The Association of County Commissions of Alabama (ACCA) is urging voters to vote to ratify Amendment Two to the State Constitution.
Under the Alabama Constitution of 1901, local governments are largely prohibited from giving a “thing of value” to a public or private entity. Amendment 2 would authorize the state, a county, or a municipality to grant federal award funds or any other source of funding designated for broadband infrastructure by state law to any public or private entity for the purpose of providing or expanding broadband infrastructure. A “Yes” vote on Amendment 2 would allow local governments to work in unison with the state and use American Rescue Plan (ARPA) funds for broadband expansion. The ACCA encourages Alabamians to vote YES on Amendment 2 on the General Election ballot on November 8, 2022.
Over the past several years, Alabama leaders have worked to expand essential broadband services across the largely rural state of Alabama. The COVID-19 global pandemic that closed schools and businesses and forced patients to visit their doctors online thru telemedicine has only heightened the necessity for internet access and made it glaringly evident that Alabama still has much ground to cover to effectively reach the underserved areas of our state.
The ACCA said that considering the enormity of this feat, it is important that local leaders join the state in putting forth a concerted, collaborative effort to expand broadband services. Broadband providers are often hesitant to install broadband infrastructure in rural areas because of low subscription rates from consumers. Broadband expansion usually involves governmental entities providing incentives to these providers to install the requisite infrastructure in rural areas.
It is, arguably, presently illegal for a local or county government to offer these incentives to a business or corporation. Amendment 2 would change that so that local governments can partner with the state government in incentivizing cable and other companies to extend broadband lines even into areas of the state where it is not commercially viable at this time in order to serve those residents that live there.
The Alabama Constitution of 1901 is the longest in the world and is currently the oldest state constitution. It is frequently amended by the legislature, and voters are asked to ratify those amendments, including this year’s Amendment Two.
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