| Resource Type | Article |
| Author / Source | Alex Jobin (Alabama Political Reporter) |
| Publication Date | October 2025 |
| Location | Alabama (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
Over nine years, Tombigbee Electric Cooperative built its Freedom FIBER network through its Tombigbee Communications subsidiary to bring broadband to its members and region. The completed network runs about 4,200 miles of fiber to more than 100,000 residents across eight Northwest Alabama counties. It now serves more than 27,000 broadband subscribers against roughly 9,500 electric meters, so the broadband footprint grew well beyond the electric service territory.
Two things make it useful to co-op leaders. The first is the commitment to serve everyone. The board's 2017 rule was to leave no one behind, serving every premise in the build footprint rather than only the profitable ones, echoing the co-op's original electrification mission. The second is that political and grant support was decisive. A co-op can use this as proof of the model, and as a reminder that sustained legislative and funding support, not just construction, helps carry a build to completion.
Key Takeaways
| › | A board commitment to serve every premise in the footprint, not just profitable ones, can extend fiber well beyond the electric service territory. |
| › | Tombigbee phased the project to manage risk. A feasibility study put the full build near $40 million, and the co-op split it into five phases, committing to each only after the previous one succeeded. See more from the Benton Institute. |
| › | Sustained political and grant support across local, state, and federal levels was described as decisive in carrying the build to completion. |
| › | Broadband can grow into a larger enterprise than the electric business itself, here about 27,000 broadband subscribers against roughly 9,500 electric meters. |
Implementation Considerations
- Cost or Funding Requirements: The roughly decade-long build relied on co-op investment plus state and federal grants and strong legislative support. Co-ops should plan for a long, blended, externally supported funding effort.
- Staffing or Technology Requirements: Running a broadband business larger than the electric operation is a major undertaking. A co-op needs that capacity somewhere, whether by building its own subsidiary staff or partnering with an experienced operator.
- Time-Sensitive Information: The build drew on federal programs including USDA ReConnect, which has faced cuts and review since. The completed-project figures are current as of late 2025, but co-ops should not assume the same funding pathways remain available.
Notable Examples
- Tombigbee Electric Cooperative: Northwest Alabama co-op whose Tombigbee Communications subsidiary completed the 4,200-mile Freedom FIBER network in 2025, serving more than 100,000 people across eight counties.
- Freedom FIBER: The co-op's broadband brand, delivering fiber service to homes, businesses, and industries across the region.
Estimated reading time: 5 minutes
Related to
Comments
0 comments
Please sign in to leave a comment.