About

Following the Inventory and BAAT conducted by ECC, Madison County needed to garner funding to move their broadband initiatives forward.

Solution

Madison County decided to pursue a ReConnect Grant through the USDA. Through the Inventory process and continued evaluation, several items were decided upon for the grant application:

• The identification of 26 proposed funded service areas addressing the broadband needs of 1,427 households and businesses in the County.

• Defined 8 non-funded service areas with 6,521 businesses and residents to support the sustainability of the project

• The network would consist of 314 miles of fiber: backbone = 134 miles, PFSA laterals = 164 miles, NFSA laterals = 16 miles

• Project’s total cost was estimated at $17,655,605

• A public-private partnership with Empire Access was solidified

Outcome

The grant application was submitted on 4/14/2020. Madison County was awarded $10,156,160 from the USDA ReConnect Program on 10/12/2021.

• Madison County owns the backbone, laterals, drops, and CPE supporting the PFSA’s and the networking equipment

• Empire Access to own the laterals, drops, and CPE

• Empire Access to maintain the entire network, equipment, CPE, take and process customer orders, invoice, and support customers

• Madison County/Empire agreement – utilize fiber network and equipment in exchange for maintaining and servicing customers and revenue share