𝐄𝐥𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐂𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐭𝐲 𝐛𝐫𝐨𝐚𝐝𝐛𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐠𝐫𝐨𝐰𝐭𝐡 𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐠𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐧𝐬 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐧𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐢𝐭𝐲, 𝐪𝐮𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐨𝐟 𝐥𝐢𝐟𝐞

For families, students and businesses across Elmore County, reliable internet access has become an increasingly important part of everyday life.

Over the past eight years, Elmore County has made significant progress in expanding high-speed broadband access, helping more residents connect to educational resources, work opportunities, businesses and services while supporting the county’s continued growth.

That progress is outlined in the 2026 Broadband Project Analysis Update completed by Sain Associates for the Elmore County Economic Development Authority and Elmore County Commission.

The latest analysis is the third update to the county’s broadband planning efforts. Elmore County first commissioned a broadband feasibility study in 2019, followed by an initial project analysis in 2020. In 2023, ECEDA and the county partnered with the Association of County Commissions of Alabama to evaluate the progress made in broadband infrastructure development.

The 2026 update provides another look at how the county’s broadband network has evolved and where gaps remain.

Since 2020, Elmore County’s population has grown nearly 4.8%, increasing from 87,977 to 92,103 residents.

At the same time, broadband availability has expanded significantly.

At least 95% of the county’s population now has access to at least one high-speed fiber internet provider. That is a substantial increase from the 66% equivalent figure identified in the 2019 study.

Access to multiple providers has increased as well. About 65% of the population now has access to at least two service providers, compared with approximately 53% in 2019.

The growth reflects continued investment and infrastructure expansion by providers throughout the county, including Central Access, Spectrum, AT&T and Troy Cablevision.

For a growing county like Elmore, expanded broadband access can have an impact well beyond the availability of an internet connection.

For students, reliable internet access has become increasingly important as online resources and distance learning become part of the educational experience. For businesses, limited broadband options can affect the ability of companies to operate, expand or locate in rural areas.

Reliable connectivity can also give residents greater flexibility in how they work, learn and access information and services. For businesses and entrepreneurs, broadband can help create opportunities to operate from communities outside the county’s larger population centers.

Those benefits are especially important as Elmore County continues to attract new residents and businesses.

Art Faulkner, chairman of the Elmore County Economic Development Authority, said broadband has become an essential part of the infrastructure needed to support residents, businesses and the county’s continued growth. “Broadband is no longer a luxury. It is an essential part of the infrastructure that helps a community grow, supports our residents and businesses, and gives people the opportunity to live, work, learn and do business here,” Faulkner said.

Despite the progress, the 2026 analysis shows there is still work to be done.

Approximately 35% of the county’s population remains limited to a single provider, while some residents still have no broadband service available to them. These gaps are particularly important in rural areas, where extending infrastructure can be more challenging.

The analysis identified 12 areas where additional broadband expansion could potentially reach approximately 16,200 residential households and 925 businesses.

Of those potential customers, about 950 households and 35 businesses are located in areas where no provider currently serves them.

The areas were evaluated based on factors including potential customer numbers, population density, the mix of residential and business users, the amount of area that could be addressed and estimated cost per customer.

Among the highest-ranked areas are Wetumpka, Elmore and AL-14, as well as Coosada and Elmore.

The estimated construction cost for all 12 areas is approximately $25.1 million. Individual project estimates range from about $730,537 around Tallassee to more than $5 million for some of the larger proposed areas.

Elmore County Commission Chairman Bart Mercer said the progress made over the past several years demonstrates the value of continued investment while also highlighting the importance of reaching residents who remain underserved. “We have made tremendous progress since the first study was undertaken. As Elmore County continues to grow, we want to make sure that growth reaches every community and that all areas of the county have the infrastructure they need to be connected” Mercer said.

At the same time, the broadband landscape continues to change as internet providers complete their own expansion projects.

Central Access is currently completing the final portions of major grant-funded expansion projects in Elmore County. As those projects are completed, broadband availability in some areas identified in the analysis could change, allowing the county’s remaining needs to be evaluated with more current information.

Central Access Vice President Chris Montgomery said the company’s ongoing projects are expected to help address some of the remaining connectivity gaps in Elmore County. “Central Access has worked diligently to expand reliable broadband options for residents across Elmore County. As our current projects are near completion, we expect these investments to significantly reduce remaining connectivity gaps and provide more households and businesses with access to the service they need. Elmore County has been a front runner in this process, and we applaud their efforts. We remain committed to supporting our Elmore County partners and working together wherever feasible to help ensure reliable broadband connectivity for all residents,” Montgomery said.

That continued investment by providers has played an important role in the county’s progress since the original 2019 study.

The numbers tell a clear story. In roughly seven years, the share of Elmore County residents with access to at least one high-speed fiber provider has increased from 66% to at least 95%, while the percentage with access to multiple providers has also grown.

But the impact of that progress can be measured in more than percentages.

It means more students can connect to the resources they need to learn. It gives more residents access to opportunities that increasingly depend on reliable connectivity. It provides businesses with infrastructure needed to operate and grow. And it strengthens the ability of communities throughout Elmore County to remain connected as the county continues to grow.

Broadband has become an important part of the county’s quality of life and economic development infrastructure, alongside roads, schools, utilities and other services that help communities thrive.

As providers continue expanding their networks and new infrastructure comes online, that ongoing effort will help ensure that more residents and businesses across Elmore County can benefit from the opportunities that reliable broadband provides.