Across the country, more people than ever are working and learning from home, making a quality Internet connection vital for everyone in every locality during the Covid-19 pandemic. For Americans in inadequately connected areas — rural and urban — adapting to a more isolated and remote learning and working lifestyle proves extremely difficult when lacking a reliable Internet connection.
Many electric cooperatives and other broadband providers have quickly rolled out solutions to ensure that their subscribers are connected and well-equipped to adapt. Many of them are also working with community institutions to ensure all residents have some level of connectivity, especially children for remote learning purposes.
OzarksGo Brings Broadband to Busses
Ozarks Electric Cooperative has been working diligently with its fiber division, OzarksGo, to find solutions to improve connectivity for the communities it serves. In a phone interview, Steven Bandy, the general manager of Ozarks Electric, explained that as stay at home orders were issued, more and more homes within their service area were requesting new fiber hook ups. At the same time, families outside of their territory were scrambling for Internet connectivity.
Image
OzarksGo serves nine counties in Arkansas and western Oklahoma, and they have thus far built out 75 percent of their network. They began deploying the network in 2016 and set a goal of having all of the fiber lit within six years. Bandy is still confident they can stick to this timeline, but he explained that the COVID-19 pandemic has interrupted their supply chain and temporarily slowed their ability to make new connections to homes.
Visitors to libraries across the country are being greeted with signs declaring, “Library Closed,” in an attempt to contain the spread of the novel coronavirus. But increasingly, those words are followed by the ones seen outside Schlow Centre Region Library in State College, Pennsylvania: “Park for Free Wi-Fi.”
As the Covid-19 outbreak pushes almost all daily functions online, libraries, schools, and Internet service providers (ISPs) are finding themselves on the front lines of responding to their communities’ connectivity needs — especially those of students. Nationwide, these broadband first responders are working rapidly to open and deploy public Wi-Fi hotspots that families can access from the safety of their parked cars.
Though it isn’t a permanent solution to the homework gap, these community institutions and providers hope that the emergency Wi-Fi access will give students on the wrong side of the divide a chance to learn while schools are shut down.
Students Trade Desks for Cars
Earlier this week, the American Library Association (ALA) recommended that libraries leave their Wi-Fi turned on and accessible while facilities are closed. In a press release, ALA stated:
This is the transcript for Episode 277 of the Community Broadband Bits podcast. Luis Reyes from Kit Carson Electric Cooperative joins the show to explain how electric cooperatives are solving the digital divide in rural America. Listen to this episode here.
Luis Reyes: People trust co-ops. They trust Electric co-ops. They've been - been around since the mid 30s. I think there was a lot of faith that we could pull this off and make it as reliable as we made the electric system.
Lisa Gonzalez: You're listening to episode 277 of the Community Broadband Bits podcast from the Institute for Local Self-Reliance. I'm Lisa Gonzalez. Rural New Mexico has some of the most scenic landscape in the U.S. It also presents some of the most difficult challenges in getting its widely dispersed population connected with high quality connectivity. The Kit Carson Electric Cooperative it's changing the situation in the north central area of the state. For several years now they've been connecting people in the region with fiber to the home improving connectivity for residents, businesses, and local entities. This week we hear more about the project from Luis Reyes CEO of Kit Carson who gives us a history of the project and how high quality Internet access is benefiting the region. Now, here's Christopher and Luis.
Christopher Mitchell: Welcome to another edition of the Community Broadband Bits podcast. I'm Chris Mitchell from the Institute for Local Self-Reliance up in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Today I'm speaking with Luis Reyes the CEO of Kit Carson Electric Cooperative. Welcome to the show, Luis.
Luis Reyes: Thanks Chris. I'm happy to talk to you.
Christopher Mitchell: Well I'm excited to talk to you as well. We've we've been covering a lot of the electric cooperatives getting into fiber networks. You've been doing this longer than many. We've interviewed a few others but I think this is incredibly important for rural America. Maybe start by telling us a little bit about Kit Carson. Where are you located and what's the geography around your area?
The Kit Carson Electric Cooperative serves rural north central New Mexico and has been an early investor in a fiber-optic network that has brought high quality Internet service to a state largely stuck with 90's era DSL from incumbent CenturyLink.
Luis Reyes, CEO of Kit Carson, joins us for episode 277 to discuss how the utility is ensuring its members all have high-quality Internet access available and some of the lessons they have learned in building the network. They have seen population growth and a rise in small businesses, especially people who can work from home.
One of they key lessons is how to manage sign-ups. They have a significant waiting list, from a combination of greater demand than expected and the challenges of managing the home install process.
Finally, we talk about how Kit Carson is working with another local cooperative to expand that high-quality access in New Mexico.
Cooperatives around the country have built on their long legacy of delivering essential infrastructure by starting to deliver next-generation Internet services. Here, we cover the basics of cooperatives in rural areas and then discuss the details of electric and telephone cooperatives that have already branched out into Internet service. Finally, we highlight the first fiber optic cooperative provider, and discuss how other communities have better Internet service through building their own networks.
Cooperatives are part of the fabric of rural America. The member owners control the cooperative: each person receiving service is a member of the cooperative and can directly vote in elections for the Board of Directors or even become a member of the Board.
Starting in the 1930s, the U.S. Department of Agriculture supported communities as they created more than 900 electric cooperatives across the country. In the 1950s, the federal government again supported communities building telephone networks, crisscrossing the country with telephone cooperatives to connect rural communities.
Each technology brought new markets, revitalized economies, and revolutionized industries. Cooperatives have a long history of building and maintaining essential infrastructure and providing excellent service in rural communities. Now they have the chance to do that again by building next-generation networks for Internet service.
Rural Public Policies
Rural areas face a number of challenges that urban and suburban communities do not. Low population density coupled with rough terrain can make building infrastructure challenging. Added to these factors, rural communities may not have access to the same financial resources as larger towns and cities do.
Image
Cooperatives, however, have made infrastructure projects work in rural communities for nearly a century. They have access to funding from their membership base, local banks, and often the federal government. Some state governments have expanded their broadband grant and loan programs to include electric cooperatives. Other states have clarified laws and policies to recognize that electric cooperatives can build fiber networks for Internet service using their current infrastructure. A few states have even removed legislative hurdles that stymied investments by electric cooperatives. Technically, the 1996 Telecommunications Act, Section 253, prohibits states from stopping any co-op from offering Internet service, but co-ops in many states are loathe to challenge state law in court.
North Carolina
In 2019, the state removed restrictions that prevented electric cooperatives from using USDA funding for non-electrical purposes, such as broadband networks. Our 2016 report, North Carolina Connectivity: the Good, the Bad, and the Ugly, highlighted how this roadblock kept the state’s electric co-ops from providing service to many rural communities.
Tennessee
During the 2017 legislative session, this state has clarified the language in its laws to allow electric cooperatives to build networks for Internet service.
Indiana
Cooperatives already have access to utility poles, easements, and Rights-of-Way in the communities that they serve. Indiana, however, needed to clarify that electric co-ops can use this access to provide Internet service, so it passed the FIBRE Act. Other states, including Georgia, Maryland, and Texas, have since followed suit.
Minnesota & Colorado
Minnesota and Colorado have made funding easier to access for cooperatives interested in providing Internet service. Both states have designed grant programs that promote local solutions to connectivity problems. In Minnesota, cooperatives provide most of the Fiber-to-the-Home Internet service thanks in no small part to that grant program.
Overbuild Or Underbuild?
In Community Broadband Bits Podcast Episode 91, Christopher Mitchell and Lisa Gonzalez discusses strategies for building Internet infrastructure in rural are. What do communities need to thrive?
More than 900 rural electric cooperatives provide electricity to about 12 percent of the U.S. population. Their service area, however, covers more than half of the total land, nearly 2 million square miles. About 90 rural electric co-ops have embarked on fiber optic projects to increase Internet access for their members.
Several of these electric cooperatives started by building fiber optic lines to substations and large demand centers to increase the reliability of the electric system through better monitoring. This could then form the backbone of a network for Internet service to businesses and residents.
Articles and Interviews
We have written many articles and collected several reports detailing how electric cooperatives have tried to increase Internet access in their communities. These stories show the many different ways electric cooperatives have structured partnerships and programs for their members.
Image
Several electric cooperatives provide Internet service themselves. Some started pilot projects, while others built out to their entire service area. The Fiber-to-the-Home project by Valley Electric Association boosted the local economy in Pahrump, Nevada. The co-op has already added 31 new jobs because of the fiber service.
Others partner with an existing telephone cooperative or telephone company. Ouachita Electric in Arkansas is one of the many cooperatives to have done this. By combining their resources and expertise, this partnership is able to extend electric and Internet service throughout much of southern Arkansas.
Many electric cooperatives work together, such as Sho-Me Power in Missouri and LS Networks in Oregon. These cooperatives have provided connectivity for local ISPs and businesses, and now are looking to connect residents.
In episode 229 of the Community Broadband Bits podcast, Jon Chambers, the former head of the FCC Office of Strategic Planning and Policy Analysis, describes how electric cooperatives have the potential to bring Internet access to unserved rural America.
Mel Coleman, president of NRECA and CEO of North Arkansas Electric Cooperative, joined the podcast in episode 243 to discuss how the electric co-op had improved Internet access for its members and what other cooperatives are doing.
This is a list of the rural electric cooperatives that have programs and projects to increase connectivity in their service areas. They do not all provide Fiber-to-the-Home. Some only offer fiber connections to businesses or provide wireless last mile connections while others focus on dark fiber and fiber transport services for other Internet Service Providers. (Total: 109) (Last updated: 12/2019)
Electric Cooperative
State
Project
Central Alabama Electric Cooperative
Alabama
FTTH (announced)
Joe Wheeler Electric Membership Corporation
Alabama
FTTH (announced)
North Alabama Electric Cooperative
Alabama
FTTH
Tombigbee Electric Cooperative (freedom FIBER)
Alabama
FTTH
Wiregrass Electric Cooperative
Alabama
Fiber backbone (under construction) — collaboration with cable company to connect members
Arkansas Valley Electric Cooperative (WAVE Rural Connect)
Arkansas
FTTH
Craighead Electric Cooperative Corporation (Empower)
Arkansas
FTTH
North Arkansas Electric Cooperative (NEXT)
Arkansas
FTTH
Ouachita Electric Cooperative (ARIS)
Arkansas
FTTH — collaboration with telephone company
Ozarks Electric Cooperative (OzarksGo)
Arkansas
FTTH
South Central Arkansas Electric Cooperative (South Central Connect)
Arkansas
FTTH
Anza Electric Cooperative (ConnectAnza)
California
FTTH
Plumas-Sierra Rural Electric Cooperative (Plumas-Sierra Telecommunications)
California
FTTH & wireless with fiber backbone
San Luis Valley Rural Electric Cooperative (Ciello)
Colorado
FTTH
Delta-Montrose Electric Association (Elevate Fiber)
Colorado
FTTH
Southeast Colorado Power Association (SECOM)
Colorado
FTTH
Yampa Valley Electric Association (Luminate Broadband)
Colorado
FTTH
Blue Ridge Mountain EMC
Georgia & North Carolina
FTTH
Habersham Electric Membership Corporation (Trailwave; North Georgia Network Cooperative)
Georgia
FTTH; FTTB and Schools
Jefferson Energy Cooperative
Georgia
FTTB — collaboration with Pineland Telephone Cooperative
Illinois Electric Cooperative
Illinois
FTTH
Jo-Carrol Energy (Sand Prairie)
Illinois
FTTH & wireless with fiber backbone
Jackson County Rural Electric Membership Corporation (Jackson Connect)
Indiana
FTTH
Johnson County Rural Electric Membership Corporation
Indiana
FTTH — collaboration with NineStar Connect
NineStar Connect (merger between Central Indiana Power and Hancock Telecom)
Indiana
FTTH
Orange County Rural Electric Membership Corporation
Indiana
FTTH
South Central Indiana Rural Electric Membership Corporation
Indiana
FTTH
Tipmont Rural Electric Membership Corporation (Wintek)
Indiana
FTTH
Allamakee-Clayton Electric Cooperative (AC Skyways)
Iowa
Wireless with fiber backbone
Maquoketa Valley Rural Electric Cooperative (MVLink)
Iowa
FTTH
Bulter Electric Cooperative (Velocity)
Kansas
FTTH
Warren Rural Electric Cooperative Corporation
Kentucky
FTTH pilot projects (announced) — collaborations with North Central Telephone Company and Franklin Electric Power Board
Great Lakes Energy (Truestream)
Michigan
FTTH
Midwest Energy Cooperative (Midwest Energy and Communications)
Michigan
FTTH
Tri-County Electric Cooperative (HomeWorks Connect)
Michigan
FTTH
Arrowhead Electric Cooperative (True North Broadband)
Minnesota
FTTH
Meeker Cooperative Light and Power Association (Vibrant Broadband)
Minnesota
Wireless with fiber backbone — collaboration with Mabel Cooperative Telephone Company and Spring Grove Communications
MiEnergy Electric Cooperative
Minnesota
FTTH & wireless with fiber backbone
Mille Lacs Energy Cooperative (XStream Internet)
Minnesota
FTTH — collaboration with telephone cooperative CTC
Roseau Electric Cooperative
Minnesota
FTTH (announced) — collaboration with local telephone company
Alcorn County Electric Power Association (ACE Fiber)
Mississippi
FTTH (announced)
Coast Electric Power Association (CoastConnect)
Mississippi
FTTH (announced)
Delta Electric Power Association
Mississippi
FTTH
Monroe County Electric Power Association (M-Pulse Fiber)
Mississippi
FTTH (announced)
Natchez Trace Electric Power Association (NT Spark)
Mississippi
FTTH
Northcentral Mississippi Electric Power Association (Northcentral Connect)
Mississippi
FTTH
Northeast Mississippi Electric Power Association (North East Fiber, LLC/NE SPARC)
Mississippi
FTTH
Pearl River Valley Electric Power Association (PearlComm Fiber)
Mississippi
FTTH (Announced)
Prentiss County Electric Power Association
Mississippi
FTTH (announced)
Singing River Electric Power Association (Singing River Connect)
Mississippi
FTTH (pilot)
Southern Pine Electric Power Association
Mississippi
FTTH
Tallahatchie Valley Electric Power Association (TVI-Fiber)
Mississippi
FTTH (announced)
Tippah Electric Power Association
Mississippi
FTTH (announced)
Tishomingo County Electric Power Association
Mississippi
FTTH
Tombigbee Electric Power Association
Mississippi
FTTH (announced)
Barry Electric Cooperative (goBEC)
Missouri
FTTH
Callaway Electric (Callabyte Technology)
Missouri
FTTH — collaboration with Kingdom Telephone Cooperative
Co-Mo Electric Cooperative (Co-Mo Connect)
Missouri
FTTH
Grundy Electric Cooperative (Mid-States Services)
Missouri
FTTH
Pemiscot Dunklin Electric Cooperative (Pemiscot Dunklin Fiber)
Missouri
FTTH
Ralls County Electric Cooperative (Ralls Technologies)
Missouri
FTTH
SEMO Electric Cooperative (GoSEMO Fiber)
Missouri
FTTH
United Electric Cooperative (United Fiber)
Missouri
FTTH
Crawford Electric Cooperative / Sho-Me Power Electric Cooperative (Sho-Me Technologies)
Missouri
FTTB & Transport Services
Gascoasage Electric Cooperative / Sho-Me Power Electric Cooperative (Sho-Me Technologies)
Missouri
FTTB & Transport Services
Howell-Oregon Electric Cooperative / Sho-Me Power Electric Cooperative (Sho-Me Technologies)
Missouri
FTTB & Transport Services
Intercounty Electric Cooperative Association / Sho-Me Power Electric Cooperative (Sho-Me Technologies)
Missouri
FTTB & Transport Services
Laclede Electric Cooperative / Sho-Me Power Electric Cooperative (Sho-Me Technologies)
Missouri
FTTB & Transport Services
Se-Ma-No Electric Cooperative / Sho-Me Power Electric Cooperative (Sho-Me Technologies)
Missouri
FTTB & Transport Services
Southwest Electric Cooperative / Sho-Me Power Electric Cooperative (Sho-Me Technologies)
Missouri
FTTB & Transport Services
Webster Electric Cooperative / Sho-Me Power Electric Cooperative (Sho-Me Technologies)
Missouri
FTTB & Transport Services
White River Valley Electric Cooperative / Sho-Me Power Electric Cooperative (Sho-Me Technologies)
Missouri
FTTB & Transport Services
Valley Electric Association (Valley Communications Association)
Nevada
FTTH
Continental Divide Electric Cooperative (Red Bolt Broadband)
New Mexico
FTTH
Kit Carson Electric Cooperative (Kit Carson Internet)
New Mexico
FTTH
Delaware County Electric Cooperative
New York
FTTH — collaboration with local telephone companies
Otsego Electric Cooperative (OEConnect)
New York
FTTH
French Broad Electric Membership Corporation
North Carolina
FTTH
Lumbee River Electric Membership Corporation (Bluewave Communications NC)
North Carolina
FTTH — collaboration with Horry Telephone Cooperative
Roanoke Electric Cooperative (Roanoke Connect)
North Carolina
FTTH
Consolidated Electric Cooperative
Ohio
FTTH
East Central Oklahoma Cooperative (ecoLINK)
Oklahoma
FTTH (under construction)
Lake Region Electric Cooperative (Lake Region Technology & Communications)
Oklahoma
FTTH
Northeast Oklahoma Electric Cooperative (Bolt Fiber Optic Services)
Oklahoma
FTTH
Oklahoma Electric Cooperative (OEC Fiber)
Oklahoma
FTTH
Consumers Power (Peak Internet)
Oregon
FTTP (open access network) — collaboration with Pioneer Consolidated and Stayton Cooperative Telephone Company
Central Electric Cooperative (LS Networks)
Oregon
FTTB, Schools, & Transport Services
Douglas Electric Cooperative (Douglas Fast Net; LS Networks)
Oregon
FTTH; FTTB, Schools, & Transport Services
Hood River Electric Cooperative (CACHE Communications; LS Networks)
Oregon
FTTH; FTTB, Schools, & Transport Services
Umatilla Electric Cooperative (LS Networks)
Oregon
FTTB, Schools, & Transport Services
West Oregon Electric Cooperative (LS Networks)
Oregon
FTTB, Schools, & Transport Services
Sullivan County Rural Electric Cooperative
Pennsylvania
FTTH (announced)
Tri-County Rural Electric Cooperative
Pennsylvania
FTTH (announced)
Mid-Carolina Electric Cooperative (Carolina Connect)
South Carolina
FTTH
Newberry Electric Cooperative (Carolina Connect)
South Carolina
FTTH — collaboration with Mid-Carolina Electric Cooperative
Appalachian Electric Cooperative
Tennessee
FTTH
Cumberland Electric Membership Cooperative (Cumberland Connect)
Tennessee
FTTH (announced)
Forked Deer Electric Cooperative (Forked Deer Connect)
Tennessee
FTTH
Gibson Electric Membership Corporation (Gibson Connect)
Tennessee
FTTH
Holston Electric Cooperative (Holston Connect)
Tennessee
FTTH
Meriwether Lewis Electric Cooperative (MLConnect)
Tennessee
FTTH
Sequachee Valley Electric Cooperative (SVEConnect)
Tennessee
FTTH
Tri-County Electric Cooperative
Tennessee
FTTH
Volunteer Electric Cooperative (Twin Lakes, powered by VEC)
Tennessee
FTTH — collaboratin with Twin Lakes Telephone Cooperative
Bandera Electric Cooperative (BEC Fiber)
Texas
FTTH
Grayson Collin Electric Cooperative (Grayson Collin Communications)
Texas
FTTH
Guadalupe Valley Electric Cooperative
Texas
FTTH
Jackson Electric Cooperative (MyJEC.net)
Texas
FTTH & wireless with fiber backbone
Taylor Electric Cooperative (Access Fiber)
Texas
FTTH
Victoria Electric Cooperative (Infinium)
Texas
FTTH & wireless with fiber backbone
BARC Electric Cooperative (BARC Connects)
Virginia
FTTH
Central Virginia Electric Cooperative (Firefly Broadband)
Virginia
FTTH
Craig-Botetourt Electric Cooperative
Virginia
FTTH (announced)
Mecklenburg Electric Cooperative (EMPOWER Broadband)
Virginia
FTTH
Prince George Electric Cooperative (Ruralband)
Virginia
FTTH
Columbia Rural Electric Association (Columbia iConnect)
Washington
FTTH Pilot Project
Orcas Power & Light Cooperative (Rock Island Communications)
Washington
FTTH
Chippewa Valley Electric Cooperative (Ntera)
Wisconsin
FTTH — collaboration with telephone cooperative Citizens Connected
Telephone Cooperatives
There are about 260 telephone cooperatives in the United States. Many provide Internet service as a natural extension of their existing infrastructure. Many started out by providing dial-up and DSL services, but only recently have begun to transition to Fiber-to-the-Home. Some have already transitioned to an all-fiber network, having upgraded everyone in their territory to fiber.
The Rural Broadband Association (NTCA) has a gigabit certification program in order to draw attention to how many small telephone companies cooperatives have built these next-generation networks.
Articles & Interviews
We have featured a number of these cooperatives on our website. Some cooperatives choose to work with local governments or electric cooperatives while others focus on providing service alone. Below is just a small selection of the many cooperatives that have built Fiber-to-the-Home networks.
Episode 188 of the Community Broadband Bits Podcast features Eric Cramer, the President and CEO of Wilkes Communications/RiverStreet Networks. He explained how the telephone cooperative has built a Fiber-to-the-Home network throughout several counties in northern North Carolina.
Cooperatives are not just telephone and electric. There is now a workable model for Internet cooperatives created from scratch. RS Fiber in Minnesota is the first cooperative formed for the express purpose of providing reliable, high-speed Internet service.
Yampa Valley Electric Association (Luminate Broadband)
Colorado
Electric
Yucca Telecommunications Systems
New Mexico
Telephone
Community Broadband Bits Podcast Episodes
Listen to our collection of Community Broadband Bits Podcasts to learn firsthand about how electric cooperatives have made the decision to provide Internet service.
What does it take for a telephone co-op in North Carolina to provide FTTH? President and CEO of Wilkes Communications and RiverStreet Networks explains
In rural New Mexico, about 80 miles west of Albuquerque, sits the small town of Grants. This community of 9,000 people is the seat of Cibola County, but 77 percent of Grants' residents live without high-speed Internet access. Thanks to two intrepid electric cooperatives, however, the town is now set to receive a next-generation network.
With the bylaws amended, the cooperative was then free to partner with Kit Carson Electric Cooperative, which built a fiber network in northern New Mexico a few years ago. Now, Kit Carson has the opportunity to share its experience. The cooperatives will connect homes and business in the town of Grants as they build out the network to connect Continental Divide's electrical substations.
A last mile broadband project in Taos, New Mexico, encountered a temporary snag and appears to be back on track. The situation highlights the potential conflict created between federal and state entities. State officials acted to show their support and now expect the project to continue.
Kit Carson Electric Cooperative (KCEC) was awarded a $45 million grant and an accompanying $19 million loan from the American Recovery and Reinvestment (ARRA) stimulus funding. The project is expected to span about 3,000 square miles of New Mexico and will include smart grid technology in addition to high speed broadband to rural communities. From a story on the USDA website:
The Kit Carson Electric Cooperative (KCEC) “fiber-tohome” project will allow greater bandwidth, providing the quality necessary for applications such as telemedicine, teleconferencing and video sharing for education, business and entertainment. Once completed, the co-op’s project will make broadband service available to 29 communities, reaching about 20,500 households, 3,600 businesses and 183 community institutions, including hospitals, schools and other government facilities. Two Native American pueblos will also receive broadband service once the project is complete.
The PRC's original order stated that Kit Carson must create a separate Internet subsidiary to protect electric ratepayers from potential losses, or explain why such a separation was not feasible.
According to the article, KCEC received communication from the RUS looking for clarification on whether or not the order was entered and would be followed. The RUS wanted a definitive answer because divestiture would violate the terms of the agreement between KCEC and the RUS. The entire project was in jeopardy.