In an one-on-one interview with ABC 33/40, Congressman Robert Aderholt said efforts to expand rural broadband access in Alabama are making significant progress, citing a dramatic drop in the number of residents without high-speed internet.

Aderholt discussed the ReConnect program, a federal initiative he helped implement while chairing the Agriculture Appropriations Subcommittee. The program is aimed at closing the broadband gap in rural America.

“In this day and age, having broadband is sort of like having electricity,” Aderholt said. “If you don’t have the internet, you’re sort of cut off from the rest of the world.”

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When the ReConnect program launched around 2018, roughly 22% of Alabamians lacked access to broadband internet. Today, that figure has dropped to just 6%, according to Aderholt. “That’s a huge shift,” he noted, attributing the change to billions of dollars in infrastructure investment across the country.

While acknowledging the progress, Aderholt emphasized that work remains. “We’re still building out the broadband infrastructure so that 6% will eventually be taken care of as well,” he said.

The congressman stressed that broadband access is essential not only for daily life but also for business, education, and economic development in rural areas. “In parts of rural Alabama and across America, it’s still much more difficult to get high-speed internet. Without it, you can’t really operate a business or do serious work,” he said.

Aderholt said the program continues to receive support in Washington and remains a top priority for ensuring rural communities aren’t left behind in the digital age.

You can watch the full interview with Aderholt below.