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Emery Telcom touts record patronage payouts, outlines broadband expansion plans
Summary
Emery Telcom’s CFO told the Emery County Commission the cooperative returned a record $2.5 million to county customers this year, highlighted $48,987 in patronage checks presented locally and described expansion projects including I‑70 routing and WISP upgrades. Commissioners asked about federal funding and grant support.
Darren Wolsey, chief financial officer of Emery Telcom, presented patronage checks to county officials and residents and described a record year for the cooperative.
Wolsey said the company issued 11 checks totaling $48,987 and returned $2,500,000 to Emery County customers this year. He told the commission the company has paid back about $15,600,000 in patronage since 2001 and reported roughly $44,000,000 in revenue last year, with about 45.2% of that coming from customers or contracts outside Emery County.
Why it matters: the payouts reflect higher revenues tied to Emery Telcom’s expansion beyond county borders, and the company said those outside revenues help increase returns to local member‑owners.
Wolsey outlined near‑term network work that he said would improve redundancy and marketability — building a route along I‑70 in cooperation with UDOT and partners to connect Denver to Salt Lake, completing I‑70 access for a redundant route, upgrading Jills Valley service, and deploying WISP and BEAD‑funded fill projects such as Acord Lakes. He said Emery Telcom is managing multiple USDA grants and had secured roughly $3,000,000 in recent awards across Colorado and Utah to support projects.
Commissioners pressed about federal funding and grant sustainability. Wolsey said the company writes grants aggressively and manages several USDA programs, noting the incumbent local exchange carrier obligations that require serving hard‑to‑reach customers and create eligibility for certain public funding.
The commission took no formal action on the presentation; it accepted the update and encouraged continued cooperation on rural broadband initiatives.
Wolsey quote: “We paid $2,500,000 back to Emery County customers this year,” he told commissioners, adding the cooperative has grown service into neighboring counties and plans additional builds along I‑70.
What’s next: commissioners will continue to field presentations from broadband providers and consider county roles in supporting grant applications and right‑of‑way coordination.
