Liberty County Development Authority’s contribution to a project to spread broadband internet service across more of eastern Liberty County was noted at a recent launch party.
“The Authority is pleased to have contributed its small part of making this project possible through its provision of free land for the construction of the
substation in Tradeport East Business Center,” Allen Brown, Chairman of the Liberty County Development Authority, said at the launch of Coastal Fiber Inc.
Mr. Brown explained that the Tradeport East substation’s connections to high voltage transmission lines that power industries in the park also carry 96 strands of fiber optic cable that connect to a regional internet hub in Atlanta. Utilities in the park already include broadband internet.
The project is a collaboration between Coastal Electric Cooperative and Darien Communication and will expand high-speed internet service to 16,000 homes and businesses in the cooperative’s service area, Liberty, Bryan, and Long counties.
The July 20 launch at the clubhouse of Bluff Creek subdivision on the coast in Liberty County attracted speakers from across the state, including Gov. Brian Kemp.
“I am thankful to Coastal Electric Cooperative for stepping up to help hardworking Georgians gain access to new job opportunities, improved education tools, telemedicine, and much more,” the governor said in a video presentation. “This project will allow thousands of Georgians to have access to reliable, high-speed internet—which is a fundamental part of continued growth. Signed into law in 2019, SB 2 continues to encourage EMCs and community leaders to work together to close the gap on the digital divide in our state.”
Coastal Fiber includes a capital investment of nearly $40 million by Coastal Electric and partner Darien Communications to build a fiber network that will be leased to the cooperative’s broadband affiliate. Pending regulatory approval, the plan is to complete phase one in four years, with the first customers, in the Sunbury area, connected as early as 2022.
“Our community deserves access to the tools that help our residents and businesses to successfully participate in today’s economy,” State Rep. Al Williams said, thanking Coastal Electric and Darien Communications for their work.
Coastal’s CEO Chis Fettes said, “This marks the beginning of a new era for our members who have long awaited high-speed internet service. The launch of Coastal Fiber, Inc. will finally make it possible for homes and businesses in this region to have access to critical broadband service.”