How presentation will benefit audience: Adult learners are more interested in a subject if they know how or why it is important to them. Advantages: Regional partnerships, Proximity to major metros, In- house expertise, & Strong community support.
Before you begin… Lessons Learned on the Road to Broadband Blue Ridge Mountain EMC NOTE: THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION SHOULD BE CONSIDERED PROPRIETARY AND MAY NOT BE SHARED OR RELEASED TO THE PUBLIC WITHOUT EXPRESS WRITTEN CONSENT FROM BLUE RIDGE MOUNTAIN EMCĢ Blue Ridge Mountain EMC – Serving GA & NCĮlectric Cooperative serving three North Georgia and two Western North Carolina counties since 1938 Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) All-Requirements Distributor 53,400+ meters (42,500+ members) / 200 employees 6,100 miles of electric distribution line 40 miles of transmission & sub-transmission line 10 substations (+1 shared TVA-owned station) Entered broadband business in 2002 Today: 1,100 + miles of fiber Around 8,000 fiber customers and 24,000 homes passed Adding average of 92.8 customers/month Challenges: Rural and Mountainous footprint, Multi-state jurisdictions, Limited industry base, Low customer density (8.3 per mile), Among lowest sales per residential customer in the nation (around 850 kwh), and initial broadband take rates (<25%).