Alabama Public Radio reports Ivey grants nearly $42 million for broadband expansion projects in Alabama

Alabama Public Radio reports Ivey grants nearly $42 million for broadband expansion projects in Alabama

Posted by Jan McDonald September 19, 2024

Governor Kay Ivey has approved a funding of approximately $42 million to support high-speed internet projects in 23 counties across Alabama. This investment aims to bridge the digital divide and bring reliable internet connectivity to rural areas.

The latest grants from the Capital Projects Fund will extend broadband availability to over 15,000 households, businesses, and community anchor institutions in the state. These grants will cover a total of 2,347 miles, ensuring that those who currently lack access to high-speed internet can now benefit from it.

In a press release, Governor Ivey expressed the significance of the recent grants in expanding high-speed internet access in rural Alabama communities and neighborhoods. She emphasized that these projects would enhance learning opportunities for children, provide greater business competitiveness on a global scale, and improve services offered by emergency response departments and medical clinics.

The last-mile projects refer to the final stage of installing high-speed internet, connecting the internet service provider to the end-users such as households, businesses, and community institutions like schools, fire stations, libraries, and post offices. After the installation is finished, these entities can choose to connect to the network by becoming customers of the internet service provider.

Governor Ivey distributed a total of $148.3 million in Capital Projects Fund grants in February to enhance broadband accessibility in over two-thirds of Alabama’s 67 counties. The grants allocated today are part of the remaining funds.

The state’s share of the federal American Rescue Plan Act funds provides support for the Capital Projects Fund program. This program, along with other funding sources, aims to expand high-speed internet services to the people of Alabama.

The grants have been awarded to the following recipients, listed alphabetically, along with their respective coverage areas:

    • Central Alabama Electric Cooperative – $2.28 million to provide high-speed internet service over a 40-mile area in Chilton County providing access to 1,046 unserved households, businesses and community anchor institutions.
    • Connect Holding (Brightspeed) – $139,968 to provide high-speed internet to 315 unserved households and businesses over a 51-mile area in Mobile County.
    • Connect Holding (Brightspeed) – $69,553 to provide high-speed broadband access to 249 unserved households, businesses and community anchor institutions over a 19-mile area in Baldwin County.
    • Farmers Telecommunications Corp. – $1.93 million to provide high-speed broadband access to 380 unserved households, businesses and community anchor institutions over a 44-mile area in Jackson County.
    • Innovations America (Bama Fiber) – $5 million to provide high-speed internet access to 3,261 unserved households, businesses and community anchor institutions in Randolph County over a 360-mile area.
    • Mediacom – $720,905 to provide high-speed internet accessibility to 122 unserved households, businesses and community anchor institutions in a 10-mile area of Mobile County.
    • Millry Telephone Co. – $2.84 million to provide 51 miles of high-speed internet accessibility to 236 unserved households and businesses in Washington County.
    • Spectrum Southeast – $5 million to provide high-speed internet accessibility over a 110-mile area to 934 unserved households, businesses and community anchor institutions in Shelby County.
    • Spectrum Southeast – $5 million to provide 105 miles of high-speed internet accessibility to 1,303 unserved households, businesses and community anchor institutions in Walker County.
    • Spectrum Southeast – $4.43 million to provide high-speed internet accessibility to 662 unserved households, businesses and community anchor institutions in a 93-mile area in Colbert and Lauderdale counties.
    • Spectrum Southeast – $5 million to provide 111 miles of high-speed internet accessibility for 1,017 unserved households, businesses and community anchor institutions in St. Clair County.
    • Roanoke Telephone Co. – $912,171 to supply high-speed internet accessibility over 111 miles to cover 1,118 unserved households, businesses and community anchor institutions in Randolph County.
    • Troy Cablevision (C Spire) – $5 million to provide high-speed internet to 2,132 unserved households, businesses and community anchor institutions in Baldwin, Coffee, Crenshaw, Covington, Houston and Pike counties covering 243 miles.
    • Yellowhammer Networks – $3.63 million to provide high-speed internet over nearly 1,000 miles to provide access to 2,352 unserved households, businesses and community anchor institutions in Bibb, Chilton, Dallas, Greene, Hale, Marengo, Perry, Shelby and Sumter counties.

The State of Alabama has been awarded federal award number CPFFN0162 by the U.S. Department of the Treasury to support these projects, either fully or partially.

ADECA is responsible for managing a variety of programs that provide support in areas such as law enforcement, traffic safety, economic development, energy conservation, water resource management, and recreation development.

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Jan McDonald
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Jan McDonald – Managing Partner Originally from Baton Rouge, Louisiana, Jan McDonald relocated to the Demopolis area in 1991. Over the years, she has built an extensive career as a journalist and freelance writer, contributing her talents to various news outlets across Louisiana, Wisconsin, and Alabama. With her wealth of experience in journalism, Jan has honed her skills in reporting, writing, and storytelling, making her a versatile and respected voice in the field. As Managing Partner of The Watchman, Jan plays a crucial role in overseeing and producing editorial content for the publication. Her responsibilities include curating stories, ensuring high-quality journalism, and managing the day-to-day operations of the editorial team. Jan's dedication to maintaining the integrity of The Watchman's reporting, combined with her deep connection to the community, allows her to guide the publication with both passion and expertise.