$145 Million Fiber Internet Project Completed in Northwest Alabama, Connecting 100,000 Residents
A $145 million fiber-to-home internet project spearheaded by Tombigbee Electric Cooperative’s Freedom FIBER has successfully brought high-speed internet access to over 100,000 residents across eight counties in rural Northwest Alabama.
The project, which began in 2017, has involved the installation of over 4,200 miles of fiber optic cable and has already connected more than 27,000 customers. Britton Lightsey, president and CEO of Tombigbee Electric Cooperative, explained the project’s origins, stating, “If you look back to 1936 and the Rural Electrification Act, the whole premise of why co-ops were created was to get electricity outside the densely populated cities and into rural parts of America so as not to leave anyone behind. We followed that same principle with our fiber project.” This expansion is particularly crucial as access to reliable internet becomes increasingly vital for education, healthcare, and economic opportunity.
Yesterday’s celebration at Tombigbee Electric’s headquarters in Hamilton drew over 250 attendees, including U.S. Rep. Robert Aderholt, Alabama House Speaker Nathaniel Ledbetter, and Senate President Pro Tem Garlan Gudger, alongside numerous state legislators and representatives from the offices of Governor Kay Ivey and U.S. Senators Tommy Tuberville and Katie Britt. Aderholt remarked, “That day, we set out on an ambitious mission: to make sure that families, businesses, and schools in rural communities across our state had the same access to high-speed internet as anyone in Birmingham or Huntsville or Mobile. And today, thanks to the leadership and vision of Tombigbee Electric Cooperative, that mission has been accomplished.” Tombigbee continues to connect approximately three dozen new customers daily and is accepting registrations through its website.
Lightsey emphasized the cooperative’s commitment to comprehensive service, noting their dedication to serving the entire designated area, unlike some previous internet providers. He also highlighted the local nature of their customer support, stating, “If you have any issue, you are calling Hamilton, Alabama. You’re not calling another country or even another state.” The Federal Communications Commission provides resources on broadband deployment and initiatives nationwide.
Tombigbee Electric Cooperative officials stated they will continue expanding service to reach all eligible residents in the region.
U.S. Rep. Robert Aderholt, Alabama House Speaker Nathaniel Ledbetter and Senate President Pro Tem Garlan Gudger joined other leaders to celebrate the completion of Tombigbee Electric Cooperative’s fiber-to-home internet project in rural Northwest Alabama. The $145 million project, executed by Tombigbee Communications under its Freedom FIBER brand, brings high-speed internet access to over 100,000 residents across eight counties.
Britton Lightsey, president and CEO of Tombigbee Electric Cooperative, highlighted the project’s alignment with the cooperative’s mission to serve rural communities. “If you look back to 1936 and the Rural Electrification Act, the whole premise of why co-ops were created was to get electricity outside the densely populated cities and into rural parts of America so as not to leave anyone behind,” Lightsey said. “We followed that same principle with our fiber project.”
The celebration at Tombigbee Electric’s headquarters in Hamilton drew more than 250 attendees, including state Reps. Bryan Brinyark, Tracy Estes, Jamie Keil, and Tim Wadsworth; state Sens. Gerald Allen and Jack Williams; and representatives from Gov. Kay Ivey and U.S. Sens. Tommy Tuberville and Katie Britt’s offices.
Aderholt reflected on the project’s significance, stating, “That day, we set out on an ambitious mission: to make sure that families, businesses, and schools in rural communities across our state had the same access to high-speed internet as anyone in Birmingham or Huntsville or Mobile. And today, thanks to the leadership and vision of Tombigbee Electric Cooperative, that mission has been accomplished.”
Since beginning the project in 2017, Tombigbee has installed over 4,200 miles of fiber and connected more than 27,000 customers. Lightsey emphasized the cooperative’s commitment to serving the entire area, stating, “If we were going to serve an area, we were going to serve the entire area and not pick and choose like other internet providers in the past had traditionally done.”
Tombigbee continues to connect approximately three dozen new customers daily and maintains a growing list of service registrations through its website. Lightsey praised the local nature of their customer service, noting, “If you have any issue, you are calling Hamilton, Alabama. You’re not calling another country or even another state.”
