The state of Colorado has tentatively awarded over $113.5 million in broadband grants to 13 applicants. Many of the awards will go to smaller local providers. Recipients will contribute more than $42 million in additional funding toward project costs.
Awards were made through the Advance Colorado Broadband Grant Program, which was funded through the federal Capital Projects Fund. The program is administered by the Colorado Broadband Office.
The program was a highly competitive one. The state received 112 applications requesting more than $642 million.
Colorado Broadband Director Brandi Reitter told Telecompetitor late last year that 96% of applications received were for fiber broadband deployments.
The biggest winner was Clearnetworx, a fiber broadband network operator that is slated to receive $25.3 million for five projects. The next biggest winner was Maverix Broadband, another fiber broadband network operator, which was tentatively awarded $25.1 million for three projects.
One other pending awardee, municipal fiber network operator City of Fort Collins Connexion, is slated to receive more than $10 million. That applicant is expected to receive $10.8 million for four projects.
All three of those entities are Colorado-based and focused solely on the state, as are almost all other awardees. Other awardees based in the state are municipal network operator Loveland Pulse; Eagle County; Delta Montrose Electric Association; Falcon Broadband, which does business as StratusIQ; Jade Communications; Nunn Telephone Company; PC Telcom, the Southern Colorado Economic Development District, and the Southern Ute Indian Tribe.
The other tentative awardee, fiber and fixed wireless provider Visionary Communications, is not focused solely on Colorado, but offers service in just two other states – Montana and Wyoming.
Awards will be finalized after a challenge process, which is already underway.
A complete list of awardees can be found at this link.
Additional information about Colorado broadband, including links to state funding resources, state-specific Telecompetitor coverage and more, can be found on the Broadband Nation web page for the state.
