“It’s a new experience to be competing in our own territory for business,” said Bronec, adding that resources must also go toward marketing, sales and communications for its wholly-owned subsidiary. Over time, “all members will benefit with quality internet service and defrayed cost of electric service.”</p> <p>Co-op members, to that end, are taking the lead to get fellow members to sign up, akin to the first $5 fee for electricity decades ago.</p> <p>“I image it was like when electricity first came: Those who wanted it saw the future and had to convince their neighbors,” he said.</p> <p><em>Cathy Cash is a staff writer at NRECA.</em></p> </div> </section> </div> <div class="row"> <div class="col-md-12"> <section class="timeline-article-footer"> <small>Next in the Issue</small> <a class="article-next-post" data-next-article="timeline-modal-1723" title="Tiny Town to Join Gigabit Cities with Co-op Help">Tiny Town to Join Gigabit Cities with Co-op Help <span class="arrow"><i class="ci-long-arrow-right"></i></span></a> </section> </div> </div> </div> </article>  </section>  <section id="timeline-modal-1723" class="timeline-issues-article hidden"> <div class="jumbotron hero article bg-image" style="background-image: url('');"></div>  <article class="single"> <div class="container">  <div class="row"> <header class="col-md-12"> <div class="article-header"> <small class="article-category"> <a href="https://www.electric.coop/issues-and-policy/broadband">Broadband</a> </small> <h1 class="article-title">Tiny Town to Join Gigabit Cities with Co-op Help</h1> <h3 class="article-subtitle"></h3> </div> </header> </div>  <div class="row"> <section class="col-md-3"> <div class="article-meta"> <div class="row"> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-date"> <span>Published</span>September 25, 2016 </div> </div> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-author"> <span>Author</span> Cathy Cash </div> </div> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-share">  <div class="social-share post"> <ul class="social"> <li><a class="facebook-share" href="https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=&title=" target="_blank"></a></li> <li><a class="twitter-share" href="https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?source=&text=&via=NRECANews " target="_blank"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewBox="0 0 512 512"><path d="M389.2 48h70.6L305.6 224.2 487 464H345L233.7 318.6 106.5 464H35.8L200.7 275.5 26.8 48H172.4L272.9 180.9 389.2 48zM364.4 421.8h39.1L151.1 88h-42L364.4 421.8z"/></svg></a></li> <li><a class="linkedin-share" href="http://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=&title=&summary=" target="_blank"></a></li> </ul> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </section> <section class="col-md-9"> <div class="article-content">  <p><em>Editor’s note: This story originally appeared in Electric Co-op Today, the predecessor to Electric.coop, on July 4, 2016..</em></p> <p>An Arkansas hamlet that housed World War II ammunition personnel soon will join an elite list of U.S. locales with the highest internet speed available, thanks in large part to their electric cooperative.</p> <p>By September, East Camden, population just under 900, “will join the few that are ‘gigabit cities,’ ” said Mark Cayce, general manager of Ouachita Electric Cooperative, whose Camden headquarters are about 10 minutes away.</p> <p>“For East Camden to have same type service as Chattanooga, Tenn., or Austin, Texas, is a big leap forward,” said Cayce. “It will make it better for businesses and for everybody who lives here.”</p> <p>OECC on June 16 teamed with South Arkansas Telephone Co. to create Arkansas Rural Internet Service that will build the 1,800-mile fiber network to deliver 1 gigabit to all 9,500 co-op meters over the next few years. In addition to high-speed internet, ARIS will offer TV and telephone services.</p> <p>Both OECC and the SATCO have experience in providing internet connections. But by joining forces to offer gigabit service through fiber, they expect to save their customers money and get it built much faster.</p> <p>“They have technical expertise and back office skills we didn’t have,” said Cayce. “We have access to our members and we built a long-standing reputation of a company that provides really good service.”</p> <p>The co-op is a borrower from the National Rural Utilities Cooperative Finance Corporation and plans to use its existing resources in this endeavor, but may apply for federal monies available to serving rural areas with broadband, he said.</p> <p>For now, the excitement about the 1 gigabit service remains palpable.</p> <p>“Within minutes after posting on our website that we were doing this, our phone started ringing,” said Cayce. “In the first week, we had over 400 members sign up for the service.”</p> <p>OECC recognizes that high-speed internet is a “requirement” for the current generation and is hopeful that by providing a service available only in select parts of the country, young people will stay or relocate to southern Arkansas.</p> <p>“We want to make our area more attractive for people to move to. One of the best ways is to bring things here that are not available anywhere else,” Cayce said. “They can come here and get gigabit speed.”</p> <p><em>Cathy Cash is a staff writer at NRECA.</em></p> </div> </section> </div> <div class="row"> <div class="col-md-12"> <section class="timeline-article-footer"> <small>Next in the Issue</small> <a class="article-next-post" data-next-article="timeline-modal-1722" title="Co-ops Seek Close of Digital Divide">Co-ops Seek Close of Digital Divide <span class="arrow"><i class="ci-long-arrow-right"></i></span></a> </section> </div> </div> </div> </article>  </section>  <section id="timeline-modal-1722" class="timeline-issues-article hidden"> <div class="jumbotron hero article bg-image" style="background-image: url('');"></div>  <article class="single"> <div class="container">  <div class="row"> <header class="col-md-12"> <div class="article-header"> <small class="article-category"> <a href="https://www.electric.coop/issues-and-policy/broadband">Broadband</a> </small> <h1 class="article-title">Co-ops Seek Close of Digital Divide</h1> <h3 class="article-subtitle"></h3> </div> </header> </div>  <div class="row"> <section class="col-md-3"> <div class="article-meta"> <div class="row"> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-date"> <span>Published</span>September 25, 2016 </div> </div> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-author"> <span>Author</span> Cathy Cash </div> </div> <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-3 col-xs-3 col-xxs-6"> <div class="article-meta-share">  <div class="social-share post"> <ul class="social"> <li><a class="facebook-share" href="https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=&title=" target="_blank"></a></li> <li><a class="twitter-share" href="https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?source=&text=&via=NRECANews " target="_blank"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewBox="0 0 512 512"><path d="M389.2 48h70.6L305.6 224.2 487 464H345L233.7 318.6 106.5 464H35.8L200.7 275.5 26.8 48H172.4L272.9 180.9 389.2 48zM364.4 421.8h39.1L151.1 88h-42L364.4 421.8z"/></svg></a></li> <li><a class="linkedin-share" href="http://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=&title=&summary=" target="_blank"></a></li> </ul> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </section> <section class="col-md-9"> <div class="article-content">  <p><em>Editor’s note: This story originally appeared in Electric Co-op Today, the predecessor of Electric.coop, on June 26, 2015.</em></p> <p>Closing the “digital divide” is rising on electric cooperatives’ to-do list, but building broadband networks will require federal coordination and financial assistance.</p> <p>That’s what NRECA told the Broadband Opportunity Council, a 25-agency initiative set up by President Obama to remove barriers and align funding decisions for broadband access nationwide.</p> <p>“Electric cooperatives are stepping up to bridge the current technological divide—the digital divide,” said Martha Duggan, NRECA senior principal for regulatory affairs. “By being more inclusive with funding, the federal government stands a much higher chance of closing the digital divide.”</p> <p>In comments filed with the council, NRECA said Washington should acknowledge the “dual purpose” co-ops serve by pursuing broadband. In addition to reliable electricity, co-ops often provide communication networks for homes and businesses in their service territory.</p> <p>“Recognizing that the traditional incumbent carriers are not going to expand their services to all rural Americans makes it critical for the federal government to seek out and partner with non-traditional providers that have the success of rural communities as a goal,” Duggan said.</p> <p>NRECA further urged the council to simplify coordination among the key players—the Department of Energy, the Federal Communications Commission and the National Telecommunications & Information Administration—and streamline financial aid to rural broadband projects.</p> <p>The federal government should continue to deliver programs that financially support the expansion of broadband in rural areas such as those under the Rural Utilities Service within the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Duggan said.</p> <p>The FCC’s Rural Broadband Experiment program also should continue as “providing the desperately needed capital to communities that lack broadband service,” she said.</p> <p>“Rural electric cooperatives are dedicated to improving the communities in which they serve,” Duggan said. “Providing broadband service to these communities helps reach that goal.”</p> <p>The council requested and received public comment on how federal agencies can promote broadband deployment until June 10.</p> <p><em>Cathy Cash is a staff writer at NRECA.</em></p> </div> </section> </div> <div class="row"> <div class="col-md-12"> <section class="timeline-article-footer"> <small>Latest in the Issue</small> <a class="article-next-post" data-next-article="timeline-modal-12383" title="Let There Be Fiber: Co-op Staffer Leads Volunteers to Connect Bible Camp ">Let There Be Fiber: Co-op Staffer Leads Volunteers to Connect Bible Camp <span class="arrow"><i class="ci-long-arrow-right"></i></span></a> </section> </div> </div> </div> </article>  </section> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </section> </main> <footer id="base" class="site-footer">  <section class="subscribe-newsletter"> <div class="container"> <div class="row"> <div class="col-sm-6 subscribe-text"> <h3>Stay Updated</h3> <p>Get a fresh perspective on energy in rural America. 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