Broadband service in rural Georgia received a $4.6 million boost when the USDA announced a ReConnect investment in Evans and Tatnall counties in early January. The ReConnect program is a USDA initiative in which a total of $600 million will be allocated for broadband infrastructure expansion in rural America.

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has announced that 15 bidders have secured more than $326 million in Rural Digital Opportunity Funds (RDOF) to deploy high-speed broadband to thousands of rural Georgians over the next 10 years. As a result of the recently completed Rural Digital Opportunity Fund (RDOF) auction, high-speed broadband will be deployed to more than 179,000 currently unserved homes and businesses in the state. This represents nearly 99% of locations that were eligible to participate in the RDOF auction process. 

Only 30% of residents in Colquitt County have internet access, according to Melissa Lawson, county clerk. Therefore, the Broadband Ready certification is a major step toward connectivity in an agriculture-based community. Cities and counties with this Broadband Ready designation have completed the online application and demonstrated compliance with the adoption of both a Comprehensive Plan, inclusive of the promotion of deployment broadband services, and the Broadband Model Ordinance.

The City of Dublin joins several communities across Georgia that are Broadband Ready. Cities and counties with this certification have completed the online application and demonstrated compliance with the adoption of both a Comprehensive Plan, inclusive of the promotion of deployment broadband services, and the Broadband Model Ordinance.

Lumpkin County is the latest community in Georgia to receive a Broadband Ready Certification from the Georgia Department of Community Affairs (DCA). Communities certified as Broadband Ready have completed the online application and demonstrated compliance with the adoption of both a Comprehensive Plan, inclusive of the promotion of deployment broadband services, and the Broadband Model Ordinance.

Lumpkin County has secured its Broadband Ready Certification. How can internet access positively affect communities? Lumpkin County officials Bruce Georgia, Director of Planning, and Rebecca Mincey, Development Authority Executive Director, explain it here.

How do you foresee Broadband access benefiting your county regarding education, healthcare, economic development and more? 

Hiawassee is the latest Georgia community to receive Broadband Ready Community Certification from the Georgia Department of Community Affairs (DCA). This designation recognizes a city and/or county whose local government has completed the application and demonstrated compliance with the adoption of a local comprehensive plan inclusive of the deployment of broadband services and a Broadband Model Ordinance.

Governor Brian P. Kemp announced the publication of Georgia’s Broadband Availability Map, a new tool that will bring more transparency about the internet marketplace and clarify which Georgia households do not have access to high-speed internet.

Gov. Brian P. Kemp announced that the Georgia Broadband Deployment Initiative (GBDI) is launching the Speedtest by Ookla® pilot project statewide through August. This project is designed to equip school leaders with the clearest picture possible of internet connectivity for Georgia’s students and teachers for the upcoming school year.