Alabama officials say a bill signed into law last week will help fill the gaps in broadband accessibility for thousands of rural residents in the state.
The Alabama Broadband Accessibility Act authorizes the creation of a broadband accessibility grant program, which will be administered by the Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs. The law also creates the Alabama Broadband Accessibility Fund.
“The internet is vital to economic development, health, education, and to be honest, all areas of our modern life," Gov. Kay Ivey said in a news release. "This common-sense legislation will help us attract new broadband to areas that need it most, especially in rural Alabama. It is just another step forward as we improve access to high-speed internet sooner rather than later.”
In Alabama, more than 842,000 people lack access to a wired connection capable of download speeds reaching at least 25 megabits per second. More than 1 million people in Alabama have access to only one wired provider and an additional 276,000 people in Alabama don't have any wired internet providers available where they live.
Through the legislation, the state will encourage accelerated private investment in broadband infrastructure by telecommunications companies, cable companies and electric cooperatives in rural areas. Grants awarded by ADECA will be focused on unserved areas.
Kenneth Boswell, ADECA's director, called the availability of high-speed internet "a critical infrastructure issue in rural Alabama."
"The Alabama Broadband Accessibility Act gives the state a valuable new tool. With Gov. Ivey’s support, ADECA will work under this new grant framework to facilitate the expansion of broadband in rural areas of Alabama that currently lack high-speed internet.”
The governor said the goal of expanding broadband access to rural Alabama will be further helped by a pilot program, grants and loans from the federal government. Last week, Congress included in the omnibus spending bill a $600 million broadband pilot program, which will enable applicants to finance a project by combining loans and grants to provide broadband to eligible rural and tribal areas.
The newly created federal investment means the government will spend nearly $1 billion on new rural broadband projects across the country.