Georgia Code
Part 3 - Rural Telephone Cooperatives
§ 46-5-63. Powers of Cooperatives Generally

A cooperative shall have power:
(4.1) To furnish, improve, and expand broadband services. Such broadband services may be furnished separately from telephone service or in conjunction with telephone service and may be furnished in areas that are the same or in areas that are different from those to which the cooperative furnishes telephone service; provided, however, that unless otherwise provided in Code Section 46-5-167, none of the costs of providing broadband services shall be eligible for recovery from the Universal Access Fund provided for in Code Section 46-5-167;
(4.2) To apply for, accept, repay, and utilize loans, grants, and other financing from any person or from the federal government or any state, or any department or agency thereof, to assist such cooperative or its broadband affiliate in the planning, engineering, construction, extension, provision, operation, repair, and maintenance of broadband services;
(4.3) To enter into contracts, agreements, partnerships, or other types of business relationships with any person or with the federal government or any state or local government, or any department or agency thereof, to assist such cooperative or its broadband affiliate in the planning, engineering, construction, extension, provision, operation, repair, and maintenance of broadband services;
History. Ga. L. 1950, p. 192, § 4; Ga. L. 1952, p. 4, § 2; Ga. L. 1953, Jan.-Feb. Sess., p. 132, § 1; Ga. L. 1973, p. 229, § 1; Ga. L. 1982, p. 2107, § 48; Ga. L. 1984, p. 22, § 46; Ga. L. 1994, p. 237, § 2; Ga. L. 2019, p. 233, § 3/SB 17.
The 2019 amendment, effective April 26, 2019, added paragraphs (4.1) through (4.3), and substituted “15,000 inhabitants” for “1,500 inhabitants” in paragraph (5).

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