On Tuesday, Alabama Governor Kay Ivey (R) kicked off her broadband tour at Oakman Middle School in Walker County. Ivey announced the statewide progress being made in expanding high-speed internet.
“As I’ve said many times, our mission to give all Alabamians the ability to access high-speed internet is a journey, not a short trip,” said Gov. Ivey. “I’m proud to say that we’re making great progress across the state, providing more Alabamians with the infrastructural resources required when it comes to 21st-century success in education, health care, business, and the normalcies of everyday life. Expanding our digital infrastructure remains a critical priority for the Ivey Administration.”
Ivey was joined at the event by Alabama Senate President Pro Tem Greg Reed (R-Jasper), Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs (ADECA) Director Kenneth Boswell, state Representative Matt Woods (R-Jasper), state Rep. Tim Wadsworth (R-Arley), and Oakman Mayor Cory Franks.
The speakers addressed the nearly $12 million in grant and matching funds committed for broadband projects. This work has been completed to give more than 2,200 Waker County residents who are currently unserved the ability to be connected. Participants discussed the overall success of the Alabama Broadband Accessibility Fund (ABAF).
ABAF is funded by the Alabama Legislature. Alabama received $1.4 billion from the U.S. Department of Commerce to help expand broadband access. It supports targeted projects in communities in need of high-speed internet access. These funds, awarded by ADECA, allow internet service providers to execute projects that connect individual households, businesses, community anchor institutions such as libraries and schools, and others to broadband infrastructure.
“Through programs we funded in the Alabama Legislature, our state has been able to complete multiple broadband projects in Walker County, with many more currently underway,” said Pro Tem. Reed. “Our unconnected residents need high-speed internet access, and it is imperative that the state of Alabama continues to support projects that give Alabamians the opportunities created by bridging the digital divide. I’ve been proud to support efforts to expand high-speed internet access in the Alabama Senate, and I look forward to continuing working to give Alabamians the access they need.”
Since 2018, Alabama has invested approximately $82 million in state dollars through grant awards supporting more than 100 projects through the Alabama Broadband Accessibility Fund. Once all of the Alabama Broadband Accessibility Fund projects awarded to date have been completed, access to broadband service will be available to more than 72,000 Alabama households, businesses, and community institutions that currently have no option to subscribe.
“I’m proud of the efforts we have made at ADECA to support critical broadband projects across the state like the ones happening here in Walker County,” said Director Boswell. “None of these would be possible without the leadership of Governor Kay Ivey and the support of our Legislature. They recognize this critical need and have worked to address it. We still have more to accomplish, but with continued support, Alabama will reach its goal to get all of our citizens connected.”
The state has received hundreds of millions of dollars through the American Rescue Plan Act and the infrastructure bill to spend on rural broadband projects.
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