The participating CSA members are the fiber subsidiaries of Alcorn County Electric Power, Natchez Trace Electric Power Association, Prentiss County Electric Power Association, Tishomingo County Electric Power Association, and Tombigbee Electric Power Association.
Five CSA member utilities are among 17 electric cooperatives across Mississippi that through their fiber subsidiaries have joined forces to create MS Fiber LLC, a middle-mile fiber network dedicated to strengthening the state’s broadband infrastructure.
The Co-operative broadband movement in Mississippi, touted as the largest economic development project in Mississippi’s history, is further improved by this initiative which aims to bridge the digital divide by delivering reliable, affordable high-speed internet to the state’s most rural and underserved communities.
“Middle-mile networks function by connecting national and regional internet providers to local networks that serve homes and businesses,” said Brad Robison, CEO of Tallahatchie Valley Electric Power Association/TVIfiber and President of MS Fiber, LLC, “Typically, co-ops offering high-speed internet contract with third parties for access to a middle-mile network. MS Fiber LLC eliminates the need for such arrangements, helping co-ops avoid the high costs of purchasing from third parties while providing greater control over their service, particularly during outages. Additionally, it allows greater wholesale purchasing power to obtain access from higher tier providers, rather than buying from competitive entities.”
Each participating cooperative has contributed six fibers from their existing broadband networks and built interconnects making up the network. Phase 1 and 2 are presently providing service and the two remaining phases will be by the years end.
This joint investment is expected to significantly enhance the performance, speed, and reliability of internet service across Mississippi.
The participating CSA members are the fiber subsidiaries of Alcorn County Electric Power, Natchez Trace Electric Power Association, Prentiss County Electric Power Association, Tishomingo County Electric Power Association, and Tombigbee Electric Power Association.
“Being part of MS Fiber is like owning our future. Think of it as LPC ownership of TVA from day one in 1933. We realized early on that buying DIA service from Tier 3 providers and often from competitive entities was not a good long-term plan, said Scott R. Hendrix, CEO Tomgibee/Tombigbee Fiber. “That hit home for Tombigbee, when a provider told us our outage was due to a ‘fiber cut at the river in Pontotoc County.’ We didn’t believe them since there is no river in Pontotoc County that the fiber path crossed. Accordingly, we learned that if we control the wholesale side, we control the reliability, responsiveness, and resiliency of the network.”
