Governor Kay Ivey has awarded nearly $42 million in grants for high-speed internet projects in 23 Alabama counties. The funding will cover 2,347 miles and provide broadband access to more than 15,000 households, businesses, and institutions that currently lack high-speed internet. “With these latest grants, Alabama takes another all-important step toward supplying high-speed internet availability to more rural Alabama communities and neighborhoods,” Governor Ivey said.
“Upon completion of these projects, more children will have better learning opportunities, more businesses will have greater opportunities to compete worldwide, and emergency response departments and medical clinics will be able to offer improved services.”
These “last-mile” projects are the final leg of high-speed internet installation between the internet service provider and the customer. Governor Ivey has previously awarded $148 million in grants to expand broadband availability in more than two-thirds of Alabama’s counties. The latest grants come from the remaining funds.
grants awarded for broadband expansion
Kenneth Boswell, director of the Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs (ADECA), said, “Our state and so many partners are making continued progress in providing high-speed internet access to those unserved areas in Alabama. I remain honored in the trust that Governor Ivey and the Alabama Legislature have placed in ADECA in carrying out this mission that will truly change lives for the better.”
The grants will go to various companies to install the internet infrastructure.
Households, businesses, and institutions will still need to become customers of the companies to gain access to the high-speed internet. Some of the key grants and coverage areas include:
$5 million to Troy Cablevision (C Spire) to provide high-speed internet to 2,132 unserved households, businesses, and community anchor institutions in Baldwin, Coffee, Crenshaw, Covington, Houston, and Pike counties, covering 243 miles. $5 million to Innovations America (Bama Fiber) to provide high-speed internet access to 3,261 unserved households, businesses, and community anchor institutions in Randolph County over a 360-mile area.
$3.63 million to Yellowhammer Networks to provide high-speed internet over nearly 1,000 miles to 2,352 unserved households, businesses, and community anchor institutions in Bibb, Chilton, Dallas, Greene, Hale, Marengo, Perry, Shelby, and Sumter counties. This strategic investment aims to bridge the digital divide and ensure that more Alabamians have access to the high-speed internet necessary for educational, economic, and public services.
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