Georgia Magazine - June 2019 - 29

GEORGIA'S Energy Outlook

By Dennis Chastain

Patience required after passing of
broadband legislation

GEORGIA GOVERNOR'S OFFICE

ocal electric membership cooperatives (EMCs) have powered
an equal footing in our state's evolving economy and
millions of Georgia homes, schools and businesses with reliable,
can allow improved access to our educational system,
affordable power for more than 80 years. But for several years a
transformative telemedicine, new employment op"digital divide" has been growing between rural Georgia and more urban
portunities and an improved quality of life.
areas, putting hundreds of thousands of Georgians without high-speed
Despite the potential, patience will be required.
broadband internet at a tremendous disadvantage.
Rural broadband will not come overnight. Each
During the 2019 General Assembly, important progress was made
EMC will need to work with its board and its memtoward removing barriers to broadband expansion as lawmakers passed
bers to explore the potential challenges and opporSenate Bill 2, championed by Sen. Steve Gooch
tunities in the communities
(R-Dahlonega) and Rep. Jay Powell (R-Camilla).
it serves. Some EMCs may
Access to broadband services find that offering broadband
SB 2 provides essential legal clarity to Georgia's
can give rural Georgians an
EMCs, clearly authorizing how they can participate
directly to members is not
in efforts to improve rural broadband services in
operationally or financially
equal footing in our state's
their communities.
feasible. Other EMCs may
evolving economy.
On April 26, Gov. Brian Kemp signed SB 2,
choose to rely on partnerempowering EMCs across Georgia to evaluate how
ships with existing providers,
they might contribute to the expansion of broadband services in their areas. rather than providing direct-to-consumer broadband
Georgia's 41 EMCs can consider how-and for many, if-they can or should services. And in some cases, many of an EMC's membe part of the solution.
bers may already have high-speed internet service.
High-speed internet is only one of the keys to unlocking the potential
Regardless of whether an EMC decides to explore
of rural Georgia. Access
offering broadband services, all of Georgia's EMCs are
to broadband services
responsible fiscal stewards for their communities and
To learn more, visit
can give rural Georgians
will apply the same prudent approach to evaluating
garuralbroadband.com
the deployment of broadband.
As Georgia's EMCs move forward,
we are thankful that Gov. Kemp and
the General Assembly have removed
another legislative barrier to expanding broadband services as they seek to
bridge the digital divide.
While many decisions remain to
be made related to rural broadband
services, we can promise one thing
on behalf of our members: Georgia's
EMCs will continue to support the
communities they serve with safe,
reliable and affordable electricity, and
an unmatched cooperative spirit of
service.
Dennis Chastain is president/
CEO of Tucker-based Georgia EMC, the
statewide trade association representing the state's 41 electric cooperatives,
Oglethorpe Power Corp., Georgia
Gov. Brian Kemp, center, signs Senate Bill 2 into law during an April 26 event held at the University
Transmission Corp. and Georgia
of North Georgia in Dahlonega.
System Operations Corp.
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Georgia Magazine - June 2019

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