The state’s long journey toward connecting rural Alabamians with high-speed broadband internet took a big step this week.
Gov. Kay Ivey traveled to her hometown of Camden Wednesday to join local leaders in celebrating the completion of the state’s “middle mile” fiber network, a key milestone toward rural communities having broadband access.
“Middle Mile” is the term used to describe the stretch of fiber optic cable needed to connect the main thoroughfares of broadband to the local communities where service providers take over. It is often the most difficult hurdle in broadband expansion because of funding issues and regulatory barriers.
Wednesday marked the Alabama Fiber Network’s crossing of the Alabama River over the J. Lee Long Bridge on Highway 29, literally bridging the last remaining gap in middle mile connectivity.
“Since my first day as governor, I have made it a top priority to ensure every Alabamian, no matter their ZIP code, has access to reliable, high-speed internet service through an internet service provider,” Ivey said in a statement. “This middle-mile network represents a once-in-a-generation investment in our state’s future. It will support our hospitals, schools, businesses, families, and it will ensure Alabama remains competitive in the 21st-century economy. Together, we are building a stronger, more connected Alabama.”
The broadband expansion project has been spearheaded by the Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs. Director Ken Boswell called the middle mile infrastructure the”essential building block for our state’s digital future.”
“By working together with the governor, the Legislature, our electric cooperatives and private partners, we are ensuring that every region — from the Tennessee Valley to the Gulf Coast, to right here in the Black Belt — can participate fully in the opportunities that broadband brings,” Boswell said.
One of those utility partners is Alabama Power, which along with electric cooperatives has allowed fiber to piggyback its transmission lines to save time and cost.
“We are proud to be part of this partnership to continue fiber expansion that benefits our state,” said Scott Moore, Alabama Power’s senior vice president of power delivery. “Projects like this in Camden and throughout the Black Belt region help us strengthen our infrastructure for more dependable service and also help bridge the digital divide to create more opportunities for future growth.”