HARTFORD, Conn. — The state of Connecticut has its eyes set on unlocking approximately $139 million in federal funding that would give more residents the opportunity to subscribe to high-speed broadband.
In a release on Thursday, Gov. Ned Lamont and Commissioner Katie Dykes, of the state’s Department of Energy and Environmental Protection, announced that Connecticut will soon begin a grant application process to receive millions of dollars for broadband.
The money could potentially be awarded to the state by the National Telecommunications and Information Administration, or NTIA, under the Broadband, Equity, Access & Deployment program, or BEAD. The money would be administered by DEEP.
On Monday, Connecticut will complete its review of broadband availability and submit for NTIA approval, which will lead to an evaluation of applications of funding, according to the release.
“Through this project, the state is working to ensure that all Connecticut households have access to high-speed broadband connectivity,” the release said.
As part of the BEAD program, residents who are unserved – or who don’t have access to 25/3 Mbps service – and underserved – or without access to 100/20 Mbps service – will have an opportunity to subscribe to high-speed broadband.
In the release, Lamont said the program will allow Connecticut to be better connected than ever before.
“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,” Lamont said in the release.
Dykes said, in the release, that the BEAD program is representative of an “unprecedented opportunity” to deliver Lamont’s broadband goals by leveraging federal funds and the resources and skills of Connecticut residents and organizations.
“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,” Dykes said in the release.
According to the release, the BEAD program is a “cooperative effort between state agencies, local government, private business and the nonprofit sector.”
On Monday, the challenge process, “which allowed broadband service providers, tribal governments, municipalities and nonprofits to challenge federal data that may inappropriately categorize residences as having access to reliable broadband when they do not,” will close, the release said.
Provisional funding awards should be announced by July 2025. Around that time, Connecticut will submit its final proposal that includes a list of awardees, “which will officially unlock these valuable funds,” according to the release.
For more information on the state’s BEAD program, one can click here.
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Dalton Zbierski is a digital content producer and writer at FOX61 News. He can be reached at dzbierski@FOX61.com.
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