Alabama Seeks Public Comment on Plan to Expand High-Speed internet Access
Alabama is seeking public input on a plan to expand high-speed internet access across the state, a project driven by a $1.4 billion allocation from the federal Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) program. The Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs (ADECA) has developed a proposal aiming to connect eligible locations throughout Alabama, and is now opening it up for public review and comment.
According to ADECA Director Kenneth Boswell, Governor Ivey prioritized universal access to high-speed internet from the outset. “Governor Ivey made clear to me at the very beginning that she wanted every single Alabamian to have access to high-speed internet,” Boswell stated. “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 peopel who call Alabama home for decades to come.”
ADECA secured commitments averaging less than $6,000 per eligible location, resulting in savings of over $800 million from the initial $1.4 billion BEAD allocation. The plan focuses primarily on wired fiber terrestrial broadband construction, slated to reach nearly 80% of eligible locations. Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellite service will be utilized for just over 20% of locations, specifically in areas where wired solutions were not cost-effective based on guidelines set by the National telecommunications and Information Management (NTIA).
The proposed awardees include a mix of large national and international companies, alongside local Alabama businesses and cooperatives.ADECA has vetted all applicants to ensure their ability to fulfill grant commitments.
Since the release of new BEAD rules by NTIA on June 6th, ADECA has undertaken a comprehensive process including: maximizing competition to secure taxpayer value, soliciting participation from a wide range of providers including LEO satellite companies, providing guidance to potential applicants, verifying location eligibility, analyzing projects for federal compliance, evaluating applications for technical and financial viability, and requesting price reductions from all applicants. ADECA also specifically sought final pricing and commitments from satellite internet providers for LEO capacity grants in areas not served by initial awardees. Selection of awardees prioritized lower aggregate costs and “priority” applications within reasonable cost parameters.A Program Monitoring plan has also been developed to ensure project completion.
the full BEAD proposal and instructions for submitting public comments are available on the ADECA website: https://adeca.alabama.gov/bead-eligible-broadband-serviceable-locations-and-subgrantee-selection-process/.