Governor Kay Ivey has awarded nearly $17 million to help provide broadband services in primarily rural, unserved areas of Alabama.
The 36 grants awarded by Ivey to multiple broadband providers across the state are the largest amount and number awarded to date from the Alabama Broadband Accessibility Fund. The fund was created by the Alabama Legislature in 2018.
“The COVID-19 pandemic reinforced what we already knew; that Alabama’s broadband coverage is an issue we must continue addressing,” Ivey said. “Yet, thanks to so many, we are making strides in helping to provide high-speed internet coverage throughout the state. That will make a vast difference for thousands in terms of education, economic development, health care services and everyday life.”
The fund was created to assist broadband providers in extending services to households, businesses and community anchors in areas of the state without adequate service. A community anchor usually refers to a public building like a town hall, fire or police department, school library, post office or community center.
Internet providers were eligible to apply for grants of up to $1.5 million per project. Multiple grants were awarded to single providers for separate projects.
The Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs administers Broadband Accessibility Fund grants in the state.
“Access to broadband can make all the difference in the world to a family or rural business whether it is a child being able to participate in a course not offered at their school or a farmer having to go online to order a piece of equipment vital to his operation,” said ADECA Director Kenneth Boswell. “ADECA is pleased to join Governor Ivey in this program that is making real differences in the lives of Alabamians.”
Grants awarded and coverage areas are included below.
North Alabama
- JTM Broadband – $623,277 to supply internet access for 1,122 households, 32 businesses and one community anchor in a 51-mile stretch near Lexington, Elgin and Rogersville in Lauderdale County.
- Comcast Cable Communication – $453,032 to supply services to up to 540 households and five community anchors in Lauderdale County in vicinity of the town of Leighton and Nitrate City community.
Tombigbee Electric Cooperative Inc. – $1.15 million to provide internet access for 770 households, 15 businesses and four community anchors in northeast Franklin County. - Tombigbee Electric Cooperative Inc. – $1.26 million to supply internet access for 929 households, 25 businesses and one community anchor in southeast Franklin County.
- Tombigbee Electric Cooperative Inc. – $578,635 to provide internet service for 530 residences, 10 businesses and two community anchors in southwest Franklin County near Vina.
- Tombigbee Electric Cooperative Inc. – $556,678 to provide internet connectivity for 323 households and 10 businesses in the Spruce Pine area of Franklin County.
- Tombigbee Electric Cooperative Inc. – $324,072 to provide internet access for 227 households, 10 businesses and two community anchors near Hodges in Franklin County.
Farmers Telecommunications Corp – $84,665 to provide internet access for 106 households in the Dutton area of Jackson County. - Farmers Telecommunications Corp. – $116,593 to provide internet access for up to 122 households in DeKalb County in the areas of Lookout Mountain, Little River Canyon and Wade’s Gap.
- Spectrum Southeast (Charter Communications Inc.) – $25,966 to supply internet services for 20 residences in the Highland Drive area of the city of Arab in Marshall County.
- Cyber Broadband Inc. – $1.5 million to lay 86 miles of line that will provide internet access for 3,500 households, 50 businesses and 10 community anchors in the Breman and Cold Springs areas in Cullman County.
- Cyber Broadband Inc. – $1.5 million to provide internet access for up to 2,500 households and multiple businesses and community anchors in the Grandview and Logan areas of west Cullman County.
- Cyber Broadband Inc. – $581,615 to provide internet access for up to 550 household and 20 businesses in the Simpson Shores and Cold Springs Road areas in Cullman County.
- Spectrum Southeast (Charter Communications Inc.) – $84,072 to supply internet services for 109 households in the Bright Drive area of Blountsville in Blount County.
Spectrum Southeast (Charter Communications Inc.) – $124,611 to provide internet access for 119 households in areas near the city of Jasper and the town of Dora in Walker County. - Windstream Alabama – $56,534 to provide internet services to 17 households in St. Clair County in an area southeast of Springville.
- Windstream Alabama – $107,640 to supply service to up to 70 households and one business in an area north of Odenville in St. Clair County.
Central Alabama
- Spectrum Southeast (Charter Communications Inc.) – $82,262 to provide internet access for 63 residences in the Beasley Road area of Gardendale in Jefferson County.
- Spectrum Southeast (Charter Communications Inc.) – $44,291 to provide internet access for 31 households southwest of the Fosters community in Tuscaloosa County.
- Coosa Valley Technologies Inc. – $1.5 million to provide internet access to 739 households, four businesses and three community anchors in an area encompassing part of east Talladega and west Clay counties near the communities of Ironaton and Chandler Springs.
- Roanoke Telephone Co. – $193,221 to provide internet accessibility to 150 households and two businesses in the Five Points area in Chambers County.
- Point Broadband Fiber Holding – $587,000 to provide broadband access capabilities to 316 households and 14 businesses in Chambers, Lee and Tallapoosa counties in the vicinity of the town of Waverly and U.S. Highway 280.
- Windstream Alabama – $117,161 to provide internet services to 43 households in an area south of the town of Camp Hill in Tallapoosa County.
- Point Broadband Fiber Holding – $71,612 to supply internet service 56 households in the Overlook Drive area southwest of the city of Dadeville in Tallapoosa County.
- Spectrum Southeast (Charter Communications Inc.)- $144,688 to provide internet access for up to 244 households in the Lakeside Village area, southwest of the city of Dadeville, in Tallapoosa County.
- Mediacom Southeast – $50,600 to supply internet service capabilities for 653 households in Hale County near Greensboro.
- E Footprints – $1.5 million to supply broadband access capabilities for 3,070 households, 117 businesses and 20 anchors in parts of Hale, Bibb, Dallas, Marengo and Perry counties.
Point Broadband Fiber Holding – $71,564 to provide internet access to 38 households in the Spring Villa community in Lee County. - Point Broadband Fiber Holding – $1.1 million to provide 60 miles of cable to provide internet capability for 843 households and 26 businesses in Macon and Lee counties along Interstate 85.
- Spectrum Southeast (Charter Communications Inc.) – $62,499 to provide internet access for up to 72 households in Alpine Drive area of the Pine Level community in Autauga County.
- Troy Cablevision Inc. – $153,212 to provide internet service access for 27 households and two businesses in Bullock and Montgomery counties in an area encompassing the Cecil, Mathews and Fitzpatrick communities.
South Alabama
- Covington Electric Cooperative – $1.5 million to provide more than 200 miles of cable that will provide internet access for 788 households and three businesses in parts of northwest and southwest Covington County.
- Troy Cablevision Inc. – $370,389 to extend nearly 30 miles of line that would provide services to 289 residences and five businesses in Houston County in scattered areas around Cottonwood, Webb and Ardilla.
- Hurricane WiFi – $69,426 to provide services 346 households, two businesses and four community anchors in the Rabun community in Baldwin County.
- Hurricane WiFi – $48,133 to supply internet service to 359 households, two business and 11 anchors in the Perdido areas of Baldwin and Escambia counties.
- Comcast Cable Communications – $133,463 to provide internet access for up to 240 households in a 13- mile area in south Mobile County.
ADECA manages a range of programs that support law enforcement, economic development, recreation, energy conservation and water resource management.
