Biden-Harris administration announces $930mn to strengthen America’s high-speed internet networks
The Department of Commerce’s National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) announced [$930 million (€845.52 million)] to expand middle mile high-speed Internet infrastructure across 35 states and Puerto Rico. The Enabling Middle Mile Broadband Infrastructure programme invests in projects that build regional networks that connect to national Internet networks.
Middle mile Internet infrastructure carries large amounts of data over long distances, increases capacity to local networks, boosts network resiliency, lowers the cost of bringing high-speed Internet service to unconnected households, and helps connect unserved regions to the Internet backbone.
“Access to Internet is no longer a luxury and thanks to President Biden’s leadership, we are taking action to close the digital divide for everyone in America. The Middle Mile programme will invest more than [$900 million (€818.24 million)] in the infrastructure needed to connect communities, military bases, and Tribal lands to the Internet, lower the cost of access, and increase bandwidth,” says secretary of commerce Gina Raimondo. “Much like how the interstate highway system connected every community in America to regional and national systems of highways, this programme will help us connect communities across the country to regional and national networks that provide quality, affordable high-speed Internet access.”
“The Middle Mile programme is a force multiplier in our efforts to connect everyone in America,” says assistant secretary of commerce for communication and information Alan Davidson. “Middle Mile infrastructure brings capacity to our local networks and lowers the cost for deploying future local networks. These grants will help build the foundation of networks that will in turn connect every home in the country to affordable, reliable high-speed Internet service.”
- The middle mile projects will cover over 350 counties across 35 states and Puerto Rico.
- The projects will deploy over 12,000 miles of new fibre that will pass within 1,000 feet of 6,961 community anchor institutions.
- All projects use future-proof fibre as the primary technology.
- Awardees are investing an additional [$848.46 million (€771.39 million)] of outside match funding into the projects.
- Grants span from [$2.7 million (€2.45 million)] to [$88.8 million (€80.73 million)], with an average award amount of [$26.6 million (€24.18 million)].
Background on the Enabling Middle Mile Grant programme
- Over 260 applications were submitted totaling [$7.47 billion (€6.79 billion)] in funding requests.
- Applications for the Middle Mile programme were due by September 30, 2022. NTIA extended the application deadline to Nov. 1, 2022, for eligible entities that submitted applications for projects that would deploy in certain areas impacted by natural disasters.
- To raise awareness of the programme and guide prospective applicants, NTIA performed extensive outreach, including hosting 12 public office hour sessions, conducting four public webinars for prospective applicants, and participating in six industry-led conferences to discuss the Middle Mile programme.
- Eligible awardees for the programme included states, Tribal governments, utility companies, telecommunication companies, and nonprofit entities.
Additional grants will be announced on a rolling basis.
Connecting all communities across the United States to high-speed Internet service is central part of President Biden’s Investing in America agenda to rebuild our economy from the bottom up and middle out by rebuilding our nation’s infrastructure. The Investing in America agenda is driving over [$470 billion (€427.31 billion)] in private sector manufacturing investments and creating good-paying jobs.
NTIA thoroughly and objectively reviewed applications using a three-stage process: Initial Administrative and Eligibility Review of Complete Application Packets, Merit Review, and Programmatic Review. Reviewers evaluated applications according to the criteria set forth in the Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO).
Internet for all
The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law includes a historic [$65 billion (€59.10 billion)] investment to expand affordable and reliable high-speed Internet access in communities across the U.S. NTIA’s high-speed Internet grant programmes funded by the law will build high-speed Internet infrastructure across the country, create more affordable high-speed Internet service options, and address the digital equity and inclusion needs in our communities.
The Federal Communications Commission’s Affordable Connectivity programme (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. Click here to learn more.
For more information on the Biden-Harris Administration’s high-speed Internet service programmes, please click here.
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