MONTGOMERY – In the run-up to Tuesday’s expected vote by the House of Representatives Committee on Urban and Rural Development, four-year and two-year higher education institutions support the proposed Alabama University Research Alliance (AURA).
AURA is currently part of SB 215, which was unanimously passed by the Senate seven weeks ago. This “transformational” piece of legislation aims to expand the availability of affordable, high-speed broadband Internet services to all Alabamians.
Sponsored by Senator Del Marsh (R-Anniston) and carried in the House by Rep. Danny Garrett (R-Trussville), SB 215 received a public hearing in the House Committee last week. At the time, it was revealed that a replacement version of the bill was in the works to be presented the following week.