Electric Co-ops Form Broadband Association

In what they say is a first, five electric cooperatives in three states have formed an association of broadband co-ops aimed at bolstering services in underserved rural areas. The Virginia, Maryland & Delaware Association of Broadband Cooperatives (VMDABC) is structurally modeled after existing cooperative associations. VMDABC will offer classes of membership based on types of co-op members and their goals. VMDABC classes of membership will include co-op affiliates offering retail fiber, co-ops pursuing middle mile or “backbone” fiber, other broadband entities, and vendors. The five class A founders are Prince George Electric Cooperative; BARC Electric Cooperative (and subsidiary BARC CONNECTS); Central Virginia Electric Cooperative (and subsidiary Firefly Fiber Broadband); Choptank Electric Cooperative (and subsidiary Choptank Fiber LLC) and Mecklenburg Electric Cooperative. Founding members of the new association all are in various stages of creating fiber-to-the-home networks. The association will provide management and technical support to members through a management services agreement and will have separate legislative representation in the Maryland and Virginia legislatures.