MONTGOMERY, Ala. (WSFA) – High-speed internet access will expand in 48 Alabama counties thanks to a newly awarded grant.
Gov. Kay Ivey on Tuesday announced $148.3 million to expand high-speed internet to underserved areas of the state.
Sixty-six Capital Projects Fund grants were awarded to 16 internet service providers to bring high-speed internet to parts of Alabama’s 48 counties.
“High-speed internet service continues to strengthen and expand across the state, and we continue to make the progress needed to achieve complete broadband access for Alabama,” Governor Ivey said. “This is a monumental task, but one with tremendous benefits for our state and its residents. Today is an exciting day to announce these latest projects.”
These expansion projects, known as “last mile” projects, will create more than 5,000 miles of broadband infrastructure capable of supporting approximately 54,000 households, businesses, and institutions.
The announcement comes after the Feb. 5 announcement of a $188 million grant to the Alabama Anchor Association (the “Middle Mile” program). The Middle Mile Program is the predecessor to the Last Mile Project and will fund 12 internet service providers to install more than 4,000 miles of broadband infrastructure across Alabama.
“This has been an incredible journey made possible by Governor Ivey, the Alabama Legislature, the state’s internet service providers, and many other willing and committed participants,” said ADECA Director Kenneth Boswell. “Once completed, these projects announced today will provide access to thousands of Alabamians.”
Below is a list of service providers who have been awarded grants and their coverage areas.
- AT&T Southeast – Five grants totaling $6.97 million to expand broadband service in Franklin, Jefferson, Mobile, Morgan and Russell counties. This expansion could potentially impact more than 1,871 households and businesses.
- Central Alabama Electric Cooperative – Seven grants totaling $21.94 million to expand broadband service in areas of Autauga, Chilton, Coosa, Dallas and Elmore counties. The service area includes more than 6,000 potential households and businesses.
- Connect Hold (Bright Speed) – Two grants totaling $388,061 to expand broadband service in Pickens and St. Clair counties. This project could impact 479 households and businesses.
- Coosa Valley Technologies Co., Ltd.. -Six grants totaling $12.57 million to expand broadband service in Calhoun, Etowah, Shelby and Talladega counties. The service area may include more than 974 households and businesses.
- Cullman Electric Cooperative – One grant totaling $4.1 million to provide broadband service in areas of Cullman and Winston Counties. The expansion could potentially cover 1,979 households and businesses.
- Farmers Telecommunications Corporation. – His two grants totaling $7.29 million to expand broadband service in DeKalb County. It has the potential to serve more than 1,600 households and businesses.
- Technology (Amazing!) – One grant totaling $2.39 million to expand broadband service in parts of Henry and Houston Counties. The expansion could potentially cover about 970 households and businesses.
- media com – Eight projects totaling $22.8 million that will provide broadband service to parts of Baldwin, Clark, Conecuh, Escambia, Monroe and Mobile counties. The project area includes approximately 8,000 households and businesses.
- Milly Telephone Co., Ltd. – One grant totaling $3.6 million to expand broadband service in parts of Washington County. The expansion could potentially reach 988 new households and businesses.
- Pea River Electric Cooperative – One grant totaling $5 million to expand broadband service in parts of Barbour and Henry Counties. The expansion could potentially serve 1,529 additional households and businesses.
- pine belt telephone company – Four grants totaling $3 million to provide additional broadband service to Clark and Marengo counties, potentially serving more than 480 new households and businesses.
- RM Green Co., Ltd. – One grant totaling $2.85 million to expand broadband in parts of Barbour and Russell counties, serving more than 680 new households and businesses.
- Spectrum southeast – Bibb, Butler, Calhoun, Chambers, Cleburne, Coosa, Colbert, Cullman, Elmore, Etowah, Geneva, Greene, Houston, Jefferson, Lauderdale, Lawrence, Limestone, Marshall, Montgomery, Morgan County, Pickens County, St. Clair County , Talladega County, Tallapoosa County, and Tuscaloosa County. The service area includes 22,000 potential households and businesses.
- Tombigbee Electric Cooperative – One grant totaling $2.78 million to provide broadband service in parts of Winston County. The service area includes 1,584 potential households and businesses.
- Troy Cablevision (C Spire) – One grant totaling $1.65 million to expand broadband service in Dale and Houston counties. There are nearly 700 potential households and businesses in its service area.
- yellowhammer networks – Two grants totaling $5.13 million to provide broadband service in Bibb, Dallas, Greene, Hale, Lowndes, Marengo, Perry and Sumter counties. The project area includes approximately 3,700 households and businesses.
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