Connecticut Department of Energy & Environmental Protection

Emergency Burn Ban In Effect 10/26/24 - An emergency burn ban is now in effect for all Connecticut State Parks, Forests, and Wildlife Management areas, prohibiting the use of all outdoor grills, firepits, and campfires, and the kindling and use of flame outdoors. DEEP and local agencies are working to contain several active fires across the state. Please avoid all affected State Parks and Forests, as well as the blue-blazed Mattabesett Trail. The Enduro Trail in Voluntown and portions of North Stonington within the Pachaug State Forest are closed at this time. Please note that today's forest fire danger report remains at an 'extreme' level. More information about the current fire danger, burn ban and recommended safety measures can be found here

Press Releases

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11/08/2024

DEEP Announces First Opportunity for Service Providers to Participate in the $144M Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment Program

Entities Must Prequalify to Bid on Projects; Program Will Fund Deployment of Broadband Service to Unserved and Underserved Locations

(HARTFORD, CT) – The Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) has launched the prequalification process for eligible entities to participate in the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) Program that will provide $144M to the State of Connecticut for broadband infrastructure expansion projects in 2025. Participation in the Prequalification Phase is essential to ensure potential applicants meet compliance requirements ahead of the application phase of the program. Unless providers and other entities interested in bidding on projects prequalify, they are ineligible to proceed in the program.

The BEAD 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.

“This is a big step forward in the goal of universal internet access for Connecticut.  The broadband deployment and digital equity opportunities in this program will work to close the digital divide in our state.  We look forward to the participation of all of our broadband service providers, and any other entity that can bring fast, reliable, and affordable broadband to Connecticut,” said DEEP Commissioner Katie Dykes.

“By implementing prequalification, we are streamlining the application process. The goal is to reduce the burden on applicants who may otherwise need to submit the same information multiple times during the application period if proposing more than one project area,” said Kevin Pisacich, Director of the DEEP Office of Telecommunications and Broadband.

Prequalification Process Overview

The prequalification process will streamline the application journey for interested stakeholders, ensuring that applicants meet initial eligibility requirements and are prepared for full program participation.

Key aspects of the prequalification process include:

  • Financial and Organizational Readiness: Applicants must show sufficient financial stability and internal capacity to execute broadband infrastructure projects. This includes proper ownership structures, risk management practices, and past performance that indicate a readiness to manage funds responsibly.
  • Compliance and Certifications: All applications must meet the required certifications, licenses, and statutory obligations, including adherence to federal labor, employment, and safety regulations. 
  • Demonstrated Capabilities: Proposals must provide evidence of experience in delivering complex infrastructure projects, including documentation of previous work. New entrants must provide sufficient information to indicate capabilities in lieu of previous work. Applications should raise no concerns regarding the ability to meet program timelines, quality standards, and performance targets.

Call to Action: Don’t Miss the Chance to Apply

Eligible entities with the financial, managerial, and technical capability to execute broadband projects must complete the prequalification process to submit a deployment proposal in the next phase of the BEAD Program. Prequalification does not obligate applicants to submit a deployment project, but failure to prequalify will impact their ability to apply for BEAD Program funds.

Anyone considering participating in the BEAD Program should apply now to keep their options open and ensure they’re ready to take advantage of this historic investment in broadband infrastructure. Don’t miss your chance!

Application Information and Support

The BEAD prequalification guidance, application portal, and templates are available on DEEP’s BEAD webpage at https://portal.ct.gov/deep/energy/broadband-deployment/bead-program. The deadline to submit an application to prequalify is 5:00 p.m. on November 20, 2024.   

To learn more about DEEP’s broadband infrastructure grant programs, please visit https://portal.ct.gov/deep/energy/broadband-deployment. 

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Contact

DEEP Communications  
DEEP.communications@ct.gov
860-424-3110