Sen. Boots: $24.8M in Rural Broadband Grants Awarded to IN Senate District 23

Rural broadband projects in Senate District 23 will receive a total of $24,855,778.14 to improve broadband connectivity through the third round of the Next Level Connections Broadband Grant Program, said State Sen. Phil Boots (R-Crawfordsville).

Created with support from the General Assembly, the Next Level Broadband Grant Program is the largest single state investment in broadband. In total, rounds one, two and three of the program have awarded $268 million for broadband infrastructure for more than 74,800 homes and commercial locations. When combined with private and local investment, over $580 million has been leveraged since 2018. Projects will have been completed in 83 of Indiana’s 92 counties through the three rounds of the awards.

In Senate District 23, the following providers were awarded grants:

• AT&T

AT&T received a grant to expand broadband access to 1,074 households and 134 businesses in Fountain, Montgomery, Parke, Putnam and Warren counties.

• Bloomingdale Home Telephone Company

Bloomingdale Home Telephone Company received a grant to expand broadband access to 33 households in Parke County.

• Clay County RTC

Clay County RTC received three grants to expand broadband access to 137 households and 143 businesses in Montgomery and Putnam counties.

• Comcast

Comcast received a grant to expand broadband access to 1,177 households and 81 businesses in Montgomery County.

• Joink

Joink received two grants to expand broadband access to serve 118 households and 29 businesses in Vermillion and Parke counties.

• Spectrum Mid-America

Spectrum Mid-America received five grants to expand broadband access to 2,307 households and 120 businesses in Boone, Fountain and Montgomery counties.

• Swayzee Telephone Company

Swayzee Telephone Company received a grant to expand broadband access to 233 households and 86 businesses in Boone and Clinton counties.

• Tipmont REMC

Tipmont REMC received a grant to expand broadband access to 61 households and 21 businesses in Fountain and Montgomery counties.

“Local businesses and Hoosiers rely on broadband access to comfortably work, live and pursue education in Indiana,” Boots said. “I am pleased to see many companies expand their reach and I hope these projects help communities within Senate District 23 further develop our local business environment and quality of life.”

This third round of funding will provide broadband infrastructure to more than 52,900 homes and commercial locations in 80 counties.

In addition, the 35 telecommunications providers and utility cooperatives contributed more than $239 million in matching funds, resulting in more than $429 million in total investments for broadband in the third round.

The program allows broadband service providers and utility cooperatives to apply for up to $5 million to expand service to unserved or underserved areas if they provide at least a 20% match.

A full list of the awards can be found online at https://www.in.gov/ocra/nlc/home/2022-round-3-awards/.