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On Monday, Governor Kay Ivey announced that the Trump administration has approved Alabama’s final Broadband Equity, Access and Deployment (BEAD) Program proposal, which now officially unlocks nearly $460 million in grants to bring high-speed internet to the last unserved corners of the state.

Today’s milestone is the most powerful testament to well over a decade of sustained attention from state leaders to close Alabama’s digital divide.

“This approval marks an important step forward in our work to close the digital divide in Alabama,” Governor Ivey said in a statement.

“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.”

The National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) signed off on the plan, which funds 63 projects designed to reach approximately 92,000 currently unserved locations statewide.

With completion of those projects, Alabama will achieve full broadband coverage as defined by NTIA.

Of the 63 projects, 71% will use fiber technology, 24% will use low-Earth orbit (LEO) satellite technology, and 5% will use hybrid fiber-coaxial (HFC) technology.

Awardees span a wide range of national and Alabama-based companies and cooperatives:

Amazon – $8.83 million total

Ardmore Telephone Co. – $2.63 million total

AT&T – $72.96 million total

Brightspeed – $14.31 million total

Comcast – $132.36 million total

Farmers Telecommunications Cooperative – $4.23 million total

Millry Telephone Company, Inc. – $9.45 million total

mStreet Fiber Alabama – $24.21 million total

Point Broadband – $1.82 million total

Premier Broadband– $46.35 million total

SP Broadband – $57.6 million total

SpaceX – $7.85 million total

Spectrum Southeast – $16.61 million

Windsteam Alabama – $17.86 million total

Zitel – $41.87 million

ADECA Director Kenneth Boswell said the approval reflects years of deliberate groundwork.

“This approval reflects the strong partnership between Alabama, the federal government, internet providers and local communities across our state,” Boswell said.

“Under Governor 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.”

RELATED: Be Linked Alabama: Interactive map lights up broadband growth

The roots of Monday’s announcement stretch back to around 2010, when Republicans took control of both chambers of the Alabama Legislature for the first time in 136 years and broadband connectivity quickly emerged as a priority of the new majorities.

What followed was a massive scale-up of legislative and executive actions spanning more than a decade.

By the time BEAD funds became available, Alabama had the institutional infrastructure, partnerships and policy framework in place to move faster and more efficiently than nearly any other state in the country.

According to ADECA and Governor’s Office, that disciplined focus has paid off in how far Alabama has stretched the available dollars.

Of the original $1.4 billion allocated to Alabama, ADECA is saving more than $800 million, over 60% of the original allocation.

The 63 funded projects average less than $5,000 per location served, a figure that compares favorably to national benchmarks.

When ADECA submitted the final proposal to NTIA in September, many states’ BEAD deployments were running $4,000-$10,000 per location, with remote areas pushing averages even higher.

Alabama came in at the low end of that range, which placed the state among the highest echelon of affordability and effectiveness.

Former Alabama Senate Majority Leader Clay Scofield, who was central to those efforts during his time in the Alabama Legislature, said today from his role as CEO of the Energy Institute of Alabama, that the Trump administration’s approval, and the state’s award of more than $460 million, is a “transformational milestone in our state’s broadband journey.”

“As a result of Governor Kay Ivey, the Alabama Legislature, and electric utilities and internet service providers across our state developing, prioritizing, and implementing a plan for broadband expansion that has been a model for states across the country to follow, we have secured significant levels of funding from the federal government that will impact the lives of tens of thousands of Alabamians,” Scofield said.

“This is yet another huge leap forward for our state and our mission to extend high-speed internet access to all Alabamians.”

Grayson Everett is the editor in chief of Yellowhammer News. You can follow him on X @Grayson270.

Governor Kay Ivey along with state and local leaders gathered Wednesday on the banks of the Alabama River to mark a practical milestone in Alabama’s broadband buildout: the Alabama Fiber Network’s (AFN) middle-mile line has crossed the J. Lee Long Bridge on Alabama Highway 29, one of the final major spans before the statewide backbone is finished.

The ceremony took place in Camden, Ivey’s hometown in Wilcox County.

AFN, the rural-electric-co-op-led consortium building Alabama’s statewide middle-mile, now has service available in all 67 counties as of the end of October, with full project completion still tracking for February 2026, according to the Governor’s Office.

The backbone totals roughly 3,500 miles and is designed to lower transport costs, add resiliency, and shorten timelines for last-mile ISPs extending service to unserved and underserved areas.

“Since my first day as governor, I have made it a top priority to ensure every Alabamian, no matter their zip code, has access to reliable, high-speed internet service through an internet service provider,” Governor Ivey said today.

“This middle-mile network represents a once-in-a-generation investment in our state’s future. It will support our hospitals, schools, businesses, families, and it will ensure Alabama remains competitive in the 21st-century economy. Together, we are building a stronger, more connected Alabama.”

In 2022, Alabama lawmakers appropriated $85 million in federal ARPA funds for broadband, followed by an $82.45 million grant in September 2022 to the then-named Fiber Utility Network to construct the statewide middle-mile. That entity later rebranded as Alabama Fiber Network.

State officials also highlighted Alabama Power as a major infrastructure partner that helped keep the AFN backbone on schedule and more resilient.

“We are proud to be part of this partnership to continue fiber expansion that benefits our state,” said Alabama Power senior vice president of Power Delivery, Scott Moore.

“Projects like this in Camden and throughout the Black Belt region help us strengthen our infrastructure for more dependable service and also help bridge the digital divide to create more opportunities for future growth.”

By expanding fiber optic connectivity across Alabama, the middle-mile network will enable last-mile internet providers to reach homes and businesses in rural and hard-to-serve areas. The infrastructure will also connect critical community institutions such as public safety agencies, healthcare facilities, schools, libraries and local government offices.

ADECA Director Kenneth Boswell noted that the project reflects the state’s commitment to strategic investment and partnership.

“The Alabama Middle-Mile Network is an essential building block for our state’s digital future,” said Director Boswell. “By working together with the governor, the Legislature, our electric cooperatives and private partners, we are ensuring that every region — from the Tennessee Valley to the Gulf Coast, to right here in the Black Belt — can participate fully in the opportunities that broadband brings.”

In January 2022, the state of Alabama appropriated $85 million in federal funding from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) to support broadband expansion. Through a competitive grant process administered by ADECA’s Digital Expansion Division, $82.4 million was awarded to the Alabama Fiber Network (AFN) in September 2022 to build out the middle-mile infrastructure.

Alabama Fiber Network CEO Terry Metze praised the collaboration behind the project.

“This is what partnership looks like,” said Metze. “Through the leadership of Governor Ivey, the guidance of ADECA and the hard work of Alabama’s rural electric cooperatives, we are creating a network that will serve as the backbone for connectivity for generations to come. Our goal is simple — to make sure every Alabamian can access world-class internet service, no matter where they live. This network is truly by Alabama for Alabama.”

Local leaders emphasized the life-changing impact broadband connectivity will bring to rural communities. J. Paul Jones Rural Emergency Hospital in Camden CEO/Administrator Jessica McGraw highlighted what the project means for healthcare providers and patients.

“Reliable broadband is no longer optional in healthcare,” said McGraw. “This network will allow us to prevent unnecessary disruption of services, securely share patient information, expand telemedicine and subsequently improve access to specialists — all of which directly improve the quality of care for people here in Wilcox County and beyond.”

Governor Ivey concluded, “Broadband infrastructure is just as essential as roads and bridges. By finishing this project, we’re not just connecting cables; we’re connecting people, communities and opportunity across Alabama.”

Background on the Alabama Middle-Mile Fiber Network:

Grayson Everett is the editor in chief of Yellowhammer News. You can follow him on X @Grayson270.

100,000 people: The number of residents in rural Northwest Alabama who will gain improved access to the information superhighway.

$145 million: The investment by the Tombigbee Electric Cooperative to create the on-ramp for those residents.

4,200 miles: The number of miles of fiber installed.

U.S. Rep. Robert Aderholt, Alabama House Speaker Nathaniel Ledbetter and Senate President Pro Tem Garlan Gudger joined other officials today to celebrate the co-op’s completion of a fiber-to-home internet project.

The project required installing 4,200 miles of fiber across eight Alabama counties by the co-op’s Tombigbee Communications subsidiary under its Freedom FIBER brand.

This achievement fulfills a vision by Tombigbee Electric’s Board of Directors nearly a decade ago and advances the core mission of electric cooperatives, bringing essential connectivity to the communities they serve.

“If you look back to 1936 and the Rural Electrification Act, the whole premise of why co-ops were created was to get electricity outside the densely populated cities and into rural parts of America so as not to leave anyone behind,” said Britton Lightsey, president and CEO of Tombigbee Electric Cooperative. “We followed that same principle with our fiber project. If you look at your more densely populated areas, they were mostly covered as far as internet service. But when you went outside your cities, there was nothing in rural communities.

“Our board made it a mission that if they were going to do this project, they would follow the same mission of why the cooperatives exist – to take service to everyone and not leave anyone out.”

The celebration was held at Tombigbee Electric’s headquarters in Hamilton and included speakers, food and hors d’oeuvres. More than 250 people attended.

“I had the privilege of standing right here in this same building back in 2018— alongside Governor Kay Ivey and then-Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue — when we announced the creation of the USDA’s ReConnect Program,” Aderholt said. “That day, we set out on an ambitious mission: to make sure that families, businesses and schools in rural communities across our state had the same access to high-speed internet as anyone in Birmingham or Huntsville or Mobile.

“And today, thanks to the leadership and vision of Tombigbee Electric Cooperative, that mission has been accomplished.”

In addition to Aderholt, Ledbetter and Gudger, others at the event included state Reps. Bryan Brinyark, Tracy Estes, Jamie Keil and Tim Wadsworth; state Sens. Gerald Allen and Jack Williams; Randall Shedd, former state representative and former chairman of the Alabama Digital Expansion Authority; Secretary of State Wes Allen; and representatives of Gov. Kay Ivey and U.S. Sens. Tommy Tuberville and Katie Britt’s offices.

Tombigbee Electric provides electricity to about 10,000 homes and businesses in Marion and Lamar counties. However, its Tombigbee Communications subsidiary offers Freedom FIBER high-speed internet service in Colbert, Fayette, Franklin, Tuscaloosa, Walker and Winston counties, in addition to Marion and Lamar.

Lightsey thanked Gov. Ivey, the Legislature, Aderholt and others for their support and assistance with the fiber project which began in 2017.

U.S. Rep. Robert Aderholt presents Tombigbee Electric Corporation CEO Britton Lightsey a copy of the Federal Register commemorating Tombigbee’s completion of fiber construction.

“If we were going to serve an area, we were going to serve the entire area and not pick and choose like other internet providers in the past had traditionally done,” said Lightsey, who joined Tombigbee in 2022 and took over as CEO in 2023. “Since day one, we’ve been following that mission, and improving the well-being of the citizens of the region, improving healthcare and connectivity to telemedicine, and improving the education capabilities in our communities.

“We started with zero miles of fiber in 2017. Today, we sit with more than 4,200 miles of fiber,” Lightsey said. “We had zero internet customers in 2017. Today, we sit with over 27,000 customers from residential, business and industries throughout our region.”

Lightsey said the co-op is still connecting approximately three dozen new customers to Freedom FIBER each day. In addition, it continues to collect service registrations through its website, www.freedomfiber.com, and maintains a growing list of customers awaiting their turn to be connected.

He touted the community nature of Tombigbee’s customer service.

“If you have any issue, you are calling Hamilton, Alabama,” he said. “You’re not calling another country or even another state.

“Likewise, you’re not sending your money to an entity outside of the state. Every dollar you spend goes back to invest in our communities where we live and where we work and where we operate our business.”

Courtesy of 256 Today.

Federal, state and local leaders will gather Thursday afternoon at Tombigbee Electric Cooperative’s headquarters to celebrate a milestone nearly nine years in the making: the completion of more than 4,200 miles of fiber delivering reliable, high-speed internet to homes and businesses across eight rural Northwest Alabama counties.

The Freedom Fiber-branded network was built by Tombigbee’s broadband subsidiary, Tombigbee Communications

The event will run from 1:00-3:30 p.m. at 3196 County Highway 55 in Hamilton.

Confirmed and expected guests include a slate of state officials, including Alabama Speaker of the House Nathaniel Ledbetter (R-Rainsville), Senate President Pro Tem Garlan Gudger (R-Cullman), Reps. Bryan Brinyark (R-Tuscaloosa), Tracy Estes (R-Winfield), Jamie Kiel (R-Russellville) and former State Rep. Randall Shedd.

As well as state executives and members of Alabama’s federal delegation, including Agriculture & Industries Commissioner Rick Pate, Secretary of State Wes Allen, representatives from Governor Kay Ivey’s office, U.S. Senators Tommy Tuberville (R-Auburn) and Katie Britt (R-Montgomery), as well as U.S. Rep. Robert Aderholt (R-Haleyville).

The Tombigbee project extends gigabit fiber access across a swath of rural communities.

Covering Marion, Lamar, Fayette and Franklin counties, most areas west of Smith Lake in Winston County, and select pockets of Walker, Cullman and Tuscaloosa counties — all locations that, a decade ago, had little to no prospect of modern connectivity.

The cooperative credits a “first-mile to last-mile” approach: leveraging the statewide Alabama Fiber Network for transport, building its own middle-mile backbone, and finishing the last mile to homes and businesses. AFN, a coalition of electric co-ops and partners that now reaches most Alabama counties, was created to speed affordable broadband to unserved areas.

The milestone also caps many years of public-private coordination. In 2018-2019, Tombigbee won federal USDA ReConnect support to jump-start rural fiber construction.

In an op-ed yesterday, U.S. Rep. Robert Aderholt reflected on Tombigbee’s role in launching the program from the Hamilton warehouse that will host Thursday’s celebration.

“Standing in that Hamilton warehouse six years ago, I said that broadband is the electricity of the 21st century. Today, we are closer than ever to ensuring that every home, school, and business in Alabama has access to that vital lifeline,” Aderholt wrote.

“The progress is real — and the best is yet to come.”

Grayson Everett is the editor in chief of Yellowhammer News. You can follow him on X @Grayson270.

On May 3, 2018, I stood in a warehouse at Tombigbee Electric Cooperative in Hamilton, Alabama, alongside Governor Kay Ivey and then–Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue, to announce to Alabama and the rest of America the creation of the USDA’s ReConnect Program. That day marked the start of a new chapter in connecting rural America to the modern economy — and it began right here in Alabama.

At that time, roughly 22 percent of Alabamians did not have access to broadband internet, with most of those households located in rural and underserved areas. For too long, the digital divide separated opportunity from the people who needed it most — students trying to complete homework, small businesses looking to compete online, and families who wanted access to telehealth services.

Here we are than six years later, the progress we’ve made is nothing short of remarkable. Today, just 6 percent of Alabamians remain without broadband access, according to the latest data from the Federal Communications Commission. That means more than one million Alabama residents now have access to reliable, high-speed internet who didn’t just a few years ago.

This success didn’t happen by accident. It has taken teamwork — from federal leaders, state officials, and local providers — working together toward one goal: connecting every corner of Alabama.

When I helped author and champion the ReConnect Program in Congress, my goal was to ensure that rural areas weren’t left behind in the digital revolution. Since its creation, the ReConnect Program has awarded more than $3 billion in broadband grants across the country, helping utilities, cooperatives, and local providers bring fiber-optic broadband to places where private investment alone simply wouldn’t go. Many of those projects have been right here in Alabama, including several that have transformed the connectivity of rural communities in the Fourth Congressional District, which I am proud to represent in Congress.

Just as importantly, Alabama’s state leadership also stepped up in a big way. Under the guidance of Governor Ivey, the Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs (ADECA) has managed the Alabama Broadband Accessibility Fund, which has distributed millions in state grants to help expand broadband access. Through the Connect Alabama initiative, the state has mapped out unserved areas and worked hand-in-hand with local providers to ensure funds go where they’re needed most.

Together, these efforts have meant that federal dollars are being matched with state resources, stretching every tax dollar further and maximizing the impact of each investment. This kind of partnership is what effective government looks like — collaboration that delivers results for real people.

The results are already visible in communities across our state. Students who once had to sit in fast-food restaurant parking lots to access Wi-Fi can now study from home. Small businesses are reaching new customers and markets. Doctors and patients are connecting through telemedicine. Farmers are using new precision agriculture tools that rely on high-speed connections to improve efficiency and productivity.

In short, broadband has become as essential to modern life as electricity or running water, and Alabama is ensuring that every household has access to it.

Even with these gains, our work isn’t finished. Six percent of our population still lacks broadband access, and for those families and businesses, the digital divide remains very real. We cannot stop until that number reaches zero.

The next phase will be even more challenging, as the remaining areas to connect are often the most rural and hardest to reach. But through continued investment in the ReConnect Program, the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) initiative, and sustained state support, we can finish the job.

The goal is clear: every Alabamian, no matter where they live in our state, should have access to affordable, reliable high-speed internet. When that happens, it will mean more than just better connectivity — it will mean stronger communities, new jobs, and a brighter future for the entire state.

Alabama’s story can serve as a model for the rest of rural America. When federal and state leaders work together with local partners, we can overcome challenges that once seemed impossible. The progress made since 2018 proves that strategic investment, thoughtful planning, and a shared commitment to rural America can deliver real results.

Standing in that Hamilton warehouse six years ago, I said that broadband is the electricity of the 21st century. Today, we are closer than ever to ensuring that every home, school, and business in Alabama has access to that vital lifeline. The progress is real — and the best is yet to come.

Robert Aderholt (R-Haleyville) represents Alabama’s 4th Congressional District. He is a senior member of the House Appropriations Committee.

The Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs on Tuesday afternoon formally submitted the state’s final Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) Program proposal to the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) following a public comment period.

Once approved and projects are completed, every BEAD-eligible location in Alabama will have access to high-speed internet connectivity, with awards enabling service providers to extend broadband to more than 101,000 locations statewide.

“Expanding access to high-speed internet has been one of my top priorities since taking office, and today we are one step closer to ensuring that all Alabamians have the ability to be connected,” said Governor Kay Ivey.

“We appreciate our close partnership with the Trump Administration in forming this plan, which will allow us to secure broadband access for all eligible Alabama addresses while saving taxpayers more than $800 million.”

Governor Ivey continued: “This submission reflects years of hard work and coordination between state leaders, ADECA, local partners, and providers. With approval, Alabama will achieve 100 percent coverage for every BEAD-eligible location in our state.”

Since 2017, Governor Ivey, the Alabama Legislature, and ADECA 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, Alabama is on track to achieve full broadband coverage as defined by NTIA.

“Governor Ivey gave us a clear directive: every Alabamian should have access to reliable, high-speed internet,” said ADECA Director Kenneth Boswell. “Today’s submission delivers on that vision. Working closely with NTIA, providers, and communities across the state, we have developed a plan that will serve Alabama families, schools, businesses, and farms for decades to come.”

Through competitive bidding and negotiations, ADECA secured commitments averaging $5,100 per eligible location – a savings of more than $800 million from Alabama’s original $1.4 billion BEAD allocation. The final plan calls for wired construction to approximately 75 percent of locations, with low earth orbit (LEO) satellite service covering approximately 25 percent where a wired solution was not feasible under NTIA’s cost requirements.

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 benefit to the people of Alabama.

The final BEAD proposal is available on ADECA’s website.

Courtesy of the Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs.

The Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs (ADECA) opened a seven-day public comment period on the state’s final BEAD proposal on Tuesday, which is slated for submission to the National Telecommunications and Information Administration next Thursday.

State officials say the plan would extend high-speed internet to every BEAD-eligible location in Alabama, with awards supporting service to 101,090 addresses. 

Once projects are complete, Alabama would achieve full broadband coverage as defined by NTIA.

“One of my biggest priorities since taking office has been expanding high-speed internet infrastructure across our state to ensure that every single Alabamian has access to connectivity,” Governor Kay Ivey said. 

“My administration has worked hand-in-glove with the Trump Administration to make our BEAD proposal as low-cost as possible. As a result, our final outcome represents a savings of over $800 million for the American taxpayers –a savings of more than 60 percent, as defined by NTIA percent from Alabama’s original BEAD allocation.”

The state indexes the deployment of the program through its Be Linked Alabama portal, which aggregates active project data on a county-by-county level. 

It is a massive achievement that ADECA negotiated commitments averaging under $6,000 per location across more than 100,000 addresses.

This puts Alabama among the most cost-efficient states under the BEAD framework.

Many states’ BEAD proposals show fiber deployment costs in the $4,000-$10,000 per-location range, with remote, high-cost areas pushing averages even higher. 

By keeping the average this low, Alabama not only shaves over $800 million off its original $1.4 billion allocation but also frees up federal dollars for other uses or for deeper investment in areas that are hardest to serve. 

Meanwhile, directing nearly 80% of locations toward wired fiber, widely regarded as the gold standard for speed, latency, and durability, indicates the level of quality commitment, ADECA Director Kenneth Boswell says. 

“Governor Ivey made clear to me at the very beginning that she wanted every single Alabamian to have access to high-speed internet.” 

“I am proud to say that, as a result of close coordination with NTIA, internet service providers, local communities and others, the approval of this final proposal will allow us to get to the finish line. This plan, once approved, will pay dividends for the people who call Alabama home for decades to come,” Boswell said. 

Proposed awardees include large national and international companies, as well as local Alabama companies and cooperatives.

According to ADECA, all proposed awardees have been vetted and evaluated to help ensure that they can deliver on their grant commitments.

Public comments and the full proposal are available via ADECA’s website. 

The comment period will close after seven days ahead of the Thursday, September 18 submission to NTIA.

Grayson Everett is the editor in chief of Yellowhammer News. You can follow him on X @Grayson270.

The Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs (ADECA) hosted the Alabama Digital Expansion Authority’s quarterly meeting in Montgomery this week.

The meeting featured progress updates from 20 internet service providers that received grants from two programs funded by federal American Rescue Plan Act funds as the state pushes forward with its effort to expand high-speed internet access to unserved areas.

The projects funded by those grants, totaling more than $400 million, must be completed by the end of 2026.

ADECA Director Kenneth Boswell delivered a clear message to providers: while progress is being made with the projects funded through the Capital Projects Fund and the Alabama Anchor Institution/Middle-Mile programs, the pace is not where it needs to be.

“We’re making progress, but we’re not where we need to be,” Boswell told providers.

“The deadlines we’re working under are not just ADECA’s—they’re federal requirements. If we don’t complete these projects on time, Alabama risks losing funds and broadband providers risk not getting reimbursed for their work.”

Boswell emphasized that broadband projects funded under both state and federal programs must meet “substantial completion” requirements by the federal deadline of December 31, 2026.

Failure to meet those benchmarks, Boswell cautioned, could result in lost funding or even clawbacks of previously distributed dollars. He urged ISPs to actively manage their projects, meet milestones, and keep ADECA informed, stressing that providers should prioritize these projects to ensure timely completion.

“We are working together to get this done, but we must streamline efforts and stay ahead of schedule,” Boswell said. “The sooner projects are completed, the sooner Alabamians get the high-speed internet they deserve—and the safer we are from losing critical funding.”

The Capital Projects Fund and Alabama Anchor Institution/Middle-Mile programs are part of Alabama’s broader effort to close the digital divide and ensure reliable, affordable broadband access in all communities across the state.

Grayson Everett is the editor in chief of Yellowhammer News. You can follow him on X @Grayson270.

Across Alabama, hardworking families, veterans, small business owners, and farmers form the backbone of our economy and our way of life. From our rural communities to our growing towns and cities, these Alabamians create opportunities, strengthen our communities, and drive our state forward.

As Washington debates this significant reconciliation package, it is vital that we do not lose sight of where our prosperity truly begins — and who relies on smart, targeted investments to succeed.

Congress has a real chance to enact lasting reforms based on sound principles: easing the tax burden on families, being responsible with spending, and building a stronger, more resilient economy for everyone.

But in doing so, they also must be careful not to undermine the essential investments that help Alabama’s communities, especially our rural areas, compete and thrive.

Federal programs supporting agriculture, forestry, and rural development are not handouts. They are targeted investments that strengthen local economies. Through USDA Rural Development initiatives, Alabama’s small towns have expanded water systems, broadband networks, and transportation links.

Programs like EQIP and the Conservation Stewardship Program have helped farmers conserve resources and improve productivity. And as the second largest timber-producing state in the nation, Alabama relies on strong forest management programs to sustain jobs, protect property, and ensure responsible growth.

During my time chairing the Senate Rules Committee and serving on finance and infrastructure committees, I have seen how investments in rural Alabama, from broadband expansion in Walker and Fayette counties to road improvements across Jefferson County, lay the foundation for long-term economic growth.

These investments are critical to keeping small towns viable, ensuring family farms endure, and helping rural businesses grow.

Congressional Republicans are leading efforts to restore fiscal discipline, and I fully support a focus on cutting waste and making government more efficient. But true fiscal responsibility is not just about reducing spending, but it is about investing taxpayer dollars where they make the most difference.

Protecting key programs that support farmers, working families, and rural businesses is part of that responsibility.

Senator Katie Britt has been a strong voice for Alabama’s rural communities and understands the critical importance of these investments to the future of our economy and our nation.

Her voice and leadership will be crucial in making sure Alabama’s needs are not forgotten in these important discussions.

If we want communities across Alabama to stay strong, we must protect the smart, proven programs that allow these communities to grow, compete, and contribute to our broader economy. The decisions made in the coming weeks will have a lasting impact. I urge Congress to keep our rural communities at the forefront of these reconciliation efforts. 

Jabo Waggoner is a member of the Alabama State Senate, representing the 16th District since 1990. 

The progress of broadband Internet access in Alabama is nothing if not remarkable. According to broadbandnow.com, in 2019, the state was ranked 47th in the U.S. for broadband connectivity. Today, we rank 24th. That is an improvement worthy of note. It was no accident.

Approximately seven years ago, then-House Majority Leader Nathaniel Ledbetter and his senate counterpart Clay Scofield were instrumental in passing a series of legislative accomplishments incentivizing private investment in broadband infrastructure.

In 2018, the Legislature passed the Broadband Accessibility Act, creating the Broadband Accessibility Fund. Ledbetter and Scofield’s effort was firmly supported by several notable legislators, including Representative Randall Shedd, Senator Donnie Chesteen, and Senator Steve Livingston. Governor Ivey’s understanding of the issue and its ultimate economic impact and her unwavering support were essential to the effort.

With over thirty years of experience in the evolution of basic telephone service to advanced optical fiber networks, I have gained a deep appreciation for the vision and courage of those who invested in the future of our state and its people.

Just 100 years ago, we were debating whether or not rural electricity was necessary.

75 years ago, telephones were considered a luxury.

The pandemic gave us a hint of just how dependent we have become on Internet connectivity.

Frankly, we have only scratched the surface.

What makes the work of Speaker Ledbetter and his legislative colleagues remarkable is their foresight. Communications infrastructure is essential to our posture in the world.

However, like its other utility and transportation counterparts, it is an extremely high fixed-cost environment. The bedrock principle of utility deployment is making it universally available so that these fixed costs may be spread over as many users as possible.

This is the key to affordability of the service and its economic sustainability. When we invest in broadband infrastructure, of course the investment spread over the initial users appears outsized.

But these are thirty-to-fifty-year investments.

As the subscriber base increases the investment per user declines proportionately. In this sense, broadband investment is akin to investments in roads, bridges, energy assets and other critical components of infrastructure.

It takes a long-term view of the benefits to appreciate the value. Regrettably, the political world is not always charitable to the notion of deferred benefits.

Governor Ivey and Speaker Ledbetter clearly understand this, and I firmly believe their commitment is worthy of respect.

Alabama got a few other things right.

First, the emphasis on public/private partnerships and the requirement that all grant recipients invest substantial amounts of their own money in projects kept unreliable and inexperienced operators at bay.

Conversely, there was respect for all providers currently in the market as long as they agreed to deliver on the commitments they made. Most did. As a result, existing providers focused on expanding service to the truly unserved. The state did not promote artificial competition.

Second, the Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs (ADECA) is to be commended for developing the knowledge necessary to administer these programs in a remarkably efficient manner. Since 2018, more than $500 million in grants have been awarded to Internet service providers. These investments are projected to expand high-speed internet access to almost 127,000 households and institutions. ADECA’s work ethic and dedication to its mission are impressive.

Indeed, one of Speaker Ledbetter’s initiatives encouraged, and legislatively enabled, rural electric cooperatives to enter the game.

It is arguable that without the efforts of RECs, much of rural Alabama would never receive the level of service these cooperatives are deploying. Eight of them collaborated in founding the Alabama Fiber Network (AFN), which, funded largely by ARPA appropriations, will develop a middle-mile broadband infrastructure.

This network serves as the backbone for delivering high-speed internet to local providers, facilitating last-mile connections to homes and businesses. The AFN aims to construct a 5,000-mile network covering all 67 counties in Alabama. This network will enable other willing providers to deploy end-user services now that a transport network to the backbone of the Public Internet is available to them. Yet another investment that gives rise to more investment.

Speaker Ledbetter, his colleagues, and Governor Ivey are to be commended for making beneficial decisions for all of Alabama. They have not forgotten the 45 counties categorized by the Department of Commerce as rural. In 2023, new capital investment in Alabama’s targeted counties surpassed $1.7 billion, paving the way for the creation of over 1,700 jobs.

These results build upon the robust performance recorded in 2022 when $1.8 billion in new investment and 1,900 job commitments were announced for the state’s rural regions. Rural broadband expansion is one of the pillars of this growth. While it may be easy to criticize these investments, it is imperative that we adopt a much longer view of the future of our state. Wise choices are not always the most popular. Our current leadership should be commended for investing in the long-term good of our state.

They most certainly deserve it.

Fredrick Johnson is the CEO of Farmers Telecommunications Cooperative, Inc.

Alabama stands at a historic crossroads. The digital divide is a stark reality in our state, particularly in communities across my district in the Black Belt. While urban areas enjoy the benefits of high-speed internet, many rural residents are left in the dark, unable to access the essential tools and opportunities of today’s 21st century world.

Connectivity is the gateway that opens access to education, healthcare, and economic growth. In recent years, efforts have been made to close the digital divide, with state and federal funding dedicated to ensuring reliable, high-speed broadband reaches every part of our state.

To reach this goal, Alabama Fiber Network (AFN) is leading the development of the state’s first “middle mile” network designed to reach all of Alabama’s 67 counties. Commissioned by Governor Kay Ivey with bipartisan support, this ambitious project is transforming our digital landscape, empowering our communities, and driving economic growth. Middle mile infrastructure is essential to connect fiber driven internet to “last mile” providers who will serve individual households.

The state and federal funds supporting this initiative will not be available for much longer, so it is imperative that our community leaders take full advantage of this opportunity and assist in this statewide expansion.

When deployed, AFN’s network will directly serve community anchors, including our medical facilities and educational institutions. Once the middle mile network is in place, local internet service providers will be able to connect the last mile and serve residential customers. For our communities, the combination of available speed and capacity that AFN will deliver is currently unmatched.

By extending high-speed internet access to some of Alabama’s most remote areas, we will:

To achieve this ambitious goal, we must unite as a community. Elected officials, like me, must continue to support policies and initiatives that prioritize rural broadband. However, the true success of this endeavor relies on the collaboration of both elected and unelected local leaders.

Local governments, school districts, and community organizations play a crucial role in carrying this project across the finish line. By working together, we can leverage resources, overcome obstacles, and accelerate the deployment of this vital infrastructure. As Alabama Fiber Network actively expands across the state, I urge you to support their effort and remove roadblocks that hinder this critical and  time-sensitive mission.

The future of Alabama is bright. By investing in this statewide fiber network, Alabama is investing in our people, our communities, and our economy. With your help, we are empowering our rural communities, creating jobs, and fostering innovation. It’s time to connect the Black Belt and ensure that every resident, regardless of their location, can succeed in the digital age.

Bobby Singleton serves as the Alabama Senate Minority Leader and represents State Senate District 24. 

Alabama’s $1.4 billion proposal to expand high-speed internet has been approved by the National Telecommunications and Information Administration, the Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs (ADECA) proudly reported on Thursday.

The funding, which comes through the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment program, or BEAD, was initially announced in 2023. As part of the federal requirements, Alabama and the other states submitted proposals for deploying the BEAD funds to connect communities across Alabama with reliable high-speed internet access

Since 2018, the state has invested more than $500 million in broadband infrastructure projects. Once completed, the over 200 projects are expected to connect an estimated 140,000 households, businesses, and community anchor institutions like schools and libraries.

With approval of the plan, ADECA says the state will begin launching the next phase. Alabama will open a process in 2025 to receive applications from internet service providers for projects targeting unserved households and businesses across all 67 counties. The funds will focus on “last-mile” projects that connect homes and businesses to service.

“From the beginning, my goal to expand access to high-speed internet to every area of Alabama has been a team effort, and our plan to utilize these substantial BEAD funds to close the gap in broadband coverage is no different,” Governor Kay Ivey said.

“ADECA, lawmakers, local leaders, and internet service providers each play a valuable role to ensure all of Alabama is connected. I commend all our partners in the approval of the plan and look forward to rolling out this funding in 2025.”

RELATED: Be Linked Alabama: Interactive map lights up broadband growth

ADECA’s Alabama Digital Expansion Division is also managing funding from the American Rescue Plan Act and through the Alabama Broadband Accessibility Fund.

“High-speed broadband internet access is key to the success of students, families, small businesses, and industries across our nation. With continued state-federal and public-private partnerships making strategic investments in closing the digital divide, more Alabamians will have the opportunity to achieve their American Dream,” U.S. Senator Katie Britt said.

“I appreciate the leadership of Governor Ivey and ADECA in advancing this tailored plan for our state. I’ve always said we need to put Alabama first, and Governor Ivey is doing just that. I look forward to seeing how increased connectivity elevates our state and our communities long into the future.”

The funds are focused on permanent fiber infrastructure, for which the federal BEAD program prioritizes funding. Alabama’s broadband expansion strategy has also prioritized fiber-optic networks to ensure the infrastructure not only meets current needs, but also serves communities well into the future.

Grayson Everett is the state and political editor for Yellowhammer News. You can follow him on X @Grayson270

In the latest act of Alabama’s years-long broadband expansion effort, Governor Kay Ivey announced an almost $42 million Capital Projects Fund grant to be allocated toward 23 counties across the state.

The new funding will help to provide broadband availability to more than 15,000 households, businesses, and community anchors. Once completed, the additional “last-mile broadband” will cover 2,347 miles.

“With these latest grants, Alabama takes another all-important step to supplying high-speed internet availability to more rural Alabama communities and neighborhoods,” said Governor Ivey. “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.”

RELATED: Be Linked Alabama: Interactive map lights up broadband growth

ADECA Director Kenneth Boswell also emphasized the importance of the grant for Alabamians currently without access to broadband.

“Our state and so many partners are making continued progress in providing high-speed internet access to those unserved areas in Alabama,” said Boswell. “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.”

“Last-mile” projects are the final leg of high-speed internet installation between the internet service provider and the customer, whether it be family households, businesses, or community anchor institutions like schools, fire stations, libraries, and post offices. Once installation is complete, the households, businesses, and institutions have the option to connect to the network by becoming a customer of the internet service provider.

Those awarded grants and coverage areas are:

In February, Governor Ivey awarded $148.3 million in Capital Projects Fund grants for broadband accessibility in more than two-thirds of the state’s 67 counties. The grants being awarded are from the remaining funds.

Austen Shipley is a staff writer for Yellowhammer News. You can follow him on X @ShipleyAusten

In a move to connect data centers in two of Alabama’s largest cities, Uniti Fiber announced plans to build a new 200-mile-long fiber network spanning from Montgomery to Mobile.

The project is being funded through a new 20-year contract award from a strategic hyper-scale customer in Alabama.

“We are humbled to have earned the continued trust of our hyperscale customer, resulting in the building of this critical route connecting two important markets in Alabama,” said Greg Ortyl, Uniti’s President of Wholesale & Strategic Accounts. “This contract award continues to demonstrate the strong momentum Uniti has within the hyperscale segment as they aggressively build out new AI-optimized data centers.”

RELATED: Chilton County residents share appreciation for reliable internet and Uniti Fiber – ‘connectivity is important’

The route will create a path between the two markets allowing Uniti’s customers to interconnect to other regional and long-haul routes, which connect data centers in other additional markets.

The contract award was executed in the second quarter and Uniti plans to deliver the fiber routes to its customer in 2025. Over the last several years, Uniti has built almost 4,000 fiber route miles in Alabama, representing over $300 million of capital investment.

Austen Shipley is a staff writer for Yellowhammer News. You can follow him on X @ShipleyAusten

Alabama’s leaders have made broadband access a top priority, and together, we have invested significant resources to achieve this goal.  The early efforts of former Senator Clay Scofield and Representative Randall Shedd established the Alabama Digital Expansion Authority. Alabama’s investment in our Broadband Accessibility Grant Program helped us understand the intricacies of identifying truly unserved areas in our state when we created the Accessibility Fund in 2018.

This program produced an accurate mapping product that led to massive state and federal investments to install fiber optic cable to improve access. This was a big deal with a promising outlook and has done tangible good. These accomplishments should not be overlooked.

Little did we know that in a matter of just a few years, a completely different, market-driven solution would solve the challenge of rural broadband connectivity in the state and the world beyond. What’s surprising is that it works so well, is cheap, and is deployable today with no costly infrastructure investment.

If you live in a rural area of the county, you can purchase a Starlink dish and accompanying router today, install it yourself without a single tool, and have high-speed broadband service immediately. There’s no waiting for fiber infrastructure to be installed in your community, no waiting for an appointment to meet a technician to install a box on the side of your house, and no monthly service fees for equipment. Did I mention it’s available immediately?

So, let’s talk speed, but not in overtly technical terms.  Starlink will more than adequately serve the residential needs of a home with several teenagers streaming Hulu, Netflix, and YouTubeTV while FaceTiming and snapping with their friends, to say nothing of the Zoom calls, Webex meetings, and Amazon shopping needs of the adults.  I know because I’ve been a Starlink customer for two years. It’s flawless.

How about the price? Currently, $299 gets you a dish, the router, the cable and the stand you’ll need to get going. Currently, the service is $120/month. I say currently because the cost keeps coming down as Starlink gains more subscribers. The good old free market again…  That’s less than the best family cell service plan I can find and certainly less than a decent smartphone. Oh, and there are no contracts.

So why did I say it’s only solved rural access challenges? The very challenge that made serving rural areas, density, or lack thereof, is where Starlink thrives. Too much density, say in dense urban areas, and fiber is a much better option, and the density of those customers makes the infrastructure investment financially viable. Broadband provided by satellite and broadband provided by fiber can and should coexist. One size rarely fits all, and that’s true here as well.

Technology changes, often at a rate that’s hard to comprehend, but the trend is clear. Telegraphs, rotary telephones, fax machines, bag cellular phones, dial-up, BlackBerrys, and even space shuttles were all novel at one time. Fiberoptics and satellite internet will likely be obsolete one day, too, but in the meantime, let’s embrace the proven, innovative solutions that this timeless concept of a free market has provided and encourage all Alabamians to enjoy broadband access today. Alabama has many challenges that need solving. Thankfully, we can cross this one off our list.

State Sen. Chris Elliott (R-Daphne) represents Baldwin County in the Alabama State Senate and serves as the Chairman of the County & Municipal Governments Committee. 

Earlier this summer, Alabama Fiber Network, responsible for deploying critical middle-mile infrastructure throughout all 67 counties of the state, announced the selection of its inaugural CEO, Terry Metze.

Since then, Mr. Metze has been focused on building out the organization, AFN reports. “I am proud that some of the brightest professionals in the telecommunications industry are coming to AFN,” said Metze.

RELATED: Metze to lead Alabama Fiber Network as inaugural CEO of state’s middle-mile broadband coalition

“These talented leaders solidify our team, and I look forward to what we’ll accomplish together,” he added. AFN will soon welcome five new staff members to support its mission of connecting Alabama to the future, including:

Tim Black, Executive Technical Solutions Consultant: As a technology advisor with almost three decades in the telecommunications industry, Mr. Black brings design expertise in software-driven packet-optical solutions for metro, regional, and state-wide networks. Mr. Black has previous experience with industry leaders such as Ciena, US Carrier and LightRiver. He holds degrees in BSEE/Communications and MBA/IS Consulting.

David Ficken, Vice President, Business Development: David brings over 30 years of experience in leading and growing communications companies across the southeast. Prior to joining AFN, Mr. Ficken served as Vice President for Strategic Growth at Point Broadband, an Alabama-based broadband company focused on serving unserved and underserved areas across the U.S. Mr. Ficken holds a bachelor’s degree from Samford University and a master’s degree in Public and Private Management from Birmingham-Southern College.

Zachary Gonzalez, Vice President, Sales & Revenue: Zach Gonzalez is a distinguished sales leader with over 15 years of experience, including a decade within the telecommunications sector. Previously, Mr. Gonzalez was the Director of Wholesale Sales, VAR & Resellers at Brightspeed, where he managed the day-to-day business. Mr. Gonzalez and his wife, Sarah, reside in Fairhope, Alabama, with their three children. Both are alumni of the University of Alabama.

Valerie Seefeld, Chief of Staff: Ms. Seefeld serves as AFN’s Chief of Staff. Previously, she worked for the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture Cooperative Extension Service. She returned to Alabama in 2023 and is thankful to work for an organization that seeks to strengthen communities and improve the lives of Alabamians for generations. 

Michael Wise, Vice President, Operations & Construction: Michael Wise is a seasoned telecommunications and technology executive with a proven track record of success in driving operational excellence. With over two decades of industry experience, he brings a wealth of knowledge to his role as Vice President of Operations and Construction. Previously, Mr. Wise led engineering, operations, and construction teams for Genuity, NRG Group, and KGI Wireless.  

AFN, the DBA for the Fiber Utility Network, was established to address the lack of middle-mile connectivity in rural Alabama.

AFN has received over $200 million in U.S. Department of Treasury grant funds from the Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs and the Alabama Digital Expansion Authority. AFN is crucial in Gov. Ivey and the Alabama Legislature’s statewide Be Linked plan to provide affordable, reliable access to all.

Eight electric cooperatives and their subsidiaries: Central Alabama Electric Cooperative, Coosa Valley Electric Cooperative, Covington Electric Cooperative, Cooperative Connection LLC (a subsidiary of Cullman Electric Cooperative), JWEMC Communications LLC (a subsidiary of Joe Wheeler Electric Membership Cooperative), North Alabama Electric Cooperative, Tombigbee Electric Cooperative, and PowerSouth Energy Cooperative collaborated with fiber lease partner Alabama Power Company to deliver middle-mile network.

Grayson Everett is the state and political editor for Yellowhammer News. You can follow him on X @Grayson270

When Governor Kay Ivey asked me to serve as Director of the Alabama Department of Community Affairs (ADECA), she made one thing clear – a top priority of her administration is to ensure that every single Alabamian will have the ability to access high-speed internet.

That is a noble goal indeed, given that in a modern, 21st century economy, responsive, reliable access to the internet is a necessity, not a luxury. It is virtually impossible for Alabamians to meet their full potential without access to this vital asset.

And the progress our state has made thus far in accomplishing her goal has been a true success story.  Just a few short years ago, Alabama ranked near the bottom of the list in high-speed internet access. Now, we have set the standard as a national leader in the rate and effectiveness in which we have expanded broadband infrastructure.

This is the result of deliberate, targeted allocations of funds from the Legislature, leadership from Governor Kay Ivey, investments from private partners, and ADECA funding projects that provide the best possible service and outcomes to the people of our state.

I believe it’s important to make sure that Alabamians are educated on the infrastructure that has allowed us to make such impressive progress – optical fiber cable, which is universally considered the gold standard of broadband infrastructure.

What is fiber?

Optical fiber is strands of glass with capacity to move signals at faster speeds than any other communications transmission medium. The speed of how fast you can move data over that strand of glass is limited only by the equipment present at a network host site.

And it’s only going to get better. As the technology of the equipment at the host sites continues to improve, existing fiber will be able to support those improvements and upscale accordingly to meet any imaginable need.

There is nothing faster than the speed of light. And fiber is capable of delivering speeds at a rate unlike anything we can begin to imagine.

Fiber consistently delivers high-speed internet to users at the fastest speeds and works regardless of terrain and other geographical features and weather events, unlike other forms of broadband infrastructure.

Also, fiber is a long-term infrastructure asset, not a short-term technology. While some forms of broadband infrastructure, such as satellites, only last for a few years before needing to be replaced, fiber lasts for the long haul. Fiber should be seen like long-term infrastructure such as roads and bridges, assets that will be utilized for decades or more.

It is also worth noting that satellite networks are owned by out-of-state, private companies. In contrast, fiber infrastructure is located right here at home, in many cases owned by Alabama companies and maintained and operated by Alabama workers. Fiber networks deployed in the state of Alabama will create new jobs and career opportunities for Alabamians, both to build the networks over the next few years and to operate the networks over the next many decades.

In contrast, satellite networks owned by companies located in other states or countries will not create jobs in Alabama and the service fees paid by Alabamians will go to other states rather than benefitting our home state.

As new broadband technologies continue to emerge, it is important to recognize that fiber is universally recognized as the holy grail of broadband infrastructure. And throughout both the United States and the world, it will be the primary communications medium for the rest of our lifetimes.

It is also important to assess cost to the final end consumer. Having the ability to access high-speed internet is great, but if families and businesses can’t afford it, it doesn’t mean much. Fiber is far cheaper for the average consumer than satellite.

Not only does fiber offer the fastest speeds, and highest quality of service at the cheapest cost to consumers, but investing in other forms of broadband delivery like satellite carries significant financial risks.

The state of Alabama in the past few years has received hundreds of millions of federal dollars to build out broadband infrastructure. These are once in a lifetime resources that we will likely not see again any time soon.

Fiber is a long-term asset that will be usable for many decades to come and provides the fastest speeds and highest quality services to consumers; therefore, federal rules require that funding through the Broadband Equity Access and Deployment (BEAD) Program is to be prioritized for fiber projects. Violating these federal guidelines could jeopardize hundreds of millions of dollars for internet expansion.

Satellite services wouldn’t just create untenable financial risk to our state’s broadband expansion efforts, but also to the availability of long-term access for Alabamians.

If a company that operates satellites, for one reason or another, decides to dissolve its satellite operations and stop providing those services – high-speed internet would disappear for Alabamians who have access only to satellite. The vulnerability and risk of putting our broadband eggs in a basket that could disappear in a week, a month, a year or a decade, is simply untenable when the option of having infrastructure that will last decades is available.

That would be a disaster for not just high-speed internet access in our state, but for Alabamians as a whole.

There is a reason that fiber is considered the gold standard of broadband infrastructure. It is owned by Alabama companies and lasts for decades; it provides the highest quality to consumers; it is more affordable for consumers; and it doesn’t come with the many risks that investing into other types of broadband delivery creates.

As we continue to expand this state-of-the-art infrastructure, we will continue to get closer, one step at a time, to meeting Governor Ivey’s goal of connecting Alabamians in every corner of the state.

Kenneth Boswell is the Director of the Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs.

On Monday night, the Lee County Commission took a significant step toward bridging the digital divide by awarding BEAM Broadband $2.9 million from its American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds. This substantial funding will facilitate the expansion of high-speed fiber internet to underserved rural areas within the county.

This latest award marks the second phase of the Commission’s commitment to enhancing digital infrastructure in Lee County. In the first phase, BEAM Broadband was granted $900,000. The combined funds will support the construction of fiber internet infrastructure to nearly 700 addresses, spanning at least 28 miles of plant.

“BEAM’s application tended to be more in the unserved areas than AT&T’s. Hence, when we scored it, it scored better and ultimately won unanimously on all of these projects,” said Wendy Swann, Governmental Relations Coordinator with the Lee County Commission.

In addition to the funds from the commission, BEAM Broadband has committed an extra $1 million of its own resources to the project, demonstrating its dedication to improving internet access for rural residents. The project, which began two months ago, aims to be completed by the end of 2026.

“We are incredibly grateful for the continued support from the Lee County Commission. This funding, along with our own investment, will allow us to bring fiber internet to rural areas that have historically lacked reliable connectivity. Our mission is to connect communities and create opportunities, and this project is a significant step in that direction,” said Mal Waldrep, President of BEAM Broadband. “Access to high-speed internet is important for new opportunities and growth. Reliable internet access is essential for education, business, and overall quality of life.”

BEAM Broadband’s initiative to extend fiber internet to rural Lee County addresses will significantly enhance connectivity, providing faster and more reliable internet services to under-served areas. The project’s completion will mark a substantial improvement in the county’s infrastructure, benefiting residents and local businesses alike.

The Rural Digital Opportunity Funds are part of a broader federal initiative to ensure that all Americans have access to high-speed internet, regardless of their geographic location. Lee County’s pro-active approach in securing and allocating these funds underscores its commitment to fostering digital inclusion and economic development.

Wednesday in Cullman, the Alabama Fiber Network (AFN), a coalition of eight electric co-ops and partners, officially launched its middle-mile broadband service. According to AFN, today’s event with Governor Kay Ivey marked a major step in reducing the digital divide across Alabama.

The network lighting ceremony also announced Sprout Fiber Internet as the network’s first last-mile customer and highlighted the introduction of AFN’s new CEO, Terry Metze, Jr., a broadband industry veteran who joined the team earlier this summer. Attendees learned more about AFN’s network.

According to IMPLAN, the network will generate 4,112 total jobs with a total economic impact of $657 million.

“Today, I joined to mark the Alabama Fiber Network is live and ready to serve!” Gov. Ivey said. “In 2024, we must be in the race to be fully connected, and folks, that is a top priority for the Ivey Administration.”

RELATED: Metze to lead Alabama Fiber Network as inaugural CEO of state’s middle-mile broadband coalition

https://x.com/GovernorKayIvey/status/1811126510717485318

“This is a monumental day for Alabama. We are proud to officially launch our service and begin connecting communities across the state,” Metze said. “Increasing access throughout Alabama will enhance innovation and create new opportunities for education, healthcare, economic development, and more.”

AFN is a key part of Gov. Ivey and the Alabama Legislature’s BeLinked plan to provide affordable, reliable internet access statewide. The network has received over $200 million in federal grants to expand into rural communities, historically unserved or underserved. Once complete, the network will cover over 5,000 miles and reach all 67 counties.

“Our goal is to connect Alabama to the future,” said Tom Stackhouse, AFN board chairman and Central Alabama Electric Cooperative president and CEO. “Today’s event is a testament to our commitment for all Alabamians to have access to reliable, high-speed internet.”

Grayson Everett is the state and political editor for Yellowhammer News. You can follow him on Twitter @Grayson270

Alabama’s broadband availability has continued to grow by leaps and bounds in recent years. In 2019, the state was ranked 47th in the U.S. for broadband connectivity. Fast forward to 2024, Alabama currently ranks 24th on that same list.

BroadbandNow’s index of internet availability takes into account internet coverage, speed, and availability in each individual state when establishing the annual rankings.

The data accompanying the rankings showed that still roughly one-in-ten Alabamians are not able to purchase an internet plan of at least 25Mbps and 3Mbps upload. Additionally, almost 6 in 10 residents are not able to purchase broadband at a price of $60 a month or less.

RELATED: Be Linked Alabama: Interactive map lights up broadband growth

In Alabama, 85.4% of people have access to 100 Mbps broadband, ranking 41st among all states.

The five counties with the highest rates of residents with access to broadband speeds of at least 100mbps are in metro areas, including Jefferson (99%) and Shelby (97%) counties. Counties in the Huntsville, Montgomery, and Auburn areas also made the top five. Perry County, the state’s least populous, has the lowest rate of access to high-speed broadband.

Each counties individual internet availability data can be found here.

Austen Shipley is a staff writer for Yellowhammer News. You can follow him on X @ShipleyAusten

On Tuesday, Governor Kay Ivey awarded nearly $53.5 million to expand high-speed internet across Alabama in yet another milestone of the state’s longstanding effort to bridge the digital divide for rural areas.

The grant awarded to the Alabama Fiber Network, a coalition of electric and generation/transmission cooperatives, will help develop the second phase of the state’s “middle-mile” broadband network deployment. The project will impact 24 Alabama counties.

Middle-mile projects are designed to fill the gaps in broadband expansion to make it more cost-effective and less labor intensive for providers to extend broadband services to businesses and households in the state.

“This project will add approximately 1,095 miles of high-speed middle-mile broadband for our communities, and it will connect approximately 120 community anchors, like educational institutions, medical facilities, local government offices and police and fire departments to this service,” said Governor Ivey.

“Just as important, it puts us closer in Alabama to ensuring that everyone has access to this fundamental service.”

RELATED: Be Linked Alabama: Interactive map lights up broadband growth

This latest grant under the Alabama Anchor Institution/Middle-Mile Program will provide high-speed connectivity in Baldwin, Coffee, Colbert, Covington, Dale, Dallas, DeKalb, Elmore, Etowah, Franklin, Hale, Jefferson, Lee, Lauderdale, Lawrence, Limestone, Madison, Marshall, Mobile, Montgomery, Perry, Russell, Tuscaloosa and Walker counties.

The project will bring more than 7,500 unserved businesses and residences within five miles of high-speed internet connectivity. Funding for this latest middle-mile project came from an allocation from the state’s share of American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds.

The Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs (ADECA) will administer the program through its Alabama Digital Expansion Division. The Division was established by Governor Ivey and the Alabama Legislature to focus on broadband expansion in the state.

RELATED: Ivey awards $188 million for ‘Middle Mile’ broadband projects across Alabama

“This grant phase is another giant step in the long, but attainable process of providing high-speed internet to every corner of the state,” said ADECA Director Kenneth Boswell. “I commend the Alabama Fiber Network for this cooperative effort and their major role in this venture. I appreciate the confidence that Governor Ivey and the Alabama Legislature has shown in ADECA by entrusting us with this life-changing program.”

The Alabama Fiber Network is made up of electric cooperatives Central Alabama Electric Cooperative, Coosa Valley Electric Cooperative, Covington Electric Cooperative, Cullman Electric Cooperative, Joe Wheeler Electric Membership Cooperative, North Alabama Electric Cooperative and Tombigbee Electric Cooperative, as well as the generation/transmission cooperative PowerSouth Energy Cooperative.

The network will be completed much quicker than a typical build for a network of this size and scale, according to the AFN. At full buildout the Alabama Fiber Network will be a 5,000-mile, multi-terabit middle-mile network, and one of the most comprehensive state based middle-mile networks in the United States.

With ongoing projects and meticulous oversight by lawmakers, including the ARPA committee’s plans for additional meetings and reports, Alabama is on track to meet its goal of providing comprehensive broadband connectivity.

Grayson Everett is the state and political editor for Yellowhammer News. You can follow him on Twitter @Grayson270

On Tuesday, the Alabama Fiber Network (AFN), a coalition of eight electric co-ops and partners throughout the state, announced the hiring of Terry Metze as its Chief Executive Officer. AFN provides critical middle-mile connectivity to last-mile providers and community anchor institutions in the state of Alabama.

“We are excited about Mr. Metze’s hiring and welcome his vision for AFN,” said AFN Board Chairman and Central Alabama Electric Cooperative President & CEO, Tom Stackhouse. “His unique southeastern broadband network knowledge and expertise will prove invaluable to the dynamic and robust infrastructure AFN is delivering to the state of Alabama.”

Mr. Metze has extensive leadership experience in the broadband industry including a 25-year track record building and operating middle-mile networks from concept to successful launch and long-term operation in South Carolina. He also more than doubled revenues for a long-haul fiber optic network in Tennessee.

RELATED: Be Linked Alabama: Interactive map lights up broadband growth

His background in hiring staff, developing and growing customer relationships among last-mile and wireless broadband service providers and community anchor institutions, and growing revenue for novel telecom organizations was critical in AFN’s decision to ask Mr. Metze to lead the network, according to the board.

“I am thrilled to join the Alabama Fiber Network and play a role in connecting Alabama to the future,” said Metze. “Initial phases of the network will be open for service late this summer. A major focus of my role will be to oversee the successful build out of the later phases and establishing relationships with last-mile wired and wireless broadband service providers, ensuring that Alabamians have the access needed to advance healthcare, education and economic development.”

AFN has received over $200 million in U.S. Department of Treasury grant funds from the Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs and the Alabama Digital Expansion Authority. AFN is crucial in Gov. Ivey and the Alabama Legislature’s statewide Be Linked plan to provide affordable, reliable access to all.

RELATED: Ivey awards $188 million for ‘Middle Mile’ broadband projects across Alabama

According to the board, thanks to the vision and investment of state leadership and the partnership of AFN owners, the network will be completed much quicker than a typical build for a network of this size and scale. At full buildout the Alabama Fiber Network will be a 5,000-mile, multi-terabit middle-mile network, and one of the most comprehensive state based middle-mile networks in the United States.

The Alabama Fiber Network, the DBA for the Fiber Utility Network, was established to address the lack of middle-mile connectivity in rural Alabama. Eight electric cooperatives and their subsidiaries: Central Alabama Electric Cooperative, Coosa Valley Electric Cooperative, Covington Electric Cooperative, Cooperative Connection LLC (a subsidiary of Cullman Electric Cooperative), JWEMC Communications LLC (a subsidiary of Joe Wheeler Electric Membership Cooperative), North Alabama Electric Cooperative, Tombigbee Electric Cooperative, and PowerSouth Energy Cooperative collaborated with fiber lease partner Alabama Power Company to deliver middle-mile network.

Grayson Everett is the state and political editor for Yellowhammer News. You can follow him on Twitter @Grayson270

I’ve worked with Governor Kay Ivey for quite a while, and when she says she wants something done, she means it. 

When Governor Ivey asked me to serve as director of the Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs (ADECA) back in 2017, she made one thing perfectly clear – expanding access to high-speed internet to all Alabamians was a top priority of her administration. 

It has been a true honor at ADECA, the state agency charged with coordinating and executing broadband expansion projects using state and federal funds, to help Governor Ivey accomplish her goal. 

I am proud to see the tremendous progress our state has made in achieving that goal over the past few years thanks to Governor Ivey’s leadership, support from the Alabama Legislature, and the internet service providers working to put fiber into the ground. 

Just a few short years ago, our state ranked in the 40s for high-speed internet access, according to Broadband Now’s state rankings. Now we are ranking in the low 20s. 

While this progress has been realized at an incredibly rapid pace – it has not come easy. This has happened as a result of tireless effort, collaboration, investment and teamwork from countless leaders, groups, and entities – both public and private – taking the necessary steps to get to where we are today. 

Let’s talk about a few of those steps. 

Since 2018, Alabama has invested $82 million in state funds to support more than 100 projects in unserved areas. Once completed, access to broadband service will be available to more than 72,000 previously unserved households, businesses and community institutions in Alabama.

In 2021, Alabama set the national standard when we released the Alabama Broadband Map and Alabama Connectivity Plan to guide the state’s efforts and recommend strategies to expand access to the internet. 

We held technical assistance meetings in all 67 of Alabama’s counties to help answer questions from local communities and inform them on how they can take advantage of state programs. 

And with federal American Rescue Plan Act funds deliberately allocated for broadband expansion by the Alabama Legislature, hundreds of millions of dollars in projects are being launched throughout our state. 

In 2022, we issued an $82.45 million grant to the Alabama Fiber Network that brought together internet service providers and other private companies throughout our state to launch an ambitious middle-mile effort. We have released approximately $180 million from the Capital Projects Fund for last-mile projects. And more than $200 million will support the Alabama Anchor Institution/Middle Mile Program to fund fiber connectivity to anchor institutions like colleges and universities, rural hospitals and government facilities.

All of this, in addition to $1.4 billion in federal funds through the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment Program, which will be available in 2025, represents tremendous resources being dedicated to such an important need for our state. 

It is our mission at ADECA to make sure that every single one of these federal dollars is being deliberately and effectively utilized to get the greatest possible result.

We’re proud of the progress we have made thus far, but as Governor Ivey has said time and time again – our state’s broadband journey is a marathon, not a sprint. And we still have a lot more work ahead of us to achieve her goal of getting all Alabamians connected. 

These federal resources we have received have been critical in allowing us to accomplish her goal. But there are certain areas throughout the state that are not eligible for these federal funds, and for us to be effective in those areas, we need more flexibility. 

That is why our state broadband expansion program, the Alabama Broadband Accessibility Fund, is critically important. It allows us to hit the gaps that we cannot cover through federal programs. This is important because we need to make sure that not a single Alabamian gets left behind. 

Through sustained funding for this key program, we can continue to go into areas of need to initiate projects that will transform communities and bring them into the digital age. 

Let’s not slow down as we continue to push our way to the finish line. Let’s strike the iron while its hot and accomplish our Governor’s ambitious goal of giving Alabamians access to high-speed internet. 

Kenneth Boswell is the director of the Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs.

Alabama has a historic opportunity to expand access to affordable, reliable, high-speed internet to everyone in the state, no matter where they live or their circumstances.

Access, however, depends on more than wires, poles, and other pieces of infrastructure. It also depends on making sure that internet service is affordable, and that all Alabamians have the tools and the skills to use it.

I’m proud to say that Alabama just had its digital opportunity plan approved by the National Telecommunications and Information Administration. The approval is the first step in unlocking federal funding that can help underserved communities – including older Alabamians, veterans, low-income families, tribal communities, people living in rural areas and others – to connect to the internet.

The plan was developed after intense collaboration with stakeholders, partner organizations and public participation. Through that work, the Department of Economic and Community Affairs found that while Alabama has made significant strides in recent years to close digital gaps, it continues to face numerous challenges, especially in rural areas. They found that access to broadband physical infrastructure, broadband service affordability and lack of digital skills are significant barriers to broadband adoption.

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Given the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) is expected to end this May, Alabama should aggressively leverage Broadband, Equity, Affordability, and Deployment (BEAD) program funding to ensure more residents can afford high-speed internet service. 

AARP Alabama, on behalf of our more than 400,000 members, applauds the approval of our state’s plan to expand high-speed internet access and adoption across our state. High-speed internet is not a luxury. It is a necessity for all Alabamians. Better connectivity supports workforce development and hiring, education, career training, small business success, and economic development.

Older Alabamians and their families can access virtual medical care, find community resources, safely age in place, and connect socially with family and friends. In short, high-speed internet improves the quality of life for all of us.

While putting this comprehensive plan together is a commendable start, there is still much work ahead of us. AARP Alabama looks forward to working with the Department of Economic and Community Affairs and other key stakeholders toward successful implementation of this plan.

Candi Williams is the State Director for AARP Alabama.