Following on the heels of the November 19 creation of the Digital Expansion Division for the state, the Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs (ADECA) last week unveiled a new broadband map. The new division dedicated to expanding access to high-speed internet throughout the state was created through the Connect Alabama Act of 2021.
The mapping system, the result of a multi-year effort to gather accurate information about broadband availability, shows detail down to individual addresses lacking in adequate connectivity, according to the Alabama Daily News.
“Alabama may be at the bottom of the list for many things, but right now we are No. 1 when it comes to being able to deploy this plan,” said the chairman of the joint authority, Sen. Clay Scofield (R-Guntersville).
The map is not yet available for viewing but will undergo a review process in the next few weeks by its internet service providers. When published, details will indicate connectivity speeds, the type of technology being used, and show specific regions where broadband infrastructure grants have been received.
The map was created by CTC Technology & Energy. The company’s president, Joanne Hovis, presented the new service saying there are about 311,000 addresses that do not have broadband meeting the federal requirements of 100 megabits per second for downloads and 20 megabits per second for uploads. Hovis said 19 percent of the state is not meeting the new federal standards that define whether an area is being “served” by broadband.
Although the FCC’s current definition of “served” is 25/3 Mbps, that definition is seen as outdated by state officials, the Daily News reported. When Hovis recommended that 100/20 Mbps be the minimum state standard, Scofield said he wants to see it raised to 100/100 Mbps.
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