Gov. Kay Ivey
SPECIAL TO THE EAGLE: Winston County will benefit from an $824,862 grant to provide broadband to about 800 households, according to media reports.
Households and 15 anchor establishments on and near Smith Lake, stretching from Arley to the Cullman County border, will benefit from the grant, which is being awarded to Cyber Broadband, Inc.
According to reports, Gov. Kay Ivey awarded nearly $5.1 million on Tuesday to 15 areas to improve access to high-speed internet. This was on top of 20 grants she gave in March, totalling $9.5 million, for that purpose.
“Broadband has always been a priority of my administration, but the COVID-19 pandemic compounded just how necessary these services are to residents in rural and undeserved areas of Alabama,” Ivey said. “Along with the help of broadband providers, we are making more steady progress in ensuring that Alabamians will have the option to receive these services.”
The grants are give through the Alabama Broadband Accessibility Fund, created by a state act, to bring high-speed internet to underserved areas of Alabama. The Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs (ADECA) is administering the program.
State Rep. Tim Wadsworth, R-Arley, said on Facebook, "Senator (Greg) Reed and I are thankful for this grant approval. We thank Cyber Broadband for their efforts to improve broadband in our area."
“Seeing the progress made in supplying high-speed internet availability is certainly gratifying and rewarding for Gov. Ivey and for ADECA,” ADECA Director Kenneth Boswell said. “ADECA is honored to be a part of this program that is having life-changing and life-improving impacts in rural Alabama.”
Reed has said in a recent Yellowhammer News interview the expansion of broadband access in the state is a "significant statewide issue," adding, "I consider it a top five issue for Alabama's future."Source: http://www.mountaineagle.com
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