Southside Electric Cooperative (SEC) understands the importance of Broadband in our communities, which is why here at SEC, there is a sense of eagerness to work with any company that is looking to provide internet in our service territory. We do this by allowing companies to attach to SEC poles. As with all companies that SEC has worked with in the past, the same standards are used to maintain system integrity for all received requests. SEC proudly announces that we have successfully worked with 20 companies to provide over 14,000 pole attachments.
Maintaining system reliability and rate affordability are some of SEC’s top priorities. SEC’s service territory is susceptible to extreme weather events; therefore, maintaining a well-designed and resilient grid is of utmost importance for SEC members when working with companies during this process. SEC hires an independent engineering firm to conduct a full assessment of the poles that need an attachment, as this does add extra weight to them. Due to this extra weight, specific poles must be upgraded if clearance requirements are impeded or the pole cannot handle the additional weight load. SEC members do not absorb the cost of these replacements as this is paid for by the provider attaching to the pole.
Why Doesn’t SEC Provide Broadband?
SEC has conducted four feasibility studies, as recent as 2022, to determine if this is financially feasible for our members. All four studies have shown that the Cooperative members would have to take on significant financial risk. While SEC has chosen not to pursue Broadband directly, we will continue to work with companies pursuing their own systems.
The most recent feasibility study showed that completing a Broadband project would cost SEC $320,000,000. We have a dedicated CEO who works every day to keep your Cooperative financially stable in all decisions that are made.
What Else Has SEC Done to Help Bring Broadband to the Communities?
In 2020, SEC issued a Request for Information to all internet service providers included in the governor’s office network of providers. This was an invitation for wireless providers to utilize communication towers. SEC received three responses, all of which ceased inquiries once a mapping file showed SEC’s density.
In 2021, SEC supported many counties in our service territory by writing letters of recommendation and support for their Virginia Telecommunications Initiative (VATI) grant requests.
In 2022, SEC evaluated a middle-mile fiber project similar to Dominion and other larger utilities in the Commonwealth of Virginia. We were actively looking for partners, which included one of the more active ISPs involved in these projects around the state. Similar to the RFI outcome, none chose to proceed once looking at our service territory’s mapping file and related density.
In 2022, SEC also worked with CVEC (Firefly) on siting a telecommunications hut on SEC property to help bring broadband to Powhatan County. The facility was physically constructed in 2023 and is now part of broadband delivery in the County.
In 2023, SEC worked with Shentel in Bedford and Campbell counties to design and perform make-ready upgrades for an ongoing Shentel project. That work continues into 2024. Shentel has estimated they will attach to approximately 1,500 SEC poles for this project.
In 2024, SEC will continue working with Comcast, Brightspeed, Lumos/SEGRA, and others with ongoing attachment projects related to broadband buildouts across our service territory.