Rural Programming

Alabama Rural Broadband Coalition

Alabama Power is a proud founding member of the Alabama Rural Broadband Coalition (ARBC), established in 2018. The mission of the coalition is simple: We believe every Alabama citizen should have access to broadband.

The ARBC recognized the important role broadband accessibility plays in positioning the state for economic development and educational opportunities. Diverse industries engaged in the coalition include agriculture, education, economic development and health care.

The ARBC was able to form a united front to advocate, and its efforts were instrumental in securing  the passage of both pieces of transformational legislation. In May 2019, Governor Kay Ivey signed both acts into law, paving the way for a better-connected Alabama.

Fiber Infrastructure

Our fiber strategy makes our grid smarter, more reliable and resilient for our customers, while also providing an asset to help facilitate the expansion of broadband services to our service area. Much like every corner of our state benefited from the expansion of electricity, connectivity can create the same opportunity and accelerate the foundation electricity built by promoting access to telemedicine, education and more. And with our utility-grade connectivity asset, our dark fiber leases offer a premium physical security system with greater reliability compared to most telecom networks. 

Broadband Partnerships

With our fiber infrastructure, we are also able to build partnerships with internet service providers to bring high speed broadband across our state. Whether it's to expand broadband services or improve point-to-point communications between buildings and businesses, our infrastructure can support those efforts securely and reliably. 

C Spire
We announced our first strategic partnership in November 2019 with telecommunications company C Spire to support its broadband offering. C Spire, located in Jackson, Mississippi, established  an innovative partnership with us to serve residents in Jasper, Trussville, and North Shelby County. We continue to expand our reach with C Spire, adding more communities statewide.

Point Broadband
We support Point Broadband, an Alabama-based fiber internet provider, with its deployments near Lake Martin. Point Broadband is a fast growing internet provider with plans to grow across our service area.

Tombigbee Electric Cooperative
We are partnering with Tombigbee Electric Cooperative to deliver fiber-to-the-home internet services in Fayette, Alabama. This first of its kind IOU-Coop partnership will jumpstart economic development and close the digital divide for this rural community.