Broadband funding of $13.4 million is coming to Kansas through the Broadband Acceleration Grant (BAG) program. The awards are equally split between $6.7 million in the latest round of grants and private and local matching investment.
Overall, 1,068 households and businesses in eight rural counties will be served by five broadband service providers through the Kansas grants. Entities representing Butler Rural Electric Cooperative and ITC Broadband led the way with three grants each.
The Broadband Acceleration Grant program is a 10-year program that began in 2020. It will grant $85 million to support broadband in The Sunflower State.
The new Kansas broadband awards, which were announced on New Year’s Eve, include:
- Butler Rural Electric Cooperative Association, Inc., d.b.a. Velocity: $268,850 to support 20 homes and businesses in Butler County
- Butler Rural Electric Cooperative Association, Inc., d.b.a. Velocity: $74,813 to support 7 homes and businesses in Butler County
- Butler Rural Electric Cooperative Association, Inc., d.b.a. Velocity: $154,750 to support 15 homes and businesses in Sedgwick County
- ITC Broadband Operating, LLC: $1,053,701 to support 93 homes and businesses in Lyon County
- ITC Broadband Operating, LLC: $1,167,891 to support 282 homes and businesses in Osage County
- ITC Broadband Operating, LLC: $509,887 to support 72 homes and businesses in Osage County
- The Junction Internet: $314,493 to support 119 homes and businesses in Cherokee County
- Twin Valley Communications, Inc.: $249,372 to support 175 homes and businesses in Chautauqua County
- 3JL Holdings, LLC: $1,494,288 to support 161 homes and businesses in Anderson County
- 3JL Holdings, LLC: $1,382,686 to support 124 homes and businesses in Woodson County
The application period for this round of funding was from last October 3 through the end of that month. Grants for unserved areas of the state could have totaled $2 million.
The National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) is reviewing states’ and territories’ Final Proposals for the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) Program. Kansas is one of 39 states (and three territories) whose proposals have been approved.
More information about Kansas broadband, including links to state funding resources, grants made, BEAD news, state-specific Telecompetitor coverage, and more can be found on Telecompetitor’s Broadband Nation webpage for the state.
