This January, Decatur County REMC saw the fulfillment of nearly two years of preparation with the official launch of PowerStream Fiber.

 

CEO Brett Abplanalp made the announcement on January 17 at the Decatur County REMC community room.

 

“Just as we brought power to our rural communities 87 years ago, it’s only fitting that we now bring fiber in the same way,” he said. “PowerStream Fiber will empower the community with fast, reliable internet—connecting local roots to a global reach and delivering the power to stream seamlessly.”

 

The work started as far back as 2023 with Decatur County REMC joining Accord Telecommunications Collaborative, a consortium bringing together traditional telephone companies, electric cooperatives and independent broadband providers aiming to provide greater connectivity and improving life in rural Indiana and beyond.

 

Decatur County REMC is one of seven Hoosier Energy members who are also part of Accord.

 

Last February, Decatur formed a strategic partnership with SEI Communications, combining SEI’s expertise in telecommunications with the REMC’s commitment to enhancing rural connectivity.

 

“We are working together to empower our community to thrive in the digital age, driving economic development forward, and are both excited about the collaborative opportunities that lie ahead,” Abplanalp said.

 

Also, Decatur County REMC worked diligently to secure the funding needed for the project.  The initiative was kickstarted with the generous support of Decatur County, which provided a $500,000 grant from its American Rescue Plan Act funds. Those funds were awarded to help local and state governments recover from the COVID-19 public health emergency. This grant was instrumental in Decatur County REMC successfully applying for the Broadband Next Level Connections Grant, resulting in $4.98 million being awarded to bring service to 578 addresses.

 

The project’s first phase will include 1,419 total passes, 641 in Decatur County and 778 in Ripley County. While sign-up timelines are still being finalized, the first phase will be completed by September 2026.

 

The remaining underserved areas within Decatur County REMC’s territory will be addressed through the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) grant. The BEAD application opened on December 30 and is scheduled to close on February 12. With Indiana receiving $868 million through the BEAD program, Decatur County REMC is committed to securing the funding needed to connect the remaining underserved areas.