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BRIDGE: Broadband Rural Initiative

On March 10, 2006, Governor Sonny Perdue and members of the OneGeorgia Authority board approved regulations for a new financing program that will bring high speed broadband connectivity to rural Georgia. Governor Perdue called for the OneGeorgia Authority to establish a grant program to support rural broadband access.

The Broadband Rural Initiative to Develop Georgia’s Economy (BRIDGE) fund will provide grants for publicly owned infrastructure based on the number of rural counties receiving new or enhanced high speed broadband services. The BRIDGE fund will grant $200,000 for single county projects and $400,000 for projects impacting two counties. Regional projects serving three or more counties will not have an award maximum.

Funding will be determined based on the strength of the regional application including technology design, strategy and sustainability. Governor Perdue's FY07 budget proposal includes five million as initial funding for the BRIDGE program.