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.
Plans
Five-Year Broadband Action Plan: This plan serves as a strategic roadmap to achieve the state’s broadband goals and serves as a comprehensive needs assessment that will inform the next steps of the funding process. Submission of the plan to the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) also brings the state one step closer to receiving the more than $144 million awarded to Connecticut through the BEAD Program this summer.
Reports
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.
In July 2022, DEEP released a Request for Information to inform the development of upcoming broadband infrastructure deployment programs. Read the submissions here.
Input from stakeholders in public service, the private sector, and community organizations is vital to the equitable deployment of broadband infrastructure throughout the State, and DEEP values these perspectives on how best to fulfill the State’s deployment and digital equity objectives.
Click HERE to view upcoming public meetings and other opportunities to connect.
Community Organization Input Needed
If your organization provides any type of digital equity services or programs — helping people get connected online, such as equipping them with a device, or offering training — DEEP wants to hear from you! Please take a few minutes to complete the following survey so your work can be included in our statewide inventory, and we can reach you when funds become available to support your work.
ConneCTed Communities Grant Program
Program Status: Coming Soon
Funding: Up to $40.8 million
The ConneCTed Communities Grant Program is funded by the 2021 American Rescue Plan Act Coronavirus Capital Projects Fund, which 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. This 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.
Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) Program
Program Status: Initial Proposal Volume 2 is now open for public comment.
Funding: $144 million
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. This competitive grant program will fund the deployment of broadband service to unserved locations (those without any internet service at all or with internet service offering speeds below 25 Mbps/3 Mbps) and underserved locations (those without internet service offering speeds of at least 100 Mbps/20 Mbps). After all 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.
DEEP is requesting feedback on Volume 2 of its Initial Proposal as part of the BEAD Program. Click here for more details.
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.
Broadband.ct.gov - A statewide clearinghouse of information on funding opportunities, affordability programs, and resources to get connected.
Broadbandmaps.ct.gov - The Office of Policy and Management’s GIS Office maintains resources to provide Connecticut residents, policymakers, and broadband stakeholders a curated set of data sets, maps, and web applications to allow users to explore broadband data in the way that is most useful to them.
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 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.
The Office of Consumer Counsel advocates for consumer interests with respect to public service companies, electric suppliers, and telecommunications providers.
Content last updated November, 2023