Newspaper Page Text
Page 10A — Wednesday, November 11,2020, The True Citizen
GUEST COLUMNIST
Steve Chalker
Director of Public Relations - Jefferson Energy Cooperative
PROTECTING MEMBER INVESTMENTS AND BUILDING A BRIGHT FUTURE
In 1937, the homes along the
dusty, rural roads of middle
Georgia had been without elec
tricity since their construction,
but change was coming. Jef
ferson Energy put poles along
those roads and the lights came
on in homes and farms for the
first time along those first miles
of line. A new era of growth
was ushered in on that morning
and for over 80 years Jefferson
Energy has been a cornerstone
of the community. Since then
we have had a singular focus;
to improve the quality of life
for our members by provid
ing safe, reliable, and afford
able electricity and supporting
countless charitable, commu
nity and business initiatives.
We are eager to find solutions
to Georgia’s rural broadband
dilemma and have been work
ing to support and promote the
expansion of high-speed inter
net service for those in need.
Through a joint venture with
Pineland Telephone Coopera
tive and Georgia Transmission
Corporation, Jefferson Energy
constructed a new fiber-optic
system which enabled Pineland
the ability to provide high
speed internet to businesses in
Louisville and Wrens.
This project could not have
happened without the support
of Jefferson Energy and Geor
gia Transmission Corporation.
Since that successful rollout
in 2019 we have continued to
perform additional feasibil
ity studies, seeking funding
sources and partners to expand
broadband across our entire
service area.
We are proud of our success,
yet still today, so many of our
valued members still lack
quality broadband service. It
is clear from our development
and analysis of multiple feasi
bility studies for the deploy
ment of high-speed internet
across our 11-county terri
tory that pole attachment fees
charged by Georgia’s EMCs
are not a barrier to deployment
for broadband providers.
The real impediment is the
high cost of construction and a
limited number of paying cus
tomers that combine to render
a provider’s investment, in the
provider’s view, unprofitable.
Across the state, including
urban and suburban areas that
are densely populated and very
profitable for broadband, cable
and telephone companies are
trying to force EMCs to collect
less than a fair price for the use
of poles.
The task of deciding what’s
fair is now in the hands of the
Georgia Public Service Com
mission (PSC), and EMCs are
glad that commissioners and
staff are now evaluating the
information and determining
the rates for pole attachment
agreements. Georgia’s electric
cooperatives, on behalf of more
than four million Georgians,
are asking the PSC to reject the
national cable and telephone
companies’ arguments for
unreasonably low pole attach
ment fees (the FCC rate) and
support a fair sharing of the
true cost we incur to purchase,
install and maintain our poles.
If these providers are granted
the low rates they seek, it
would prove to be quite costly
for Jefferson Energy and its
members. As a not-for-profit
that only exists to provide a
service, the only way for us to
replace those lost dollars is to
ask our members to dig deeper
into their pockets.
But the EMCs in our state
have unified around a solution;
“The Georgia Solution.”
We are offering generous
incentives, including the “One
Buck Deal.” EMCs will charge
just one dollar per pole, per
year, for five years to broad
band providers for pole at
tachments that will bring high
speed internet into areas of our
territory that have never been
served. We merely ask that the
big cable companies pay fair
rates for the poles to which
their facilities are already at
tached and from which they
earn significant profits.
We have also responded to
a stated desire of cable com
panies for streamlined access
to poles with the “Georgia
One Touch Make Ready Pro
gram.” With this program we
will allow broadband provid
ers immediate access to poles
in unserved areas, with no
advance approval needed, to
prepare and attach their lines.
This cuts red tape and allows
cable companies to attach their
lines and start providing broad
band in much less time than is
typically required.
We hope cable will partner
with us to solve this issue and
the PSC will set pole attach
ment rates that are fair to all
our valued members and more
than 4 million EMC members
throughout the state. The citi
zens of Georgia benefit today
from a long legacy of prudent
decisions by the PSC, and
at Jefferson Energy we are
confident they will focus on
protecting the safety, reliability
and affordability of electric
service while also encouraging
the development of broadband.
To the Citizens of Burke County
Thank you for honoring me with the opportunity
to continue to serve you, now in the capacity of
Burke County’s Chief Magistrate Judge. I am
humbled by the tremendous support that was
ofFered during the campaign and the vote of
confidence in my leadership.
Giving back
Each year, Edmund Burke Academy Fellowship of Christian Students selects a project to assist in serving others. With Mat
thew 5:42 in mind and a contribution from a generous EBA grandparent, FCS was able to donate $1,000 to the Fisher House
Foundation, a network of comfort homes where military and veterans’ families can stay for no
cost while a loved one is receiving medicinal treatment. “Learn to generously share what you
have with those who ask for help, and don’t close your heart to the one who comes to borrow
from you.” Matthew 5:42.
Over my 29 years serving in the Magistrate Court,
i have found that running an effective and efficient
court is a team effort. Together, we are looking
forward to building bridges with our Burke County
community partners and continuing to provide
systematic, fair, and impartial court
services for Burke County-
Thank you for the privilege of
being your Chief Magistrate judge
Cynthia A
Kelley A
KJ
1 JUDCE ASHLEY
ill MOORE, JR.
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SERVICE. EDUCATION. TRUST.
THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU!
In the spirit of Halloween
Because of your unwavering support, we
won this election; and, I look forward to
working on behalf of you and your
families!
The Burke County Public Library held several contests to celebrate the Halloween season.
The winner for best costume was Silas Prox as the
Mandalorian (pictured at bottom right); Zack Hendley
won the haunted house contest (above); and bottom
left, Charys Prox’s the Wolf Den won the pumpkin
decorating contest.
HOW WE WILL S.E.T. THE BAR
Service to the constituents of this
great community should be marked
by excellence. It should be our duty to
innovate processes and extend the
highest and best service to citizens.
Education through Community
Outreach Programs will help connect
individuals to resources from the
Probate Court that are most helpful.
Trust and transparency will be the
foundation of the Probate Court, and
upheld by forging meaningful
relationships with the citizens of Burke
County.
WWW.ASHLEYMOORE2R.ORG
NFO@ASHLEYMOORE2R.ORG
WE DID IT, BURKE COUNTY!
JUDGE ASHLEY MOORE, JR.
PROBATE COURT JUDGE-ELECT