Colquitt EMC Rates: Bringing High-Speed Internet to Rural Georgia

Georgia's rural areas have long struggled with limited access to high-speed internet. However, thanks to the efforts of electric cooperatives like Colquitt EMC, this is changing rapidly. In a recent announcement, Kinetic, a provider of traditional phone service and broadband, revealed plans to invest $11.1 million in bringing fiber-optic cable to over 17,000 homes and businesses in Colquitt County.

This project is made possible through a public-private partnership between Kinetic and Colquitt EMC, with funding provided by the Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds program, part of the national American Rescue Plan COVID-19 stimulus package. Additionally, the company will use about $21.4 million in state grant money from the federal government to cover costs.

The new fiber-optic network is expected to bring high-speed internet speeds of up to 8 Gbps to nearly 7,400 new customers, with Kinetic serving approximately 70% of Colquitt County, Georgia. Currently, about 40% of the county, or over 9,700 homes and businesses, are already eligible for Kinetic's fiber broadband services.

Colquitt EMC has been instrumental in delivering fiber-optic cable to its service area, with the company already having laid more than 180 miles of fiber cable. Kinetic plans to lay an additional 440 miles of optical fiber cable as it works to bring high-speed internet to all communities within the county.

Parts of Moultrie, Berlin, and Doerun have already been connected to high-speed fiber service, with other areas such as Funston and Norman Park set to benefit from the new construction. This transformation is expected to open up new opportunities for residents and businesses alike, including enhanced quality of life and economic growth.

The success of this project serves as a model for how electric cooperatives can bring broadband to rural areas, which often lack access to high-speed internet. In fact, according to an Institute for Local Self-Reliance report, over 90 electric cooperatives have built FTTH networks, with the National Rural Electric Cooperatives Association (NRECA) estimating that electric cooperatives could bring broadband to as many as 6.3 million households.

'We're thrilled that the vast majority of Colquitt County will be able to experience the extraordinary advantages of fiber connectivity,' said Kinetic Georgia operations President Michael Foor. 'This partnership with Colquitt Electric Membership Corp is a key element in making this project a reality.'

The new high-speed internet network is expected to have a significant impact on the local community, providing residents and businesses with faster speeds and greater reliability. As the digital divide continues to narrow, it's projects like these that are helping to bring rural Georgia into the 21st century.

Colquitt emc rates