Scofield: Need 'to continue the momentum that we have started with the expansion of broadband'

MONTGOMERY — Senate Majority Leader Clay Scofield (R-Guntersville) says expanding high-speed broadband access to all Alabamians continues to be a top priority for state officials.

On Tuesday, Scofield was one of 13 Senate Republicans to vote against SB 214, a comprehensive gambling legalization bill that would have seen more than $1 billion in revenue go towards broadband. The bill fell two votes short of the needed threshold to pass the upper chamber.

“Well, the legislature, and I don’t mean to speak for the governor — but I think we all know she’s very supportive, as well — are going to continue to prioritize broadband expansion in Alabama,” Scofield reassured reporters on Thursday afternoon following the 14th day of the legislature’s 2021 regular session.

He reiterated that he voted against SB 214 because he wanted to see more “moderation” in how the state ultimately goes about expanding legalized forms of gambling.

Last week, previewing his vote, Scofield advised, “I’m opposed to the casino aspect of it. Lottery — completely fine with. I think Alabamians want to vote on a lottery. I do not think we’re ready for casino gaming yet in the state of Alabama. … I think we need to take baby steps.”

At that time, he also lamented that his “no” vote would mean he could not support the bill’s unprecedented broadband revenue stream.

“That’s tough for me. That has really put me in a place of having to wrestle with it,” Scofield admitted. “Because it could really mean a lot for broadband expansion in the state of Alabama.”

“But, I just can’t,” he added. “It’s not the way I want to get it.”

Back to Thursday, Scofield advised, “We can’t look at it like that money’s not going to be there [so just] let that go. We’ve got to continue to try to get the resources, as much resources as we can get, to continue the momentum that we have started with the expansion of broadband.”

In 2018, Scofield-sponsored legislation created the Alabama Broadband Accessibility Fund; he sponsored a bill the following year that improved this state grant program, which requires private matching funds.

Last year, and in the governor’s proposed budgets for fiscal year 2022, the program was funded at $25 million. Scofield highlighted that the matching nature of the program drew down an additional $44 million in private sector investment at that funding level. He said that he hopes for a year-over-year budgetary increase of about $5 million when all is said and done at the end of this session.

“The program is working,” Scofield commented. “It’s having an impact. We’re definitely in the black on that. We’ve got to continue to do that.”

He subsequently stressed his support for allowing the people of Alabama to vote on a clean lottery proposal.

“I think there’s a mandate,” Scofield summarized.

He said that in addition to himself, other Republicans who voted against SB 214 would “absolutely” consider supporting a lottery bill. Scofield underscored there is a “pretty strong” chance a lottery bill will hit the Senate floor for an up-or-down vote this session.

Sean Ross is the editor of Yellowhammer News. You can follow him on Twitter @sean_yhn