Sign up for our Broadband Access Survey! 

 

As members of an electric co-op, many of us live and work in rural areas. These communities are filled with beauty and natural resources unlike anywhere else–but we can find ourselves lacking a technological resource: high speed internet, also known as broadband.

Central Alabama Electric Cooperative (CAEC) has been researching the need for broadband in our service territory and we could use your help.

CAEC is surveying communities to determine if there is a true need for broadband in our area. Installing broadband is very expensive, which is why we are investigating whether there is a true need for service. Therefore, we’re asking for a $25 commitment to get your address placed on an interest list. By expressing your interest now, you will avoid a much higher connection fee later if the project moves forward.

This amount is fully refundable if there is not enough interest from our communities. At this time – this is only a survey – we will keep you posted on this project’s progress.

FAQ’s

Q: Why are you asking for $25 in the survey?
A: Installing broadband is very expensive, and we need serious responses to this survey in order to make a well-informed decision – this $25 should help ensure that those who participate in the survey are truly interested in service.

Q: How long will you keep my $25?
A: Although it depends on the survey response, we expect the board to be able to make a decision by the end of the year on whether or not to move forward with the project. If the venture does not move forward – the amount can be refunded at that time. If the project does go forward, the $25 will take the place of a connection fee (which will be much higher for those who did not participate in the survey).

 

Q: When will I get high speed internet at my home?
A: Not only will this depend on the location of the service, but if the board makes the decision to move forward with the project, construction on the backbone of the system will take a few months to begin. The survey website, www.caecaccess.coop, will become the primary location for updates and to monitor progress.

 

Q: What connection speeds would be available if the project moves forward?
A: At a minimum, speeds would exceed the FCC definition of broadband, which is 25 Mbps (meg) downstream/3Mbps upstream. Most average speeds will be 100-200 Mbps downstream and up to 1Gbps (gig) would be available at a higher cost.