Statement by the Georgia Legislative Black Caucus On Receiving $6.4M Federal Internet for All Planning Grant

ATLANTA (November 28, 2022) | In response to the Biden-Harris Administration awarding Georgia a $6.4M Internet for All Planning Grant, Georgia Legislative Black Caucus Chairwoman Sen. Tonya Anderson (D – Lithonia) issues the following statement:

“We are appreciative of the Biden-Harris Administration for prioritizing the rebuilding and improving of America’s infrastructure. Their resilience and clarity of purpose allowed for passage of the historic Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act which our state is starting to benefit from.

With the $6.4M Georgia is receiving from the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) to improve high-speed internet access, which will increase to over $100M in the coming years, we can now further efforts to close the digital divide.

I appreciate the work my colleagues in the Georgia General Assembly have provided to address the inequities of broadband access across the state. A zip code should not determine whether a child can attend school online, or a parent participate in a team meeting, or a family wanting to order something from a store. Broadband is a need just as much as electricity and water. We cannot be satisfied until residents from all 159 counties have reliable broadband service.

The residents of this state deserve nothing less.”

Established in 1975, the Georgia Legislative Black Caucus is a 501(c)3 non-profit, nonpartisan organization comprising of 68 Georgia House and Senate members. For more information about the Georgia Legislative Black Caucus, please visit www.gablackcaucus.org or write to media@gablackcaucus.org.

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Senator Tonya Anderson represents the 43rd Senate District, which includes portions of DeKalb, Newton and Rockdale counties. She may be reached by email at tonya.anderson@senate.ga.gov