According
to the FCC, it is estimated that at least 6.3 million households in electric
co-op service areas lack high-speed internet access. New
research shows that a lack of rural broadband to those unserved co-op
households leads to $68 billion in lost economic value over 20 years. Considering
this, many electric cooperatives of all sizes and in many regions across the
United States are building broadband communication to bridge the digital divide
that exists between urban and rural populations.
If your co-op is interested in learning how broadband could play a part in your
business—whether to bolster your co-op’s operations or offer it as an
additional service to your members—NRECA can help. From determining the
feasibility and legal implications of adding broadband services to your
business to understanding how to work with the government on regulations and financial
assistance—we offer a wide range of resources, case studies, research and
guidance to help you make informed decisions, including:
Business Models and Solutions
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This case study highlights 12 co-ops that have installed broadband to benefit their member consumers.
This strategic sourcing case study looks at how Prairie Power Incorporated took initiative to work with for-profit companies, telephone cooperatives and its own members to strategically upgrade to a broadband network, while utilizing existing assets to gain efficiencies and save money.
This white paper provides a high-level, due diligence framework for those considering significant broadband deployments.
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Economic Studies
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This white paper evaluates the smart grid use cases enabled by a broadband backbone and estimates the economic impact of these applications.
This white paper estimates the consumer value that is lost when broadband remains elusive for millions of co-op members.
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Financial Assistance and Regulatory Issues
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This fact sheet describes how electric co-ops are committed to rural America and part of the broadband solution, and offers policy recommendations.
This white paper provides an overview of the regulatory requirements that apply to companies entering the broadband business or becoming video and voice providers.
Our pole attachment resources page highlights various resources related to pole attachment issues that cooperatives may be facing in their states.
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Legal Resources
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[column 12]Broadband is addressed in the following resources as developments occur:
The Legal Reporting Service is a monthly subscription-based publication that provides intelligence for electric cooperatives on court decisions, laws and regulations.
NRECA’s Legal Seminars provide inside and outside counsel and CEOs with the latest information on the most complex legal matters that affect electric co-ops.
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More Resources
All
of these and more co-op specific broadband resources are available on our Telecommunications
& Broadband Resources page. Peruse the
featured resources or use the filters on the left side of the page to find the
resource most relevant to you.
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