| Resource Type | Article |
| Author / Source | Becky Mashburn (Delta-Montrose Electric Association) |
| Publication Date | January 2024 |
| Location | Colorado (framework applicable nationally) |
| Initiative Type | Program, Policy, Technology |
| Project Complexity | Advanced |
| Recommended For | Board, Staff |
Estimated reading time: 5 minutes
Why This Matters for Rural Electric Co-ops
This marks the culmination of a long-running, grant-funded broadband program, and it gives a sense of what that kind of sustained buildout can deliver. Since launching its subsidiary Elevate Internet in 2016, Delta-Montrose Electric Association (DMEA) secured nearly $61 million in state and federal grants over seven years to build 1,580 miles of fiber that reach more than 27,000 homes and businesses.
The $5.1 million award was DMEA's last eligible grant, and fewer than 1,700 locations will still be unserved once it is built. Under public broadband policy those areas already count as "served," so they no longer qualify for grants, and DMEA plans to reach them through its own capital budgets to connect every member by 2027. A co-op can use this to get a sense of what a sustained, grant-funded buildout can achieve, and as a reminder that the final members may need to be covered by the co-op itself rather than grants.
Key Takeaways
| › | A wholly owned subsidiary (Elevate Internet) plus stacked state and federal grants over several years is a proven path to near-total member coverage. |
| › | Grants can run out before every member is connected, so co-ops should budget their own capital to reach the rest. |
| › | Areas classified as "served" under public policy can still lack real service, a gap co-ops should verify against their own member data. |
Implementation Considerations
- Cost or Funding Requirements: The buildout relied on stacked grants covering the bulk of construction, but the last segments fall to the co-op's capital budget. Co-ops should plan for both.
- Regulatory or Governance Considerations: DMEA delivers broadband through a wholly owned subsidiary (Elevate Internet), which separates it from the electric business. Co-ops should settle this structure early.
- Time-Sensitive Information: This reflects the program as of early 2024. Several funding sources cited, including the Colorado Capital Projects Fund and the federal programs behind DMEA's earlier awards, are time-limited or no longer open to new applicants, so co-ops should not assume the same funding is available.
Notable Examples
- Delta-Montrose Electric Association: Secured nearly $61 million in grants over seven years to build 1,580 miles of fiber to more than 27,000 homes and businesses, aiming to reach every member by 2027.
- Elevate Internet: DMEA's wholly owned fiber subsidiary, launched in 2016, delivering the service.
Estimated reading time: 5 minutes
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