In case you missed the big broadband funding news on Monday (6/26/23), President Biden handed out over $40 billion dollars to states for broadband infrastructure deployment as part of the historic BEAD (Broadband Equity Accessibility and Deployment) grant program.
Each state will receive a minimum of $100 million dollars, and nineteen states will receive over $1 billion dollars from the $42.5 billion dollar broadband funding program. The funding amounts were determined by splitting the available funds among all states and US territories based on need. This was determined primarily by the Federal Communications Commission’s broadband coverage map, which shows there are a least 8.5 million locations in America still without access to high-speed internet.
The highest broadband infrastructure allocation went to the state of Texas, which received $3,312,616,455.45. Funds will go directly to states, which will then create grant programs for broadband infrastructure deployment projects.
Grant applications windows will be announced by each state soon, more information can be found at each state’s broadband office website
“This is a watershed moment for the millions of people across the country who lack access to a high-speed Internet connection who will soon have this necessary service to learn, work and play. States can now plan their grant programs with confidence and engage with their communities to ensure they spend this money where it is most needed.”
— Alan Davidson, Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Communication and Information
The state-by-state BEAD allocations for broadband infrastructure for Communities Unlimited service area:
Alabama: $1,401,221,901.77
Alabama Broadband Office
Arkansas: $1,024,303,993.86
Arkansas Broadband Office
Louisiana: $1,355,554,552.94
Louisiana Broadband Office
Mississippi: $1,203,561,563.05
Mississippi Broadband Office
Oklahoma: $797,435,691.25
Oklahoma Broadband Office
Tennessee: $813,319,680.22
Tennessee Broadband Office
Texas: $3,312,616,455.45
Texas Broadband Office
Our new podcast “Small Talk with Communities Unlimited” dives into the issue of rural broadband in Episodes 1, 2 and 3. You can listen here or anywhere you listen.