Indiana Broadband February Newsletter

State of Indiana sent this bulletin at 02/16/2022 10:00 AM EST

FROM THE DESK OF...

Earnie Holtrey
Indiana Broadband Office Project Manager

Hello, Hoosiers!

The Indiana Broadband Office has been busy traveling across the state to keep Hoosiers informed on all aspects of broadband. I have been participating in many calls and webinars to better understand the Federal Funds, Federal Communication Commission maps and much more. As I continue my travels, I invite you to keep in touch by following along on social media. To follow us, click here.

I hope everyone has been safe and warm through the cold, winter weather. Hoosiers across the state experienced a Winter Blast in early February and I am sure it threw many people into a frenzy. Thank you to our first responders and road-clearing crews who kept us safe during this time and got us back to work and school as quickly as possible.

As we continue to strive for reliable and affordable broadband for all Hoosiers, I invite you to utilize the map linked below. It features free WiFi spots across the state that could come in handy with future weather and outages. Click here to access the map.

Thank you,

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

ON THE ROAD WITH IBO

Recently, Indiana Broadband Office Project Manager, Earnie Holtrey, traveled to the Harrison County Community Foundation to participate in a day long broadband event.

The Harrison County Chamber of Commerce and Community Foundation hired Ice Miller to produce a Broadband Ready and Infrastructure Deployment Plan. During the meeting, Earnie presented on the Broadband Ready Community Program, Steps to Success and the Indiana Speed Test. Ice Miller provided updates on their planning process.

The final plan will be provided to the Chamber and the Foundation in early April.

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT! BROADBAND CHAMPIONS HIGHLIGHT

ICYMI! We are proud to debut our second Broadband Champion, Michael Thissen and Crawford 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.

Michael beautifully illustrates how unifying the need for broadband can be for a community, how the process to becoming broadband ready benefits communities in preparing for broadband infrastructure and economic development benefits of having high-speed access.

Watch the full video by clicking here.

Do you have someone we should consider for an upcoming video? Email us at INbroadband@lg.in.gov to nominate your community's Broadband Champion!

2022 LEGISLATIVE SESSION UPDATE

After being a hot topic last session, broadband is letting other bills steal the show this time around. However, two bills that IBO is tracking recently crossed over to the other chamber.

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.

Passed House with a vote of 89 yeas and 0 nays.

SB146
Attachments to Electric Distribution Poles
Authored by: Eric Koch, Sen. Chris Garten, Sen. Michael Young
Co-Authored by: Sen. Lonnie Randolph
Sponsored by: Ethan Manning, Rep. Edmond Soliday

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).

Passed Senate with a vote of 42 yeas and 6 nays.

FEDERAL UPDATE

The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (“IIJA”) includes the largest investment in broadband deployment and adoption in U.S. history, with billions of dollars available across multiple new programs.

The new funding will be disbursed by the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (“NTIA”), the Federal Communications Commission (“FCC”), and the states, which will develop the specific rules and timeframes for each program.

The summary linked below provides an overview of the IIJA’s new broadband funding programs, including: (1) how much money will be available under each program; (2) how each program will work; and (3) the next steps in implementing each program. The summary also details the additional funding the IIJA will provide for certain existing broadband programs.

Click here to read more.

CONNECT INDIANA

The Indiana Connectivity Program is an ongoing effort that aims to connect residents and businesses that lack access to broadband internet service with service providers and assist them 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. Over 1,300 addresses are now out for providers to bid on. To access the Bid Bundle List, click here.

Think you missed out? This is an ongoing program that seeks to close the digital divide and unite the State of Indiana. Continue to submit addresses to be included in round two. To learn more, click here.

Stay tuned over the next few weeks as the program continues to become more available to Hoosiers through an exciting new campaign.

NEXT LEVEL CONNECTIONS UPDATE

Indiana plans to invest in the improvement of 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.

With over 150 applications received and around 68,500 addresses covered, there is $284,862,808 in requested funds. Currently, the program is in the Competitive Application phase.

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 62nd Broadband Ready Community is Porter 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.

When is your community's Broadband Ready Community Anniversary? We want to celebrate with you! Reach out to us as INbroadband@lg.in.gov and let's plan an anniversary celebration.

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.

Recently, Lt. Governor Crouch stopped by Westfield to learn about The Shamrock Project.

Last year, in partnership with Westfield Washington Schools, the City of Westfield was awarded more than $53,000 in grant funding to expand virtual and in-person employment training, and school-to-work transition activities.

The Shamrock Project assists individuals with disabilities between the ages of 18-22 by helping them develop skills to secure a job. As part of the visit, the lieutenant governor stopped at Portillo’s where a Shamrock Project intern works as part of the program.

The lieutenant governor spent the end of January in Martinsville, Indiana.

Visit Morgan County, Indiana and Mayor Kenny Costin provided the lieutenant governor an update on tourism in the county following the construction of I-69.

She also met with several sheriffs from Morgan County and the surrounding region.

To read more about this visit, click here.

The lieutenant governor traveled to Adams County as one of her first visits of 2022. While she was there, she had the opportunity to hear from her constituents by speaking with WZBD 92.7 FM, Adams County Radio in Berne.

She also met Indiana Farm Bureau members in Adams County to talk about issues and provide an update on what she has been seeing at the Statehouse.

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

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!

SUBSCRIBER SERVICES:
Manage Preferences | Delete Profile | Help