Georgia will receive $48 million in federal funding to expand high-speed internet access to roughly 22,000 unserved homes and businesses across 38 rural counties, the state’s Broadband Office announced Wednesday.
The grant is part of the federal Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) program, a $42.5 billion initiative created under the 2021 infrastructure law to close the digital divide in rural America.
“This is a big day for rural Georgia,” Gov. Brian Kemp said at a press conference in Tifton. “For too long, our rural communities have been left behind when it comes to high-speed internet. That changes today.”
The funding will support fiber buildout in counties across south, middle and coastal Georgia, including Ben Hill, Coffee, Colquitt, Decatur, Early, Grady, Miller, Mitchell, Seminole, Terrell, Thomas, Tift, Turner, and Worth counties, among others.
The state’s Broadband Office will accept project proposals from internet service providers beginning August 1, with awards expected by the end of the year. Construction is scheduled to begin in spring 2027, with most of the buildout completed by 2030.
“This is the largest single federal investment in rural broadband in Georgia’s history,” said Georgia Broadband Office director Jessica Simmons. “We want to make sure every dollar is spent efficiently and reaches the families and businesses that need it most.”
The grant is the third tranche of BEAD funding Georgia has received. The state was awarded $1.3 billion in initial funding in 2023 and an additional $187 million earlier this year for middle-mile fiber infrastructure.
