The FCC has plans, and funding, for experiments that explore how broadband can be expanded at a lower cost in rural America.
The experiments are designed to discover if nontraditional broadband providers, such as electric co-ops, will apply for available funds to build the networks needed to provide it in unserved and underserved areas.
Co-op directors and employees can learn FCC plan details in an NRECA webinar on Aug. 22 at cooperative.com. The session includes the requirements to successfully compete for the $100 million available for the experiments.
One Michigan electric co-op, Midwest Energy (Cassopolis), is already leading the charge to spread broadband to underserved areas. The co-op built a fiber optic system across its lines and started providing its first residential members with high-speed internet service this summer.
Catch Up on Other Webinars You May Have Missed
New webinars are now available on-demand so you can get caught up on key issues at your convenience. The Cooperative Research Network explored solar technologies in “State of the Solar Market: Knowing the Facts and Understanding the Trends” and NRECA and the American Public Power Association reviewed new “EPA regulations on cooling water intake structures.” Download these or other past webinars from cooperative.com
