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On Friday Nov. 5, Congress passed the $1 trillion Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA), which includes $65 billion to ensure all Americans have access to reliable, affordable broadband. See the White House Fact Sheet for more information about the IIJA.
Funding Programs:
- $42.45 billion for the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) Program, which provides grants to states to fund broadband network deployment, adoption and other broadband-related programs. Read analysis of the BEAD program from the Benton Institute for Broadband & Society.
- $14.2 billion to the FCC for the Affordable Connectivity Program, which is a permanent, modified version of the Emergency Broadband Benefit Program. Read the Benton Institute’s analysis.
- $2.75 billion for digital inclusion and equity projects. Read the Benton Institute’s analysis.
- $2 billion in additional funding for the USDA ReConnect program.
- $2 billion in additional funding for the NTIA Tribal Broadband Connectivity Program.
- $1 billion for a new program to improve middle-mile infrastructure. Read the Benton Institute’s analysis.
- $600 million appropriation for tax-exempt Private Activity Bonds (PABs) to finance broadband deployment in rural areas.
What’s Next?
The clock is ticking for federal agencies to develop and implement these programs. State and local governments and any potential funding recipients must be prepared to utilize and deploy these historic levels of funding.
The Colorado Broadband Office will continue working closely with the NTIA, FCC and USDA to ensure this funding is utilized effectively to provide reliable and affordable broadband to every Coloradan.
Read more about the impact of the IIJA on broadband funding at axios.com.
Broadband Advisory Board Meeting
Tuesday, November 16, 2021 11 a.m.
This month’s meeting will be a conversation with the Office of eHealth Innovation on the funding provided to their office from HB21-1289 for non-infrastructure based equipment to rural health clinics. We will also discuss next steps for Colorado’s plan to utilize the $170 million allocated to Colorado from the Capital Projects Fund (CPF). Remember to take our CPF survey by Nov. 15 to share your input!
Visit the Broadband Advisory Board page on our website to register for this meeting and view the agenda, public comment policy and information on future meetings.
November Lunch & Learn: Broadband & Education featuring Tim Miles
Tuesday, November 23 at 12 p.m.
This month's Lunch & Learn webinar will feature Tim Miles, Technology Director for Steamboat and South Routt Schools. He will discuss how Steamboat Schools has become involved in three broadband consortia to better internet connectivity for itself, its close neighbours, others on the broadband path, and its peers throughout Colorado. Tim will talk about the three consortia:
- Northwest Colorado Broadband (NCB),
- Project THOR with the Northwest Colorado Council of Governments, and
- Colorado Education Broadband Coalition (CEBC).
Tim Miles has been working in Education for 20 years, 16 of which have been in the Steamboat School District. He is a member of the Colorado Association of School Executives (CASE) and has served as president of the Colorado Association of Leaders in Education Technology (CALET).
Broadband Fund Winter 2022 Grant Cycle Webinar
Monday, November 15 at 10 a.m.
The Broadband Fund will host an informational webinar on the process of applying for funds from the Broadband Deployment Board. We will go over the mechanics of the application, highlight new developments in submission requirements and statutory modifications, and field questions related to the application process.
Broadband Deployment Board Meeting
Tuesday, December 14 at 9 a.m.
The monthly meeting of the Broadband Deployment Board will include Right of First Refusal (RoFR) review, discussion of Board policies, and Board elections. Please visit our website for more information. Meeting agenda will be posted prior to the meeting.
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