New Indiana Connectivity Program
New Indiana Connectivity Program to launch September 27th
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Sept. 21, 2021
STATEHOUSE (Sept. 21, 2021) – Lt. Gov. Suzanne Crouch and the Indiana Office of Community and Rural Affairs today announced a new program aiming to help more Hoosiers obtain access to reliable and quality broadband.
Homeowners and business owners can apply for consideration for the Indiana Connectivity Program, which opens for applicants on Monday, Sept. 27. This new tool can connect residents and businesses that lack internet service with internet service providers and assist in the expense of extending broadband to unserved and underserved locations.
"The Indiana Connectivity Program aims to bring high quality broadband service to unserved and underserved Hoosiers," Crouch said. "The last year and a half has shined a light on the severe importance of having everyone connected. This program is a path to bring service to households and businesses that are in internet darkness or have speeds that are not meeting the demands on our students who are eLearning or our workforce teleworking."
Beginning Monday, Sept. 27, 2021, Hoosiers and business owners lacking internet connectivity can communicate their interest by entering their address and information into the Next Level Connections portal at in.gov/ocra/broadband.
Hoosiers can also initiate interest by calling the Indiana Broadband Connect Center, which is open on business days from from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., ET, starting Monday, Sept. 27. Hoosiers can reach the call center at 833-639-8522.
"Through this program, we can help more Hoosiers, especially those in rural areas, have better access to quality internet service,” said OCRA Executive Director Denny Spinner. “The Indiana Connectivity Program is one more step toward expanding broadband accessibility to all corners of Indiana.”
To be eligible, a location must have access to actual speeds of less than 25 Mbps (download) and 3 Mbps (upload). Inputting location information into the Next Level Connections Broadband portal does not guarantee extension of service.
Eligible locations submitted will be available to service providers within 90 days. Next Level Connections Broadband Program funding may be available to assist in expanding internet opportunities to these locations, following a 60-day bidding process. Once awarded, providers must complete their projects within nine months of the contract date.
For more information, visit in.gov/ocra/broadband/icp.
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The Lieutenant Governor constitutionally serves as the President of the Indiana Senate, serves as the Secretary of Agriculture and Rural Development, chairs the Indiana Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Task Force and oversees four state agencies.
Click here for a high resolution photo of Lt. Gov. Crouch. For email
updates from her office and these agencies, click here.
Develop and Implement a strategy to extend high quality, affordable broadband service county-wide. Access to reliable and affordable high-speed internet service is increasingly important to economic development and quality of life. As stated by Indiana Governor Eric Holcomb, “In the 21st Century, high quality, affordable broadband is essential to the success of Hoosiers and our state. Economic development, the health of our citizens and our quality of life will be directly impacted by expanding broadband to … unserved areas.” This need was underscored recently with the COVID-19 crisis, where lack of internet access in rural communities has been a hindrance to maintaining livelihoods and the economy. This crisis has also highlighted the need for state and federal funding to accelerate the expansion of high quality, affordable broadband service.
DeKalb County Economic Development is working diligently to help improve broadband infrastructure.
The partnership also will work on ways to assist local internet providers with extending broadband to underserved areas. King called broadband “a crucial component to community development and quality of life.” Federal Communications Commission maps show that more than 50% of rural areas in DeKalb County, especially on the east side, are underserved.
(https://www.kpcnews.com/thestar/article_b8d66cce-dfbd-5919-858c-75e6877bec74.html)
DeKalb County Added to Broadband Designation List: https://www.insideindianabusiness.com/story/45079833/broadband-designation-list-continues-to-grow
