Remote communities in the northwest mountains of South Carolina were desperate for high-speed internet. Then, after years of waiting for a reliable service provider, their electric cooperative forged a partnership to step in and build a fiber broadband network.

“We recognized that our area was very unserved and underserved with access to high-speed internet, and we were concerned about it," said Jim Lovinggood, president and CEO of Pickens-based Blue Ridge Electric, which has a rugged 1,800-square-mile footprint.

“We kept hoping and believing sooner or later that some other entity would come in and build it out and provide that service … and that just didn't seem to be happening."

Then Lovinggood met the CEO of West Carolina Telephone Cooperative at a local political event. The pair clicked and they started discussions about combining resources and expertise on a regional fiber project.

Upcountry Fiber launched in 2021, and as of today, the Blue Ridge Electric and WCTEL partnership has connected 23,000 subscribers across 3,500 miles of fiber and is preparing a second build ahead of schedule.

“The more we talked, the more it seemed to make sense," said Lovinggood. “It became apparent that this looked like a really good opportunity to work with somebody who really understands the business, who could help us go into our service territory."

As more electric co-ops weigh partnerships to deliver internet service to their rural communities, NRECA released a new white paper prepared by Keller & Heckman LLP that explores the pros and cons, how to formalize a broadband partnership, potential partners and the roles they may play and more.

“Often, we don't know what we don't know when starting up a new business line and partnership," said Brian O'Hara, NRECA senior regulatory director. “From network design to contract negotiations and regulatory implications, a mutually beneficial partnership can be a difference-maker in the broadband space. This white paper helps co-ops to consider the key issues and ask the right questions when they evaluate potential partners and prepare an agreement."

By partnering, Blue Ridge has only had to add four employees dedicated to broadband to grow the $150 million enterprise. The electric co-op hangs and maintains the fiber while WCTEL takes care of customer connections, service and billing and pursues revenue opportunities.

Their partnership has also made it easier for Blue Ridge to update and improve communications across its electric infrastructure with fiber for greater system reliability and efficiency in addition to delivering its membership world-class symmetrical gigabit internet service.

“Both of those were our reasoning for doing broadband," Lovinggood said. “West Carolina's knowledge and expertise in this field has been priceless. Could we have done it without them? I guess. But I still don't think it would have been done as effectively, as efficiently, and to the level and the success rate that we've enjoyed without their help. I truly believe that."