Alabama Governor Kay Ivey announced on Tuesday the state would work to expand rural broadband thanks to an $82.4 million American Rescue Plan Act grant. The project would focus on Alabama’s Black Belt region, which refers to the rich, black topsoil running across the southern half of the state. StateScoop reported the Alabama Middle-Mile Network project would connect nearly 3,000 miles of new and existing fiber infrastructure over three years, led by the Fiber Utility Network co-op.
“This project is probably the most significant step we’ve taken to get high-speed internet access to everyone in Alabama,” said State Rep. Randall Shedd, co-chair of the Alabama Digital Expansion Authority Board.
According to a 2020 report by the University of Alabama, 22 of the Black Belt’s 24 counties lag behind the rest of the state regarding broadband access.
“Achieving full broadband coverage is a journey, not a short trip,” Ivey said in a release. “In 2022, being able to be connected at home, work, or on the go is absolutely necessary, and this is certainly key to making that a reality.”
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