Grand Canyon Times

Bipartisan infrastructure law led by Sinema and shaped by Kelly provides over $28.4 million to deliver broadband to underserved communities in Arizona

A total of $28,485,976 will be invested in rural Arizona broadband from the bipartisan infrastructure law led by Senator Kyrsten Sinema and shaped by Senator Mark Kelly.

The funding will benefit two broadband projects connecting individuals, businesses, and farms to high-speed internet – with a $3.5 million grant coming to Coconino County and $25 million grant coming to La Paz County from Sinema and Kelly’s law.

“With so many important aspects of our lives from education to telehealth and small business services online, it’s essential that all Arizonans have affordable access to the fast and reliable internet they need to thrive, said Senator Kelly. “Our Bipartisan Infrastructure Law is making that a reality by bringing broadband to every corner of our state.”

“While negotiating the bipartisan infrastructure law, I secured historic investments for broadband deployment – connecting all Arizonans with high-speed internet no matter where they live. I’m proud that my infrastructure law brings broadband to rural and underserved parts of our state,” said Sinema, lead author and negotiator of the bipartisan infrastructure law.

The $3.5 million grant benefitting residents of Coconino County will be used to deploy a fiber-to-the-premises network to provide high-speed affordable internet through the Federal Communications Commission’s Affordable Connectivity Program created by the bipartisan infrastructure law.

The $25 million investment in La Paz County will be used to deploy a fiber-to-the-premises network to provide high-speed affordable internet benefitting nearly 2,000 people, 41 businesses, three farms, and four educational facilities in the County. This is a tremendous investment in Arizona’s second least populous county which has approximately 16,500 residents.

Sinema and Kelly’s bipartisan infrastructure law makes historic and sweeping investments in repairing and upgrading America’s critical infrastructure, including $65 billion to deploy high-speed broadband, expand broadband internet access, and help families afford broadband service.  

Specifically, the law invests over $14 billion to make internet more affordable and requires internet providers to offer a low-cost option to participate in federal broadband deployment funding. Following passage of the infrastructure law, the Federal Communications Commission established the Affordable Connectivity Program using the funding Sinema and Kelly secured to help Arizonans access affordable internet. The program provides eligible families $30 a month toward their internet bills and $75 a month toward internet service in tribal areas.

Sinema led bipartisan Senate negotiations with Republican Senator Rob Portman of Ohio that included Senator Kelly and senators from both parties.

The bipartisan infrastructure law was supported by groups including The U.S. Chamber of Commerce, Business Roundtable, The National Association of Manufacturers, The AFL-CIO, The National Retail Federation, The Bipartisan Policy Center, North America’s Building Trades Unions, the Outdoor Industry Association, The American Hotel and Lodging Association, The National Education Association, as well as hundreds of mayors across all 50 states.  

Original source can be found here.