In some rural areas, including in Georgia, residents and businesses lack quality internet access. As technology continues to develop, it is becoming increasingly needed by people. Lack of access to high–speed internet in a …
Cooperative Governance
Utility, telephone, and internet cooperatives are giving consumers a break during the coronavirus pandemic.
Many businesses are giving consumers a break, including many electric and telephone cooperatives.
Utility cooperatives are offering free services or waiving fees and pledging not to disconnect as COVID-19 disrupts life for students, workers, families, businesses and communities. For more …
AHC’s Digital Millennium Copyright Act Services
By Merry B. Luong and David R. Cook
In 1998 the Digital Millennium Copyright ACT (“DMCA”) was designed to respond to the growing issue of file sharing websites and digital piracy of copyrighted material. The DMCA aims to protect copyright …
Coronavirus and Cooperative Annual Meetings
By AHC Attorney Merry Luong
In the past couple of weeks, the world has learned a great deal about COVID-19 and its exponential spread. As everyone strives to flatten the curve, the CDC is currently urging a nationwide halt …
Class-Action Lawsuit Focuses on Cooperative Board Compensation
Class-Action Lawsuit Focuses on Cooperative Board Compensation
A South Carolina electric cooperative, Tri-County Electric Cooperative, Inc., was recently named in a class-action lawsuit focusing on its board’s compensation. The lawsuit was filed by member Roy C. Smith on behalf of …
Where Should We Organize Our Cooperative?
One of the initial questions for a group forming a cooperative in Georgia is whether the cooperative should be legally organized in Georgia or in another state. This question most often comes up because Georgia, unlike some other states, has …
U.S. House Advances Electric Coop Priorities to Senate
The U.S. House of Representatives recently advanced two electric cooperative priorities, which are now headed to the Senate for full consideration.
The House approved the Electricity Reliability and Forest Protection Act, H.R. 1873, by a vote of 300 to …
Op-ed: Should public utility commissions regulate cooperatives?
Dan Nemes of MN350 (an organization addressing the global climate crisis), offers this op-ed in the 6 February issue of Rochester, Minnesota’s Post-Bulletin, opposing the Minnesota Legislature’s recently proposed legislation that he believes will negatively impact the state’s renewable energy …
Renewable Portfolio Standards gaining steam across the U.S. but what does that mean for a federal program?
A Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS) is a regulation that requires the increased production of energy from renewable energy sources, such as wind, solar, biomass, and geothermal. RPS-type mechanisms have been adopted in several countries, including Britain, Italy, Poland, Sweden, Belgium, …
USDA Magazine Article Discusses Management of Capital Credits and Patronage Dividends
USDA Magazine Article Discusses Management of Capital Credits and Patronage Dividends
The USDA publishes a bi-monthly magazine, Rural Cooperatives, which covers various issues encountered by cooperatives of all types. Recently the magazine published an article written by attorney David Cook …