Miles SmithGeorgia will roll out $1.3 billion in grant awards for projects to expand high-speed internet access across the state.
Applicants have until Jan. 15 to apply for the Broadband, Equity, Access and Deployment (BEAD) funding, which will be administered through the Georgia Technology Authority (GTA) and the Governor’s Office of Planning and Budget.
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“Expanding broadband infrastructure across Georgia is not just about connecting communities to the internet — it’s about bridging the gap to educational and work opportunities, healthcare, and economic growth,” said Jessica Simmons, Executive Director of the Georgia Broadband Program. “In every corner of our state, this program will provide access to reliable broadband and ensure that no Georgian is left behind in the digital age.”
The BEAD Program will help build comprehensive broadband networks for Georgia’s remaining unserved and underserved communities struggling with the lack of broadband access, the GTA said.
Successful applications include projects offering high-speed internet access that supports households with multiple users as well as businesses and community anchor institutions with their 21st-century operations.
The BEAD Program follows the largest state investments in high-speed internet infrastructure in Georgia’s history.
In 2022, the state made more than $400 million in grant awards to support broadband expansion efforts and an additional $246 million in grant awards made in 2023.
Photo by Vlada Karpovich
