Broadband meetings reached more than half of counties

Increased access to broadband has been the central topic of meetings throughout Alabama.

The Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs began the information sessions in December and, so far, the meetings have been conducted in more than half of the counties.

“Our state serves as a national example of how to effectively, and efficiently, expand high speed internet access to our residents,” ADECA Director Kenneth Boswell said. “These meetings give our team at ADECA the ability to have boots on the ground in communities across our state to help local leaders, internet service providers, and residents navigate the path towards full connectivity.”

According to Boswell, Gov. Kay Ivey said increased broadband is vital for the growth of the state.

“The fact that we have held meetings in over a half of all of our state’s counties in such a short period of time is a big accomplishment and supports Governor Ivey’s priority of expanding the availability of high-speed internet service to unserved areas of Alabama,” he said.

Maureen Neighbors, chief of ADECA’s Digital Expansion Division, also recognizes the impact that the meetings will have.

“Expanding broadband access to homes and businesses across the state requires support from a number of different stakeholders, especially at the local levels,” she said. “These meetings give us the opportunity to help local communities put together the plans and take advantage of the available resources needed to be successful.

“The fact that we have already held meetings in over half of Alabama’s counties, with even more already scheduled in the near future, is proof that these meetings are in great demand and are effective.”

ADECA’s Digital Expansion Division developed the Alabama Community Broadband Technical Assistance Program in response to the critical need for high-speed internet access in communities across the Yellowhammer State.

ADECA will provide technical assistance meetings at the county level for communities seeking to expand broadband infrastructure and services.

The first meeting was Dec. 12 in Montgomery County; it was followed by Lowndes, Greene, Sumter, Marengo, Jefferson, Talladega, Escambia, Hale, Pickens, Dale, Houston, Henry, Barbour, Geneva, Crenshaw, Butler, Coffee, Pike, Covington, Dallas, Wilcox, Monroe, Conecuh, Choctaw, Clarke, Washington, Baldwin, Mobile, Fayette, Lamar, Bibb, Walker, and Tuscaloosa counties.

Austen Shipley is a staff writer for Yellowhammer News.