ARLINGTON, Va. – Thirty-two electric cooperatives were announced today as winners of the Federal Communications Commission Connect American Fund II (CAF II) reverse auction. Those winning electric cooperatives will collectively receive more than $250 million over ten years to help defray the costs of deploying broadband in unserved areas.
The CAF II auction marks the first time that the FCC allowed electric cooperatives to bid for funding as broadband service providers. Click here for a full list of winning bidders.
“Today’s 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. We are committed to continuing the rural broadband conversation and working with policymakers at the federal, state and local level on technology and funding solutions that will enrich the lives of rural American families and businesses.”
The National Rural Electric Cooperative Association is the national trade association representing more than 900 local electric cooperatives. From growing suburbs to remote farming communities, electric co-ops serve as engines of economic development for 42 million Americans across 56 percent of the nation’s landscape. As local businesses built by the consumers they serve, electric cooperatives have meaningful ties to rural America and invest $12 billion annually in their communities.
- 3E8 Broadband Solutions, LLC (AR)
- Barry Electric Cooperative (MO)
- HolstonConnect, LLC (TN)
- Illinois Electric Cooperative (IL)
- Lake Region Technology & Communications, LLC (OK)
- Maquoketa Valley Rural Electric Cooperative (IA)
- Meriwether Lewis Connect LLC (TN)
- Mid-States Services, LLC (MO)
- Orange County REMC (IN)
- Roseau Electric Cooperative, Inc. (MN)
- Tombigbee Communications, LLC (AL)
- Tri-County Electric Cooperative (MI)
- Tri-County Rural Electric Cooperative, Inc. (PA)
Rural Electric Cooperative Consortium includes the following cooperatives:
- Arkansas Valley Electric Cooperative Corporation (AR)
- B-A-R-C Electric Cooperative (VA)
- Callabyte Technology, LLC (MO)
- Central Virginia Electric Cooperative (VA)
- Co-Mo Comm, Inc. (MO)
- Consolidated Electric Cooperative (MO)
- Douglas Services, Inc. (OR)
- Great Lakes Energy Cooperative (MI)
- Midwest Energy Cooperative (MI)
- NEXT, Powered by NAEC, LLC (AR)
- OzarksGo, LLC (AR)
- Prince George Electric Cooperative (VA)
- GoSEMO, LLC (MO)
- South Central Arkansas Electric Cooperative, Inc. (AR)
- Sullivan County Rural Electric Cooperative, Inc. (PA)
- Gibson Connect, LLC (TN)
- Mecklenburg Electric Cooperative (VA)
- Oklahoma Electric Cooperative (OK)
- East Central Oklahoma Cooperative, Inc. (OK)
- United Services, Inc. (MO)
- Electric Cooperatives of Mississippi (A.A.L.) (MS)
- Conexon, LLC (AR)