![]() Georgia EMC is the statewide trade association representing the state's 41 electric cooperatives, Oglethorpe Power Corp., Georgia Transmission Corp. Currently, ETC has 2,708 miles of copper lines, 2,010 miles of coax cable and 652 miles of high-speed fiber. ![]() ETC actively evaluates opportunities to expand broadband in and around its service area. ETC serves residents and businesses in north Georgia and Tennessee. Founded in 1940, Amicalola EMC has provided electricity and related services to north Georgia for 80 years.Įstablished in 1903 as Ellijay Telephone Company (ETC), today ETC is a diversified communications company providing internet, telephone, cable television and security services. “Inspired by the building momentum among electric co-ops, other EMCs are negotiating with providers in hopes of announcing partnership agreements of their own in the near future,” said Dennis Chastain, president of Georgia EMC, the trade association representing the state’s 41 electric cooperatives.Īmicalola EMC is a not-for-profit electric cooperative serving over 50,000 locations in north Georgia in portions of Bartow, Cherokee, Dawson, Fannin, Forsyth, Gilmer, Gordon, Lumpkin, Murray and Pickens counties. In addition to today’s news from Amicalola EMC and ETC, other EMC partnerships and projects were announced earlier this year by Carroll EMC, Colquitt EMC and Diverse Power to expand access for thousands of Georgia households. Some, like Blue Ridge Mountain EMC and Habersham EMC, have created affiliates and are already providing high-speed service to members and many are exploring or have formed partnerships with broadband providers. In recent years, Georgia EMCs have been aggressively pursuing solutions to help expand broadband. “We look forward to providing them with a state-of-the-art network for their internal needs, while at the same time, providing gigabit fiber optic broadband service to all the homes and businesses along the new routes.” “We are very excited and humbled that Amicalola EMC chose to move forward with us on this project,” said ETC President Jason Smith. We’ve worked on joint projects for many years, and we are happy to partner once again with a trusted and reliable provider like ETC.” We are excited about working with ETC to help bridge that broadband divide, while at the same time improving reliability for our members. “We know that a lack of adequate internet access places a hardship on rural areas. “It is a win-win for our members,” said Todd Payne, CEO of Amicalola EMC. ![]() The partnership announced today between Amicalola EMC and ETC is a great example of what our bill was intended to do - give our state’s EMCs the freedom to decide what solution works best in their communities," Gooch remarked. "As the lead sponsor of Senate Bill 2, it was my intent for the state to give our EMCs the legal authority to be a part of solving Georgia's digital divide. “This project demonstrates how companies can come together for the benefit of their customers and it’s wonderful to see two neighbors working together to provide our area with expanded broadband service that will create better economic opportunities, improve access to education, and provide an enhanced quality of life,” Ralston concluded. “I want to applaud Amicalola EMC and ETC on the formation of this exciting broadband partnership and their continued focus on making life better for the residents of North Georgia,” said Georgia House Speaker David Ralston (R-Blue Ridge), whose district encompasses areas that the partnership intends to serve. ![]() ETC will add more than 250 miles of new fiber to its network, which will accommodate broadband growth as consumer demand in the region increases. The expansion will include 220 new miles of broadband lines, completing a 450-to-500-mile fiber optic ring connecting the electric co-op’s substations and switches. Terms of the agreement call for Amicalola EMC to invest $6.5-to-7 million to add more than 250 miles of high-speed connectivity to ETC’s network, providing broadband access to approximately 6,000 customers. The companies are working to provide greater access to high-speed internet in their shared North Georgia service areas that include portions of Cherokee, Dawson, Lumpkin and Pickens counties.ĭetails of the partnership were made public before an audience that included Georgia Senate Majority Whip Steve Gooch (R-Dahlonega), long a champion of rural broadband expansion, House Rural Development Caucus Co-Chair Rick Jasperse (R-Jasper) and other elected officials and business leaders. JASPER, Ga.-( BUSINESS WIRE)-Efforts to provide broadband in unserved areas of Georgia have taken another big step forward with a joint announcement in Jasper today of a new partnership between Amicalola EMC and Ellijay Telephone Company (ETC).
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