Skip to content

broadband

News / Infrastructure / Legislature / State

House passes broadband bill

The Alabama House of Representatives passed legislation last week to try to make broadband more available to Alabamians, particularly rural Alabamians who few high-speed internet options. House Bill 400 is sponsored by state Representative Randall Shedd, R-Cullman. Shedd said, “We have all seen the map with whole counties in red with declining populations. Young people … Continued
May 6, 2019

Every citizen in Alabama deserves high-speed broadband

Alabama’s economy is booming with record low unemployment, wages on the rise and new industries continuing to choose our state to expand their businesses. However, we are lagging in providing critical broadband infrastructure to all our citizens. For too long, the expansion of fast, reliable internet service has been concentrated in larger cities while rural … Continued
May 6, 2019

Senate passes largest education budget in state history

Thursday, May 2 the Alabama Senate passed the education trust fund (ETF) budget, Senate Bill 199 on a 28 to 2 vote. SB199 was sponsored by Senator Arthur Orr, R-Decatur, who chairs the Senate Finance and Taxation Education Committee. Senate President Pro Tem Del Marsh, R-Anniston, released a statement regarding Senate passage of the Education … Continued
May 3, 2019

Sen. Jones introduces bipartisan Access Broadband Act

Sen. Doug Jones, D-Alabama, has introduced legislation that he hopes will bring growth to underserved communities in the country through broadband resources. Jones introduced the Access Broadband Act on April 5, a bipartisan bill that aims to simplify broadband services and application for access for smaller communities and companies. “In today’s economy, high-speed internet is … Continued
April 9, 2019

Marsh, Ledbetter preview legislative session

Senate President Pro Tempore Del Marsh, R-Anniston, and House Majority Leader Nathaniel Ledbetter, R-Rainsville, gave a joint presentation Saturday on the upcoming 2019 Regular legislative session at the monthly meeting of the Mid Alabama Republic Club. Former State Representative Paul DeMarco, R-Homewood, is the President of MARC and moderated the discussion. DeMarco asked about infrastructure … Continued
February 11, 2019

Livingston, Ledbetter preview legislative session

Alabama House Majority Leader Nathaniel Ledbetter, R-Rainsville, and State Sen. Steve Livingston, R-Scottsboro, addressed the people of Fort Payne about the state of the state. The event was sponsored by the Fort Payne Chamber of Commerce, Senator Livingston said that I want to give you an overview of what happened in 2018 and an overview … Continued
February 6, 2019

Canfield: Alabama Jobs Act will help grow payroll by $10.7 billion over the next 10 years

Monday the Joint Legislative Advisory Committee on Economic Incentives met in Montgomery to hear the annual required report on the performance of economic incentives that the state has offered under the Alabama Jobs Act. The joint committee holds a minimum of two meeting a year. Alabama Commerce Secretary Greg Canfield reported that from July 2, … Continued
January 30, 2019

Ivey awards first broadband accessibility grants

Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey announced the first ever grants from Alabama’s Broadband Accessibility Fund. Residents in seven Alabama communities will be afforded access to high-speed internet thanks to the grants, totaling almost $1.1 million. The fund was created by the Alabama Legislature and signed into reality in March 2018 by Gov. Ivey. “These grants may … Continued
January 23, 2019

Jones encourages rural Alabama entities to apply for USDA broadband infrastructure grants

The USDA is offering up to $600 million in loans and grants to build broadband infrastructure in Rural America and on Friday U.S. Senator Doug Jones (D-Alabama) urged rural Alabama entities to apply for the money. Senator Jones released a statement encouraging eligible rural Alabama entities to apply for the up to $600 million in … Continued
December 17, 2018

Bringing broadband to rural Alabama

Thursday, Alabama Governor Kay Ivey (R) joined Congressman Robert Aderholt (R-Haleyville), Speaker of the House Mac McCutcheon (R-Monrovia), state Senator Clay Scofield (R-Guntersville), Assistant Secretary for Rural Development at the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Anne Hazlett, and members of the north Alabama telecommunications industry in a panel discussion at Guntersville State Park. The panel … Continued
August 31, 2018