Georgia Broadband Projects Receive Almost $13 million for Rural Communities

Governor Sonny Perdue announced August 4 that three new Georgia broadband projects will receive almost $13 million in federal funding through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. All three projects are designed to bring high-speed Internet access to unserved homes and businesses in rural communities.

“Broadband access is vital in the 21st century,” said Governor Perdue. “We firmly believe that with the right resources the communities that will benefit from this grant can compete with any other community in the world.”

Windstream Corporation received two of the three awards, which were announced August 4 as part of a second round of funding from the U. S. Department of Agriculture. The first award totals $6.9 million and will be matched with an additional $2.3 million in outside capital. Windstream will extend its broadband network to 29,000 people, 750 businesses and 50 other community institutions in areas throughout North Georgia, including Baldwin, Blairsville, Clarkesville, Cleveland, Cornelia, Dahlonega, Dawsonville, Helen, Hiawassee, Ivylog, Juno, Macedonia, Mineral Bluff, Morganton, Notla Township, Suches, Tallulah Falls, Three Sisters Mountains, Tiger, Toccoa, Turnerville and Young Harris.

The second award of $5.1 million will be matched with $1.7 million from Windstream to provide broadband services in Alapaha, Ashburn, Berlin, Canton, Coolidge, Dalton, Ellaville, Funston, Irwinville, Jasper, Lyerly, Manchester, McRae, Menlo, Milledgeville, Montezuma, Morven, Norman Park, Pavo, Toccoa, Trion, Unadilla and Woodland. The service expansion is expected to benefit 44,000 people, 2,000 businesses and 120 community institutions.

Meanwhile, Blue Ridge Telephone Company is receiving $853,768 to bring broadband to its service area around Blue Ridge, benefiting 1,000 people and 16 businesses.  The company is matching the award with $284,590.

According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, new jobs will be generated in the short term as both companies move forward with implementation, and the economic development promoted by high-speed Internet services could lead to longer term job creation as rural areas become more competitive in economic development projects.

With these latest awards, Georgia projects are receiving over $109 million to expand broadband services. Governor Perdue previously announced awards totaling almost $96 million.

Last week's announcement continues Georgia’s efforts to expand broadband access that started with the Wireless Communities Georgia Program. Georgia’s strategic approach to the issue of broadband access has made the state highly competitive in the federal funding process.

Governor Perdue began working to bring broadband to rural areas of the state in 2006 when the General Assembly, at his request, appropriated funds to expand wireless broadband access. The OneGeorgia Authority, chaired by Governor Perdue, established a program separate from Wireless Communities Georgia to assist rural communities in establishing broadband networks.


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Civitium Helps North Georgia Network Cooperative Land $33 Million Broadband Stimulus Award with Vice President Biden Making the Award Personally

/PRNewswire/ -- Vice President Joseph Biden presented a $33 million federal grant award to the North Georgia Network Cooperative (NGN) today. Under the direction of the Development Authority of Lumpkin County, Ga., Civitium led the development of the project from inception through feasibility, network design, organizational structure, financial planning and grant preparation.

Civitium, a specialized consulting firm focused on the planning and management of next-generation broadband networks, worked with leaders throughout north Georgia since early 2008 to develop and mature the project. The firm also supported NGN during an intense due diligence phase with the NTIA.

"This project has the potential to transform north Georgia's economic development potential," said Greg Richardson, founder and managing partner for Civitium. "We are honored to have played a part in helping NGN reach this important milestone."

Civitium's skill in the public, private and nonprofit broadband sectors helped produce a collaborative model that leverages the strengths of numerous stakeholders. The network relies on the resources of local electric utilities for customer service and network operations and incorporates an advisory board of economic development and public benefit organizations. The project is highly efficient, making use of existing fiber where available.

Bruce Abraham, executive director of the Development Authority of Lumpkin County, the lead public agency for the project, stated, "We couldn't have reached this point without the advice and assistance of the Civitium team. Their passion, commitment, expertise and problem-solving ability is unparalleled in my 20-plus years of experience."

The NGN network will traverse twelve counties in north Georgia, providing a backbone that directly connects to the southeast's largest Internet exchange in Atlanta. The network will serve dozens of anchor institutions along this backbone, including public schools, local governments, technical colleges, large businesses, healthcare providers and other organizations with high-bandwidth needs. In addition, it will offer advanced fiber-to-the-home services in key underserved areas. Finally, the network will adhere to so-called open access principles, insuring that any cable, DSL, or wireless operator will be able to interconnect and extend their own services throughout the region.

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Leaders of Four Metro Atlanta Municipalities Outline Broadband Goals at Alliance for Digital Equality's Digital Empowerment Summit 2008

PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The leaders of four metro Atlanta municipalities gave highlights of their broadband initiatives at the first ever Digital Empowerment Summit, hosted by The Alliance for Digital Equality (ADE). The well attended event, moderated by Rodney Ellis, State Senator of Texas and ADE Board Member and Maria Saporta, Columnist for the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, featured business and community leaders and elected officials Atlanta Mayor Shirley Franklin, Fulton County Commissioner Chairman John Eaves, Jr., Clayton County Commissioner Chairman Eldrin Bell and Vernon Jones, CEO of Dekalb County Government.

More than 200 people attended the Summit held at the Georgia Tech Conference Center. A greater number of global viewers participated via a webcast through live video streaming. Highlights of the Summit can be viewed by tuning in at www.alliancefordigitalequality.org.

The Digital Empowerment Summit included a national panel of experts who examined public policy guidelines for maintaining the momentum toward a national goal of ensuring the affordability of broadband service for every American. The 16-member panel discussed the potential socio-economic impact of affordable broadband deployment in the areas of job creation, public health, public safety, urban development, civic responsibility and educational advancement.

The Summit also served to introduce members of a newly formed Atlanta Digital Empowerment Council (DEC), part of The Alliance's nationwide initiative which advocates for increased broadband access, especially in urban and underserved communities. The Atlanta DEC is charged with studying the impact of broadband access on African-American and Hispanic communities throughout metropolitan Atlanta and will be one of many nationwide efforts by The ADE to bring together community leaders who will provide insight and direction to improve digital empowerment opportunities for all citizens. Previously, The ADE has launched Councils in Charleston, SC, Houston, Detroit and Miami.

"For those individuals with access to broadband technologies, unprecedented opportunity is available. It is my greatest fear that if broadband becomes unaffordable for the average working class family, the last ones on will be the first ones off," said Julius H. Hollis, Chairman of The Alliance for Digital Equality. "The Alliance is becoming the voice of underserved communities to ensure that broadband remains affordable."

Atlanta Mayor Shirley Franklin commented, "In the City of Atlanta, there is a lot of discussion about how we can come into this new era, to ensure that broadband access is available to school children and everyone in public places. If we can invest in water, streets, library buildings and new bridges, the city should have the financial where-with-all to invest in broadband infrastructure."

"The Internet is a critical source of communication and if all people don't have access to the Internet, we're going to be left behind," stated CEO of Dekalb County Government, Vernon Jones. "We need access to information."

"We no longer need library buildings, we need a bookless library, meaning a library without walls," said Chairman of the Clayton County Commission, Eldrin Bell. "Clayton County has created and founded a library foundation online where students can access information and get help from teachers online to complete their homework assignments."

Fulton County Commission Chairman John Eaves, Jr. stated, "When elected officials make decisions in terms of policies, the use of emails from constituents is a major factor in how loud their voices are. Those who don't have access to technology don't have an equal voice."

"The potential of broadband Internet can only be realized if policy solutions create ways for Internet networks to be managed appropriately," said Texas State Senator Rodney Ellis, Summit Moderator and ADE Board Member. "For communities and individuals, broadband access can open the door of opportunity, but we must ensure that broadband policies do not restrict implementation of innovative approaches and do not place a heavier burden on individual consumers."

As part of its mission of "empowering communities across the digital divide," The Alliance will continue to bring together elected officials, consumers and the business community to educate minority communities about the importance, as well as, benefits of broadband usage. This national effort will continue in cities across the country to ensure that all Americans - regardless of their race, ethnicity or income - are empowered to join the digital revolution.