Thirty-three electric cooperatives will share $220 million over 10 years to help defray the costs of deploying broadband in unserved areas. The co-ops were winners in what the Federal Communications Commission calls its Connect America Fund II reverse auction. The auction marked the first time that the FCC allowed electric co-ops to bid for funding as broadband service providers. The “auction results highlight the power of cooperative partnerships and collaboration as electric co-ops work to bring broadband to unserved communities in rural America,” said NRECA CEO Jim Matheson. “We thank the FCC for allowing electric co-ops to participate in this auction, and look forward to building on this success moving forward.” Winning electric cooperatives include: Barry Electric Cooperative in Missouri, HolstonConnect LLC in Tennessee, Illinois Electric Cooperative, Lake Region Technology and Communications LLC in Oklahoma and Maquoketa Valley Rural Electric Cooperative in Iowa. Click here for a full list of winning bidders.
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