HARTFORD, Conn (WTNH) — Connecticut will receive more than $5.7 million in initial grants to improve the accessibility of high-speed across the state, the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) announced Tuesday.
The state is receiving a total of $5,736,568.10 in federal funding from the Biden administration’s $65 billion investment under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.
Connecticut will receive $5 million from the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) Program to fund the following:
- Creation of a Five-Year Action Plan that identifies Connecticut’s broadband access, affordability, equity, and adoption needs;
- Identification of unserved and underserved locations;
- Planning and capacity-building of the state’s broadband office;
- Local engagement with unserved, underserved, and underrepresented communities to better understand barriers to adoption.
The state will receive $736,568.1 from the Digital Equity Act to fund the following:
- Creation of a Connecticut Digital Equity plan;
- Hiring of a Digital Equity Program Manager and equipping that individual with tools and support to ensure success in implementing the state’s digital equity plan;
- Establishing a core digital equity planning team of eight to ten members, including the State’s BEAD program lead;
- Conducting a needs and assessment plan;
- Engagement to solicit input from residents and leaders from across the state.
The $5.7 million announced Tuesday is part of the $100 million anticipated to be delivered to Connecticut over the next five years, the Lamont administration said.
