ASU and State Universities Partner with Governor’s Office on Rural Broadband Expansion
Announced Monday during Arizona Governor Doug Ducey’s State of the State address, rural broadband expansion and Smart Highway Corridors projects are underway to “get all of rural Arizona logged on.” And ASU, as well as fellow state institutions University of Arizona and Northern Arizona University, are excited for the opportunities for collaboration.
Governor Ducey detailed the (more than) tripling of existing Rural Broadband Development Grants from $3 million to an additional $10 million. These grants are provided to projects that enhance broadband infrastructure, economic growth and quality of life in rural areas. Last year, these grants brought high-speed service to zones in Payson, Star Valley, the Tonto Apache Tribe, Bullhead City, Fort Mohave, the Mohave Valley and Page. “We need to connect all parts of our growing state,” Governor Ducey said.
The Smart Highway Corridors initiative will see nearly $50 million dedicated to the Arizona Department of Transportation’s efforts to install over 500 miles of broadband conduit and fiber optic cable alongside already existing highways throughout the state. For example, the connectivity brought by this technology allows for “smart” digital billboards providing crucial information, such as road conditions and closures. Travel on Interstate 17 from Sunset Point to Flagstaff, Interstate 40 from the Arizona to New Mexico borders and Arizona to California borders, and Interstate 19 from Tucson and Nogales. Governor Ducey summarized the initiatives. “This will make our highways safer and smarter than ever before and pave the way to get all of rural Arizona logged on,” he said.
Where ASU and its peer universities come in to these projects is still a fruitful possibility. Collaboration between the three state universities are already fitting into the two arcs described in the state’s broadband plans, most notably with UTO and ASU’s Campus/City/Smart Region initiative and network expansion. UTO looks forward to contributing to this Smart State vision for Arizona in the future.