Advance Colorado Broadband has released details for the Advance-Local-Middle-Mile grant program, which now is open.
The application window closes on Monday, June 29 at 11:59 p.m. The application portal offers program guidelines and eligibility requirements. Registration for office hours, which will be held every other Thursday beginning on May 14, can be made in advance.
The Grant Program Guidelines, which were released at the end of 2024 and updated last month, include information on the types of allowable projects (section 2.1). Tier I middle-mile projects will represent as much as 60% of the Colorado grant funds. Type II, characterized as “other,” include last-mile projects, short-term construction and non-deployment projects (e.g., digital equity initiatives).
Section 3.4 spells out the application window and deadlines. The window for Tier I projects launched on April 30 and Tier II projects were set to launch “shortly thereafter.” The grant application window for the latter tier generally will be 45 days.
Section 3.8.1.1 lists minimum requirements. The Colorado projects must support broadband deployment in unserved or underserved areas; speed requirements (for middle-mile and last-mile projects only); matching funding requirements (25% minimum); applicant eligibility requirements; generally accepted industry reliability and performance standards (for middle-mile and last-mile projects only); timelines for completion of a project; reasonable cost requirements for a project; compliance standards (as applicable); reporting and accountability requirements and clear non-deployment and digital equity goals and objectives, if applicable.
Section 3.8.1.2 provides the award criteria, though some may not be applicable based on project type. The criteria for awards are the purpose and project impacts; the geographic distribution of broadband deployment and non-deployment activities; broadband network redundancy, diversity, and latency; broadband network speeds (for middle-mile and last-mile projects only); the amount of matching money from the applicant; the cost-effectiveness of the project; the amount of support the project would provide for low-income households and the extent to which the project would support unserved and underserved locations or areas.
In January, Advance Colorado’s Broadband Grant Program awarded three of 12 grants to Visionary Broadband. The announcement said the grants were aimed at almost 830 homes and businesses in the state.
More information about broadband in Colorado, including links to state funding resources, BEAD grant news, state-specific Telecompetitor coverage, and more can be found on the Telecompetitor Broadband Nation webpage for the state.
