Holston Electric Cooperative (HEC), an electric cooperative operating in Upper East Tennessee, launched a broadband unit, HolstonConnect, in 2017 and is roughly two-thirds of the way through a four-year network build-out. “High-speed broadband was just a dream in 2016 for up to 40 percent of residential homes in Holston’s service territory,” said HEC and HolstonConnect General Manager James Sandlin. “But just like HEC brought electricity to rural residents in 1940, HolstonConnect has dedicated itself to powering homes and businesses in a whole new way, by closing the digital divide in our service territory and improving education, online medical services, the local economy and so much more.”

Oklahoma Electric Cooperative (OEC), an electric cooperative headquartered in Norman, Oklahoma, is now in the third phase of a project to roll out high-speed fiber-to-the-home broadband service to its more than 43,000 members. The approximately 5,500-mile fiber project—launched through OEC subsidiary OEC Fiber—was conceived three years ago in response to members’ need for reliable broadband. “OEC Fiber was born out of members’ requests for the cooperative to enter the broadband arena,” OEC CEO Patrick Grace explained. “Many members had expressed frustration with the limited selection—or in some instances, the complete lack—of affordable, reliable, high-speed internet options in their areas.”

Tri-County Rural Electric Cooperative, an electric cooperative headquartered in Mansfield, Pennsylvania, is one of many cooperatives to enter the broadband business to help meet members’ increasing needs for high-speed internet access. Tri-County REC plans to roll out broadband service to its more than 16,600 members through its wholly owned, for-profit subsidiary, Tri-Co Connections. Tri-County REC has adopted a conservative approach it has taken to its investment, securing more than $50 million in funding support, doing substantial financial and market analysis and embracing a measured approach to deployment.