Camden, AL – In a move to bridge the digital divide, Governor Kay Ivey revealed yesterday the approval of over $188 million in grants dedicated to advancing high-speed internet accessibility throughout Alabama. The funding, totaling $188,453,905, has been allocated to 12 internet service providers, focusing on the installation of more than 4,000 miles of “middle-mile” projects across the state.
The grants, administered through the Alabama Anchor Institution/Middle Mile Grant Program, aim to enhance broadband expansion, making it more financially viable for providers to extend services to underserved businesses and households in the state. Governor Ivey proudly made this significant announcement in her hometown of Camden, emphasizing the impact these projects will have on rural counties like Wilcox and others.
“Rural Alabama, like so many other places in the state, is in need of increased access to high-speed internet, and today we are taking a significant stride in our journey toward full broadband access,” stated Governor Ivey. “These middle-mile projects will be extremely beneficial to our anchor institutions, putting us in a desirable situation where the ‘last mile’ projects that supply broadband service to businesses and households are more economical and attainable.”
Anchor institutions, encompassing schools, hospitals, medical facilities, and government buildings, will benefit significantly from the middle-mile projects, with over 790 institutions set to be served by the initiatives.
Alabama Representative Sewell remarked, “In the 21st century, access to affordable, high-speed internet is not a luxury, it is a necessity, and one that many Alabamians have gone without for far too long.” She expressed her enthusiasm for the funding provided through the American Rescue Plan and commended Governor Ivey and Director Boswell for their investments.
The Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs (ADECA) will oversee the program through its Alabama Digital Expansion Division, established to focus on high-speed internet expansion in the state. ADECA Director Kenneth Boswell expressed gratitude for the opportunity to be involved in this broadband-expansion effort, emphasizing the positive impact it will have on improving lives.
Funding for this middle-mile program is sourced from an allocation by the Legislature from the state’s share of American Rescue Plan Act Funds. The grants will be distributed among 12 entities, including Central Alabama Electric Cooperative, Coosa Valley Technologies Inc., Cullman Electric Cooperative, Farmers Telecommunications Corp., Alabama Fiber Network, JMF Solutions, Joe Wheeler Electric Membership Corp., Point Broadband, Spectrum Southeast, Tombigbee Electric Cooperative, Uniti Fiber, and Yellowhammer Networks.
The Governors’ Office has stated, that these grants mark a crucial step towards narrowing the digital gap in Alabama, ensuring that high-speed internet becomes a necessity accessible to all residents. The transformative impact of these middle-mile projects will extend far beyond their physical reach, fostering economic growth and connectivity in communities across the state.
