At least four states – including Kansas, Texas, Florida, and Iowa — offered broadband funding updates over the last week or two.
Texas
The Texas Broadband Development Office said it is currently reviewing challenges made to applications filed for rural broadband funding through the Bringing Online Opportunities to Texas (BOOT) program. The office is in the process of reviewing challenges to the applications and expects to make award announcements late this year or in early 2024.
Officials received 191 applications for the BOOT program requesting total funding of more than $180 million. The program has a budget of $120 million.
Applications were due May 5 and have gone through a public review process.
Kansas
Kansas Governor Laura Kelly announced the launch of the $200 million Build Kansas Fund, which will provide state matching dollars to Kansas state agencies, counties, municipalities, special districts, community organizations, nonprofits and federally recognized tribes.
Eligible applicants have applied for or intend to apply for one of the federal programs created in the Broadband Infrastructure Law (BIL) that requires non-federal matching funds. The BIL is also known as the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act.
Broadband is one of several types of projects that are eligible for funding through the Build Kansas Fund, along with water, transportation, energy, and cybersecurity.
Iowa
Those wishing to challenge applications made in the latest round in the Empower Rural Iowa broadband grant program have until tomorrow to do so.
This round, known as NOFA #008, has a budget of nearly $149 million, according to the state’s Office of the Chief Information Officer. The program was funded through the federal Capital Projects Fund.
Florida
The FloridaCommerce department has extended the deadline to apply for grant funding through the state’s Multi-Purpose Community Facility (MPCF) program to Monday, October 16 at 5 pm ET.
Eligible applicants include school districts, state colleges, state universities, county governments, municipalities, identifiable census-designated communities, non-profits, or certain private entities, including internet service providers. The funding is intended for the construction of or improvements to public locations for state residents to access digital workforce, healthcare and education opportunities.
More information about individual states’ broadband initiatives, including links to state funding resources, awardees and Telecompetitor news coverage, can be found by going to the Broadband Nation webpage and selecting the state of interest.
