Unserved North Alabama areas in line for broadband expansion

MONTGOMERY – Thousands of residents in a dozen Tennessee Valley counties will be able to get on the internet superhighway thanks to funding from the American Rescue Plan Act and the U.S. Department of Treasury.

Gov. Kay Ivey today announced the awarding of Capital Projects Fund grants totaling $148.3 million to continue the expansion of high-speed internet service to unserved areas across the state.

The 66 grants were awarded to 16 internet service providers that will expand high-speed internet availability to homes, businesses and public institutions in portions of 48 counties.

“High-speed internet service continues to strengthen and expand across the state, and we are taking the necessary strides on this journey to achieve full broadband access for Alabama,” said Ivey. “This has been a monumental task, but it is one that will pay multiple dividends for our state and its residents. Today is an exciting day as we announce these latest projects.”

The “last mile” projects will mean more than 5,000 miles of broadband infrastructure, and once in place, they will have the ability to provide access to almost 54,000 households, businesses and institutions such as hospitals, schools and libraries.

The projects are supported by the American Rescue Plan Act funding from the U.S. Department of Treasury. The Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs is administering the grants.

The announcement of these “last mile” projects comes on the heels of Ivey’s Feb. 5 announcement of $188 million in grants for the Alabama Anchor Institution/Middle Mile program. The middle-mile project is an essential precursor for internet service providers to complete the “last mile” projects in which access to service can be provided to homes, businesses and anchor institutions.

ADECA’s Alabama Digital Expansion Division has been instrumental in the state’s broadband expansion.

“This has been a remarkable journey made possible by Governor Ivey, the Alabama Legislature, the state’s internet service providers and so many other willing and eager participants,” said ADECA Director Kenneth Boswell. “Once completed, these projects announced today will provide access for thousands of Alabamians.”

The awarded grants in North Alabama are:

• AT&T Southeast – Five grants totaling $6.97 million to expand broadband services in Franklin, Morgan and three other counties. The expansion has the potential to reach more than 1,871 households and businesses.
• Cullman Electric Cooperative – One grant totaling $4.1 million to provide broadband services in areas of Cullman and Winston counties. The expansion has the potential to reach 1,979 households and businesses.
• Farmers Telecommunications Corp. – Two grants totaling $7.29 million to expand broadband services in DeKalb County with the potential to serve more than 1,600 households and businesses.
• Spectrum Southeast – Grants totaling $44.83 million to provide broadband services in parts of Colbert, Cullman, Etowah, Lauderdale, Lawrence, Limestone, Marshall, and Morgan counties. The service areas include 22,000 potential households and businesses.
• Tombigbee Electric Cooperative – One grant totaling $2.78 million to provide broadband services in parts of Winston County. The service area includes 1,584 potential households and businesses.