Governor Kay Ivey was in Montgomery County on Monday to kick off the first of a series of statewide meetings through a program organized by the Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs (ADECA). The Alabama Community Broadband Technical Assistance Program (TAP) initiative will be offered in each of Alabama’s 67 counties, all of which are open to the public.
“In today’s modern world, being connected is a necessity, and there’s far too many Alabamians who are unable to access high-speed internet. Increasing access to connectivity across the state has been and will continue to be a top priority for my Administration as we move into the next four years,” stated Gov. Ivey. “This is the first meeting of many that will be offered in all 67 counties across the state, and I encourage our local leaders and communities to participate. These ADECA-led programs host the critical steps we must take to get our state across the broadband finish line.”
The TAP program is being administered by ADECA’s Alabama Digital Expansion Division, which has been tasked with awarding the funds for broadband expansion across the state of Alabama.
“Under Governor Ivey’s leadership, Alabama has made strides in mapping and planning at the state level to increase broadband service in unserved areas of our state,” said ADECA Director Kenneth Boswell. “With the help of this funding from the U.S. Department of Commerce, ADECA will extend assistance with broadband mapping and planning to the county level. This will help counties and communities develop plans and data to help take advantage of the many future opportunities for grant funding to help internet service providers expand broadband access to unserved areas.”
TAP will provide local governments and other public stakeholders with the technical assistance needed to deploy or expand broadband infrastructure and services to help communities prepare for broadband deployment and digital opportunities.
The funding for this program will come from the U.S. Department of Commerce Economic Development Administration and the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA).
An NTIA representative was also present at the Montgomery meeting to announce grant awards of $5 million from the Broadband, Equity, Access, and Deployment Program and $981,081 from the Digital Equity Act to support the program and other planning activities to increase access to broadband service.
The federal government has flooded the state with billions of dollars to address rural broadband and other broadband access issues. Over the next few years, the state will make unprecedented funds available to expand broadband. These county meetings are designed to promote engagement from elected officials, internet service providers, government and community anchors, community-based organizations, and the general public in shaping the state’s plans for counties to maximize these opportunities.
The Monday meeting at the Montgomery Commission was the first of these 67 meetings.
Full-day engagements will follow on Tuesday in Lowndes County, then Greene County on Wednesday, Sumter County on Thursday, and Marengo County on Friday, December 16.
These meetings are open to the public, and all interested in participating are encouraged to attend.
You can sign up to receive email updates from ADECA to find out updates on this program, including when meetings will be scheduled in your home county and details like timing, location, and program itinerary.
The Lowndes County meetings on December 13 will be at Jackson-Steele Elementary School, 570 Freedom Rd. in Hayneville. They will meet with elected officials from 9 to 10 am, ISPs, elected officials from 10:30-11:30 am, government and community anchors from 2-3 pm, organizations and associations from 3:30 – 4:30 pm, and the public from 5:30 to 6:30 pm.
The Greene County meetings on December 14 will be at the R.H. Young Community Center, 720 Greensboro Street, in Eutaw. The elected officials meeting is from 9-10 am, the ISPs and elected officials meeting from 10:30-11:30 am, the Government and community anchors meeting is at 2-3 pm, the organizations and associations meeting 3:30 – 4:30 pm, and the public meeting is 5:00-6:30 pm.
The Sumter County meetings on December 15 will be held at Land Hall on the University of Western Alabama campus at 154 Student Union Drive in Livingston. The meeting with elected officials will be from 9-10 am, the meeting with ISPs and elected officials will follow at 10:30-11:30 am, the meeting with government, community anchors, organizations, and associations will be at 1:00-2:30 pm. The Sumter County public meeting will be held on another date yet to be determined.
The Marengo County meetings on December 16 will be held at Rooster Hall – 216 N Walnut Ave. in Demopolis. The meeting with elected officials will be from 9-10 am. The meeting will follow that for ISPs and elected officials from 10:30-11:30 am. The meeting with government, community anchors, organizations, and associations will be from 1:00-2:30 pm. The public meeting will be held on another date that has yet to be determined.
To connect with the author of this story, or to comment, email brandonmreporter@gmail.com.
