Benton Institute for Broadband & Society - Arizona Commerce Authority

Public-private partnership in Arizona to manage, maintain and lease fiber-optic conduit along highways

benton — Thu, 25 Apr 2024 21:57:10 +0000

Arizona's goal of expanding broadband internet access in rural areas is taking a step forward with a public-private partnership. The agreement with eX² Technology is to operate, maintain and lease space in fiber-optic conduit installed along Interstate 17 and Interstate 19, and being installed later in 2024 along much of Interstate 40. The Arizona Department of Transportation—in partnership with Governor Katie Hobbs and the Arizona Commerce Authority—entered into the agreement recently with eX² Technology, an Omaha, Nebraska, firm with extensive experience working with state and local governments to manage what is often referred to as middle-mile fiber-optic infrastructure. The partnership complements a state law that allows private broadband providers to install, operate, and maintain telecommunications equipment within ADOT’s right of way using conduit installed along state highways. ADOT plans to use the fiber-optic conduit to provide intelligent transportation systems technology, such as overhead message boards, traffic cameras, weather stations, and wrong-way driving detection. The infrastructure also will help lay the groundwork for emerging technologies like connected and automated vehicles. The initial scope for this 25-year agreement includes fiber-optic conduit along I-17 from Phoenix to Flagstaff, I-19 from Tucson to Nogales, and conduit to be installed on Interstate 40 from Flagstaff to California. It will be available for lease by internet service providers looking to expand broadband internet access.

Benton Content:

https://www.azcommerce.com/news-events/news/2024/4/effort-to-expand-broadband-in…

Teaser:

New state law allows private broadband providers to install, operate, and maintain telecommunications equipment within Department of Transportation’s right of way

Source:

Arizona Commerce Authority

Send date:

Fri, 04/26/2024

Daily Digest:

Daily Digest 4/25/2024

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Not Available

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Publish Date:

Thu, 04/25/2024

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Arizona Commerce Authority announces $100 million in broadband grants to 20 awardees in rural and urban Arizona

benton — Mon, 25 Jul 2022 18:59:43 +0000

The Arizona Commerce Authority announced 20 awardees of the Arizona Broadband Development Grant Program (ABDG), investing $100 million to expand high-speed broadband to Arizona’s unserved or underserved areas. The Arizona Commerce Authority allocated $75.7 million to 14 awardees in rural counties and $23.6 million to six awardees in urban counties, spurring $112.8 million in local matching funds. Grants were awarded through a competitive process based on criteria such as return on investment and local support. When completed, the grant projects will increase connections for homes, businesses, public safety agencies, medical facilities, schools, libraries and more while catalyzing new economic development and enhancing opportunities for sectors such as tourism, trade, and agriculture. Examples of projects include installing high-speed fiber-optic infrastructure, deploying Wi-Fi access points and networking equipment for broadband internet, and expanding existing and middle-mile fiber networks.

Benton Content:

https://www.azcommerce.com/news-events/news/2022/7/arizona-commerce-authority-an…

https://ktar.com/story/5171988/aca-allocates-100m-in-broadband-grants-to-20-awar…

Teaser:

The Arizona Broadband Development Grant Program

Source:

Arizona Commerce Authority

Send date:

Tue, 07/26/2022

Daily Digest:

Daily Digest 7/25/2022

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Not Available

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Publish Date:

Mon, 07/25/2022

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Arizona Commerce Authority Announces $100 Million In Broadband Grants

Grace Tepper — Wed, 13 Jul 2022 21:54:01 +0000

The Arizona Commerce Authority announced 20 awardees of the Arizona Broadband Development Grant Program (ABDG). Gov Ducey (R-AZ) launched the program in November 2021, investing $100 million to expand high-speed broadband to Arizona’s unserved or underserved areas. The grant allocated a total of $75.7 million to 14 awardees in rural counties and $23.6 million to six awardees in urban counties, spurring $112.8 million in local matching funds. Grants were awarded through a competitive process based on criteria such as return on investment and local support. When completed, the grant projects will increase connections for homes, businesses, public safety agencies, medical facilities, schools, libraries and more while catalyzing new economic development and enhancing opportunities for sectors such as tourism, trade, and agriculture. Examples of projects include installing high-speed fiber-optic infrastructure, deploying Wi-Fi access points and networking equipment for broadband internet, and expanding existing and middle-mile fiber networks.

Benton Content:

https://www.azcommerce.com/news-events/news/2022/7/arizona-commerce-authority-an…

Teaser:

The Arizona Commerce Authority announces 20 awardees of the Arizona Broadband Development Grant Program.

Source:

Arizona Commerce Authority

Send date:

Thu, 07/14/2022

Daily Digest:

Daily Digest 7/13/2022

DD Publish Status:

Not Available

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Publish Date:

Wed, 07/13/2022

Coverage Type:

Press Release

Digital Divide

Internet/Broadband

Affordability/Cost/Price

Infrastructure

Headlines Specific Topic:

Pew

Arizona Commerce Authority Announces Statewide Broadband Middle-Mile Strategic Plan

Grace Tepper — Tue, 08 Feb 2022 20:21:59 +0000

The Arizona Commerce Authority, in partnership with the Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT), announced the Arizona Statewide Broadband Middle-Mile Strategic Plan, which supports current broadband expansion efforts on Interstate 17 and Interstate 19. The Strategic Plan has led to the creation of the Statewide Middle-Mile Network, which aims to increase broadband service along I-17 and I-19 and future expansion along additional interstate and state highways. Designated corridors for fiber optic conduit installation for the Middle-Mile Network include 141 miles for I-17 between Flagstaff and Phoenix (AZ) and 60 miles for I-19 between Tucson and Nogales (AZ). Both routes combined will add 200 miles of broadband conduit by early 2023. The Strategic Plan identifies 726,357 households in Arizona within a five mile radius of Arizona’s interstates and state routes that are either unserved or underserved in basic broadband connectivity. The State’s efforts on I-17 and I-19 will have the ability to address 148,305 of these households. The Middle Mile Broadband Network adds to the significant steps in recent years to increase broadband access. Arizona in 2019 allocated $3 million for Rural Broadband Development Grants, and in 2022 allocated $100 million for the Arizona Broadband Development Grant to fund broadband development statewide.

Benton Content:

https://www.azcommerce.com/news-events/news/2022/2/arizona-commerce-authority-an…

Teaser:

The Arizona Commerce Authority announced the Arizona Statewide Broadband Middle-Mile Strategic Plan, which supports current broadband expansion efforts on Interstate 17 and Interstate 19.

Source:

Arizona Commerce Authority

Send date:

Wed, 02/09/2022

Daily Digest:

Daily Digest 2/8/2022

DD Publish Status:

Not Available

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Publish Date:

Tue, 02/08/2022

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