CAMDEN, Ala. — Gov. Kay Ivey joined state and local officials in Wilcox County this week to celebrate a major step in Alabama’s effort to expand high speed internet access statewide.
The event marked the Alabama Fiber Network’s crossing of the Alabama River at the J. Lee Long Bridge on Highway 29, one of the final major connections in the state’s 3,500-mile Middle-Mile Fiber Network. The project is being built through a partnership between the Alabama Fiber Network and the Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs.
The Middle-Mile Network is designed to lower costs for providers and make it easier to deliver high speed internet to homes, schools, hospitals, and public safety agencies across rural Alabama. When completed, it will connect all 67 counties.
Ivey said, “Oh man, very, very proud. Everybody has worked well together. Now, that’s the key word, together. And we’ll continue to do that, but today is a major mile marker, if you will, in this great adventure.”
Senate Minority Leader Bobby Singleton, D-Greensboro, who represents much of rural west Alabama and has been a leading advocate for broadband expansion, said the effort is critical to keeping every community connected.
“The need is for all 67 counties. If we’re going to be one Alabama and be competitive against our neighboring states and the rest of the world, we have to catch up. Alabama is the leading state in broadband development across the rural South,” Singleton said.
He added, “I want you to imagine that in the future, if we can use that same model, that same teamwork approach to solve our infrastructure challenges in the future, imagine what we can accomplish.”
The Middle-Mile project began in 2022 with an $82.4 million grant funded through the American Rescue Plan Act and administered by ADECA’s Digital Expansion Division. Additional state grants have extended the network to all 67 counties ahead of schedule. The system is expected to be fully completed by late 2026.
Jessica McGraw, administrator of J. Paul Jones Rural Emergency Hospital in Camden, said broadband access will strengthen healthcare delivery across rural Alabama.
“With new fiber broadband, we can ensure our operations are never disrupted. Our doctors and providers can connect instantly with EMS and specialists across the state. We can share imaging and lab results in seconds and provide telehealth services that let patients receive care without leaving their homes,” McGraw said.
Terry Metze, CEO of the Alabama Fiber Network, said the project’s success reflects cooperation across government and industry.
“Through the leadership of Governor Ivey, the guidance of ADECA and the hard work of Alabama’s rural electric cooperatives, we are creating a network that will serve as the backbone for connectivity for generations to come. Our goal is simple, to make sure every Alabamian can access world class internet service, no matter where they live. This network is truly by Alabama for Alabama,” Metze said.
The Middle-Mile Fiber Network represents one of the largest telecommunications infrastructure projects in state history and is viewed as a critical step toward closing Alabama’s digital divide.
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