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01/28/2025

DEEP Now Accepting Applications for $144M in Broadband Infrastructure Funding

Pre-qualified Providers Can Submit Applications Now Through February 25; Projects Will Bring Affordable Broadband Internet to Areas in Greatest Need

(HARTFORD, CT)—The Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) announced today that it is now accepting applications from pre-qualified providers for the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) Program. This major milestone is another key step in the process of bringing affordable access to broadband internet to Connecticut residents, and reflects an enormous effort and coordination across multiple state and federal agencies.

Under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, Connecticut was awarded $144 million to fund the deployment of broadband infrastructure, bringing high-speed internet access to unserved and underserved locations. Unserved locations are defined as those without any internet service at all or with internet service offering speeds below 25 Mbps/3 Mbps. Underserved locations are those without internet service offering speeds of at least 100 Mbps/20 Mb).

Eligible applicants will apply to serve the 7,245 locations identified within Connecticut’s cities and towns that are still in need of access to high-speed internet. Many of these locations are already being addressed under DEEP's ConneCTed Communities Grant Program, but BEAD funding will allow the state to fill any gaps in those being serviced.

"This funding is a cornerstone of our strategy to modernize Connecticut’s infrastructure and close the digital divide," said Governor Ned Lamont. "Through the BEAD Program, we’re working to deliver the high-speed internet access our communities need to thrive, fueling economic growth, expanding educational opportunities, and improving access to vital services."

"With the opening of this process, we are taking another important step toward expanding broadband access in unserved and underserved areas of our state," said DEEP Commissioner Katie Dykes. "This process allows us to identify the best partners to deliver high-speed internet Connecticut’s communities, ensuring the program’s goals are met efficiently and effectively."

In addition, DEEP invites eligible applications to supply over 1,500 Community Anchor Institutions (CAIs), or organizations that work to facilitate greater access to high-speed broadband. These CAIs are eligible for a gigabit-per-second (1Gbps) upload and download connection.

Applications will be accepted through February 25, 2025. The application and additional resources can be accessed on DEEP’s BEAD webpage: https://portal.ct.gov/DEEP/Energy/Broadband-Deployment/BEAD-Program. Upon signing their grant agreement, selected entities will have four years to deploy broadband services to the awarded locations in need.

Eligible applicants will be scored based on items including but not limited to minimal BEAD program outlay, affordability, fair labor practices, speed to deployment, and economic development impact. The full scoring rubric can be found in DEEP’s Initial Proposal Volume 2.

As noted in the state’s 2024 Broadband Report announced last month by Gov. Lamont, Connecticut has made major strides toward becoming one of the most connected states in the country. In the past few years, we’ve dramatically expanded the availability of gigabit-speed broadband to nearly 850,000 locations statewide by mid-2024; increased basic access to 99.6% of Connecticut households; and improved adoption to 92.2% of homes where broadband is available.

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

To read the 2024 Connecticut Broadband Report, please visit: deep_2024-broadband-report_low-resolution-final-pdf.pdf

 
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