Arizona News Feed

PHOENIX, AZ (March 7, 2025) — The Arizona Commerce Authority (ACA) today announced that Nick Capozzi will serve as Arizona’s new State Broadband Director. Capozzi replaces Sandip Bhowmick, who has served in the position since February 2022 and is departing for a role in the private sector.  Nick comes to the ACA from the Governor’s Office, where he has served as Operations Advisor and State Infrastructure Coordinator. While at the Governor’s Office, Nick has been closely involved in statewide broadband planning and expansion efforts. Prior to that, he served as a budget and grants analyst at the Governor’s Office of Strategic Planning and Budgeting.

PATAGONIA, AZ (January 21, 2025) – Today, Valley TeleCom Group hosted a ribbon-cutting ceremony to mark progress underway for the Patagonia Regional Broadband Project in Patagonia, Arizona. The event highlighted the launch of a high-speed fiber-optic internet initiative for the Patagonia community, made possible through Valley TeleCom Group in partnership with the Arizona Commerce Authority (ACA). Troy Judd, CEO of Valley TeleCom Group celebrated the ribbon cutting ceremony alongside the Arizona Commerce Authority, Patagonia Mayor Andrea Wood, representatives from the Town of Patagonia, and local government and community leaders.

PHOENIX, AZ (December 5, 2024) — Today, Governor Katie Hobbs announced ConnectAllAZ, a new initiative to ensure all Arizonans have access to information about statewide broadband programs. ConnectAllAZ brings all of Arizona’s broadband expansion efforts, including the historic $993 million in funding for the Broadband Equity, Access and Deployment (BEAD) Program, under one initiative, and aims to provide a complete snapshot of broadband availability across the state. ConnectAllAZ.com provides Arizona residents information about all state broadband programs, community engagement opportunities, and resources like webinars and action plans.

PHOENIX, AZ (August 5, 2024) — Today, Governor Katie Hobbs announced the approval of Volume II of Arizona’s application for the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) program. This officially unlocks the $993 million dollars in funding, which will be utilized to connect every Arizonan to reliable internet services. The approval of the application comes after over a year of stakeholder engagement, public input, and statewide strategizing to ensure the funds are used equitably and efficiently.  

PHOENIX, AZ (April 24, 2024) – The state’s goal of expanding broadband internet access in rural areas is taking a big step forward with a public-private partnership. The agreement with eX² Technology is to operate, maintain and lease space in fiber-optic conduit installed along Interstate 17 and Interstate 19, and being installed later this year along much of Interstate 40. The Arizona Department of Transportation, in partnership with Governor Katie Hobbs and the Arizona Commerce Authority, entered into the agreement recently with eX² Technology. 

NAVAJO COUNTY, AZ (April 23, 2024) – Navajo County Board of Supervisors and eX² Technology joined together with Governor Hobbs and local leaders to celebrate the groundbreaking and construction of a more than 100-mile open-access, dark fiber middle-mile network infrastructure to expand broadband throughout Navajo County, Arizona. The network will help Navajo County sustain the broadband capacity to support municipal fiber, telehealth, education, and Fiber to the Premises (FTTP) for homes and businesses.