Telecompetitor – October 25, 2016
by Joan Engebretson
The Institute for Local Self Reliance estimates that there were 63 gigabit deployments by cooperatives in the U.S. as of December 31, 2015. ILSR based its research on Form 477 data that broadband providers submit to the FCC. Using that data, researchers identified about 200 companies advertising gigabit downstream speeds, then narrowed the field down to 63 by checking public sources to determine which providers were cooperatives.
Scanning through the ILSR’s list reveals that the majority of the 63 cooperatives are telecom cooperatives. But there are some power cooperatives on the list as well.
ILSR also notes that some companies that have launched gigabit services since the beginning of the year are not on the list. Additionally, researchers suggest that anyone seeking to prepare a more comprehensive list should also check the map of service providers that are Gig certified by NTCA—The Rural Broadband Association.
…
