After seeing more than its share of strikeouts with efforts to fund rural broadband expansion, Franklin County has hit a home run, thanks in large part to the efforts of Rep. Jamie Kiel.
Kiel announced Wednesday afternoon that the Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs has awarded $3,875,141.90 in grants to Franklin County for rural broadband expansion.
The grants will allow Tombigbee Electric Cooperative's Freedom Fiber to expand its fiber network into the communities surrounding Hodges, Vina, Spruce Pine and the eastern portion of Franklin County east of Russellville to the Lawrence County line. The communities from Bethsaida and Tharptown to East Franklin and Phil Campbell will be included in the grant.
“This is a huge victory for our area,” Kiel said. “But we are not through. I will continue to work through the legislative process to ensure everyone in Franklin County and House District 18 has access to rural broadband internet. In addition, I am grateful for the work since 2013 of the Franklin County Broadband Task Force and its chairperson, Katernia Cole-Coffey.
Cole-Coffey described news of the $3.875 million grant as the most significant event since her task force began eight years ago.
“We are delighted to hear the news about the ADECA grant. It's a major step and great news for our county,” Cole-Coffey said. “Receiving this funding is the fruition of years of work by many people, and there is more to do.
“To have this grant funding gives teeth to our efforts to bring reliable, affordable fiber-optic broadband to rural Franklin County,” she added.
As he campaigned in 2018, Kiel pledged to work to bring greater access to broadband internet to rural areas within his district. Kiel has described broadband expansion as the “main objective” he's fought for in the Legislature. Last year, western Colbert County received a $3 million plus loan-grant to expand fiber-optic internet service in that area.
“In this day and age, everyone needs access to internet. It is essential that our businesses, schools and families have access. This funding is a first step to greater connectivity for all of Northwest Alabama,” Kiel said.
Tombigbee Electric's Freedom Fiber will be installing and maintaining the network. Steve Foshee, Tombigbee's CEO, credited the efforts of Kiel, Gov. Kay Ivey, ADECA Director Kenneth Boswell, the Franklin County Water Service Authority, Mark Stockton and the Franklin Electric Cooperative, the Franklin County Broadband Task Force and many others in helping make rural broadband funding a reality in Franklin County.
“Having a fiber-optic connection to home and business with Gig speeds will be life changing to the people of Franklin County. There is more area to get solutions to but this is a big start,” Foshee said.
Scott Mugno, a member of the Board of Directors of the Franklin County Water Service Authority, shared Foshee's excitement about the ADECA grant.
“This gives us the opportunity to bring broadband into five big areas of need in Franklin County. It's a huge step forward in our efforts to bring broadband to all of Franklin County and it's the result of the dedication and hard work of many people and organizations,” Mugno said.
In addition to the $3.875 million grant from ADECA, Franklin County will receive more than $6 million from Congress' American Recovery Act. More than $3 million in funding will be received this month, according to Franklin County Probate Judge Barry Moore.
Kiel said those funds may be used for water, sewer and broadband projects. Moore said he and the Franklin County Commission support expanding broadband in Franklin County.
“We are proud of this opportunity for reliable, affordable, last-mile fiber-optic broadband internet that will be a benefit for all of the citizens of Franklin County, as well as providing economic growth for our county,” Moore said.
