Alabama ReConnect003

On Thursday, December 5, 2019 U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Deputy Under Secretary for Rural Development Donald “DJ” LaVoy announced USDA had invested $62.3 million in high-speed broadband infrastructure that will create or improve e-Connectivity for more than 8,000 rural households, 57 farms, 44 businesses, 17 educational facilities, 14 critical community facilities, and three health care facilities in rural Alabama. Tombigbee Electric Cooperative, Inc. will use a $29,495,232 50 percent loan-grant combination to develop an All-Dielectric Self-Supporting (ADSS) fiber network in unserved areas of Marion, Lamar, Fayette, Franklin, Winston, and Walker Counties in Alabama. This investment is anticipated to reach 2,152 households, 20 farms, 15 businesses, 10 critical community facilities, five educational facilities, and one health care facility. Millry Telephone Company, Inc. will use a $28,195,668 50 percent loan-grant combination to develop a fiber-to-the-home (FTTH) network in Choctaw and Washington Counties, Alabama. This investment is anticipated to reach 3,797 households, 20 farms, 15 businesses, 11 educational facilities, four critical community facilities, and two health care centers. Farmers Telecommunications Cooperative, Inc. will use a $1,999,439 loan to develop a FTTH network in Jackson and DeKalb Counties. This investment is anticipated to reach 1,676 homes and one educational facility.

National Telephone of Alabama, Inc. will use a $2,672,910 50 percent loan-grant combination to develop a fiber-to-the premises (FTTP) network in Colbert County, Alabama. This investment is anticipated to reach 378 rural households, 17 farms, and 14 businesses.

Photo courtesy of Tombigbee Electric Cooperative.

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