In the 1930s and 1940s, quality of life in rural Oklahoma and rural America blossomed with first-time access to electricity. Rural electric cooperatives energized sparsely populated communities bringing vitality and prosperity.

Today’s generations in rural America meet a different challenge: they need reliable access to broadband to foster that same vitality and prosperity in the communities they call home. Rising to the challenge are several rural electric cooperatives.

Nine distribution electric cooperatives that are members of the Oklahoma Association of Electric Cooperatives (OAEC) have formed fiber subsidiaries to provide broadband access in their service areas. These cooperatives have banded together to form the Cooperative Broadband Coalition (CBC) to advance the mission of rural broadband and to collectively represent the interests of those they serve.

The CBC is an independent organization that is affiliated with the statewide association, OAEC, which is voluntarily supported by 30 member-systems: 27 distribution electric cooperatives and three generation and transmission electric cooperatives.

“Electric cooperatives exist to serve their member-owners,” said Chris Meyers, OAEC general manager. “We commend the cooperatives that have been able to expand their service to provide rural broadband to the communities they serve. This essential service brings a significant positive impact to rural areas.”

The electric cooperative business model is based on member ownership and the delivery of a service that benefits all members. While conditions are unique for every electric cooperative, the co-ops that have been able to form a fiber subsidiary were able to do so based on accessibility of grants and other favorable economic conditions. A few other electric cooperatives are actively pursuing the formation of a fiber subsidiary while others partner with existing providers, when feasible, to extend service to their rural membership.

This is what we call the cooperative difference.