The state of Wyoming has recommended $70.5 million in broadband grants to five providers. The funding is intended to cover some of the costs of deploying high-speed broadband to more than 11,000 locations. Grantees are required to contribute the balance to cover total project costs of over $111.5 million.
All the recommended projects call for the deployment of fiber broadband.
It’s important to note that when a state says it is “recommending” companies for broadband grants, that means there could be some changes before everything is finalized. Any such changes that we have seen in other states have been minimal, however.
Nearly $21 million of the grant funding is expected to go to Charter Communications for 10 projects. That’s the highest amount of funding recommended for any of the five providers. The award recommendation extends a long string of state broadband funding awards that Charter has received.
Visionary Broadband, a competitive fiber provider, is expected to receive over $18.3 million, the second highest amount of funding recommended.
Following Visionary were Gallatin Wireless Internet/ Celerity Networks and rural local exchange carrier Tri County Telephone Association/ BHT Holdings. Those companies are expected to receive over $16.2 million and over $13.7 million, respectively.
Some of the tentative awardees are slated to receive funding for multiple projects. But Gallatin/Celerity’s award would be for a single project.
Another company that was recommended for just one project is local provider Range Telephone Cooperative. That award is valued at over $1.2 million.
Wyoming received the $70 million through the federal Capital Projects Fund (CPF). The Wyoming fund through which the awards were made also goes by the CPF name.
Wyoming is yet another state that received applications requesting considerably more funding than was available. The state received 116 applications requesting a total of $325 million, making it more than four times oversubscribed.
“These federal funds will ensure Wyoming communities and businesses that currently lack access to high-quality internet will be equipped with the modern infrastructure they need to access critical services,” said Wyoming Governor Mark Gordon in a prepared statement.
A complete list of the recommended awardees can be found at this link.
Additional information about Wyoming broadband, including relevant Telecompetitor coverage, links to state funding resources and more, can be found on the Broadband Nation web page for the state.
