City of Phoenix Jobs Created by Broadband Grant

A new round of funding will not only create City of Phoenix jobs, but also will increase Internet access across the state.

The U.S. Department of Commerce recently announced that it will award a $39.2 million grant to GovNET, Inc. to build a statewide broadband network. The funding was awarded by the National Telecommunications and Information Administration through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.

GovNET is based in Scottsdale, a nearby suburb of Phoenix. The company will use the funding for a 5 SONET-ring microwave and fiber network meant to bring increased broadband capacity and Internet connectivity to all 15 counties throughout Arizona.

"Arizona's vast stretches of missing middle mile infrastructure may soon become a thing of the past," Gov. Jan Brewer said. "Not only will this project create Arizona jobs, the broadband capacity it brings will help with everything from enhancing rural schools and libraries to networking hospitals and healthcare providers.

"The network also allows for direct communication channels between multiple law enforcement agencies with the potential to improve interoperability issues along the border," she added.

NTIA asked governors from each state to submit comments about the broadband grant applications that would impact their own states. Brewer created the Arizona Broadband Advisory Committee to evaluate applications from Arizona.

That committee was made up of representatives from 10 different state agencies and was chaired by Chad Kirkpatrick, CIO and director of the Government Information Technology Agency.

"The results of this grant will bring high speed Internet connectivity to many underserved areas of the state," he said. "This is a great day for Arizona’s future."