SAFFORD — Residents west of Thatcher could soon see broadband service coming their way.
During Monday’s Graham County Board of Supervisors meeting, County Manager Dustin Welker said Arizona Commerce Authority has nearly $1 billion available to get broadband out to underserved areas.
“Each provider had an opportunity to go throughout every county and show what different areas they serve, and what is not being served would be available for funding,” Welker said.
Graham County challenged more than 1,350 parcels that were claimed to be served but that the county believed was not, with 1,340 being upheld as underserved. That allows a provider to apply for funding in order to install fiber and service to those areas.
Welker said it appears Graham County’s was the largest successful challenge in the state.
– David Bell Photo/Gila Valley Central
During last week’s Graham Economic Partnership panel, Valley Telecom’s Corina Pino-Reyes said her agency has been in talks with the state.
“We recently had a very productive meeting with the state Broadband Office on May 9, with their office reaffirming its strong interest in Graham County,” Pino-Reyes said. “We have a current project on the table that would increase broadband into the Bryce, Eden and Fort Thomas areas.”
Welker did not give a timeline on when broadband expansion is expected to begin.
