Georgia to receive more than $300M for broadband expansion under federal infrastructure law

Georgia is set to receive more than $300 million in new federal funding to expand high-speed internet access, U.S. Sens. Raphael Warnock and Jon Ossoff announced Monday.

The money comes from the Broadband Equity, Access and Deployment Program (BEAD) a major initiative created under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to bring reliable internet service to communities that have historically been left behind. State officials estimate roughly 15% of Georgians still lack dependable broadband access, with the deepest gaps concentrated in rural counties.

The Georgia Technology Authority will distribute the new funds to contractors tasked with building out networks in areas categorized as “unserved” or “underserved.”

Warnock said the investment will help close long-standing gaps that affect education, agriculture and local economies.

“This federal investment means life gets easier for hundreds of thousands of Georgians, and it provides the tools and infrastructure our communities need to be competitive in today’s economy,” Warnock said. “You need a broadband connection to do just about anything — you can’t even farm without one.”

He added that the state has waited through what he called unnecessary administrative delays and said he will continue pushing for the release of all remaining federal broadband dollars.

Ossoff called the new funding another sign that the bipartisan infrastructure package is continuing to produce tangible investments across the state.

“This is a major next step toward ensuring every Georgia family and business has high-speed internet,” Ossoff said.

Warnock and Ossoff have both backed broadband expansion efforts in recent years. Warnock has pressed the Federal Communications Commission to broaden programs that help schools and libraries provide Wi-Fi hotspots and has urged federal regulators to address digital discrimination. He has also visited telecommunications manufacturers and rural communities to highlight the need for stronger infrastructure.

In 2023, Georgia received a separate $1.3 billion BEAD allocation, one of the largest awards in the country. Earlier this year, the state’s senators criticized the Trump administration for holding up additional broadband funding required to move local projects forward.

The newly announced $300 million will support the next phase of Georgia’s push toward statewide broadband coverage, state officials say the goal is within reach for the first time.