Governor Perdue Announces Broadband Awards

ATLANTA– Governor Sonny Perdue announced today that three Georgia broadband projects are receiving federal funding totaling $14.9 million.  The projects are being funded through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act to expand high-speed Internet and wireless access in underserved areas.  With these latest awards, support for Georgia broadband projects totals over $162.9 million.

“This investment is the next step in opening up Georgia’s local economies with a technology we have long viewed as the dial tone of the 21st century,” said Governor Sonny Perdue.  “This will increase our competitiveness and help us compete for and create the jobs of the future.”

The largest award, $11.3 million, will allow Bulldog Cable Georgia, Inc. to offer advanced broadband service in the area of Lake Sinclair.  The project will upgrade 42 miles of cable and expand an additional 163 miles, serving more than 12,000 people and 1,300 businesses in the area.

The Georgia Partnership for Telehealth, Inc. is receiving a $2.5 million grant.  Coupled with an additional $1.2 million in matching contributions, the funding will help to connect community institutions such as hospitals, schools and public health departments, by expanding an existing telehealth network to 67 additional community anchor sites.  The project also plans to implement a training and awareness program for residents and rural healthcare providers to improve healthcare delivery in areas of the state with high levels of poverty.

A $1.1 million grant is going to Professional Resources Management of Rabun, LLC.  The funding, with an additional $870,000 in matching contributions, will enable the deployment of 30 new workstations in two new computer centers to improve workforce development, education, and healthcare services in Rabun County.  In addition, the project aims to improve access to health information for the public and launch a videoconferencing telehealth initiative to allow healthcare providers to interact and share information statewide.

Georgia is continuing its successful efforts to expand broadband access that started with the Wireless Communities Georgia Program.  Georgia’s strategic approach to the issue of broadband access has made the state highly competitive in the federal funding process.

Governor Perdue began working to bring broadband to rural areas of the state in 2006 when the General Assembly, at his request, appropriated funds to expand wireless broadband access.  The OneGeorgia Authority, chaired by Governor Perdue, established a program separate from Wireless Communities Georgia to assist rural communities in establishing broadband networks.

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