Gov. Ivey announces approval of final BEAD broadband proposal, awards $460 million to expand access to high-speed internet

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Coosa County included in Windstream funding

 

Special to the News

 

On Monday Gov. Kay Ivey announced that the state’s Broadband Equity, Access and Deployment (BEAD) Program proposal, which will provide high-speed internet service for all remaining eligible locations in Alabama, has been approved by the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA).

With approval, Gov. Ivey on Monday awarded grants totaling nearly $460 million to support 63 projects to expand access to broadband service to approximately 92,000 currently unserved locations statewide, marking a major milestone in the state’s broadband journey.

“This approval marks an important step forward in our work to close the digital divide in Alabama,” said Ivey. “Reliable high-speed internet is essential for economic growth, education, healthcare, and everyday life. I am proud of the collaboration between our state leaders, ADECA, local communities, and providers that made this plan possible. With this progress, we are ensuring that families and businesses across Alabama will have the connectivity they need to thrive in the modern economy.”

Since 2017, Ivey, the Alabama Legislature and the Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs have prioritized efforts to expand broadband through numerous state and federal grant programs while working closely with private partners and local communities.

Through the BEAD program, combined with other federal and state grant programs in recent years, Alabama is on track to achieve full broadband coverage as defined by NTIA.

“This approval reflects the strong partnership between Alabama, the federal government, internet providers, and local communities across our state,” said ADECA Director Kenneth Boswell. “Under Gov. Ivey’s leadership, our goal has always been clear – deliver reliable, high-speed internet to every eligible location in Alabama in the most responsible and cost-effective way possible. This plan and these projects position our state to do exactly that while ensuring these investments will support Alabama’s communities, businesses and families for generations to come.”

The 63 projects will expand access to broadband service at an average cost of less than $5,000 per location. In total, 71 percent of the projects will use fiber technology, 24 percent will use low-Earth orbit satellite technology and 5 percent will use hybrid fiber-coaxial technology.

Of the original $1.4 billion allocated to Alabama for BEAD, ADECA is saving more than $800 million in taxpayer dollars, which are likely to be available for new “non-deployment” uses as defined by the NTIA at a later date.

ADECA is actively working to develop contracts for the 63 preliminarily approved projects. Proposed awardees include both national providers and Alabama-based companies and cooperatives, all of which have been vetted to ensure they can deliver on their commitments.

ADECA’s plan includes a robust monitoring program to ensure that projects are completed on time, meet federal standards and provide lasting benefits to the people of Alabama.

Below are the service providers awarded funds and the areas being served:

AMAZON – $8.83 million total

• Statewide –$8.83 million to provide access to high-speed internet service to 14,728 locations throughout the state.

ARDMORE TELEPHONE COMPANY – $2.63 million total

• Lowndes County – $2.63 million to provide access to high-speed internet service in 251 locations.

AT&T – $72.96 million total

• Autauga County – $2.62 million to provide access to high-speed internet service in 366 locations.
• Bibb County – $1.54 million to provide access to high-speed internet service in 154 locations.
• Clarke County – $7.79 million to provide access to high-speed internet service in 779 locations.
• Cullman County – $3.67 million to provide access to high-speed internet service in 368 locations.
• Dallas County – $14.45 million to provide access to high-speed internet service in 1,487 locations.
• Jefferson County – $9.27 million to provide access to high-speed internet service in 1,542 locations.
• Lee County – $9.93 million to provide access to high-speed internet service in 1,132 locations.
• Montgomery County – $4.48 million to provide access to high-speed internet service in 862 locations.
• Morgan County – $194,503 to provide access to high-speed internet service in 105 locations.
• Russell County – $1.12 million to provide access to high-speed internet service in 639 locations.
• Shelby County – $8.17 million to provide access to high-speed internet service in 817 locations.
• Talladega County – $4.68 million to provide access to high-speed internet service in 468 locations.
• Walker County – $5.05 million to provide access to high-speed internet service in 505 locations.

BRIGHTSPEED – $14.31 million total

• Butler County – $1.73 million to provide access to high-speed internet service in 707 locations.
• Coffee County – $2.07 million to provide access to high-speed internet service in 349 locations.
• Crenshaw County – $3.71 million to provide access to high-speed internet service in 466 locations.
• Geneva County – $2.54 million to provide access to high-speed internet service in 396 locations.
• Henry County – $1.87 million to provide access to high-speed internet service in 680 locations.
• Pickens County – $2.39 million to provide access to high-speed internet service in 1,804 locations.

COMCAST – $132.36 million total

• Calhoun County – $10.30 million to provide access to high-speed internet service in 1,231 locations.
• Colbert County – $7.71 million to provide access to high-speed internet service in 1,042 locations.
• Etowah County – $11.61 million to provide access to high-speed internet service in 1,194 locations.
• Houston County – $14.29 million to provide access to high-speed internet service in 2,585 locations.
• Lauderdale County – $8.83 million to provide access to high-speed internet service in 1,190 locations.
• Mobile County – $30.60 million to provide access to high-speed internet service in 5,295 locations.
• St. Clair County – $16.61 million to provide access to high-speed internet service in 2,172 locations.
• Tuscaloosa County – $32.41 million to provide access to high-speed internet service in 3,389 locations.

FARMERS TELECOMMUNICATIONS CORP. – $4.23 million total

• DeKalb County – $2.60 million to provide access to high-speed internet service in 322 locations.
• Marshall County – $1.63 million to provide access to high-speed internet service in 273 locations.

MILLRY TELEPHONE CO. – $9.45 million total

• Washington County – $9.45 million to provide access to high-speed internet service in 1,117 locations.

MSTREET FIBER ALABAMA – $24.21 million total

• Greene County – $2.69 million to provide access to high-speed internet service in 384 locations.
• Hale County – $6.37 million to provide access to high-speed internet service in 872 locations.
• Marengo County – $3.75 million to provide access to high-speed internet service in 511 locations.
• Perry County – $4.79 million to provide access to high-speed internet service in 1,167 locations.
• Sumter County – $6.61 million to provide access to high-speed internet service in 886 locations.

POINT BROADBAND – $1.82 million total

• Clay County – $1.82 million to provide access to high-speed internet service in 1,176 locations.

PREMIER BROADBAND – $46.35 million total

• Chilton County – $19.91 million to provide access to high-speed internet service in 2,006 locations.
• Cleburne County – $20.55 million to provide access to high-speed internet service in 2,066 locations.
• Lawrence County – $5.89 million to provide access to high-speed internet service in 658 locations.

SP BROADBAND – $57.6 million total

• Conecuh County – $22.81 million to provide access to high-speed internet service in 3,149 locations.
• Escambia County – $10.84 million to provide access to high-speed internet service in 1,383 locations.
• Monroe County – $23.95 million to provide access to high-speed internet service in 3,395 locations.

SPACEX – $7.85 million total

• Statewide – $3.91 million to provide high-speed internet service to 3,461 locations in different parts of the state.
• Bullock County – $41,250 to provide access to high-speed internet service in 48 locations.
• Chambers County – $306,000 to provide access to high-speed internet service in 378 locations.
• Choctaw County – $138,750 to provide access to high-speed internet service in 160 locations.
• Covington County – $317,250 to provide access to high-speed internet service in 406 locations.
• Jackson County – $251,250 to provide access to high-speed internet service in 260 locations.
• Pike County – $498,000 to provide access to high-speed internet service in 431 locations.
• Tallapoosa County – $761,250 to provide access to high-speed internet service in 848 locations.
• Wilcox County – $1.47 million to provide access to high-speed internet service in 1,534 locations.
• Winston County – $198,000 to provide access to high-speed internet service in 245 locations.

SPECTRUM SOUTHEAST – $16.61 million

• Blount County – $6.51 million to provide access to high-speed internet service in 1,271 locations.
• Cherokee County – $606,229 to provide access to high-speed internet service in 142 locations.
• Dale County – $9.50 million to provide access to high-speed internet service in 1,093 locations.

WINDSTREAM ALABAMA – $17.86 million total

• Barbour County – $6.19 million to provide access to high-speed internet service in 864 locations.
• Coosa County – $2.89 million to provide access to high-speed internet service in 514 locations.
• Elmore County – $5.07 million to provide access to high-speed internet service in 865 locations.
• Macon County – $3.71 million to provide access to high-speed internet service in 531 locations.

ZITEL – $41.87 million

• Baldwin County – $29.83 million to provide access to high-speed internet service in 9,984 locations.
• Randolph County – $12.04 million to provide access to high-speed internet service in 4,538 locations.