The Alabama Fiber Network (AFN) is officially open for business and ready to partner with fiber-to-the-home providers and community anchor institutions to deliver fast, reliable, affordable broadband internet service to every corner of the state.
That’s the message eight electric cooperatives shared with Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey and other officials gathered July 10 in Cullman to light the middle-mile fiber broadband network and announce its first “last mile” customer, Sprout Fiber Internet, Cullman Electric Cooperative’s broadband subsidiary.
“Achieving full connectivity is a marathon, not a sprint,” Ivey said. “But we are well on our way. It’s days like today where we can see our progress.”
The co-ops began forming AFN in 2022 to serve as the middle-mile infrastructure to link their local networks to large telecommunication carriers and the internet. The network will ultimately stretch 5,000 miles across the state’s 67 counties.
“Our goal is to connect Alabama to the future,” said Tom Stackhouse, AFN board chairman and president and CEO of Central Alabama Electric Cooperative, headquartered in Prattville. “Today’s event is a testament to our commitment for all Alabamians to have access to reliable, high-speed internet.”
AFN has received over $200 million so far in grants through the Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs and the Alabama Digital Expansion Authority. Impact analyses show that the network will create 4,112 construction jobs with a total economic impact of $657 million, AFN officials said.
“Increasing access throughout Alabama will enhance innovation and create new opportunities for education, health care, economic development and more,” said Terry Metze Jr., AFN CEO.
NRECA CEO Jim Matheson congratulated the co-ops for building a middle-mile network that will deliver services that every small community needs to compete.
“As a modern-day necessity, broadband internet creates new ways to live, learn and earn in rural America,” said Matheson. “And from Muscle Shoals to Mobile, the Alabama Fiber Network will make a significant difference for rural Alabamians. Alabama’s future is brighter because of the work of cooperatives.”
In addition to Central Alabama and Cullman Electric, co-ops and their subsidiaries forming the Prattville-based AFN are Talladega-based Coosa Valley Electric Cooperative, Andalusia-based Covington Electric Cooperative, Trinity-based JWEMC Communications LLC, Stevenson-based North Alabama Electric Cooperative, Hamilton-based Tombigbee Electric Cooperative, and PowerSouth Energy Cooperative, the generation and transmission co-op based in Andalusia.
Cathy Cash is a staff writer for NRECA.