Alabama Power wins prestigious Edison Electric Institute advocacy award for connectivity initiative
By Alabama NewsCenter Staff
March 15, 2021
Alabama Power s efforts to expand broadband in the state earned it the Edison Electric Institute s Advocacy Excellence Award. (Alabama Power and Getty Images)
Alabama Power’s strategic initiative to help expand broadband access in Alabama was named by the Edison Electric Institute (EEI) as the nation’s best advocacy campaign by a large utility.
The Advocacy Excellence Award annually recognizes an EEI member company’s engagement and activism in public policy advocacy at federal, state and local levels.
Alabama Power won the 2020 award for its coordinated efforts across the company to develop public-private partnerships and to educate customers and public officials on the need for more resources and entities to invest in and build broadband infrastructure.
A bill that will ensure that those who received federal coronavirus aid dollars “will not pay one penny in state income taxes on that relief.”
Legislation to renew economic incentives that have helped build Alabama’s economy.
A bill that will prevent businesses and health care providers “from frivolous lawsuits that might come because of COVID-19.”
“Those are going to be the three priorities,” Reed said. “We’re going to be working diligently on those.”
“It’s a critical issue,” Scofield said. “I’m very proud of the work we’ve done so far, (but) we could definitely do more, and I look forward to having a real impact on making that happen.”
Expanded broadband access is the Alabama Rural Broadband Coalition’s mission
By Alabama NewsCenter Staff February 2, 2021
The Alabama Rural Broadband Coalition is helping to bring high-speed internet to portions of the state still lacking reliable service. (Getty Images)
It’s a lot easier to stay home when you have internet; that’s how you survive. Without internet access, you can’t do your homework, can’t work and you can’t order from the grocery store online.
Access to fast and reliable internet is something all Alabamians should enjoy, said state Sen. Clay Scofield of Cullman.
“As this pandemic has made clear, high-speed broadband access in all corners of Alabama is truly a basic personal necessity in today’s society and could bring in an array of benefits related to education, telemedicine, economic development and even agriculture,” Scofield said.