Alabama Governor Kay Ivey on Wednesday participated in a ceremonial groundbreaking for two broadband expansion projects in DeKalb and Jackson counties. These projects are funded by grants from the Alabama Broadband Accessibility Fund.
“To thrive in a 21st-century world and a 21st-century economy, broadband must be made readily available so additional job opportunities can be created, education can be expanded past the walls of our classrooms, and healthcare services can be improved,” Ivey said in a statement. “The projects underway will bring world-class broadband service to the majority of the currently unserved portions in Dekalb and Jackson counties, serving as prime evidence that the state’s plan for expanding digital infrastructure is working efficiently. Providing access to high-speed internet connectivity for Alabamians across every corner of our state has been a top priority during my time as governor, and it will continue to be as we move into these next four years.”
The Alabama Broadband Accessibility Fund grants are awarded through the Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs (ADECA).
Farmers Telecommunications Cooperative released a statement on Facebook, “Today we were honored to host Alabama’s 54th Governor Kay Ivey, Alabama Speaker of the House Nathaniel Ledbetter (Rainsville native), and ADECA Director Kenneth Boswell for a ceremonial groundbreaking for our latest Alabama Broadband Accessibility Fund Grants. CEO Fred Johnson, Mentone Mayor Rob Hammond, and Jackson County Economic Development Authority President and CEO Nathan Lee also participated by sharing the monumental impact that these broadband projects will provide for these areas of DeKalb and Jackson Counties. FTC is grateful for the foresight of our Governor, Legislators, and ADECA for making rural broadband a priority in our great state of Alabama.”
“Increasing broadband connectivity across Alabama has been a top priority throughout Governor Ivey’s administration, and ADECA has been proud to be able to support her as she works to accomplish that goal,” said Director Boswell. “Working closely with the Governor, the Legislature, internet service providers, and communities to develop planning, mapping, and managing grant programs to support broadband expansion efforts in the state leads to results like what we’re seeing today in Jackson and DeKalb counties. The mission to expand broadband access isn’t a sprint, it’s a marathon, and we look forward to continuing to run that race.”
“If you want proof that what the state is doing on broadband is working – look no further than the projects currently underway here in these communities,” said Johnson. “Almost all unserved and underserved portions of these counties will have broadband access as a result of these projects, and I thank Governor Ivey and her administration for giving us the support we needed to make this possible.”
ADECA awarded these grants in the latest round of Broadband Accessibility Act Funding in August 2022. The two grants total $7.7 million and will provide access to paid broadband service for 2,644 households currently unserved in the two counties.
DeKalb County received $3.4 million to provide broadband access to 826 households, businesses, and public service institutions in or near the towns, cities, and communities of Mentone, Valley Head, Fort Payne, Cloudmont, Cloudland, Union Hill, Moon Lake, Ponderosa, Bankhead, Little River East Fork, Little River West Fork, Oakdale, Sylvania Gap, and DeSoto State Park.
Jackson County received $4.37 million to provide broadband access to 1,818 households, businesses, and public buildings, including all or parts of the towns and communities of Dutton, Section, Langston, Powell, Macedonia, Davistown, Pleasant View, Hodge, and Hancock Crossing.
Speaker Ledbetter represents much of this area in the Alabama House of Representatives in his House District 24.
Ivey also announced updates to the Alabama Broadband Map to reflect the latest data, with an additional update coming later in January. The map and the Alabama Connectivity Plan serves to guide the state’s efforts and recommends strategies to expand broadband.
Since 2018, Alabama has invested $63.9 million of state dollars through grant awards supporting 100 projects through the Alabama Broadband Accessibility Fund. 22,433 previously unserved addresses now have access to high-speed internet. An additional 39,196 currently unserved addresses are anticipated to have access to high-speed internet within the next two years. 61,000 Alabama households, businesses, Churches, and community institutions will gain access to broadband through these projects.
This money is being supplemented with hundreds of millions of dollars in federal money from COVID relief and infrastructure funds that will further expand broadband in Alabama. Ivey and the legislature have made broadband expansion a priority over the last four years, and those efforts are ongoing.
Ivey will be inaugurated into her second term on Monday.
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