Georgia's Digital Dawn: Fiber Lights Up 31,000 Rural Homes

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – March 25, 2026 – A three-year, 2,300-mile journey to wire rural Georgia for the future has reached its destination. Conexon Connect, a rapidly growing internet service provider (ISP), announced today the completion of a landmark fiber-to-the-home (FTTH) network in partnership with Flint Energies. The project delivers multi-gigabit internet access to 31,000 homes and businesses across nine central Georgia counties, many of which have long been stranded on the wrong side of the digital divide.

This marks the 13th such network completed by Conexon Connect since its formation in 2021, and its eighth in Georgia, solidifying the state as a major focus in its national campaign to bring world-class connectivity to rural America. The completion represents a critical infrastructure milestone, promising to reshape the economic and social landscape for tens of thousands of Georgians.

A New Era of Opportunity for Rural Communities

For residents in Crawford, south Houston, Macon, Marion, Muscogee, Peach, Schley, Talbot, and Taylor counties, the activation of the "Connect, powered by Flint Energies" network is more than a technological upgrade; it's a gateway to new possibilities. For years, inadequate or nonexistent high-speed internet has hampered everything from education and healthcare to economic growth in these areas.

"Completing this build means families, farms and businesses across Flint Energies' communities now have the reliable connectivity they deserve," said Randy Klindt, Conexon Founding Partner and Conexon Connect CEO, in a statement. "We're incredibly proud to be part of the mission to provide members with the same level of service and opportunity as anyone else in the nation."

The sentiment was echoed by the local partner that made the last-mile connection possible. "This isn't just about faster connections—it's about opportunity, inclusion, and leveling the playing field for our rural communities," said Jeremy Nelms, President and CEO of Warner Robbins-based Flint Energies. The project, first announced in March 2022 and officially completed in December 2025, represents a monumental effort to overcome the geographic and economic barriers that have historically isolated rural populations from the digital economy. With symmetrical multi-gigabit speeds—offering equally fast uploads and downloads—residents can now seamlessly participate in remote work, access telehealth consultations, engage in online learning, and launch digital businesses from their homes.

The Cooperative Blueprint: Utilities Powering the Internet

The partnership between Conexon Connect and Flint Energies is a powerful example of a growing national trend: electric cooperatives stepping in to solve the rural broadband crisis. With over 200 cooperatives now building or operating broadband networks across the country, these member-owned utilities are proving to be uniquely suited for the challenge. In Georgia alone, 20 Electric Membership Cooperatives (EMCs) are actively involved in deploying high-speed internet.

The model's success hinges on several key advantages. Cooperatives like Flint Energies can leverage decades of existing infrastructure, including utility poles and rights-of-way, dramatically reducing the time and cost of laying thousands of miles of fiber. Furthermore, as trusted, community-focused entities, they benefit from deep local relationships and a member-first mission that prioritizes long-term community value over the short-term profits sought by commercial ISPs.

This long-term perspective is crucial for projects in low-density areas, where the return on investment can take years to materialize. While the undertaking is not without its challenges—including significant upfront capital costs and the operational complexities of entering a new industry—the cooperative model provides a sustainable blueprint for bridging infrastructure gaps that the private market has been unwilling or unable to close.

An Aggressive Strategy Fueled by Public-Private Synergy

Conexon Connect's rapid ascent as a premier rural ISP is built on a savvy strategy of public-private partnership and aggressive expansion. The company's portfolio now includes more than 20 FTTH projects set to reach nearly 500,000 rural homes and businesses across seven states.

The $90 million Flint Energies project is a case study in this financial model. It was made possible through a carefully woven tapestry of funding sources, including a $25 million grant from the American Rescue Plan (ARP) and $7.5 million from the Federal Communications Commission's Rural Digital Opportunity Fund (RDOF). The remainder was covered by direct investments from both Conexon Connect and Flint Energies.

This approach has been replicated with remarkable success across the country. Conexon and its partners have collectively secured over $2 billion in federal, state, and local subsidies for FTTH projects, making them one of the most effective groups in the nation at channeling public funds toward rural infrastructure. The company's proactive strategy was further highlighted in February 2026, when it became the first in the nation to receive funding from the new Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) program for a project in Louisiana, demonstrating its ability to stay ahead of the curve in a competitive funding landscape.

More Than Just Internet: Building a Smarter Grid

The 2,300 miles of newly laid fiber do more than just carry internet data; they form the backbone of a more intelligent and resilient electrical grid. This dual-purpose functionality is a core component of the partnership's value, ensuring the massive investment benefits all Flint Energies members, not just those who subscribe to the broadband service.

The fiber network enables a host of smart grid technologies that modernize Flint Energies' core electrical operations. It provides a high-speed, two-way communication path that allows the utility to monitor the grid in real-time, detect and isolate faults more quickly, and restore power faster after outages. This enhanced communication supports advanced metering infrastructure (AMI), distribution automation, and more efficient load balancing, ultimately improving service reliability for every customer.

For Flint Energies, this aligns with a long-standing commitment to grid modernization. The cooperative has previously engaged in smart appliance pilot programs and recently partnered with Fort Benning to develop a microgrid to improve system resilience. The new fiber network provides a powerful, future-proof platform to expand these initiatives, ensuring the region's energy infrastructure is as advanced as its new communications network. This synergistic approach not only justifies the significant capital expenditure but also creates a more efficient, reliable, and responsive utility for the entire community.