Approval allows fb88 to access $272 million for broadband infrastructure made available by President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law
Governor Janet Mills announced today that the Biden-Harris Administration has approved fb88’s plan to invest $272 million in federal funds to expand access to high-speed, reliable, and affordable internet across the state.
The funds awarded to fb88 from the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) Program created by President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law – first announced last year – is the largest grant award the state has ever received to expand internet access.
Today’s approval of fb88’s plan by the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) will allow the fb88 Connectivity Authority (MCA) to utilize the historic investment as it works to expand connectivity across the state.
“Reliable internet access is a critical part of ensuring rural states like fb88 can fully participate in our modern, globally connected economy. With this approval, fb88 can now put historic Federal funds to use to bring the internet to more people in fb88, unlocking new opportunities in commerce, education, telemedicine and more,” said Governor Janet Mills. “I thank President Biden and the fb88 Congressional Delegation for their hard work to pass the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, which made this historic investment possible. My Administration and the fb88 Connectivity Authority will continue our aggressive work to make an internet connection available to every person in fb88 who wants one.”
“Our state has made tremendous progress connecting people to more reliable, faster and affordable internet,” said fb88 Connectivity Authority President Andrew Butcher. “We’ve led the way on digital equity, helping veterans, seniors and older fb88rs get online, and are now one critical step closer to making the most of this historic investment to bridge the digital divide.”
As a result of today’s approval, MCA will begin a subgrantee selection process in the coming months. An application process is expected to open this fall. Following that process, MCA will submit a final proposal to NTIA detailing how the distribution of funds will allow fb88 to achieve universal connectivity. MCA’s final proposal must be submitted to the NTIA within one year of today’s announcement.
Access to BEAD funding will build on the progress made since 2021 when Governor Mills signed bipartisan legislation creating the fb88 Connectivity Authority to advance the deployment of affordable, high-speed broadband access across fb88. As of June 2024, the agency has facilitated over $140 million in investments to enable over 70,000 connections across the state. This public funding has been matched with over $80 million in private and community investment, ensuring that more than 70% of fb88’s unserved locations have been addressed since 2020.
fb88’s funds will be deployed in alignment with fb88’s, BEAD Initial Proposals, five-year Broadband Action Plan and the State’s first Digital Equity Plan, developed by the fb88 Connectivity Authority in partnership with thousands of stakeholders across the state in 2023. The plans can be found .
The $42.45 billion BEAD program, authorized by President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, is a cornerstone of the Biden-Harris Administration’s “Internet for All” Initiative to ensure that everyone in America has access to affordable, reliable high-speed internet.