The National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) today awarded 13 additional grants, totaling more than $277 million as grants as part of the Broadband Infrastructure Program. The funds will be used to cover some of the costs of connecting more than 133,000 unserved households.
The Broadband Infrastructure Program, which was funded by the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021, was designed to support broadband infrastructure deployment in unserved areas, especially rural areas.
The grants announced today were awarded to: Georgia, Guam, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Mississippi, Missouri, Nevada, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Texas, Washington, and West Virginia.
“Thanks to the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, we now have the opportunity to connect every unserved household in the country, ensuring that all Americans are able to participate in our 21st century economy,” said Secretary of Commerce Gina M. Raimondo, in a prepared statement. “This is not only a win for American families who need and deserve high-speed, affordable internet for remote learning and telehealth services, but this also presents an incredible opportunity for American businesses and will make our country more competitive globally.”
The NTIA is now under the supervision of Alan Davidson, who was confirmed by the Senate last month as the administrator. A priority for Davidson is to administer the the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, also known as the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, provides a historic $65 billion investment to expand broadband in communities across the U.S. and is administered by NTIA.
The NTIA program is one of several funding sources for improving the country’s broadband infrastructure.
