Decatur County REMC is proud to announce the official launch of
PowerStream Fiber. “Just as we brought power to our rural communities 87 years ago, it’s only fitting that we now bring fiber in the same way.”, states Brett Abplanalp, CEO of Decatur County REMC. “PowerStream Fiber will empower the community with fast, reliable internet—connecting local roots to a global reach and delivering the power to stream seamlessly.”
This journey began last February through a strategic partnership with SEI Communications. By combining SEI Communications’ expertise in telecommunications with Decatur County REMC’s commitment to enhancing rural connectivity, the initiative had become a significant achievement.
Decatur County REMC worked diligently to secure the funding needed for this project. The initiative was
kickstarted with the generous support of Decatur County, which provided a $500,000 grant from its ARPA
funds. This was instrumental in helping Decatur County REMC successfully apply for the Broadband Next
Level Connections Grant, resulting in $4.98 million being awarded to bring service to 578 addresses.
The first phase of the project will include 1,419 total passes, 641 in Decatur County and 778 in Ripley County.
While sign-up timelines are still being finalized, this first phase will be completed by September 2026.
Updates will be shared on dcremc.com, through bill inserts, in Indiana Connections, and on the DCREMC
Facebook page.
The remaining underserved areas within Decatur County REMC’s territory will be addressed through the
Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) grant. The BEAD application opened on December 30 and
is scheduled to close on February 12. With Indiana receiving 868 million dollars through the BEAD program,
Decatur County REMC is committed to securing the funding needed to connect the remaining underserved
areas.
PowerStream Fiber will provide transparent, competitive pricing with no hidden fees or long-term contracts.
Anticipated plans include options such as 100 x 100 Mbps, 500 x 500 Mbps, and 1 Gbps x 1 Gbps plans. Plans
and pricing will be announced once they are finalized.
Abplanalp adds, “Decatur County REMC is incredibly excited about the future of PowerStream Fiber and the
positive impact it will have on our community – local money, staying local.”
PowerStream Fiber – Energized by Decatur County REMC looks forward to keeping the community updated
as the fiber project progresses. Together, we’re making a connected future a reality!
