Biden’s $930 Million Grants Drive Nationwide Internet Access Expansion

In a significant stride towards achieving universal internet access across the United States, the federal government unveiled a momentous plan on Friday. $930 million in grants were announced to bolster connectivity in remote areas of Alaska, rural regions in Texas, and numerous other locations still grappling with substantial gaps in internet access.

This undertaking is akin to the central infrastructure required to facilitate widespread internet connectivity, consisting of high-capacity fiber lines that transmit colossal amounts of data at remarkable speeds. Analogous to the way the interstate highway system connected communities, these networks act as the backbone, bridging the divide between larger networks and last-mile connections. They facilitate connections from tribal lands to underserved rural and remote areas, extending to essential institutions like hospitals, schools, libraries, and major businesses.

The grants have been allocated to a diverse array of entities, including state government agencies, tribal governments, telephone companies, and electric cooperatives. The objective is to stimulate the installation of 12,000 miles (19,300 kilometers) of new fiber across 35 states and Puerto Rico.

Among the grants, the largest amount, nearly $89 million, was awarded to an Alaska-based telecommunications company. Its aim is to construct a fiber network in a remote part of the state where an estimated 55% of the population currently lacks access to basic internet services.

This expansion is just one of several initiatives championed by President Joe Biden’s administration to extend high-speed internet connectivity to the entire nation.

“The Middle Mile program serves as a force multiplier in our quest to connect every American,” stated Alan Davidson, Assistant Secretary of Commerce. “These grants will lay the groundwork for networks that will ultimately connect every household in the country to affordable, dependable, high-speed internet services.”

The grants were set in motion by the $65 billion allocated by Congress for broadband as part of the $1 trillion infrastructure bill signed into law by President Biden, a Democrat, in 2021. A majority of these funds, $42.5 billion, will be distributed to states through the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) program, which is partly based on new federal maps identifying areas lacking connectivity.

The allotments for states from the BEAD program are expected to be announced at the end of this month. States will subsequently administer their own programs to identify recipients who will develop last-mile networks for unserved communities.

Upon receiving the funds, the recipients of the middle mile grants revealed on Friday will have up to five years to complete their projects. However, they may request a one-year extension under specific circumstances.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about internet access expansion

More about internet access expansion

• White House Press Release: Biden Administration Announces $930 Million in Grants
• Commerce.gov: Middle Mile Program
• BroadbandUSA: Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment Program