Recently, the White House and FCC announced that over 10 million households are now enrolled in the Affordable Connectivity Program. With your partnership, the program has helped more than 10 million households gain access to discounted broadband services through the nation’s largest ever broadband affordability program. The ACP provides connections for telehealth services, distance learning, economic development, government benefits and services, and civic engagement with local, state, and national elected and appointed leaders.
As we celebrate this milestone, we are also looking ahead. The FCC will continue its work to ensure that qualifying households know how to enroll. We invite you to join us in that mission. Below you will find 10 ways to connect your community with the ACP.
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Help Your Community Enroll: Sign up as an enrollment partner today at fcc.gov/ACP.
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Spread the Word: Are you organizing school packet pick-ups or a local food drive? Download and print out ACP flyers to include in pick-up materials: fcc.gov/acp-toolkit.
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Request Printed Materials: Printed versions of FCC ACP Outreach Toolkit materials are available. Send an email to ACPInfo@fcc.gov and provide details on what you need.
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Connect with Local Institutions: Ensure schools, libraries, health clinics, and community centers know about the ACP and have the information they need to help eligible students and patrons enroll.
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Involve Your Local Government: Does your local employment assistance or social services office have ACP information? Put Outreach Toolkit materials in the hands of people who interact with the public – teachers, healthcare providers, and community workers.
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Share ACP Info on Your Websites and Social Media: The FCC has ready-to-post graphics, videos, and PSAs available for you to share with your network in the ACP Outreach Toolkit.
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Request a Speaker for an Event: Have a local event coming up? Want to train your members to serve as local ambassadors for ACP? Send a speaker request to ACPspeakers@fcc.gov.
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Help Connect the Unconnected: Download and print application forms in English or Spanish. Households applying for ACP by mail should include a Household Worksheet and copies of their eligibility documentation. Worksheet in English and Spanish.
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Find Local Providers: Browse listings by state or territory at fcc.gov/acp-providers-by-state.
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Let EVERYONE Know: Spread the word about ACP on community bulletin boards, both online and around town.
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The Indiana Connectivity Program is an ongoing effort aimed to connect residents and businesses that lack access to broadband internet service with service providers and assists them in the expense of extending broadband to those locations.
To check the status of your application, click here.
Think you missed out? This is an ongoing program that seeks to close the digital divide and unite the State of Indiana. 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 – The Wifi Project.
The WiFi Project An initiative of the State of Indiana with the goal of finding residents and business owners who need internet access and connecting them to providers that can make it happen! How is your connectivity? Do you need to up your speed? Let us help YOU up your online gaming, up your movie night, up your ecommerce, up your degree, up your business, up your e-learning, up your at-home doctor visits, up your CONNECTION!
Stay tuned for more program opportunities and information!
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 includes households, businesses and community anchor institutions, such as schools and health clinics, across Indiana.
To view the interactive dashboard for this program click here.
With over 150 applications received and around 68,500 addresses covered, there is $284,862,808 in requested funds. Currently, final applications are being evaluated and awards are expected to be announced in April. The challenge phase previously ended on February 24.
To learn more about this program, click here.
The need for digital access is at an all-time high following a sharp increase in remote learning and remote work. To combat the growing digital divide, the Purdue Center for Regional Development placed six individuals in regions around Indiana to execute strategies aimed at fostering digital economy ecosystems.
These fellows will work to increase broadband access and digital literacy and contribute to critical community development initiatives in Bloomington, Muncie, Richmond, Terre Haute, and Versailles.
Last month, Earnie had the opportunity to hear updates from the 5 fellows and gave a brief presentation on the Indiana Broadband Office.
“Our administration continues to make broadband investment a priority,” said Indiana Lt. Gov. Suzanne Crouch. “The last year taught us high-speed, reliable internet is no longer a luxury, it is essential. New partnerships continue to form to expand broadband services to Hoosiers and these Fellows will help so many leaders continue their collaboration to get this critical infrastructure across our state.”
Fellows will serve their communities in locations through high-impact, high-urgency two-year placements focused on closing the digital divide and building the next generation of leaders. They will tackle tough challenges facing Indiana, strengthen its civic infrastructure and join a new generation of transformational community leaders.
To learn more about the Purdue Digital Fellows, click here.
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.
Stay tuned as we continue to work with communities across the state to become Broadband Ready! We have roughly 35 counties to go. Also, keep in mind that cities and towns may apply for the designation as well.
Congratulations to our most recent Broadband Ready Communities!
Pulaski County “Pulaski County is excited to take this next step toward facilitating broadband investment in our community,” stated Chuck Mellon, President of the Pulaski County Board of Commissioners. “Local provider LightStream has already invested millions of dollars here, including building up its network in Winamac enough for the town to be designated as a Smart Rural Community, and the State’s Next Level Connections program is already enticing providers to expand opportunities here. With this Broadband Ready designation, we look forward to partnering with LightStream and other providers to connect all of Pulaski County at the speed of tomorrow.”
Tipton County “The Tipton County Commissioners are committed to encouraging development of widespread access to Broadband Connectivity in our community. We are partnering with the Indiana Broadband Ready Community initiative through the State of Indiana to help facilitate bringing these needed services throughout our community,” said Dennis Henderson, Tipton County Commissioner.
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.
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