The NTIA awarded what it says are the last grants to expand middle-mile broadband infrastructure to four states, for a total of nearly $50 million. The four states are: New Hampshire, Tennessee, Virginia, and Wyoming.
Under the Internet for All Initiative, the Enabling Middle Mile Broadband Infrastructure Program invests in projects that build regional networks that connect to national internet networks. With these grants, the NTIA said all grant awards for this program have been awarded to 36 organizations across 40 states and territories. No additional awards will be announced.
Details of the new middle mile grants:
- The middle mile projects will cover 27 counties across four states.
- The projects will deploy 518.5 miles of new fiber that will pass within 1,000 feet of 164 community anchor institutions.
- All projects will use future-proof fiber as their primary technology.
- Awardees are investing an additional $23 million of outside match funding into the projects.
Funded by the bipartisan Infrastructure Law, the $1 billion middle mile program funds construction, improvement, or acquisition of middle mile infrastructure, along with administrative costs associated with running the program. Middle mile projects do not directly connect end-user locations.
The NTIA received more than 260 applications totaling $7.47 billion in funding requests. Applications were due by September 30, 2022, though NTIA extended the application deadline to November 1, 2022, for eligible entities that submitted applications for projects that would deploy in areas impacted by natural disasters.
Eligible awardees for the program included states, Tribal governments, utility companies, telecommunication companies, and nonprofit entities. For a full list of eligible entities visit InternetForAll.Gov.
By Leslie Stimson, Inside Towers Washington Bureau Chief
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