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Welcome
The Colorado Broadband Office (CBO) leads the statewide effort to expand broadband coverage and quality for Coloradans and coordinates all broadband efforts for Colorado.
 Members of the CBO at our In-Person Retreat, May 2022: Collin Schulte, Adam Nazarian, Stephen Gould, Megan Gernert, Brandy Reitter, Lauren Francis, Brian Martin, Kristy Gantzer
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Written by Lauren Francis, Broadband Marcom Manager, OIT Communications Office
Access to fast, reliable and affordable broadband is critically important for Coloradans to work, learn, access vital services and connect with loved ones. The CBO is leading the statewide effort to expand broadband coverage and quality, working toward our goal to connect 99% of Colorado households to high-speed broadband by Dec. 31, 2027.
Advance Colorado Broadband is the CBO’s state-managed grant program to deploy more than $500 million in federal funding for broadband infrastructure projects that address the state’s digital divide and bring fast, reliable and affordable broadband to Coloradans.
Letter of Intent
Starting June 15, the CBO invites stakeholders and communities interested in applying for funding to submit a Letter of Intent (LOI) to apply for grants. The CBO will review each submission and work with stakeholders to develop high-impact project plans and determine the best funding source for each proposal. LOIs will be due July 18, 2022. Note, LOIs are not required as part of the official grant application nor do they guarantee you will receive funding.
LOI Webinars
CBO is hosting two webinars to review the LOI content and process. Please choose one session to attend, as the sessions will be identical. Webinars will be recorded and posted to our website.
June 17 at 10 a.m. - Register
June 21 at 10 a.m. - Register
Broadband Executive Order
On June 2, Governor Polis signed Executive Order (EO) D 2022 023 restating and amending Executive Order D 2022 009 (signed Feb. 17, 2022), creating a universal broadband Executive Order to accelerate broadband deployment in Colorado.
Polis’ original EO on broadband, EO B 2020 009 (signed Oct. 30, 2020), is no longer needed and is rescinded by EO D 2022 023. This also means that the Broadband Advisory Board (BAB), created by EO B 2020 009, will be dissolved. The final BAB meeting will be held on July 19 at 11 a.m. to discuss how the CBO will work to implement the new Executive Order.
HB22-1306
Governor Polis also signed HB22-1306 on June 2, which “updates the requirements for awarding grant money pursuant to the act to require that applications comply with finalized federal regulations regarding use of money under the [American Rescue Plan Act of 2021].” Find out how HB22-1306 affects the grant processes implemented by the Broadband Deployment Board
DOLA is pleased to announce the award of four grants in their Broadband Program funded by the Energy Mineral Impact Fund in March 2022.
- Region 10/Hinsdale County/Lake City: $300,000
- Northwest Colorado Council of Governments (NWCCOG) Project THOR Backbone Enhancement: $2,195,758
- Region 10 Broadband Expansion: $3,982,600
- Snowmass Village Network Partnership Phase II: $744,296
More detailed information on each grant award can be found here.
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Don’t Miss Broadband Funding News and Information
The CBO’s new grant program, Advance Colorado Broadband, will deploy millions of federal funds for broadband projects. We are working hard to ensure all stakeholders are included in any news and announcements regarding the funds and the new grant program. The CBO Monthly Newsletter will be the primary source for Advance Colorado Broadband news and information, so if you received this newsletter in your inbox, good news, you’re on the correct list!
If you know of anyone who may be interested in receiving broadband funding information, please share our newsletter signup information below.
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The Broadband Data Team is happy to introduce a webinar series on Broadband Data and Mapping, in which we will cover topics that will help our stakeholders learn how to submit data, understand how the CBO utilizes data and learn how to find, view and use our data.
The first webinar, a tutorial for internet service providers (ISPs) on the data biannual data submission process, will take place Wednesday, July 13, at 1 p.m. Register for the Broadband Data Collection Webinar.
Future topics and dates for the Broadband Data & Mapping Webinar Series will be announced in this monthly newsletter and posted to the CBO Calendar.
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Megan Gernert
Manager, Broadband Data Program
Colorado Broadband Office
Tell us about your role at the CBO.
“I am the Manager of the Broadband Data Program, which means I’m leading the data and mapping efforts at the CBO. I've been in this office for a long time and seen many changes to how we collect and map broadband data - I’m always looking for ways to improve the accuracy of our maps and provide data that will help make sure that funding goes where it is really needed in Colorado. I am also excited to be building up a dedicated Broadband GIS team so that we can expand the mapping capabilities of the CBO.”
How did you get here?
“I started at OIT in 2012 as a GIS Technician working on broadband mapping - at the time, I knew a lot about GIS and not much about broadband. After some time on the GIS team, I moved into the Communications Manager role, which included a little bit of everything, from attending community meetings to talk about broadband planning to data analysis and mapping to building websites. The office has grown significantly in the past five years, so I have been able to refocus my efforts on data and mapping.”
What do you like most about your job?
“I like problem-solving. Everything from the small problems like “How do I open this unknown file type?” to big picture issues like “How can we display our data in ways that better highlight the areas of need?”
How do you like to spend your time when you aren’t working?
“I mostly just spend time with my husband and my two dogs. We like camping, hiking, paddleboarding in the summer, and should probably get outside more in the winter! When I’m at home I tend to read a lot and do a lot of puzzles.”
Where is your favorite place in the world?
“The ocean. I know that’s very broad, but I love going anywhere that I can go sailing or scuba diving or just sit on the beach. Growing up, I went sailing in the San Juan Islands and spent time with family on the Olympic Peninsula in the summers, so the Pacific Northwest holds a special place in my heart.”
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Colorado Broadband Office Events
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Deployment Board & Fund
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Visit the Colorado Broadband Map
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The Broadband Fund would like to announce the new dates for the Winter and Summer 2022 Grant Cycles. Due to additional delays in the Winter 2022 Grant Cycle, the Summer 2022 Grant Cycle has been delayed as well. The Summer 2022 Grant Cycle Introduction Webinar will take place on July 5, and applications are due Friday, Sept. 2. Announcements and updates will be provided on our website.
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Winter 2022 Grant Cycle
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Date
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Description
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June 14 and 15
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Application Review Hearing- MR/Initial Awards
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July 22
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RoFR and Appeals #1 Hearing
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Aug. 18
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RoFR and Appeals #2 Hearing
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Summer 2022 Grant Cycle
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Date
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Description
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July 5
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Summer Cycle Intro Webinar
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Sept. 2
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Grant Applications Due
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Oct. 5
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BDB Meeting: Pre-review Discussion
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Oct. 31 and Nov. 2
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Application Review Hearing – MR/Initial Awards
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Dec. 14
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RoFR and Appeals #1 Hearing
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Jan. 10, 2023
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RoFR and Appeals #2 Hearing
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Data Collections Begins Soon
The Broadband Data team will begin our Fall 2022 Broadband Data Collection Cycle outreach to ISPs in early July with data submissions due no later than Sept. 2. The Fall 2022 broadband availability data (current as of June 30, 2022) will be published in October.
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Get a head start on the data submission process by:
Visit our website to learn how to submit data, and reach out to us at oit_BroadbandData@state.co.us if you have any questions.
Broadband Data Collection Webinar
We will host a webinar on July 13 at 1 p.m. to help ISPs prepare for and participate in our data collection process. Our team will walk through our process to collect broadband availability data from ISPs, including:
- The data collection timeline,
- How ISPs can prepare and submit data,
- How the CBO processes data, and
- How and when the data is published.
Register for the Broadband Data Collection Webinar
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Broadband Deployment Board Winter 2022 Grant Cycle Application Review
Part 1: Tuesday, June 14 at 9:30 a.m.
Part 2: Wednesday, June 15 at 9:30 a.m.
The Broadband Deployment Board will review Winter 2022 Grant Applications during the two-part Board meeting. Part 2 will pick up directly where Part 1 left off.
Advance Colorado Broadband Letter of Intent Webinars
Friday, June 17 at 10 a.m. or
Tuesday, June 21 at 10 a.m.
The Advance Colorado Broadband grant program will be accepting Letters of Intent (LOI) to apply for grants. CBO is hosting two webinars to review the LOI content and process. Please choose one session to attend, as the sessions will be identical. Webinars will be recorded and posted to our website.
Summer 2022 Grant Cycle - Introduction Webinar
Tuesday, July 5 at 10 a.m.
Join us for an informational orientation 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 Data Collection Webinar
Wednesday, July 13 at 1 p.m.
The first webinar in our Broadband Data & Mapping Webinar series will focus on the CBO’s biannual Broadband Data Collection. Our team will walk through our process to collect broadband availability data from ISPs, including: the data collection timeline, how ISPs can prepare and submit data, how the CBO processes data, and how and when the data is published.
Broadband Advisory Board Meeting
Tuesday, July 19 at 11 a.m.
As a result of Governor Polis’ June 2 signing of the EO D 2022 023, the Broadband Advisory Board (BAB) will be dissolved. The final BAB meeting will be held on July 19 at 11 a.m. to discuss how the CBO will work to implement the new Executive Order.
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We continue to monitor federal programs and highlight recent developments in this space. Please visit our website and follow us on Twitter for more updates on federal broadband news.
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