Section 41-23-271 Definitions.

For the purposes of this article, the following terms shall have the following meanings: (1) ADECA. The Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs. (2) AUTHORITY. The Alabama Digital Expansion Authority. (3) CONNECT ALABAMA FUND. A fund created within the State Treasury to be administered by the Alabama Digital Expansion Finance Corporation, with funds distributed by the corporation to ADECA for use by the division for the implementation and administration of the statewide connectivity plan. (4) CORPORATION. The Alabama Digital Expansion Finance Corporation. (5) DIVISION. The Alabama Digital Expansion Division of ADECA. (6) END USER. A residential, business, institutional, or government entity that uses broadband services for its own purposes and does not resell the broadband services to other entities. (7) MIDDLE MILE PROJECT. A broadband infrastructure project that does not provide broadband service to end users or to end-user devices. (8) MINIMUM SERVICE THRESHOLD. A connection to the Internet that provides capacity for transmission at a minimum speed per customer of at least 100 megabits (100 Mbps) per second downstream and at least 20 megabits (20 Mbps) per second upstream. (9) PROVIDER-SPECIFIC INFORMATION. Any information given to ADECA or its agents by a broadband service provider that identifies the provider’s location-specific service availability details, construction plans, or business operations details that are not otherwise readily ascertainable by proper means through third parties without substantial effort. (10) RURAL AREA. Any area within this state not included within the boundaries of any incorporated city or town having a population of more than 25,000 inhabitants, according to the last federal census. (11) UNSERVED AREA. Any area that is determined by the division to not have at least one provider of terrestrial broadband service that offers a connection to the Internet that meets or exceeds the minimum service threshold.