This is an important leap forward, but make no mistake: we are just getting started. The legislation was intended to encourage what you see today – EMCs and community leaders, working together on creative solutions to close the gap between those with internet service and those without. “This partnership is why I signed Senate Bill 2 in 2019 to allow EMCs the authority to provide broadband service. With expanded broadband access comes new job opportunities, improved education tools, and access to telemedicine,” said Governor Kemp. “The announcement we are making today will have a real impact on the lives of countless hardworking Georgians. The internet service will be powered by EMC fiber, but Conexon will provide the retail service to homes and businesses, managing account set-up, customer service and billing. The two EMCs will own the fiber and lease excess capacity to Conexon which has agreed to serve every EMC member with fiber-to-the-home internet speeds up to 1 gigabit per second. Under terms of the agreement, the EMCs will partner with Conexon, a full-service fiber broadband provider, to design and build a 6,890 mile fiber network that will serve two strategic purposes: provide improved electric service and increased reliability through smart grid capabilities, and provide high-speed internet access to all 80,000 of the two EMCs’ members within the next four years, beginning as early as June 2021.Ĭonexon works exclusively with electric cooperatives and is considered one of the pioneers in the electric cooperative broadband movement. Monroe County has also committed $1.3 million in local funds to incentivize the EMCs to start their projects in Monroe County. Central Georgia EMC (CGEMC) will invest $135 million, Southern Rivers Energy (SRE) will invest $53 million, and Conexon will contribute $21.5 million. The partnership includes a capital investment of more than $210 million overall. Governor Brian Kemp says that Central Georgia EMC (Jackson, GA) and Southern Rivers Energy (Barnesville, GA) will form a new partnership with Conexon to provide high-speed internet to 80,000 homes and businesses in 18 Middle Georgia counties: Bibb, Butts, Clayton, Coweta, Crawford, Fayette, Henry, Jasper, Jones, Lamar, Meriwether, Monroe, Morgan, Newton, Pike, Putnam, Spalding, and Upson.Ĭentral Georgia EMC has customers in Fayette County, while Southern Rivers Energy has customers in Coweta County. Network cables closeup with fiber optical background 80,000 EMC members to get access across 18 counties in mid-Georgia.

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