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Georgia Rural Broadband Access and Deployment Act

Status: ScheduledState: GeorgiaIssue: Broadband

Summary

The bill creates a competitive, matching-fund grant program to expand reliable high-speed broadband in underserved rural Georgia, prioritizing schools, healthcare providers, small businesses, and unserved households. It also streamlines right-of-way approvals while retaining safety, environmental, and land-use safeguards.

Full text

This Act establishes a competitive grant program within the Georgia Broadband Deployment Initiative to support construction of reliable high-speed broadband in underserved rural communities, with priority given to areas serving schools, healthcare providers, small businesses, and households lacking adequate service. The Department of Community Affairs shall coordinate with local governments and utilities to create a uniform, expedited right-of-way approval process for eligible broadband projects, while preserving reasonable public-safety, environmental, and land-use requirements. Grants shall require matching funds, transparent project timelines, and service-quality benchmarks.