SB124 Summary

• Increases minimum broadband service threshold speeds from 25 Mbps download/3 Mbps upload to 100 Mbps download/20 Mbps upload for Alabama's broadband accessibility grant program.

• Expands grant eligibility to include units of government in addition to non-governmental entities (cooperatives, corporations, LLCs, partnerships, and private business entities) that provide broadband services.

• Raises maximum individual grant amounts from $1.5 million to $5 million and increases grant coverage from 35% to 80% of project costs for projects meeting 100 Mbps service standards.

• Modifies grant application timeline from annual to a 60-to-90-day window (or 30 days when required by other funding sources) and accelerates award publication from 90 days to 60 days after application window closes.

• Allows grant recipients demonstrating project complexity to request extensions beyond the standard two-year completion deadline, with extensions of up to one year permitted for delays beyond the recipient's control.