Business View Civil and Municipal | March 2021

77 CIVIL AND MUNICIPAL MARCH 2021 MI LLBROOK , ALABAMA Eighty years ago, many individuals in rural central Alabama found themselves without what we now consider a necessary resource—electricity. To solve this problem, local residents and farmers banded together and formed what would become Central Alabama Electric Cooperative (CAEC)—or as many simply call it, the Co- op. Today, CAEC proudly serves more than 43,000 members across 10 counties and finds itself at another defining moment in the Co-op story. With that same community- driven and grassroots spirit that fueled a movement eight decades ago, the Co- op is now working to fulfill yet another need in our community—access to high- speed internet, also known as broadband. Approximately 50% of individuals within the Co-op’s service territory are unserved or underserved, and after much research, CAEC formed Central Access to bridge the gap between those with broadband and those without. Whether it is delivering power to homes or providing the power of internet connectivity, CAEC strives to enhance the lives of its members and surrounding communities each and every day. That is the difference the cooperative model makes. ...... For more information, please visit our website www.centralaccess.com