MONTGOMERY — The Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs (ADECA) has opened a seven-day public comment period on the state’s final Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) Program proposal before submitting it to the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) on Sept. 18, 2025.
If approved, the plan will ensure that every BEAD-eligible location in Alabama has access to internet connectivity. The proposal includes awards for internet service providers to expand broadband availability to more than 101,000 locations statewide.
Governor Kay Ivey emphasized the administration’s focus on affordability and efficiency in preparing the proposal. “One of my biggest priorities since taking office has been expanding high-speed internet infrastructure across our state to ensure that every single Alabamian has access to connectivity,” Ivey said. She added that the plan represents “a savings of over $800 million for the American taxpayers – a savings of more than 60 percent, as defined by NTIA percent from Alabama’s original BEAD allocation.”
Since 2017, the Governor’s Office, Legislature, and ADECA have partnered with state and federal entities to expand broadband access through initiatives such as the Broadband Accessibility Fund, the Capital Projects Program, the Statewide Middle-Mile Network, and the Alabama Anchor Institution/Middle-Mile grants.
ADECA Director Kenneth Boswell said the proposal marks a significant step toward statewide coverage. “As a result of close coordination with NTIA, internet service providers, local communities and others, the approval of this final proposal will allow us to get to the finish line. This plan, once approved, will pay dividends for the people who call Alabama home for decades to come.”
According to ADECA, the final proposal would cost an average of less than $6,000 per eligible location, significantly under the original $1.4 billion allocation. Nearly 80 percent of eligible locations would be served by wired fiber broadband, while just over 20 percent would rely on low earth orbit (LEO) satellite service where no cost-effective fiber applications were received.
Proposed awardees include both national providers and Alabama-based companies and cooperatives. ADECA noted that all providers were vetted for technical, financial, and programmatic readiness to meet their commitments.
The agency outlined several measures taken since the release of new NTIA rules on June 6, including promoting competition among applicants, securing price reductions, and developing a monitoring plan to oversee project completion.
Public input on the proposal will remain open through Sept. 17, ahead of Alabama’s submission to NTIA. Once approved, the projects funded under BEAD are expected to bring Alabama to full broadband coverage as defined by federal standards.
