FROM THE DESK OF...

Earnie Holtrey
Indiana Broadband Office Project Manager

The holiday season has come and gone, and we are embarking on a brand new year full of new challenges and new opportunities. As we look to 2022, we have many goals to achieve, and we need your support to do so.

Our Broadband Ready Communities have picked up speed as Indiana now has over 60 BBRCs. These are communities that have made a commitment to encourage investment in quality high-speed internet and reliable access to broadband.

2021 was a year of information; we want 2022 to be a year of implementation. We encourage communities with any interest in becoming Broadband Ready to reach out and review the guidelines of our Steps to Success program.

Our team is also eager to take part in more groundbreakings, conferences and public events that showcase broadband success stories and expansion.

I look forward to traveling the state and engaging in conversations with communities, counties, citizens, providers and other stakeholders. If you would like to set up a meeting to discuss federal funding programs, BBRC, NLC or affordability issues, please contact me at Eholtrey@ocra.IN.gov and follow our social media platforms.

I want to take this time to thank Hoosiers for their support in 2021. Our growth depends on you and your willingness to educate and implement strategies that will help expand broadband and improve our great state.

With that, I wish you all a Happy New Year as we embark on our next great adventure.

Thank you,

Earnie Holtrey
Project Manager
Indiana Broadband Office
Email: Eholtrey@ocra.IN.gov

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT! BROADBAND CHAMPIONS HIGHLIGHT

ICYMI! We are proud to debut our first ever Broadband Champion, Carole Yeend and Rush County!

Did you miss our exclusive first look on our Indiana Broadband Instagram TV? Follow us here and turn on notifications to never miss the early release. 

Rush County was one of the very first Broadband Ready Communities (BBRC) to be designated by the lieutenant governor. Carole holds a wealth of information regarding the BBRC process and the challenges that communities face in their efforts to become broadband ready.

Watch the full video by clicking here.

Be on the look out for our second Broadband Champion that will be released later this month!

2022 LEGISLATIVE SESSION UPDATE

After being a hot topic last session, broadband is letting other bills steal the show this time. In 2021, the IBO tracked 15 broadband bills. 

This year, the Indiana Broadband Office is following a couple bills that touch on aspects of broadband and connectivity. As always, we will keep you updated should there be any important updates. Please see the bill breakdowns below.

HB1111
Utility Regulatory Commission Reporting and Rules
Authored by: Rep. Edmond Soliday
Co-Authored by: Rep. Ethan Manning, Rep. Matt Pierce, Rep. Randall Frye
Sponsored by: Sen. Eric Koch

Amends the statute concerning the required annual report by the utility regulatory commission (IURC) to the governor and the legislative council.  This report is to include certain information concerning the communications services industry along with the water and wastewater utility industries and others.

SB90
Right-of-Way and Thoroughfares
Authored by: Sen. Blake Doriot and Sen. Linda Rogers 

Addresses how local units of government handle Right-of-way and thoroughfares.

SB146
Attachments to Electric Distribution Poles
Authored by: Sen. Eric Koch

Amends the statute concerning attachments of equipment by cable operators to electric distribution poles owned or controlled by rural electric cooperatives or by municipalities providing electric service (pole owners).

SB372
Taxation
Authored by:Sen. Andy Zay

Imposes a surcharge tax on social media providers that: (1) maintains a public social media platform; (2) has more than 1,000,000 active Indiana account holders; (3) has annual gross revenue derived from social media advertising services in Indiana of at least $1,000,000; and (4) derives economic benefit from the data individuals in Indiana share with the company.   Establishes the online bullying, social isolation, and suicide prevention fund (fund) for the purposes of providing: (1) online bullying prevention; or (2) social isolation and suicide prevention; training and research for counselors and educational institutions. Provides that the division of mental health and addiction shall administer the fund. Transfers 10% of the revenue from the surcharge tax to the fund. Transfers the remaining surcharge tax revenue to the rural broadband fund.

CONNECT INDIANA

The Indiana Connectivity Program aims to connect residents and businesses that lack access to broadband internet service with service providers and assist in the expense of extending broadband to those locations.

To check the status of your application, click here. 

Residential and business locations that are unserved or underserved (access to actual speeds less than 25Mbps download and 3Mbps upload) can apply for consideration by entering their information into the Next Level Connections portal or calling the call center number at 833-639-8522 to initiate their interest in receiving broadband internet service.

Internet service providers will have the opportunity to review these locations and submit bids to the state on the cost of providing service to these locations. OCRA will evaluate these bids and make awards to the providers whose bid presents the lowest cost to the state for extension of the service.

Addresses were posted for challenge on Dec. 6 and challenges were due by Dec. 17. Addresses are now out for bid. To access the Bid Bundle List, click here.

This ongoing program seeks to close the digital divide and unite the State of Indiana. To learn more, click here.

NEXT LEVEL CONNECTIONS UPDATE

Indiana plans to invest $270 million toward improving broadband access and adoption in Indiana. The Next Level Connections Broadband Grant Program is designed to provide funds for the deployment of broadband infrastructure to provide eligible broadband service to unserved end users, which include households, businesses and community anchor institutions, such as schools and health clinics, across Indiana.

The submission deadline for full NLC grant applications is today, Jan. 20, 2022. The submission deadline for Competitive Applications is Feb. 14, 2022. Selections are expected to begin this spring. All dates are subject to change. 

To learn more about this program, click here. 

BROADBAND READY COMMUNITIES

The Broadband Ready Communities Program is a designation signaling that community leadership is committed to the development of reliable and affordable internet.

To learn more about being a Broadband Ready Community, click here.

Our 61st Broadband Ready Community is La Porte County. Congratulations! 

Stay tuned as we continue to work with communities across the state to become Broadband Ready! We have roughly 40 counties to go. Also, keep in mind that cites and towns may apply for the designation as well. 

Check out the map below to see the progress that has been made across the State.

TRAVELS OF LT. GOVERNOR SUZANNE CROUCH

Lt. Governor Suzanne Crouch is continuing to meet Hoosiers from different industries and communities in 2022. Her travels have brought many opportunities to hear local issues and observe programs that are building a better Indiana.

For her first stop in the New Year, she visited the Recovery Café in Greenfield. Here she spoke with local leaders in the fight against substance use. The café is free and designed to assist those struggling with addiction and mental health.

Before Christmas, Lt. Governor Crouch spent some time in Vincennes visiting with local leaders and change-makers. There she presented a Sagamore of the Wabash to two well deserving Hoosiers, Linda Waldroup and the late Maridell Sargent (accepted by her two children). 

Before stopping south in Vincennes, the lieutenant governor braved the winter wind and explored Clark County with community officials to scope out the site for a proposed park!

Follow along with Lt. Governor Suzanne Crouch as she continues her statewide travels.

• Facebook
• Twitter
• Instagram

We want to hear from you! Please send broadband-related news regarding your community or organization to the Indiana Broadband Office at INbroadband@lg.in.gov, and we'll share on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, or in this newsletter!