Ground has officially been broken in Pinal County for a large-scale 5G wireless internet project that aims to bridge the connectivity gap in rural zones. As per information obtained by Pinal County official news, a ceremony recently took place at Toltec Elementary School in Eloy to celebrate the initiation of the Final Mile 5G Project. This ambitious initiative involves the construction of 32 radio towers which will duly extend 5G wireless internet coverage to remote communities throughout the county.
The project, a noteworthy endeavor years in the making, taps into federal funds to a large degree, principally from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) Covid recovery funds. The necessity for such an infrastructure upgrade was acutely highlighted during the epoch of remote learning, an era that laid bare the shortcomings in the provision of reliable internet service in Pinal County's rural pockets. Officials are set to rapidly construct the towers on land owned by the county, local school districts, Central Arizona College, and the Town of Mammoth. The first of these towers is already complete at the Arizona City Library.
The development is expected to enhance more than just remote learning capabilities. As Jill Broussard, Pinal County School Superintendent, remarked in a statement to attendees, "Nearly one in four of our students is considered under-connected. That reality affects homework completion, access to online courses, communication with teachers, college and career planning, and even basic family services. In today's world, connectivity is not a luxury; it is an essential utility for learning and participation in our economy." The network expansion could also catalyze telemedicine, government services, emergency management, and invigorate local business and economic growth. Jeffrey McClure, Chairman of the Pinal County Board of Supervisors, shared his personal impetus for the project, revealing to Pinal County news that as a former Oracle School Board member during the pandemic, they had to strategically deploy school buses with Wifi hotspots to accommodate students' learning needs.
Support at the federal level has been instrumental for this project to become a reality, with a quartet of Congressional earmarks playing a pivotal role. Senator Mark Kelly, in a statement echoed by Pinal County, emphasized the transformative potential of the endeavor: "Expanding broadband access is a game-changer for families and businesses in small towns and rural areas across Pinal County." Likewise, Representatives Juan Ciscomani and Greg Stanton have highlighted the criticality of reliable broadband for education, public safety, and economic opportunities. Ciscomani cited the project as an exemplar of judicious federal fund utilization, noting how it is primed to "efficiently, collaboratively, and with a lasting impact for the people we serve," as he told Pinal County gatherers.
Completion of the remaining towers is projected for the upcoming months, a rapid timeline facilitated by a partnership with Doege Development. Upon completion, Pinal County residents stand poised to join the increasingly digital economy and societal frameworks that require unimpeded access to the internet. With the support of lifeblood federal funds and persistent local advocacy, Pinal County is squarely set to nimbly leap over the digital divide and land squarely in the realm of full connectivity.
