Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection
07/18/2024 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 07/18/2024 14:18
Governor Lamont Announces Key Milestone on Path to Unlocking $139 Million in Federal Funding for Broadband in Connecticut
Press Releases
07/18/2024
Governor Lamont Announces Key Milestone on Path to Unlocking $139 Million in Federal Funding for Broadband in Connecticut
(HARTFORD, CT) - Governor Ned Lamont and Commissioner Katie Dykes today announced that the State of Connecticut will soon begin a grant application process for approximately $139 million in funding awarded by the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) under the Broadband, Equity, Access & Deployment program (BEAD) and administered by the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP)."
Connecticut will complete its review of broadband availability on July 22, 2024, and submit for NTIA approval, setting the stage for the evaluation of applications for funding. Through this project, the state is working to ensure that all Connecticut households have access to high-speed broadband connectivity.
Under the BEAD program, residents who are unserved (without access to 25/3 Mbps service) and underserved (without access to 100/20 Mbps service) will get the opportunity to subscribe to high-speed broadband.
"Through this program, Connecticut will be better connected than ever before," said Governor Ned Lamont. "This multi-year effort brings together the private sector, local government, nonprofits, and state agencies, to deliver greater economic opportunities and social wellbeing that internet connectivity can provide."
"The BEAD program represents an unprecedented opportunity to deliver on the Governor's broadband goals by leveraging federal funds and the resources and skills of Connecticut residents and organizations," said DEEP Commissioner Katie Dykes. "For too long too many Connecticut residents have lacked adequate access to broadband internet, which is a critical tool in society today. This program will help reduce this inequity and provide reliable access to broadband for many more Connecticut residents."
The BEAD program is a cooperative effort between state agencies, local government, private businesses, and the non-profit sector. The challenge process, which allowed broadband service providers, Tribal governments, municipalities, and non-profits to challenge federal data that may inappropriately categorize residences as having access to reliable broadband when they do not, will close on July 22, 2024. Provisional funding awards are expected to be announced by July 2025, when Connecticut will submit its final proposal that includes a list of awardees, which will officially unlock these valuable funds.
For more information about Connecticut's BEAD program, please visit:
https://portal.ct.gov/deep/energy/broadband-deployment/bead-program
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