Page 36 - Carroll County NCG 2021

CARROLL EMC

AND SYNCGLOBAL

SPEARHEAD BROADBAND EXPANSION
INTO RURAL COMMUNITIES By Andrew Smith

Roughly a decade ago, the leaders of Carroll Electric Membership Cooperative (EMC)
began exploring the potential for installing fiber optic broadband connections
to rural areas using its existing powerlines. Finally, after navigating numerous
challenges and securing funding, Carroll EMC and Bremen-based SyncGlobal
Telecom stand ready to deploy modern fiber optic networks and broadband
speed Internet into the cooperative’s rural service territory in 2021.

The initial capital investment for the first
phase will amount to almost $20 million, with
$12.5 million in grant funds from the United
States Department of Agriculture’s Broadband
ReConnect Program and the remaining balance
split between SyncGlobal and Carroll EMC. These
funds will help to begin the extensive process
of hanging fiber along Carroll EMC’s existing
infrastructure. The project is slated to begin
upon authorization from Rural Utilities Service, a
subdivision of the USDA.

The project’s goal is to serve rural residents and
businesses in its territory with reliable broadband
speed Internet at a reasonable price, said Jay Gill,
Carroll EMC’s vice president for communications
and economic development.

32 www.carroll-ga.org | 770-832-2446 Carroll County Chamber of Commerce