As part of the initial round of the Next Level Broadband program, Governor Eric J. Holcomb announced $22.1 million in funding for 11 broadband expansion infrastructure projects across the state, reported Hoosier Ag Today. Also, seven telecommunications providers and utility cooperatives contributed $14 million in matching funds, resulting in $36.1 million total investment for broadband. The funding aims to provide broadband infrastructure to more than 4,800 homes and commercial locations in 12 counties.
“Hoosiers need affordable, quality internet regardless of where they live, work or go to school,” Gov. Holcomb said. “Access to broadband brings countless opportunities, and that’s why I’m excited to see these key infrastructure projects positively impact economic development, health, agriculture, and quality of life.”
Of the Governor’s plan to bridge the digital divide, Lt. Governor Suzanne Crouch said, “I’m thrilled to think about how many communities in unserved areas will get access to broadband through this grant program.”
For the initial round of funding, service providers applied for up to $5 million per project if they provided at least a 20 percent match. According to Hoosier Ag Today, the following applicants will provide broadband to unserved areas via 11 projects:
Miles Communication Corporation
- Grant amount: $2.8 million
- Match amount: $2.9 million
- Grand Total: Over $5.7 million
Washington County Rural Telephone Cooperative, Inc.
- Grant amount: $2.8 million
- Match amount: $754,000
- Grand Total: Over $3.6 million
Smithville Communications, Inc. Project One
- Grant amount: $250,000
- Match amount: $756,000
- Grand Total: Over $1 million
Smithville Communications, Inc. Project Two
- Grant amount: $137,000
- Match amount: $413,000
- Grand Total: Over $550,000
LigTel Communications
- Grant amount: $442,000
- Match amount: $117,000
- Grand Total: nearly $559,000
Perry-Spencer Rural Telephone Cooperative, Inc. Project One
- Grant amount: $1.5 million
- Match amount: $396,000
- Grand Total: nearly $1.9 million
Perry-Spencer Rural Telephone Cooperative Project Two
- Grant amount: $5 million
- Match amount: $6 million
- Grand Total: Over $11 million
Perry-Spencer Rural Telephone Cooperative Project Three
- Grant amount: $5 million
- Match amount: $1.3 million
- Grand Total: $6.3 million
Perry-Spencer Rural Telephone Cooperative Project Four
- Grant amount: $3.5 million
- Match amount: $919,000 million
- Grand Total: $4.4 million
Tipmont REMC
- Grant amount: $440,000
- Match amount: $118,000
- Grand Total: Over $562,000
New Lisbon Broadband and Communications, LLC
- Grant amount: $260,000
- Match amount: $270,000
- Grand Total: Over $530,000
August 12, 2019
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