In the 1930s, when the big power companies didn’t want to come to rural Texas, local communities formed electric cooperatives to provide electricity and pull the rural economy out of the Great Depression. Today, as COVID-19 hits our rural economy again, electric cooperatives are poised to do what cable and telecom companies don’t want to do – provide rural Texans with access to high-speed broadband and support their local communities. When Bandera Electric Cooperative surveyed its members several years ago, their top concern was lack of internet access. This communications shortfall prevented economic growth and damaged long-term financial stability in our region. Years ...