The North Georgia Network began as an initiative by economic development professionals in several North Georgia Counties. They shared a common frustration:  their efforts to grow business and jobs in their rural counties were hindered by a lack of adequate broadband capacity and the absence of dual-route diversity critical to information-based and technology-reliant businesses.

Bound by a common vision of a more prosperous future for rural North Georgia, the group set out together to bring a faster, more reliable and affordable fiber optic network to the region. With encouragement and grant funding from the One Georgia Authority, the partners worked with Georgia Tech and Civitium to conduct a feasibility study. The partnership was rounded out with the addition of of Habersham Electric Membership Corporation and Blue Ridge Mountain Electrical Membership Corporation.

As the initiative has progressed from an idea to a dream to a $42 million construction project, NGN continues to find and welcome partners and supporters, community leaders, schools, local governments, technical schools and colleges—people who want to leverage the network to enhance the region’s economy, opportunity and quality of life.