MONTGOMERY, AL — The Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs (ADECA) has officially submitted the state’s final Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) Program proposal to the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA), marking a major milestone toward universal high-speed internet access across Alabama.
Following a public comment period and years of planning, the proposal outlines how broadband providers will extend service to more than 101,000 eligible locations statewide. Once approved and implemented, every BEAD-eligible location in Alabama will have access to reliable high-speed internet service.
“Expanding access to high-speed internet has been one of my top priorities since taking office, and today we are one step closer to ensuring that all Alabamians have the ability to be connected,” said Governor Kay Ivey. “We appreciate our close partnership with the Trump Administration in forming this plan, which will allow us to secure broadband access for all eligible Alabama addresses while saving taxpayers more than $800 million.”
Governor Ivey added that the submission reflects years of coordination among ADECA, state and local partners, and broadband providers. “With approval, Alabama will achieve 100 percent coverage for every BEAD-eligible location in our state,” she said.
Since 2017, state leaders have prioritized expanding broadband access through multiple state and federal initiatives, partnering with private providers and local communities to close the connectivity gap.
ADECA Director Kenneth Boswell emphasized the program’s long-term impact. “Governor Ivey gave us a clear directive: every Alabamian should have access to reliable, high-speed internet,” Boswell said. “Today’s submission delivers on that vision. Working closely with NTIA, providers, and communities across the state, we have developed a plan that will serve Alabama families, schools, businesses, and farms for decades to come.”
Through competitive negotiations, ADECA secured provider commitments averaging $5,100 per eligible location — saving over $800 million from the state’s initial $1.4 billion allocation. The final plan includes wired construction for approximately 75 percent of locations and low Earth orbit (LEO) satellite service for the remaining 25 percent, where wired solutions were not cost-feasible.
Both national and Alabama-based broadband companies are proposed as awardees, each vetted for technical capability and reliability. ADECA’s plan also establishes a comprehensive monitoring system to ensure all projects are completed on schedule and meet federal and state performance standards.
The final BEAD proposal and subgrantee selection details are available on ADECA’s website under BEAD Eligible Broadband Serviceable Locations and Subgrantee Selection Process – ADECA.
