Broadband access and adoption programs continue to spread across all 50 states, as private ventures and the national broadband stimulus continue working toward the shared goal of bringing high-speed Internet to every American home and business. Here is a closer look at some of those projects being announced:

In Alabama, Connecting ALABAMA is finalizing plans for a $6.2 million broadband expansion project that would build out 88 miles of fiber infrastructure throughout Clay Count as part of a larger, new 176 mile fiber network. Once the new infrastructure is in place, Clay County can partner with a private telecommunications company to begin providing services to the community. “Broadband is as essential to communities as power was,” said Gerald Dial, who helped set up Alabama’s broadband initiative with Gov. Bob Riley. “We’ve got an opportunity and we need to take advantage of it.” Read more about the project here.

In Illinois a $21 million grant from the FCC will expand telemedicine services to 88 rural hospitals in the state. "Unknown to most people, there is a dramatic investment taking place that is going to improve health care and the quality of life in downstate Illinois," U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin said. "This investment in broadband and high speed Internet is going to mean that hospitals, clinics and nursing homes all around downstate will be able to offer higher quality care to the people who live nearby. It's going to save lives, avoid a lot of driving for people to get the best care and it's going to pay off for a long time." The project includes building more than 1,060 miles of fiber infrastructure to support the new system, which will create new jobs and boost the local economy in the process. Read more about the announcement here.

In Maine, construction has begun on the “Three Ring Binder,” fiber network, a $32.5 million project that combines federal and private investments towards building a 1,100-mile fiber network to connect rural areas of the state to broadband access. Read more about the new project here.

And finally, the Montana State Library has received a combination of $1.8 million in broadband stimulus grants and $850,000 from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation to expand broadband access at 42 public libraries across the state. "I think this is really an unprecedented opportunity with the federal funds flowing from the stimulus funding to leave a legacy of opening up access to broadband. Especially in places like Montana where the geography and special needs of the communities make it a real challenge," said Jamie Hoard of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. Read more about the announcement here.