Colorado’s new head of broadband expansion efforts is excited to close the digital divide in the state using $170 million in federal funding from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. StateScoop reported that Brandy Reitter, executive director of the Colorado Broadband Office, sees this chance as a “once-in-a-lifetime” opportunity.
Reitter’s primary task is to develop public-private partnerships to allocate “unprecedented” funding effectively. According to BroadbandNow, Colorado is the 25th most connected state and faces challenges due to its topography. The state’s mountainous terrain presents unique challenges and gaps in coverage that can’t be solved by just laying fiber, Reitter said.
Reitter said the state must collect more data on where internet service isn’t affordable and digital literacy rates lag. Broadband technology will require “diverse and sustainable” investments to achieve goals.
“Part of the process for that strategy is including input from stakeholders across the state. Broadband is not a one-size-fits-all type of strategy, and it’s going to be pretty unique across different parts of the state,” she said.
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