News of delays in a broadband project that could have  a tremendous impact on families and students in the Black Belt is disheartening.

The project, which would have spanned eight Alabama counties through much of the Black Belt, has been suspended for 30 days for evaluation by the U.S. Department of Commerce.

It’s a shame that a project that could have helped so many now seems to be tied up.

Trillion Communications has until March 9 to show the project to lay 2,200 miles of fiber optic cable infrastructure for high speed content and communications can be delivered on time.

Trillion Communications is the grant recipient for the project funded by $59 million in National Telecommunications and Information Administration grant funds and $27 million from private investors. Dallas, Lowndes and Wilcox counties would benefit greatly from the program if it becomes a reality. Students would be connected remotely to teachers and tutors who could provide educational opportunities we have not had in our region before.

Those who suffer from illnesses could be connected to physicians through a webcam for evaluations.  The positives this project can bring are limitless. By becoming connected, the quality of life in the Black Belt would certainly improve.

For now, there is a “stop work” order until it is decided whether or not those doing the construction can move forward.

Let’s hope the red tape can be cleared and the broadband project is allowed to move forward. Connecting the Black Belt to the rest of the world would certainly be a step in the right direction.