Alabama Digital Expansion Division
The rapid expansion of high-speed internet access to all parts of the state showed no signs of slowing in 2025, and that momentum is carrying over into 2026. ADECA’s Alabama Digital Expansion Division continues to be at the forefront of the state’s broadband progress.
The Alabama Legislature created the Alabama Digital Expansion Division within ADECA in an act signed by Gov. Kay Ivey in 2021. The division coordinates efforts to deliver high-speed internet access to unserved and underserved communities in all parts of the state, including many rural areas.
Altogether, Alabama has invested more than half a billion dollars in state and federal funds during Gov. Ivey’s administration. The results are real and measurable. Access to world-class broadband is now available at nearly 50 percent more locations than in 2021. Fiber availability has more than doubled in that same period. Nearly 40 percent more Alabamians now subscribe to wired broadband than in 2018.
The Alabama Broadband Map plays an important role in deter-mining what areas have the greatest need for upgrades in internet service. The Digital Expansion Division developed the map and updates it regularly with the help of broadband providers. This highly detailed, color-coded map shows exactly where there are gaps in coverage and can be seen at broadband.alabama.gov.
Alabama Statewide Middle-Mile Network Grant Program
Middle-mile projects are designed to bridge gaps in broadband expansion and pave the way for providers to extend services to end users. Using $82.5 million of funds designated from the American Rescue Plan Act, Gov. Ivey awarded the Alabama Fiber Network the opportunity to deploy critical infrastructure in all 67 counties in the state. At the end of 2025, this project was 98 per-cent complete with 3,370 miles of fiber installed with 100 percent completion expected in 2026.
Director Kenneth Boswell visited a crew from Alabama Fiber Network that was hard at work in Talladega National Forest on part of the Statewide Middle Mile Network.
Gov. Kay Ivey spoke at an event in Wilcox County celebrating the Alabama Statewide Middle Mile Fiber Network, an expansive infrastructure project undertaken in partnership with ADECA to deliver high-speed internet access to underserved areas through the state.
Alabama Anchor Institution/Middle-Mile Program
Previously, Gov. Ivey awarded grants totaling more than $239 million to nine internet service providers to install 3,680 miles of infrastructure as part of the Alabama Anchor Institution/Middle Mile (AIMM) program during three phases of awards. Anchor institutions include colleges and universities, hospitals, medical facilities and government and public safety buildings. ADECA anticipates AIMM projects to be completed by the end of 2026.
Capital Projects Fund
Middle-mile projects set the stage for the “last-mile” projects that bring high-speed internet access directly into neighborhoods and to businesses and institutions. The Capital Projects Fund (CPF) awards grants to internet service providers to support this final step in the process of providing access to the end user.
In 2025, work continued on the projects supported by the 74 Capital Projects Fund grants totaling more than $176 million previously awarded by Gov. Ivey. Once completed, these projects will ex-tend broadband access to nearly 65,000 households, businesses and anchor institutions in parts of 48 counties. ADECA expects these projects to be completed by the end of 2026.
Broadband Equity, Access and Deployment Program
In June 2025, the National Telecommunications and Information Administration issued a policy notice that restructured the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment program. ADECA revised the state’s original proposal to address the changes made in the policy notice. Through competition and negotiation, ADECA secured commitments that represent savings of more than $800 million from Alabama’s original BEAD allocation of $1.4 billion.
ADECA submitted the state’s final proposal for the BEAD program to NTIA and received approval in early 2026. The state is proceeding to award grants to the approved last-mile projects across Alabama.
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