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Lee County reviews ARPA-funded fiber buildout timelines; ADECA 'BED' program may fill remaining gaps
Summary
County staff and Commissioner LeGrand outlined schedules for ARPA-funded fiber projects covering Salem, Southeast, East Central, South Central and Loachapoka/Beauregard areas and discussed ADECA’s BED program as a complementary statewide effort to serve remaining un- or underserved locations.
Commissioner LeGrand and county staff reviewed schedules for Lee County’s American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA)–funded fiber projects and discussed how the Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs (ADECA) “BED” program could address remaining unserved or underserved locations.
County staff said the Salem project has moved into operations, while work on the Southeast route began July 25, 2024 and is expected to finish by Dec. 30, 2026; that route covers about 26 miles and an estimated 196 households. The East Central project began Jan. 1, 2025 and is expected to finish Dec. 30, 2025; it is roughly 24 miles and expected to serve about 370 locations. The South Central project is scheduled to start Oct. 2025 and finish March 30, 2026 (21 miles, 127 locations). The Loachapoka (Lachapoka/Loachapoka in material shown) project, awarded to Spectrum, is scheduled to begin Sept. 1, 2025 and finish Dec. 30, 2026 and is estimated at 9.9 miles to serve about 89 locations. Other awarded contracts referenced included Beam (other routes) and Spectrum (Loachapoka).
“When they signed their agreements with us, they gave us time periods because they already had a schedule of things,” a county staff member identified in the meeting as Holly said. “We are on their schedule for the times.”
Staff described ADECA’s BED program (presented in a statewide webinar) as a separate effort intended to reach locations that remain unserved or underserved after local projects. The presenter said ADECA’s map classifies blocks by percent coverage; areas displayed in light teal indicate 0–50% coverage and contain about 1,850 locations in Lee County that ADECA has identified as unserved or underserved. ADECA additionally lists “BED-eligible community anchor institutions” (hospitals, schools and similar facilities); staff said 30 anchor institutions were identified in Lee County, including 16 schools in rural parts of the county. The presenter said projects that include anchor institutions receive higher priority under the BED program’s award process.
Commissioners and audience members pressed staff to keep pressure on contractors and on ADECA for faster delivery. “If we could get continuous updates and meetings,” one commissioner said, “that’s what we need — staying on them and making sure we get this taken care of.” The presenter said she will continue to attend ADECA webinars and provide updates to the commission.
Staff reiterated that Lee County’s ARPA-funded projects must be finished by Dec. 30, 2026 to move into the operations phase; ADECA’s statewide timeline extends beyond that date and is not under county control. The county presenter advised residents to use ADECA’s broadband mapping site (broadband.alabama.gov/broadband-maps) to check coverage at the road or block level.
The discussion included requests from residents that the county track reports of contractors or solicitors visiting homes in areas without Internet and to publicize progress to citizens who lack service.
