Connecticut Grants $28 Million to Expand Broadband Access
The state of Connecticut has awarded $28 million in grants to improve broadband connectivity in 88 towns and cities. The grants, part of the state’s ConneCTed Communities Grant Program, will go towards infrastructure projects by internet providers such as Comcast, Verizon, SNET, and GoNetSpeed.
The funding, which comes from Connecticut’s share of the American Rescue Plan Act Capital Project Fund, aims to make broadband more widely available across the state. Governor Ned Lamont stated that the expansion of broadband infrastructure will strengthen communities and better position them to engage in the increasingly digital world.
The first round of grants will benefit 26 municipalities on the state’s “distressed municipalities” list, including Greenwich, Waterford, Meriden, and East Windsor. A second round of funding, expected to provide an additional $12.8 million, will focus on supporting infrastructure and service for multi-dwelling units in distressed areas.
The state is also administering $144 million through the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) Program to fund broadband infrastructure in remaining unserved and underserved areas throughout Connecticut. Prequalification applications for the BEAD program will begin being collected by the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection later this month.
