Governor Ivey Announces Broadband Working Group for CARES Act Funding

MONTGOMERY – Governor Kay Ivey on Thursday announced a Broadband Working Group to gather input and guidance on allocation of CARES Act monies. The group will be facilitated by the Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs (ADECA).

The federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act) appropriated $1.9 billion to Alabama to mitigate the coronavirus pandemic. Alabama Act 2020-199 divided the state funds into 10 categories and appropriated up to $300 million for expenditures related to technology and infrastructure related to remote instruction and learning.

“Our state has serious gaps in broadband coverage, and we must do everything possible to ensure as many of our residents and businesses have access to a service that has become a vital part of  today’s world whether through education, business, healthcare or dozens of other vital areas,” said Governor Kay Ivey. “I am proud to establish this group of esteemed individuals to help us lay the groundwork moving forward.”

Members of the Broadband Working Group include:

Kenneth Boswell, Director     Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs

Michelle Roth                            Alabama Cable & Broadband Association

Marcus Campbell                      Alabama County Commission Association

Mayor Gary Fuller                    Alabama League of Municipalities

Jason Davis                                Alabama Power

Cedric Hudson                           Alabama Rural Broadband Coalition & Perry County Commissioner

Sean Strickler                             Alabama Rural Electric Association

Trip Horne                                  ALFA

Wayne Hutchens                        AT&T

Dr. R. Mark Nelms                    Auburn University

Katie Britt                                    Business Council of Alabama

Kelly Butler                                 Alabama Department of Finance

Fred Johnson                             Farmers Teleco

Lindsay Rane Carter                 Great Southern Wood

Abe Harper                                 Harper Technologies

Taylor Williams                          PowerSouth

Jeremy Fisher                             TVA

Dr. Eric Wallace                         UAB

Andy Newton                              Uniti Fiber

Dr. Curt Carver                           UAB

Bob Davis                                     Verizon

ADECA administers the Broadband Accessibility Fund which was created to assist broadband providers in extending high-speed internet service in unserved areas of the state or in areas lacking minimum threshold service. ADECA is also requesting voluntary information on broadband internet access and speed from residents and businesses. Alabamians are encouraged to take the speed survey at https://alabama.speedsurvey.org/ to help locate gaps in broadband service.

A meeting of the Broadband Working Group will be virtually held on Friday, June 26 at 11:00 a.m. Members of the media who wish to listen in, please RSVP with Mike Presley at ADECA at[email protected].

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