ATL Standard

Gov. Brian Kemp promised to use his office and every opportunity with federal coronavirus relief funds to get broadband internet to every zip code in Georgia.

Working with the Georgia Department of Economic Development, Kemp established a Rural Strike Team partnership to bring together bringing local developers, elected officials and industry leaders to invest in Georgia opportunities. This is one of six collaborations that will build up broadband infrastructure, the Office of the Governor reported. 

"We are delivering on our promise to expand rural broadband in every corner of our state. In the past five months, we have announced six new EMC partnerships that will expand access to high-speed internet to over 178,000 Georgians," Kemp said on Twitter.

For many years, Gov. Kemp has heard from many Georgia citizens about the challenges they face when trying to access reliable high-speed internet. Business owners who need to connect with customers, students and teachers needing access to virtual classrooms and patients looking to use tele-health services require high-speed internet. The pandemic just drove it home to everyone, Kemp said.

"I am proud of the record number of new projects announced in rural Georgia, significant increases in jobs and investment, and new partnerships that will ensure we work together to bring prosperity to every region of the Peach State," Kemp said, his office reported

Over the past year, Georgia officials linked up to provide broadband to over 44 counties, the governor's office said. 

"On the campaign trail, I told people that I would put hardworking Georgians first and strengthen rural communities across our state. In the first two and a half years of my first term, we have made incredible progress doing just that," Kemp said, his office reported.