It’s 2023 and the Indiana Broadband Office is off to the races! Coming out of the holidays, we are busy as ever. To start off the year, IBO challenged over 60,000 addresses on the Federal Communications Commission’s broadband map. These locations were listed as served despite actually being unserved. We also found that over 100,000 locations in Indiana weren’t even included on the map. Thank you to everyone who submitted challenges!
As part of the process for the Broadband Equity, Access and Deployment (BEAD) and Digital Equity (DE) planning grants, IBO is working with our consultant, Guidehouse, to begin the process for public engagement and listening sessions. This step will be vital in hearing the needs of different communities as they seek to provide more connectivity for their citizens. IBO plans to hold these sessions sometime in the spring of this year so make sure you keep an eye out!
Lastly, IBO is working with our internet service provider partners daily as we collect agreements from the Next Level Connections (NLC) grant program round 3. We’re excited about the 4th round of NLC and recommend that those applying. Make sure to follow IBO and OCRA on social media for program updates.
Earnie Holtrey
Deputy Director of the Indiana Broadband Office
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On January 27th, Earnie Holtrey attended WISPA’s Broadband Without Boundaries Midwest Broadband Summit. At the event, Holtrey was joined by other stakeholders from different states to talk about their respective state’s BEAD applications and the process. This program has become a vital tool for communities looking to expand their broadband services and brings connectivity to rural and underserved areas.
Other speakers at the event included Allyssa Kenney, Wisconsin State Broadband and Digital Equity Director; John Egelhaaf, Southwest Michigan Planning Commission Executive Director; and Jim Cupples, Precision Ag Connectivity and Accuracy Stakeholder Alliance.
  
In January, Earnie Holtrey was able to meet the former Chairman of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), Ajit Pai, along with Graham Fishell, Broadband Program Specialist at the U.S. Department of Commerce.
During their meeting, Holtrey, Fishell and Pai discussed Searchlight Capital Partners and the National Telecommunications and Information Administration’s (NTIA) Internet for All programs and funding. Indiana is open for investment!
Hoosiers, help us gather valuable data to assist in the future deployment of broadband across Indiana.
The IBSP, Indiana Broadband Strategic Partnership, partnered to bring broadband to underserved communities across Indiana. The partnership promotes the Indiana Speed Test, an internet speed test that gives real-time internet speed data.
The Indiana Speed Test is a crowd-sourced internet speed test created by GEO Partners, LLC, a Minnesota-based company that focuses on enabling cost effective planning and deployment of broadband.
To check your internet speed, click here.
The 4th round of the Indiana Connectivity Program was recently announced.
Under the Office of Lt. Governor Suzanne Crouch, the Indiana Office of Community and Rural Affairs and the Indiana Connectivity Program (ICP) released the 4th round award last week. The award totals $925,754 to expand broadband to 254 addresses in 30 different Indiana counties, the largest award in the four rounds. This will affect 235 homes and 19 businesses.
The Indiana Connectivity Program’s goal is 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.
Learn more about the ICP by clicking here.
Are you or is someone you know struggling to afford the cost of internet? The Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) helps households pay for broadband internet services by providing a discount of up to $30 per month off the bill. The federal funds go directly to the service provider to cover the discount. Qualifying tribal lands can receive up to $75 per month off the bill.
Eligibility requirements do apply. Check out all information, including eligibility requirements, here.
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