Gov. Ivey celebrates nearly a decade of broadband advancement

On Monday, Alabama Governor Kay Ivey attended an event held in the State Capitol’s Old House Chamber in Montgomery to celebrate the expansion of broadband internet access under her tenure.

Ivey was joined at the event by Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs Director Kenneth Boswell, legislative leaders and representatives from the internet service providers and utilities working to build out the state's broadband network.

Since taking office in 2017, Ivey's administration has overseen the expansion of high-speed internet across the state, particularly in rural communities. 90 percent of Alabama addresses can now receive service at 100/100 Mbps, up from 25 percent in 2021, with fiber access more than doubling over the same period.

“When I became governor, too many Alabamians, especially in our rural communities, were being left behind because they could not get a reliable internet connection. I said then that we were not going to wait on Washington to fix it, and we didn’t,” Ivey said at Monday's event. “We built our own map, we put our own money on the table and when federal dollars came, Alabama was ready to put every one of them to work."

"Today, nine out of ten addresses in our state can get world-class internet service. That means a student in Wilcox County can do her homework, a farmer in Geneva County can run his business and a grandmother in Jackson County can see her doctor without leaving home," the governor added. "This is one of the proudest accomplishments of my Administration, and it is going to serve Alabama for generations."

According to the governor's office, more than half a billion dollars in state and federal funds have been invested in broadband infrastructure under the Ivey administration. With the implementation of ADECA's new Broadband Equity, Access and Deployment, BEAD, program, that investment will approach $1 billion in total, paving the way for full state coverage within the next few years.

Boswell touted the department's work to expand broadband and praised Ivey's leadership.

“Governor Ivey gave us a clear charge in 2017: Find out exactly where Alabama was unserved and go fix it. Everything we have accomplished since flows from that,” Boswell said. “Because we did the mapping and planning early, and because the Legislature trusted us with state dollars before the federal money ever arrived, Alabama was able to move faster and stretch every dollar further than most states."

"We built a middle-mile backbone that reaches all 67 counties, connected more than a thousand schools, hospitals, libraries and first responders, and brought access to service to tens of thousands of homes and businesses that never had it," he added. "None of that happens without a governor who made broadband a priority and kept it there for nearly a decade."

Legislative leaders, including Alabama Speaker of the House Nathaniel Ledbetter and Senate President Pro Tem Garlan Gudger, also delivered remarks at the event.

“The Legislature has worked hard to put real state dollars behind broadband, to get the federal money we were given out the door and into the ground, and to make sure rural Alabama was not left behind, because we know how critical this is,” Ledbetter said. “Broadband is not a luxury anymore. It is how our kids learn, how our small businesses compete and how folks in our rural counties see a doctor. When you connect a community, you change its future. The work we have done over the last several years is going to improve lives in this state for decades to come, and we are not done yet.”

“Alabama didn’t sit back and wait for someone else to solve this. Governor Ivey led, the Senate and House put state money behind her and ADECA executed,” Gudger added. “Going from 25 percent coverage to 90 percent in five years, while fully spending every federal dollar we were given when other states are sending theirs back, is a model for how government should work. Broadband is the infrastructure of this century, and thanks to Governor Ivey’s leadership, Alabama is ahead of the curve.”

Alabama Power Chairman, President and CEO Jeff Peoples also praised Ivey's vision for broadband expansion and touted Alabama Power's partnership with the state government.

“What Alabama has accomplished on broadband is a result of Governor Ivey’s vision and proof of what happens when the public and private sectors work together,” Peoples said. “Fiber is an essential part of our infrastructure, and Alabama Power is proud to be part of helping grow our communities and expand broadband access across our state.”

Ivey will end her term on January 18, 2027, after serving 10 years as Alabama's governor.