08/12/2026
LBW student-athlete and Saints Hall resident Nate Crooms spoke to the Alabama Community College System Board of Trustees this morning about the impact of Alabama Fiber Network connectivity at LBW Community College.
"With the implementation of fiber it allows for better communication and better experience overall for the students and student athletes there [campus housing]," Crooms said.
The Alabama Community College System (ACCS) and the Alabama Fiber Network (AFN) announced the addition of seven ACCS schools as anchor institutions to the fiber network. The announcement was made during the ACCS's August Board of Trustees meeting Wednesday morning.
As anchor institutions, ACCS colleges will also act as a vital community hub and a structural launching pad to branch out last-mile connections into surrounding neighborhoods, especially in rural communities. Each school will be able to offer public access, Wi-Fi, and digital literacy training for vulnerable, low-income, or rural populations who lack home internet.
“The Alabama Fiber Network reaches every corner of the state and positively impacts Alabama communities, families and businesses. We pride ourselves on those strengths as well,” said ACCS Chancellor Jimmy Baker. “From the beginning of this partnership, we knew our colleges would benefit tremendously from these services. This network gives our colleges the infrastructure to share resources, strengthen academic and workforce programs, and better serve students across the state while preparing us for the technologies of tomorrow.”
ACCS colleges will have exclusive access to a dedicated data network which will provide resilient, scalable, high-capacity connectivity that allows colleges to securely share administrative tools, academic resources, research opportunities, and emerging technologies. It will also strengthen each institution’s ability to serve students, employers, and communities through workforce development, shared research, and community outreach.
“Connecting Alabama’s community colleges through a resilient, high-capacity network is a powerful example of our mission in action,” said Terry Metze, CEO of Alabama Fiber Network. “These institutions educate our workforce, support employers, and strengthen communities across the state. Giving them the infrastructure to connect and collaborate is an investment in Alabama’s future.”
“High speed, fiber networking is an essential component of pushing Alabama forward. It makes life better, including through education. The ACCS and the AFN are a perfect fit to help fulfill the needs of Alabamians in this area,” said Alabama Senator Donnie Chesteen (87thDistrict), one of the main proponents of broadband expansion.
Gadsden State, Lurleen B. Wallace, Northwest Shoals, Shelton State, Snead State, Southern Union, Wallace Community College-Selma make up the first cohort of ACCS schools to go live on the fiber network. The goal is to have all 24 ACCS community and technical schools join the network by the end of 2027, strengthening teaching, learning and college operations.
