Georgia Receives $39.5M In Federal Broadband Awards

Announced on August 17, 2010

Department of Commerce

Appalachian Valley Fiber Network AL, GA $21,286,914

This nearly $21.3 million award will allow Appalachian Valley Fiber Network to offer affordable middle-mile broadband service in Georgia and Alabama. Areas in Georgia include: Aragon, Buchanan, Calhoun, Cartersville, Cedartown, Chickamauga, Dallas, Dalton, Hiram, LaFayette, Rockmart, Rome, Rossville, Summerville, Tallapoosa, Trenton and Trion.   The project plans to directly connect 185 community institutions to broadband. As many as 345,000 people stand to benefit as do 8,300 businesses. In addition to the jobs this project will create, it will provide a foundation for economic growth and job creation for decades to come.

USDA

Windstream Corporation GA $4,665,116

This approximately $4.6 million award matched by $1,555,038 in private contribution, will allow Windstream Corporation to offer broadband service speeds of up to 12 megabytes per second in the counties of Appling, Charlton, Dodge, Early, Miller, Rabun, Seminole, Tattnall, Telfair, Upson, Walker, and Wayne. Approximately 8,723 people stand to benefit, as do roughly 284 businesses and 35 community institutions. In addition to the jobs this project will support upfront, it will provide a foundation for economic growth and job creation for decades to come.

USDA

South Georgia Regional Information Technology Authority (SGRITA) - GA $13,327,030

This approximately $13 million award, will allow the South Georgia Regional Information Technology Authority to offer 700 MHz and 2.5 GHz 4G mobile and fixed wireless broadband service in the rural southwest counties of Baker, Calhoun, Early, Miller, and Mitchell. Approximately 53,000 people stand to benefit, as do roughly 2,272 businesses and246 community institutions. In addition to the jobs this project will support upfront, it will provide a foundation for economic growth and job creation for decades to come.

USDA Quincy Telephone

Company FL (84%) GA (16%) $1,363,547 (Georgia Portion is $ 218,167)

This approximately $1.3 million award matched by $454,515 in private contribution, will allow Quincy Telephone Company to offer broadband service speeds of up to 20 megabytes per second in Gadsden County, Florida and Decatur County, Georgia. Approximately 1,331 people stand to benefit, as do roughly 14 businesses and 2 community institutions. In addition to the jobs this project will support upfront, it will provide a foundation for decades to come.

ARRA USDA and the Commerce Department

Schedule of Awards Announcements for the next 60 Days

Agency	Expected Approx # of  Projects	Expected Approx. Dollar Amount	Description
Week of August 16
USDA	50	$190 million	These awards will support a series of last-mile projects.
Commerce	70	$1.3 -$1.6 billion	These awards will support public computing, broadband adoption, community infrastructure, and some public safety projects.
Week of Sept. 6
USDA	65	$450 million	These awards will support a series of last-mile projects, as well as satellite and technical assistance projects.
Commerce	50	$600-$900 million	These awards will support public computing, broadband adoption, community infrastructure, and some public safety projects.
Week of Sept. 27
Commerce	15	$300-$600 million	These awards will primarily support public safety projects, but may also include a handful of community infrastructure, public computing, and broadband adoption projects.
Commerce		$100-$200 million	These awards will support broadband mapping efforts.

Rich Calhoun

GTA - Broadband

4044635906

richard.calhoun@gta.ga.gov