| Resource Type | Article |
| Author / Source | Office of Governor Brian P. Kemp (State of Georgia) |
| Publication Date | May 2021 |
| Location | Georgia (framework applicable nationally) |
| Initiative Type | Partnership, Program, Policy |
| Project Complexity | Intermediate |
| Recommended For | Board, Staff |
Estimated reading time: 5 minutes
Why This Matters for Rural Electric Co-ops
Satilla Rural Electric Membership Corporation (SREMC) partnered with Conexon Connect on a $150 million fiber project to reach all of its members (more than 57,000 homes and businesses across nine south Georgia counties), with Conexon Connect operating the network. For a co-op weighing whether to run a broadband business itself, it shows a route where a partner handles operations.
The release also shows the state and political backing these projects can attract. The governor, a public service commissioner, and a state senator all endorsed it as closing the digital divide and supporting jobs, education, and telemedicine. A co-op can use it as an example of delivering fiber to members through a partner that operates the network, and of the favorable press a broadband commitment can generate.
Key Takeaways
| › | A co-op can bring fiber to all members while a partner operates the network, avoiding the need to run a broadband business in-house. |
| › | Fiber delivers smart grid co-benefits for the electric side, including faster outage response, better load balancing, and more efficient delivery. |
| › | A high-profile broadband commitment can attract visible state and political support, useful for a co-op building its own case. |
Implementation Considerations
- Cost or Funding Requirements: A project of this scale is a major capital commitment. Co-ops should confirm the financing and the partner's operating economics before committing.
- Regulatory or Governance Considerations: This approach lets a co-op offer broadband without operating it, but it cedes day-to-day operations and customer experience to the partner. Define control, branding, and member-relationship terms up front.
- Time-Sensitive Information: This is a 2021 announcement of a four-to-five-year build. Co-ops should verify the project's current status and outcomes rather than rely on the projected scope.
Notable Examples
- Satilla REMC: Not-for-profit, member-owned Georgia co-op serving more than 38,000 members across nine counties, partnering to bring fiber to all members.
- Conexon Connect: The internet-service arm of Conexon, formed to operate and manage cooperative fiber networks; operates Satilla's network.
Estimated reading time: 5 minutes
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