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State and local broadband leaders celebrate Colorado's more than $826 million BEAD allocation announcement
Senator Michael Bennet discusses historic broadband investment for Colorado
On July 6, the CBO held a press conference with Governor Polis & Senator Bennet in attendance where we shared exciting plans for the more than $826,000,000 million in Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) Program funding awarded by the Biden Administration and the National Telecommunications Information Agency (NTIA). The importance of this broadband investment is evident by the incredible support from additional speakers Congressman Neguse, NTIA Associate Administrator Doug Kinkoph, State Representative Brianna Titone and the broadband contributors from all over the state who attended.
The Polis administration’s plan to connect 99% of Colorado households by the end of 2027 is empowered by this funding. The event was a quick pause to celebrate the historic funding but Polis and Bennet both agreed that it’s now time to “roll up our sleeves and get to work”.
The CBO is drafting the state’s plan to utilize BEAD funding and plans to make the five-year BEAD action plan available for public comment sometime in late summer/early fall 2023. CBO will begin taking BEAD funding applications in 2024 through the Advance Colorado Broadband grant program.
The Colorado Department of Local Affairs (DOLA) has partially-funded multiple Carrier Neutral Locations (CNLs) across the state. These sites facilitate broadband deployment and create a redundant infrastructure.
View the status (complete, in progress, and future site) and approximate location of these CNLs on this list.
July & August are filled with opportunities to join us at both the CBO Summer Roadshow and as we participate in the Infrastructure Investments and Jobs Act (IIJA) Summits (more info here).
CBO Summer Roadshow Dates
July 20 at 10 a.m. - Region 11 & 12 - 3800 Highway 82, Glenwood Springs
July 21 at 10 a.m. - Region 4 - 2855 Mesa Rd., Colorado Springs
July 26 at 10 a.m. - Region 2 - 200 Peridot Ave., Loveland
August 21 at 3 p.m. Region 13 - 1012 Front Loop, Buena Vista
August 23 at 10 a.m. - Region 5 - 477 D Ave, Limon
IIJA Summit Dates
July 11 - Region 10 - Ouray County Fairgrounds, Ridgway
July 12 - Region 9 - Fort Lewis College, Durango
July 13 - Region 8 - Adams State University, Alamosa
July 18 - Region 12 - Colorado Mountain College, Breckenridge
July 19 - Region 11 - Grand River Hospital, Rifle
July 20 - Region 11 & 12 Holy Cross Energy, Glenwood Springs
July 21 - Region 4 - Colorado Springs Utilities, Colorado Springs
July 26 - Region 2 - Larimer County Government, Loveland
With the recent announcement of Colorado’s Broadband, Equity, Access and Deployment (BEAD) funding allocation, CBO has received even more coverage in the news, both nationally and locally. National outlets including The Washington Post and Marketplace announced Colorado’s funding amount and featured quotes from CBO’s Executive Director Brandy Reitter. Local coverage from outlets like The Colorado Sun went into greater detail about Colorado’s specific priorities.
Follow Colorado’s broadband media presence on our website!
 Join the CBO at the annual Mountain Connect Broadband Development Conference! The 2023 conference, themed “Collaborate. Integrate. Innovate” is scheduled for Aug. 7-9 in downtown Denver. Mountain Connect is the first major conference following NTIA’s BEAD funding allocation announcement in late June where it was announced that Colorado will receive $826,522,650 in BEAD funds .
For conference information and an agenda, please visit their website.
Last month, we had the pleasure of meeting with various Coloradans from across the state on the first leg of our Summer Roadshow to discuss all things broadband. Thank you to the communities who have hosted the CBO so far this summer!
Michael Murphy of the CBO presents at the IIJA Summit for Regions 13 & 14 on June 12
CBO & CDLE meet with Region 3 in Clear Creek on June 28
CBO & CDLE meet with Region 3 in Clear Creek on June 28
To request the attendance of a CBO staff member at your meeting or event, please email us at oit_broadband@state.co.us or visit our website to contact your region’s project manager.
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