Why your internet connection could pick up speed in Alabama

MONTGOMERY, Ala. (WHNT) — Broadband and fiber are the backbone of connection. Leaders hope one plan will bring better internet to rural Alabama and communities statewide.

“I’m just saying, in a major way, we need help right now,” said Marcus Campbell, chairman of the Sumter County Commission.

Campbell said connectivity can be complicated for some rural communities. That’s because a lack of strong internet leads to a strain when it comes to healthcare, and education.

“Different pockets of the county, my phone, or my tablet, or whatever mobile device. It might say S.O.S.,” said Campbell. “And any time you deal with that, that’s a major problem.”

That S.O.S. is why the Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs is submitting their plan for broadband expansion to the federal government. It provides for fiber construction, extending broadband to 101,090 locations across the state.

“That set this state up for business development, for education, and for the future for the next 40 years,” said Terry Metze, president and CEO of Alabama Fiber Network. “That can’t be matched anywhere.”

Metze said that will complete a years-long project to better connect the whole state.

“You feel like you’re connected to the whole rest of the world when you have the ability to get on the internet the way we are today,” he explained.

Cullman Electric Cooperative has been making that ability possible by installing fiber in their community. CEO Tim Culpepper said Sprout, their internet subsidiary, hits home to people who aren’t used to strong Wi-Fi.

“They installed a service to a home, and it was a mom with four kids at home. And, she was homeschooling them. She literally cried when she got the service,” said Culpepper. “Because, before that, they had not service whatsoever.”

The plan will be submitted on Sept. 18, but there is an open comment period until then. In a statement, Gov. Kay Ivey said expanding high-speed internet infrastructure has been one of her biggest priorities since taking office.