November 2025Rapid Fiber Internet Marketing Coordinator Ashley Robinson speaks with SVEC members at the annual meeting.
The project will make high-speed broadband available to every SVEC member.
SVEC’s broadband subsidiary, Rapid Fiber Internet, is approaching completion of its trailblazing project to deliver fast, reliable fiber service across the cooperative’s service area.
“We are very, very close to completing our project,” says Ashley Robinson, marketing and communications coordinator. “By mid-October, 35 of our 42 zones were open and available to SVEC members.”
That milestone also marked the completion of the first two phases of the three-phase build-out. The final phase is already nearing its midpoint. When complete, access to true, high-speed internet will be available to 100% of SVEC’s members — a dramatic change from when the project launched in 2023.
“Before we began, only about 6.5% of people in Suwannee County had access to what the FCC defines as high-speed internet,” Ashley says. “Once we finish, every member will have access to at least 100 megabits upload and download speed, with plans of up to 2 gigabits per second available.”
Ahead of Schedule Despite Storms
A Rapid Fiber Internet technician sets up the external connection for a new customer.
The project, originally slated for completion in August 2026, is now on track to finish ahead of schedule in May. The accelerated progress comes despite challenges from several major storms, including Hurricane Idalia and the Mother’s Day tornado outbreak that damaged poles and power lines.
“The storms have definitely been part of our story,” Ashley says. “But even then, some of our customers never lost service. With generators and the resiliency built into our system, people were able to stay connected.”
Rapid Fiber Internet now serves more than 6,500 active SVEC members, up from 5,000 in June, and continues to expand across Suwannee, Hamilton, Lafayette, and parts of Columbia counties. The network is 100% fiber to the home, with no copper connections, ensuring what Ashley calls “future-proof technology.”
Connecting Communities for the Future
A film crew from the Office of Broadband visits Rapid Fiber Internet for a collaboration with Broadband Nation.
Beyond streaming and gaming, reliable internet is now essential for education, business, and agriculture. “We have farmers running irrigation pivots from their phones because of our service,” Ashley says. “It’s no longer a luxury, it’s a necessity.”
Members can track zone openings and updates at rapid-fiber.com and Rapid Fiber Internet’s pages on Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok. A referral program rewarding members for sharing their experience is also coming soon.
“We’re proud to be local — local internet, local support, local faces,” Ashley says. “No contracts, no installation fees, no hidden costs. Just reliable service built for our community.”
