Coronavirus and Connectivity
AT&T Fiber internet to be expanded across Mississippi as part of $30.5 million project
AT&T and Mississippi have entered into contracts to expand AT&T Fiber internet across the state. More than 5,300 residential and business locations in portions of Hinds, Rankin, Leake, and Neshoba Counties will get expanded broadband as a part of the $30.5 million public-private project that is expected to deliver high-speed internet. AT&T says the company will expand fiber broadband to nearly 1,600 homes and small businesses. State officials used federal funds made available by the American Rescue Plan Act to help bring fiber internet to the area.

Lessons From Broadband Adoption Trends
Many more Americans are online today than in 2017. But growth in adoption of digital subscription plans has slowed.

NC Governor Josh Stein Awards High-Speed Internet Projects in 26 Counties, 10,076 Households & Businesses
North Carolina Governor Josh Stein announced more than $58 million in Completing Access to Broadband program projects to connect 10,076 households and businesses in 26 counties to high-speed internet. These projects will be funded by more than $41 million from the federal American Rescue Plan awarded by the North Carolina Department of Information Technology and individual counties, as well as more than $17 million from the selected broadband providers.

Kittitas County Partners with Lightcurve to Bring High-Speed Internet to Rural Communities
Lightcurve and Kittitas County (WA) announced a partnership to build fiber networks that will bring high-speed internet to rural Kittitas communities. The new fiber builds—slated for completion in Fall 2025—will improve connectivity for Kittitas residents and local businesses. Kittitas County received $3.3 million in funding through the Washington State Public Works Board Broadband Program ARPA Coronavirus Capital Projects Fund Grant. The grant is designed to bring high-speed broadband internet to unserved or underserved communities.
1,600 Thomas County (GA) Residents Now Eligible for Kinetic Fiber Internet
Kinetic and Thomas County announced the completion of a nearly $13.3 million fiber optic expansion project. Kinetic, the State of Georgia, and 25 counties have partnered to invest over $354 million in Georgia broadband infrastructure development since the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) was signed into law in 2021. The Thomas County project has been generously funded through a combination of more than $6.8 million from the State Fiscal Recovery Fund (SFRF), and a county match of $1.3 million.
Healey-Driscoll Administration Awards $22.2 Million in Ongoing Effort to Modernize Affordable Housing Internet
The Healey-Driscoll administration and the Massachusetts Technology Collaborative’s (MassTech) Massachusetts Broadband Institute (MBI) announced $22,260,701 in grants to upgrade internet access for 15,793 affordable housing units across 54 communities in Massachusetts. MBI provided the awards through the Residential Retrofit Program, an initiative that works with housing operators and internet service providers (ISPs) to upgrade broadband infrastructure in public and affordable housing properties.

Governor Josh Stein Announces More Major Investments in High-Speed Internet Access
North Carolina Governor Josh Stein announced an investment of $48 million in Completing Access to Broadband program projects to connect 14,514 households and businesses in 22 counties to high-speed internet.

1,600 Thomas County (GA) Residents Now Eligible for Kinetic Fiber Internet
Kinetic and Thomas County (GA) announced the completion of a nearly $13.3 million fiber optic expansion project. The Thomas County project has been generously funded through a combination of more than $6.8 million from the State Fiscal Recovery Fund and a county match of $1.3 million. To complete the project, Kinetic invested $5.1 million of its own funds to bolster Thomas County’s digital infrastructure and ensure that residents have access to reliable, fast internet services.

Clallam County and Astound Announce $22 Million Project to Deliver High-Speed Fiber Internet to Rural Areas
Clallam County (WA) and Astound announced a partnership to bring high-speed fiber internet connectivity to a large unserved and underserved rural area of the county that generally extends along and parallel to the approximately 15-mile State Route 112 Highway corridor, beginning just west of Port Angeles. Once complete, the project will provide more than 1,500 homes with access to Astound’s fiber-to-the-home network, delivering symmetrical speeds of up to 5 gigabits per second. This $22.2 million partnership is backed by a combination of funding source.
Oklahoma Board Advances More Than $53 Million in Middle-Mile Broadband Grants
More than $53 million in middle-mile broadband expansion grants were recommended for approval by the Oklahoma Broadband Governing Board. The Oklahoma middle-mile projects, recommended for approval by the Grants Review Committee, are funded by the American Rescue Plan Act’s State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds. Several additional projects were recommended for approval “should funding become available.”