New partnership will bring high-speed internet to 18 middle-Georgia counties

STAFF REPORT :::

Spalding, Pike, Lamar and Upson counties are among those that will benefit from a new partnership that will invest more than $210 million to provide high-speed internet to 18 middle-Georgia counties.

Announced today, the partnership includes Central Georgia EMC in Jackson and Southern Rivers Energy in Barnesville who will form a new partnership with Conexon to provide high-speed internet service to roughly 80,000 homes and businesses.

Bibb, Butts, Clayton, Coweta, Crawford, Fayette, Henry, Jasper, Jones, Meriwether, Monroe, Morgan, Newton and Putnam counties are also covered in this partnership.

Central Georgia EMC will invest $135 million, Southern Rivers Energy will invest $53 million and Conexon will contribute $21.5 million.

Monroe County has allocated $1.3 million of local funds to incentivize the EMCs to begin their projects in Monroe County.

Under the terms of the agreement, the EMCs will partner with Conexon, a full-service fiber broadband provider, to design and build a 6,890-mile fiber network that will serve two strategic purposes – to provide improved electric service and increased reliability through smart grid capabilities and provide high-speed internet access to all 80,000 members of the two EMCs within the next four years, beginning as early as June 2021.

Conexon works exclusively with electric cooperatives and is considered one of the pioneers in the electric cooperative broadband movement.

The two EMCs will own the fiber and lease excess capacity to Conexon, which has agreed to serve every EMC member with fiber-to-the-home internet speeds up to one gigabit per second.

The internet service will be powered by the EMC fiber, but Conexon will provide the retail service to homes and businesses, managing account set-up, customer service and billing.

“The announcement we are making today will have a real impact on the lives of countless hardworking Georgians. With expanded broadband access comes new job opportunities, improved education tools and access to telemedicine,” said Governor Brian Kemp. “This partnership is why I signed Senate Bill 2 in 2019 to allow EMCs the authority to provide broadband service. The legislation was intended to encourage what you see today – EMCs and community leaders, working together on creative solutions to close the gap between those with internet service and those without. This is an important leap forward but make no mistake, we are just getting started. I will continue working alongside Lt. Governor Duncan, Speaker Ralston and leaders in both chambers to expand access and opportunity for the people of rural Georgia.”

“As we work together to move all of Georgia forward, our partners across the state understand that access to broadband, high-speed interned, is a fundamental component for continued growth,” said Duncan. “I want every Georgia to have access to reliable, quality internet and today we are taking a giant leap in that direction. I applaud the commitment of local EMCs to partner and invest in this project. This is a prime example of their continued dedication to the communities and members they serve. The expansion of rural broadband will remain a top priority for the Senate as we look for ways to close interne gaps across the state.”

“The House has focused intently over the last several years to expand economic opportunity in rural. Thanks to our partners like Georgia’s EMCs, we are now seeing the fruits of that labor as high-speed broadband is being deployed in rural communities across our state,” said Ralston. “I appreciate the efforts of all t hose involved and the members of the General Assembly who have worked on critical legislation, like Senate Bill 2, to make today’s announcement possible. We will continue to work with Governor Kemp, Lt. Governor Duncan and our colleagues in the Senate to ensure that prosperity is accessible to every Georgia, regardless of your zip code.”