EMPOWER Receives Funding for Fiber Internet to 4,800 Southside Addresses

On May 11, Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin’s office announced the Southside Planning District Commission (SPDC) and its internet partner, EMPOWER Broadband, were awarded $8.5 million to expand its fiber network and services to an additional 4,804 addresses in portions of...

Electric Cooperatives: Pioneers Once Again

Statewide association celebrates graduation of first Fiber Technician Apprenticeship Program On April 21, five young men proudly accepted certificates of completion on their final day of the inaugural class of the Fiber Technician Apprenticeship Program, a joint...

Fiber Tech Training Begins

Thanks to the expertise and support from the Fiber Broadband Association and VMDAEC Associate Member S&N Communications, the first Fiber Technician Apprenticeship Program kicked off this month at the Association Training Center in Palmyra, Va. S&N...

Brunswick Expansion Complete in Record Time

Following only three short years, Mecklenburg Electric Cooperative, along with its wholly owned subsidiary, EMPOWER Broadband, is pleased to announce it has met its obligation in the Connect America Fund II Auction to fully deploy fiber-to-the-premises in...

2023 Session Recap

After almost two months of negotiation and debate, legislators adjourned the 2023 Virginia General Assembly Session on Saturday without a budget. While some business of the Commonwealth is left unfinished, Virginia’s electric cooperatives had resounding victories and...