Our decision to expand into broadband wasn’t just about infrastructure—it was about meeting a real and growing need for our members. As your cooperative, we are committed to delivering essential services that improve quality of life across our community. The investment reflects that commitment and aligns directly with Principle 7: Concern for Community.
Here’s what drove the decision:
- Public Funding Made It Possible
Over the past several years, federal and state programs have made funding available to expand broadband in underserved areas around the country. These programs were created to help close the digital divide—especially in rural communities like ours.By participating in these programs, we’ve been able to bring in outside dollars to invest locally, without passing the full cost onto our members. - We Were Uniquely Positioned to Deliver
We already own the infrastructure—the poles, rights-of-way, and service lines—that made an expansion into broadband possible. That put us in a strong position to build out fiber efficiently and affordably. - Broadband Access Is a Modern Utility
High-speed internet is now a basic necessity—for school, work, healthcare, and public safety. Rural communities like ours should have the same access to broadband as more urban areas. Providing reliable access to broadband is a natural extension of the cooperative mission we were founded on. - Fiber Strengthens Our Electric System Too
Fiber doesn’t just bring internet—it also enables smart grid technology. It helps us detect outages faster, improve system reliability, and prepare for the future of energy—including solar integration and real-time usage data.
Bottom line:
We made this investment to better serve our members—now and in the years ahead. We know we could have communicated that more clearly, and we’re working hard to do better moving forward. But this decision was rooted in long-term service, local equity, and the same cooperative values we were founded on. Visit Fiber-To-Home Project for more detailed information.