As Wyoming works to expand broadband, Elaina Zempel, manager of the Wyoming broadband office, commented to Telecompetitor on the disbursement of funds and the types of affordable infrastructure. The state recently deployed $70.5 million in federal funds through the Capital Projects Fund (CPF), but that only scratched the surface of what network operators need to reach unserved and underserved locations.
Zempel noted that the CPF funds will go towards fiber projects, but an additional $347.9 million in funding from BEAD will likely be allocated to “less costly technologies.” According to Cartesian and ACA Connects analysts, only 30 percent of unserved (29,000) and underserved (18,000) locations in Wyoming will get fiber.
“We are grateful for the investment, but there isn’t enough money to deliver the program’s stated goal of broadband for all” with fiber, Zempel said. She estimates that BEAD funding will only cover one-third of the funds needed to deploy fiber to all locations state-wide.
One of Wyoming’s broadband expansion challenges is its low population density. The state is the most sparsely populated in the nation, with less than six people per square mile. Zempel noted that topography adds a natural barrier to the process, requiring a mix of solutions, including fixed wireless and satellite. She added that the broadband office is still trying to figure out the best solutions for everyone, according to Telecompetitor.
Zempel also advised those applying for BEAD funding to truly understand the requirements. “The object is to reach as many people as we can,” she said, adding that she will facilitate a “prequalification round” to ensure pass/fail compliance requirements. Zempel said this will streamline the contract process and get construction underway faster in 2025.
“The goal of ‘broadband for all,’ for us, that will be hard,” said Zempel. “We need to respect the wishes of folks who want to unplug and realize ‘universal’ in Wyoming might be closer to 95 than 100 percent.”
Reader Interactions