WPRI
Cox investing $120 Million in bringing high-speed internet access to all of Rhode Island
Rhode Island is partnering with Cox Communications to bring some of the fastest internet speeds to the state. Cox plans to invest more than $120 million over the next three years to ensure everyone in the state has access to affordable and efficient internet access. More than $20 million will go towards 100% fiber-optic buildouts on Aquidneck Island to support the communities of Newport, Portsmouth, Middletown and Jamestown.
Rhode Island debates future of high-speed internet, as many lack access
A recent report shows 42% of Rhode Islanders don’t have access to high-speed internet based on federal guidelines, spurring debate among policymakers and advocates over the future of broadband infrastructure. The January report by the Greater Newport Chamber of Commerce comes as the state prepares to receive roughly $200 million from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act and other federal funds to improve broadband infrastructure and access. But state lawmakers and private broadband providers disagree about how that money should be spent.