Broadband access to expand in rural Arizona

PHOENIX — Over 600 homes in rural areas across Arizona will soon have access to broadband Internet.

The FCC gave CenturyLink a $500,000 grant to help Arizona homes that don’t get service.

Cherla Ramsey with CenturyLink said the company is working to determine which rural areas will be improved.

“We know have to evaluate where we will use the funds, based on the FCC guidelines that are set,” she said.

Ramsey said the grant is the beginnings of a hoped-for broadband expansion. CenturyLink has filed a waiver to get more than $13 million to reach as many as 17,000 homes.