$1.3 billion in funding to improve Georgia broadband availability
WASHINGTON, D.C. (WDEF) — The Biden Administration announced on Monday how much each state will get for expanding broadband internet as part of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. They dedicated $1.3 billion for Georgia internet expansion and $813 million for Tennessee.
Senator Ossoff of Georgia is delivering the $1.3 billion to expand high-speed internet across Georgia. His office explains this will help “more Georgia families access reliable internet service for education, health care, jobs and more.”
Senator Ossoff also recently pushed for a more accurate update of how much of Georgia lacks broadband access via the Georgia broadband availability map.
(GA Department of Community Affairs)
Based on the map, in 2022, this is how much of Northwest Georgia lacked broadband access:
- 2% of Catoosa County
- 18% of Chattooga County
- 6% of Dade County
- 9% of Floyd County
- 23% of Gilmer County
- 17% of Gordon County
- 8% of Murray County
- 8% of Walker County
- 2% of Whitfield County
In addition, officials announced Tennessee will receive $813 million in funding for high-speed internet expansion.
It is all part of the Broadband Equity, Access and Deployment (BEAD) Program.
The BEAD program is giving a total of $42.45 billion worth of upgrades across the nation.
“The BEAD funding will be used to deploy or upgrade broadband networks to ensure that everyone has access to reliable, affordable, high-speed Internet service. Once deployment goals are met, any remaining funding can be used on broadband adoption, training, and workforce development efforts, among other eligible uses,” according to the Department of Commerce’s National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA).
