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By Aaron McCall

Special to The Lowndes Signal

Congressional action following the pandemic created a once-in-a-generation level of funding to close the digital divide across America and bring affordable, reliable, high-speed internet access. High Speed internet access stimulates economic growth, lowers health care costs, improves access to education and strengthens community ties to needed services – making it a necessity, not a luxury, that should be accessible to all.  

We are pleased to announce a Broadband Technical Assistance initiative via the South Central Alabama Broadband Cooperative District (SCABCD), which is funded and supported by the United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Rural Utilities Broadband Technical Assistance Program.  

This initiative will provide broadband planning assistance to 45 communities in Lowndes County communities of Benton, Farmersville, Braggs, Minter, Lowndes and Tyler as well as the following 14 south central Alabama counties: Bullock County – Fitzpatrick and Midway; Butler County – Georgiana and McKenzie; Choctaw County – Needham; Conecuh County – Castleberry and Evergreen; Dallas County – Selmon-west, Sardis, Tyler and Valley Grande; Escambia County – Brewton, East Brewton and Riverview; Greene County – Boligee; Hale County – Greensboro; Macon County – Franklin and Fort Davis; Marengo County – Nanafalia, Providence, Putnam and Sweetwater; Perry County – Uniontown; Pickens County – Aliceville, Carrollton, Gordo, McMullen, Memphis, Pickensville and Reform; Sumter County – Bellamy, Emelle, Epes, Gainesville, Geiger, Livingston and Panola; and Wilcox County – Oak Hill, Pine Apple and Vredenburg.

As billions of dollars in once-in-a-generation federal funding for broadband infrastructure begin to flow to community projects, SCABCD wants to ensure that resources, peer support, and capital reach the communities that need it most.  We invite community stakeholders and local leaders to join us in this important investment in your neighborhood to create more equitable access and opportunity for all. 

The first step in the process is to participate in your community assessment process by taking a brief speed test that is designed to assess the internet speeds and affordability currently available in your area.  

Please take the test here:  https://register.broadband.scabcd.com help empower your community to get high speed connectivity. 

For more information, please contact call (334) 865-2654 or email info@scabcd.com.