Broadband Deployment
- Connectivity is essential to living in today’s increasingly digital world. More and more, people are conducting the business of their daily lives virtually, be it working, learning, managing health, banking, or any number of tasks that not only add ease and efficiency to life, but are fast becoming requirements of participation.
- For many in our state, especially those in low-income and underserved areas, barriers to connectivity remain. The Office of Telecommunications and Broadband works to remove those barriers, by developing equitable policies and programs that will significantly expand access to fast, affordable, and reliable internet service, providing all residents and businesses of Connecticut the economic and social benefits of broadband access.
- The State Broadband Grant Programs administered by the Office of Telecommunications and Broadband will enable residences and businesses to connect to broadband infrastructure for affordable and reliable service. In July 2022, DEEP released a Request for Information to inform the development of upcoming broadband infrastructure deployment programs. Read the submissions here.
- View the 2022 Connecticut Broadband Report. The report examines barriers to universal broadband access, identifies any grants awarded pursuant to Conn. Gen. Stat. § 16-330c, and summarizes Connecticut’s progress toward closing the digital divide.
Capital Projects Fund for Broadband Infrastructure Projects
Program Status: In Development
The 2021 American Rescue Plan Act Coronavirus Capital Projects Fund (CPF) allocated $10 billion for states to invest in high-quality, modern infrastructure to support communities’ critical needs as they recover from the COVID-19 public health emergency. DEEP’s $40.8 million CPF-based competitive grant program will fund broadband infrastructure projects designed to deliver service (at speeds of at least 100 Mbps/100 Mbps) that supports the statewide goal of universal access to affordable, resilient, and reliable internet access. The program will focus funding on low-income/multi-family curb-to-home broadband infrastructure buildout and underserved area broadband infrastructure.
The U.S. Department of the Treasury approved Connecticut’s program plan on August 30, 2022. The State anticipates the release of program parameters and a Request for Proposals in the first quarter of 2023. Please check back soon for updates.
Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) Program
Program Status: In Development
The BEAD Program was allocated $42.45 billion by the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (also known as the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law) to expand high-speed internet access across the country by funding broadband planning, deployment, mapping, equity, and adoption projects and activities. DEEP’s (estimated) $95 million BEAD competitive grant program will fund the deployment of broadband service to unserved locations (those without any broadband service at all or with broadband service offering speeds below 25 Mbps/3 Mbps) and underserved locations (those without broadband service offering speeds of 100 Mbps/20 Mbps). After unserved and underserved locations have been addressed, remaining funds will be used to support access, adoption, and equity related projects, such as the deployment of gigabit connections to community anchor institutions.
The NTIA approved Connecticut’s Application for Initial Planning Funds in December 2022. Based on the latest funding timeline estimates, the State anticipates the release of program parameters and a Request for Proposals in the second quarter of 2024.
For more information on the Biden-Harris Administration’s high-speed Internet programs, visit InternetforAll.gov.
The Federal Communications Commission’s Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) provides a discount of up to $30 per month toward internet service for eligible households and up to $75 per month for households on qualifying Tribal lands. Visit AffordableConnectivity.gov to learn more.
The Office of Policy and Management GIS Office leads efforts to map broadband access, adoption, and use in Connecticut, supported by federal and state agencies, internet service providers, and wide variety of local governments, advocacy organizations, and research institutes.
The Office of Consumer Counsel advocates for consumer interests with respect to public service companies, electric suppliers, and telecommunications providers.
The Connecticut Commission for Educational Technology is empowered by the General Assembly through CGS § 61a to envision, coordinate, and oversee the management and successful integration of technology in Connecticut's schools, libraries, colleges and universities.
Content last updated December 2022