Georgia EMC Rural Broadband Initiative

WITH YOU

EMPOWERED

GEORGIA’S EMCs TAKING BOLD STEPS TO HELP SOLVE THE LACK OF RURAL BROADBAND

All Georgians need access to high-speed internet to run their businesses and households; educate their children; obtain telehealth services; worship and stay in touch with friends and family. But without access to high-speed internet, most of the state’s rural communities cannot compete in today’s economy.

As leaders in our communities, EMCs want to be part of the solution to expand broadband in Georgia, and we are taking action. In recent years, EMCs have worked closely with state policymakers on a number of changes to Georgia law that help expand broadband in the state. Some EMCs have created affiliates to provide broadband service directly to their members while others have chosen to leverage infrastructure by partnering with an existing provider.

26 of Georgia’s EMCs have made broadband project announcements with plans to provide approximately 339,000 homes and businesses with high-speed internet service in 108 Georgia counties through affiliates and partnership agreements. Since 2020, EMCs have committed to invest more than $1 billion to expand broadband in their service areas.

Since 2019

EMC BROADBAND PROJECT ANNOUNCEMENTS

HOMES & BUSINESSES TO BE PROVIDED WITH SERVICE

GA COUNTIES INCLUDED
IN SERVICE EXPANSION

+$1B

COMMITTED BY EMCs
TO EXPAND BROADBAND

GEORGIA’S EMCs

UNITED AS ONE POWERHOUSE

It was in the 1930s that Georgia’s Electric Membership Cooperatives (EMCs) were first organized to help bring electricity to rural Georgians so that they too could partake in the cultural and economic prosperity sweeping the country.
Eighty-five years later, we are 5 million residents and businesses strong, united in a purpose as owners of our respective co-ops across Georgia – and an economic development powerhouse in our state.

But we share much more than just the pleasure of reliable power. We share the opportunity to make a difference in our local communities, and EMCs do so every day.

If supporting your local food pantry, high school sports team or fall festival comes to mind, you’re right. But it’s also college and technical school scholarships for local students; funding for many school systems’ needs from classroom supplies and sports equipment to large scale building projects; and support for families in need, at-risk youth and military veterans.

Anywhere you go in Georgia, an EMC is investing in the local needs and priorities of its members.

PROVIDE

million

Georgians with electricity

EMCS EMPLOY APPROX.

hardworking residents

OPERATE

miles of power lines

COVERING

of Georgia

Georgia’s 41 Electric Cooperatives Serve 5 Million Residents

ABOUT GEORGIA EMC

Georgia EMC is the statewide trade association representing the state’s 41 EMCs, Oglethorpe Power Corp., Georgia Transmission Corp. and Georgia System Operations Corp. Georgia’s customer-owned EMCs provide electricity and related services to 5 million people, nearly half of Georgia’s population, across 73 percent of the state’s land area.