Georgia Magazine - December 2019 - 27

GEORGIA'S Energy Outlook

By Bill Verner

What's happening with rural
broadband?

undreds of thousands of Georgians
have been asking this question for
several years now. These voices are
being heard, as lawmakers in Atlanta and
Washington, D.C., have launched several rural
broadband initiatives.

Comparison of FCC and Georgia maps
Elbert County

Tift County

Lumpkin County

FCC maps

Defining the problem
My daughters in middle school know they've
got to define a problem before it can be solved.
Georgia maps
Unfortunately, the Federal Communications
Commission (FCC), which is responsible for
producing and maintaining accurate broadband
maps, earns a failing grade.
FCC maps, which use data submitted by current service providers, have been grossly overstating the areas considered "served" by broadband
Served
Unserved
Source: Georgia Broadband Deployment Initiative
providers. Why are the FCC maps important?
Simply put, federal funds for rural broadband
These maps illustrate inaccuracies in the broadband maps being used by the FCC.
have been distributed using the FCC's flawed
The errors in these maps persuaded Georgia officials to develop their own maps.
maps. It's no wonder that rural broadband access
is such a mess. Thankfully, Georgia is leading the
way nationally in defining the broadband problem
$600 million pilot rural broadband initiative, ReConnect, and has
with new, accurate maps.
received applications requesting more than $1.4 billion. A second
Recent developments:
round of applications for an additional $550 million in ReConnect
* Deana Perry, executive director of the Georfunding will begin early next year.
gia Broadband Deployment Initiative (GBDI),
* The FCC recently announced plans for a $20 billion rural broadband
testified to state lawmakers that a detailed
program, the Rural Digital Opportunity Fund, which should be
broadband map showing areas served in
launched by the end of 2020.
Georgia will be completed by June 30, 2020.
* Under pressure from Congress, the FCC
EMCs authorized to consider broadband options
recently started a process to revamp its maps,
Gov. Brian Kemp signed Senate Bill 2 (SB 2) on April 26, authorizing
but it could be another two to three years
electric membership cooperatives (EMCs) to provide broadband services.
before completion.
Being a retail broadband provider may not be feasible for many EMCs, but
SB 2 also provides all EMCs greater latitude to leverage their own infraFunding
structures-power lines and rights of way, etc.-to help remove barriers to
Without accurate maps to define the problem,
broadband deployment for other service providers.
it's almost impossible to provide reasonable estiThanks to the passage of SB 2, EMCs have taken significant actions in
mates of how much it will cost to bridge the digital
just the past few months:
divide. Some cost models suggest the price tag could
* EMCs led or supported three of the five USDA ReConnect
far exceed $1 billion in Georgia alone.
applications from Georgia.
Recent progress on funding:
* EMCs initiated or are evaluating feasibility studies or other ways
* The GBDI has developed the framework for a
to advance broadband deployment.
broadband grant program, and state lawmakWe know it's frustrating for those who suffer from no or inadequate
ers will soon be considering initial funding
service. But take heart, rural Georgia: Significant progress is being made,
for this new grant program.
although patience will be required as steps are taken to bridge the digital
* The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)
divide. Stay informed at garuralbroadband.com.
began accepting applications this year for its
Bill Verner is senior vice president of Georgia EMC in Tucker.
www.georgiamagazine.org

https://www.usda.gov/reconnect https://broadband.georgia.gov/2018-georgia-legislators-passed-achieving-connectivity-everywhere-ace-act-explore-site-learn-more https://broadband.georgia.gov/2018-georgia-legislators-passed-achieving-connectivity-everywhere-ace-act-explore-site-learn-more http://www.house.ga.gov/Documents/CommitteeDocuments/2019/RDC/Moultrie/Deana_Perry_Broadband_Mapping.pdf https://www.fcc.gov/document/fcc-proposes-204-billion-rural-digital-opportunity-fund http://www.house.ga.gov/Documents/CommitteeDocuments/2019/RDC/Moultrie/Deana_Perry_Broadband_Mapping.pdf http://www.house.ga.gov/Documents/CommitteeDocuments/2019/RDC/Moultrie/Deana_Perry_Broadband_Mapping.pdf https://docs.fcc.gov/public/attachments/DOC-358832A1.pdf https://docs.fcc.gov/public/attachments/DOC-358832A1.pdf https://georgiaemc.com/news/news.asp?id=448768 http://www.house.ga.gov/Documents/CommitteeDocuments/2019/RDC/Moultrie/Deana_Perry_GBDI_Overview.pdf http://www.garuralbroadband.com http://www.georgiamagazine.org

Georgia Magazine - December 2019

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Georgia Magazine - December 2019