MONTGOMERIE – Ahead of Tuesday’s expected vote by the House of Representatives’ committee on urban and rural development, four- and two-year higher education institutions were united in support of the proposed Alabama University Research Alliance (AURA).
AURA is currently a component of SB 215, which was unanimously adopted by the Senate seven weeks ago. This ‘transformative’ legislation is aimed at extending the availability of affordable, high-speed broadband Internet service to every Alabamer.
SB 215, sponsored by Senator Del Marsh (R-Anniston) and carried in the House by Representative Danny Garrett (R-Trussville), received a public hearing in the House committee last week. At the time, it was revealed that a replacement version of the bill was underway, which will be presented next week.