Mishler: $17M In Rural Broadband Grants Awarded Locally
April 22, 2022 at 11:29 p.m.
By Staff Report-
Created with support from the General Assembly, the Next Level Broadband Grant Program is the largest single state investment in broadband. In total, rounds one, two and three of the program have awarded $268 million for broadband infrastructure for more than 74,800 homes and commercial locations. When combined with private and local investment, over $580 million has been leveraged since 2018. Projects will have been completed in 83 of Indiana’s 92 counties through the three rounds of the awards.
In Senate District 9, the following providers were awarded grants:
· AT&T received a grant to expand broadband access to 608 households and 117 businesses in Clinton, Grant, Hendricks, Miami and St. Joseph counties.
· Comcast received a grant to expand broadband access to 923 households and 429 businesses in Marshall and Starke counties.
· Frontier received a grant to expand broadband access to 54 households in Elkhart County.
· Kosciusko Connect received a grant to expand broadband access to 1,159 households and 132 businesses in Fulton, Kosciusko, Wabash and Whitley counties.
· Ligtel Communications received a grant to expand broadband access to 559 households and 122 businesses in Kosciusko, Noble and Whitley counties.
· Marshall County Fiber received three grants to expand broadband access to 1,123 households and 270 businesses in Fulton, Marshall, Pulaski and Starke counties.
· RTC Communications received two grants to expand broadband access to 628 households and 503 businesses in Fulton, Kosciusko, Marshall and Tippecanoe counties.
· Surf Broadband Solutions received two grants to expand broadband access to 1,431 households and 25 businesses in Elkhart, LaPorte, St. Joseph and Starke counties.
"Accessible broadband is an integral part in the lives of many — if not all — Hoosiers, and these grants help areas that lack access improve their internet connection," Mishler said in a news release. "I am pleased to see our community receive a large portion of this funding, and I look forward to our state becoming more connected."
This third round of funding will provide broadband infrastructure to more than 52,900 homes and commercial locations in 80 counties.
In addition, the 35 telecommunications providers and utility cooperatives contributed more than $239 million in matching funds, resulting in more than $429 million in total investments for broadband in the third round.
The program allows broadband service providers and utility cooperatives to apply for up to $5 million to expand service to unserved or underserved areas if they provide at least a 20% match.
Created with support from the General Assembly, the Next Level Broadband Grant Program is the largest single state investment in broadband. In total, rounds one, two and three of the program have awarded $268 million for broadband infrastructure for more than 74,800 homes and commercial locations. When combined with private and local investment, over $580 million has been leveraged since 2018. Projects will have been completed in 83 of Indiana’s 92 counties through the three rounds of the awards.
In Senate District 9, the following providers were awarded grants:
· AT&T received a grant to expand broadband access to 608 households and 117 businesses in Clinton, Grant, Hendricks, Miami and St. Joseph counties.
· Comcast received a grant to expand broadband access to 923 households and 429 businesses in Marshall and Starke counties.
· Frontier received a grant to expand broadband access to 54 households in Elkhart County.
· Kosciusko Connect received a grant to expand broadband access to 1,159 households and 132 businesses in Fulton, Kosciusko, Wabash and Whitley counties.
· Ligtel Communications received a grant to expand broadband access to 559 households and 122 businesses in Kosciusko, Noble and Whitley counties.
· Marshall County Fiber received three grants to expand broadband access to 1,123 households and 270 businesses in Fulton, Marshall, Pulaski and Starke counties.
· RTC Communications received two grants to expand broadband access to 628 households and 503 businesses in Fulton, Kosciusko, Marshall and Tippecanoe counties.
· Surf Broadband Solutions received two grants to expand broadband access to 1,431 households and 25 businesses in Elkhart, LaPorte, St. Joseph and Starke counties.
"Accessible broadband is an integral part in the lives of many — if not all — Hoosiers, and these grants help areas that lack access improve their internet connection," Mishler said in a news release. "I am pleased to see our community receive a large portion of this funding, and I look forward to our state becoming more connected."
This third round of funding will provide broadband infrastructure to more than 52,900 homes and commercial locations in 80 counties.
In addition, the 35 telecommunications providers and utility cooperatives contributed more than $239 million in matching funds, resulting in more than $429 million in total investments for broadband in the third round.
The program allows broadband service providers and utility cooperatives to apply for up to $5 million to expand service to unserved or underserved areas if they provide at least a 20% match.
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