2840MM712

Purpose: The applicant proposes to build and operate the Connect Alabama Network for 677.1 route miles. This includes 411.5 route miles for access to unserved areas, 29.8 route miles for access to underserved areas, and 235.8 route miles for connectivity to four internet peering points. The entire proposed route will consist of buried fiber in conduit with at least 144 count fiber. The Connect Alabama Network aligns well with NTIA's Middle Mile Program's priorities, which include providing symmetrical 1 gig services to anchor institutions within 1000 feet of the route, offering fiscally sustainable middle mile, non-discriminatory interconnection to last mile broadband providers, documented interest from 2 last mile providers, and benefiting national security interests for fiber broadband connectivity along the route. The network also provides redundancy, high reliability, and high-speed broadband throughout the 26 unserved/underserved Alabama counties it traverses. It enables open access to last mile providers, electrical cooperatives, military facilities, and the Poarch Band of Creek Indians Tribal Headquarters along its path. The network aims to support wholesale and retail broadband services throughout the life of the project.

Activities to be performed: The project will use fiber to build a new middle mile network through unserved communities, with a commitment to open access and carrier-neutral non-discriminatory interconnect. The period of performance is expected to be 3 years.

Expected outcomes: The network will connect at least 20 last mile providers, backhaul data for hundreds of cellular sites, and lease dark fiber. The existing middle mile fiber and core infrastructure will be utilized to enhance the resiliency, redundancy, and robustness of the proposed middle mile network. The applicant's goals for the proposed network are to expand connectivity to 37 unserved towns and 4 underserved towns per the Alabama Broadband Mapping Data, leverage the applicant's existing robust network to connect last mile providers and anchor institutions in the proposed service area, enhance the unserved/underserved areas with redundancy, resiliency, and ease of access to an open, non-discriminatory network in perpetuity, and seamlessly integrate into the existing network.

Intended beneficiaries: The applicant's proposed route crosses areas that include low-density rural communities, lower household income (with an average annual household income of $43,231, two-thirds the national average), areas with three times the percentage of communities of color (39.2% in PSA vs 13.6% in US), and tribal areas. The census reports that the broadband internet subscription rate in the PSA is only 70.75% compared to 91.90% across the US. Two last mile providers expressing written interest in interconnecting with the proposed network represent some of the poorest, highest percentage of color, and lowest percentage of households with a broadband subscription counties in the state and in the country. Incumbent last mile providers lack the technology to deliver symmetric 100/100 Mbps service, scalability, redundancy, resilience, and low latency. These incumbent's services leave the project service area unserved and/or underserved. In contrast, Connect Alabama plans to deliver open access of transport and wholesale services to any last mile providers on an open access, non-discriminatory basis that complies with all NTIA Middle Mile Grant Program technology, operations, and regulatory requirements.

Subrecipient activities: The applicant has not identified any subrecipient entities in this application.

Troy Cablevision

11.033 - Middle Mile (Broadband) Grant Program

National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) [DOC]

Troy, Alabama 36081-3121 United States

Single Zip Code

None

Infrastructure $26,299,961 (100%) percent this Project Grant was funded by the 2021 Infrastructure Act.