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Not to be outdone by their federal counterparts, state and municipal policymakers are harnessing co-ops to solve the needs of their communities. One important example is the growing recognition by states that access to swift, reliable broadband is crucial for continued economic development and growth in the 21st century. According to the Federal Communications Commission, approximately 34 million Americans currently lack access to high-speed internet.15 Most of them live in rural areas and are usually served by rural electric co-ops.16