Expanding South Carolina's Broadband Service
Central Electric Power Cooperative, Inc. (“Central”) owns over 800 miles of electric transmission lines in the State of South Carolina. Pursuant to the South Carolina Broadband Accessibility Act, Central is authorized to lease its excess fiber and license certain facilities, including its transmission poles, to communications service providers for the purpose of facilitating the provision of retail broadband services.
Central is not a retail broadband provider. Rather, Central has been developing a broadband program in accordance with the Act that will enable broadband providers to improve statewide accessibility more quickly and less expensively.
Central’s Board of Trustees approved rates and terms that could allow broadband providers to more quickly build out retail service to unserved areas of South Carolina by accessing Central’s transmission infrastructure and excess fiber.
Beginning October 1, 2021, the following rates will apply to transmission pole attachments and the leasing of excess dark fiber:
- The rate for transmission pole attachments will be $140.49 per pole per year.
- The rate for leasing excess fiber is $62.39 per fiber per mile per month.
For more information about excess fiber leasing and pole attachments, please email broadband_SC@cepci.org or call Central’s Broadband phone at 803-834-7955.
