What Columbia County Community Broadband Utility does

Columbia County Community Broadband Utility (C3BU) is a government-owned, middle-mile open-access fiber network operator operated by Columbia County, Georgia. It owns and operates one point-of-presence (POP) facility, eight communication towers, and over 320 route miles of underground fiber-optic cable serving Columbia County (population exceeding 158,000). Its network was originally built in 2010 using a federal Broadband Technology Opportunities Program (BTOP) grant that connected more than 100 Community Anchor Institutions — including schools, government buildings, public safety sites, healthcare facilities, libraries, and non-profit organizations.

C3BU's core technology stack is a Dense Wave Division Multiplexing (DWDM) platform with Software Defined Networking (SDN) capabilities, delivering MEF 3.0 certified Carrier Ethernet services at up to 10 Gigabits with stated scalability, 99.999% network-availability and packet-delivery SLAs, metro latency under 15ms, and self-healing diverse fiber feeds. The portfolio comprises Fiber-to-the-Home (FTTH) and Commercial Fiber delivered via partner ISPs, Dark Fiber leasing, carrier-neutral Colocation (24/7 access, diesel backup, DC A&B power), Direct Internet Access (10Mbps–10Gbps), managed Ethernet Services (EPL, EVPL, E-NNI from 3Mbps to 10Gbps), and Tower Services for wireless and microwave tenants. MEF 3.0 certification validates compliance with global Carrier Ethernet standards for performance, assurance, and agility.

C3BU operates under an FCC 05-151-aligned open-network policy and earns revenue through wholesale, recurring subscription, and managed-services streams. Its go-to-market is channel-driven: ISPs and WISPs — including WCTEL/WCFiber, mFiber, Segra, ATG, Planters, GABN, and MBS Fiber — lease C3BU infrastructure to deliver residential, business, and wireless-broadband services to end customers, while Community Anchor Institutions and enterprise/carrier clients are served directly. The utility is staffed by 39 employees, is overseen by the Columbia County Board of Commissioners, and has earned the State of Georgia's Broadband Ready community designation through the Georgia Technology Authority.

Name

Columbia County Community Broadband Utility

Legal name

Columbia County Community Broadband Utility

Website

https://c3bu.net

Company type

Private

Founded year

2010

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Columbia County Community Broadband Utility (C3BU) is a government-owned, middle-mile open-access fiber operator in Columbia County, Georgia, serving 100+ Community Anchor Institutions and partnering with ISPs and carriers over 320+ route miles of fiber.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Middle-Mile Broadband Infrastructure

NAICS

Wired Telecommunications Carriers (517111), Wired and Wireless Telecommunications (except Satellite) (5171)

SIC

Telephone Communications (No Radiotelephone) (4813)

akta.pro primary industry

Municipal & Community Broadband Networks (HDAIACAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

Fiber-to-the-Premises/Building (FTTP/FTTB) Operators (HDAIACAC), Neutral-Host Fiber & Shared Access Network Operators (HDAIACAJ)

Keywords

• Middle-mile fiber connectivity
• Open-access fiber networks
• Carrier ethernet services
• Dark fiber leasing
• Telecom colocation services

Headquarters

HQ city

Evans

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Infrastructure, Operations, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Colocation Services: Carrier-class colocation services providing secure rack space for fiber electronics equipment with 24/7 unescorted access, monitoring, redundant power (30A DC A&B feeds, max 100A per rack), carrier neutral facilities with 100% uptime, and diesel generator backup
2. Dark Fiber: Leasing dedicated fiber strands to organizations, providing virtually unlimited bandwidth with customers providing and maintaining their own equipment for maximum control and security
3. Direct Internet Access (DIA): Dedicated internet access over optical Ethernet with speeds ranging from 10Mbps to 10Gbps, with adaptive fiber-optic solutions over protected and unprotected network configurations, backed by SLAs
4. Ethernet Services: Managed Ethernet Line (E-Line) services including Ethernet Private Line (EPL), Ethernet Virtual Private Line (EVPL), and Ethernet Network to Network Interface (E-NNI) with bandwidth options from 3 Mbps to 10Gbps
5. Tower Services: Monthly lease for tower attachments, ground lease for cabinets/huts, colocation in owned cabinets or POP, fiber lateral with Ethernet transport or dark fiber lease from tower back to POP

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

Columbia County Community Broadband Utility owns and operates an open-access, middle-mile fiber network serving Columbia County, Georgia, through a point-of-presence, more than 320 route miles of underground fiber, and eight communication towers. It supplies fiber connectivity, dark fiber, colocation, dedicated internet access, Ethernet transport, and tower attachment services to community institutions, carriers, ISPs, and WISPs; residential and commercial end services are delivered through partner providers.

Product overview

Columbia County Community Broadband Utility (C3BU) operates as a middle-mile fiber optic service provider with a unified portfolio of connectivity services. The company owns and operates a fiber network consisting of a point-of-presence (POP) facility, eight communication tower facilities, and over 320 route miles of underground fiber-optic open-access network. The product portfolio includes: Fiber-to-the-Home (FTTH) for residential customers, Commercial Fiber for business connectivity, Dark Fiber for dedicated fiber strands, Colocation Services for carrier-neutral facilities, Direct Internet Access (DIA) with guaranteed SLAs, Ethernet Services (E-Line/EPL/EVPL/E-NNI) for business locations, and Tower Services for wireless providers. C3BU partners with multiple service providers to deliver commercial and residential services over its open-access network infrastructure.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Fiber to the Home (FTTH) Residential fiber-to-the-home service providing high-speed internet and cable TV connectivity through C3BU's fiber-optic network and partner service providers.
• Commercial Fiber Business fiber connectivity service delivering network connectivity through C3BU's network and partner service providers.
• Dark Fiber Dedicated fiber-strand leasing service for organizations that provide and maintain their own equipment, offering virtually unlimited bandwidth, network control, security, and flexibility to implement their own services.
• Colocation Services Carrier-neutral colocation facilities providing secure rack space for fiber electronics, 24/7 unescorted access, monitoring, diesel generator backup, redundant DC power feeds, and diverse fiber connections.
• Direct Internet Access (DIA) Dedicated internet access over optical Ethernet with SLAs for uptime, latency, and packet delivery, supporting speeds from 10 Mbps to 10 Gbps with protected and unprotected network configurations and redundant routers.
• Ethernet Services (E-Line) Managed Ethernet line services comprising Ethernet Private Line, Ethernet Virtual Private Line, and Ethernet Network-to-Network Interface options for business connectivity at bandwidths from 3 Mbps to 10 Gbps.
• Tower Services Open-access communication tower services for wireless broadband transmission equipment, public-safety communications, cellular-provider colocation, and microwave backhaul, including monthly tower attachments, ground leases, and fiber lateral services.

Quantifiable outcome

• 99.999% network availability and packet delivery SLA for Carrier Ethernet services
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• WCTEL (WCFIBER LLC)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorWCTEL's WCFIBER LLC has expanded into Columbia County offering internet speeds up to 1 Gbps to residential and business customers. As a cooperative, WCTEL focuses on keeping service quality high while maintaining affordable prices. They offer Fiber-to-the-Home for residential customers and four internet packages for business customers. C3BU connects to WCFiber for FTTH services.
• Planters (Phone: 912-329-2447)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorBusiness communications provider offering customized packages for business needs. Contact C3BU offices to receive customized packages or contact Planters directly for business network solutions.
• ATG (Advanced Technology Group)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorBusiness communications provider delivering next-generation voice, data and internet services across CSRA, Augusta-Richmond and Columbia Counties. Provides high-speed communications supporting dynamic business needs with solutions that can change as business requirements evolve.
• GABN (Greater Augusta Business Network)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorLocal IT solutions provider offering zero downtime solutions, backup and recovery, file storage/sharing, email/voicemail services. Helps businesses avoid costly disruptions with vendor partnerships providing solutions for companies of all sizes.
• Metro Fiber Systems (mFiber)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorLocally-owned Internet (voice and data) company with over 20 years of experience providing affordable cutting-edge technology solutions to businesses and homes in CSRA. Offers data solutions designed by best-in-class engineers combined with tech partners. Contact: (706) 955-1900, [email protected]
• SegracoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorOne of the largest independent fiber networks in the Eastern US offering state-of-the-art communications solutions backed by always-on customer service. Provides network, voice, managed services and cloud solutions.
• MBS FiberminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPrivately owned telecommunications provider founded in 2017, evolving from a commercial real estate firm's initiative to create its own private ISP. Delivers reliable, cost-effective internet and voice solutions nationwide with nimble, fully in-house operating model. Contact: 706.550.1420, [email protected]
• Fiber Network AllianceminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerStrategic partner organization supporting fiber network development and advocacy in the broadband utility ecosystem.
• Georgia 811 (Safe Digging Partnership)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerSafety partnership promoting safe digging practices to prevent damage to underground fiber infrastructure. Part of C3BU's community safety and infrastructure protection initiatives.
• Georgia Technology Authority - Broadband Ready ProgramminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerState-level partnership supporting broadband development and designation as a Broadband Ready community in Georgia.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Zayo Group: Large independent fiber infrastructure provider operating dense long-haul and metro fiber networks across the U.S., providing dark fiber, Ethernet, and wavelengths. Comparable to C3BU's middle-mile services but at national scale and to enterprise/carrier customers.
• Lumen Technologies (CenturyLink): Major U.S. wireline carrier with extensive fiber footprint delivering Ethernet, DIA, and wholesale services. Represents the large-incumbent competitive benchmark for middle-mile and enterprise connectivity in and around Columbia County.
• Segra: One of the largest independent fiber networks in the Eastern U.S. providing Ethernet, dark fiber, DIA, and managed services. Both a C3BU partner and a potential competitor at the wholesale/middle-mile layer in the CSRA region.

Direct peers

• City of Wilson, NC (Greenlight): Municipal gigabit fiber utility operated by the City of Wilson, North Carolina, delivering FTTH and business services. Comparable community broadband utility model targeting a single mid-sized city/county.
• Cedar Falls Utilities (CFU): Community-owned utility in Cedar Falls, Iowa providing fiber internet, TV, and voice services over a municipal network. Similar municipal-utility structure and middle-mile-plus-retail operating model.
• Longmont Power & Communications (NextLight): Municipal fiber-to-the-premises utility serving Longmont, Colorado with gigabit residential and business services. Comparable in scale, ownership model, and open-access-style community broadband positioning to C3BU.
• Chattanooga EPB Fiber Optics: City-owned electric utility that built and operates one of the largest community-owned gigabit fiber networks in the U.S., offering FTTH, business Ethernet, and wholesale services. Closest structural analog to C3BU as a municipal/community open-access broadband utility.
• Sandy, OR Fiber (City of Sandy Net): City of Sandy, Oregon's municipally-owned fiber network offering gigabit services to residents and businesses. Smaller-scale municipal community broadband utility analogous to C3BU's footprint and ownership.

Emerging players

• WCTEL (WCFiber): Cooperative ISP providing fiber-to-the-home and business services in the CSRA region, including Columbia County via its WCFiber brand. Direct channel partner of C3BU and a comparable regional community/cooperative broadband operator.

Regional players

• Planters Communications: Georgia-based business communications provider offering voice, data, and customized network solutions in the CSRA and surrounding region. A direct C3BU partner and a comparable regional fiber/connectivity provider adjacent to Columbia County.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@ColumbiaCtyGA
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/columbia-county-community-broadband-utility

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Columbia County Community Broadband Utility