Alabama’s Governor Kay Ivey announced the awarding of $148.3 million to complete “last mile” projects and expand broadband to unserved areas of the state. Alabama Public Radio reported that 66 Capital Funds Grants were awarded to 16 ISPs, extending connectivity to homes, businesses, and public institutions across 48 counties.
According to Governor Ivey, the plan is “to achieve full broadband access for Alabama.” With the latest round of Capital Projects Grants, funds will enable more than 5,000 miles of broadband infrastructure, which will serve 54,000 households, businesses, and institutions like hospitals, schools, and libraries, reported Alabama Public Radio.
The ISPs awarded projects include:
- AT&T Southeast – five grants totaling $6.97 million
- Central Alabama Electric Cooperative – seven grants totaling $21.94 million
- Connect Holding (Brightspeed) – two grants totaling $388,061
- Coosa Valley Technologies Inc. – six grants totaling $12.57 million
- Cullman Electric Cooperative – one grant totaling $4.1 million
- Farmers Telecommunications Corp. – two grants totaling $7.29 million
- Knology (WOW!) – one grant totaling $2.39 million
- Mediacom – eight grants totaling $22.8 million
- Millry Telephone Co. Inc. – one grant totaling $3.6 million
- Pea River Electric Cooperative – one grant totaling $5 million
- Pine Belt Telephone Co. – four grants totaling $3 million
- R.M. Greene Inc. – one grant totaling $2.85 million
- Spectrum Southeast – twenty-three grants totaling $44.83 million
- Tombigbee Electric Cooperative – one grant totaling $2.78 million
- Troy Cablevision (C Spire) – one grant totaling $1.65 million
- Yellowhammer Networks – two grants totaling $5.13 million
Ivey added, “This has been a monumental task, but it is one that will pay multiple dividends for our state and its residents.”
