Infrastructure provider Zayo says it has been awarded $27.8 million by the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) to create a middle-mile network across Dallas County, TX.
Zayo also says that it is partnering with Compudopt to provide access and education to students and school-aged youth in the county.
Zayo’s middle mile project consists of construction or upgrades to more than 60 miles of middle-mile network across the county and in as many as 10 priority ZIP codes based on a needs assessment. The company says that about 24,000 households that currently lack home internet will gain access.
The work with Compudopt, a non-profit based in Texas, will be funded by a two-year, $150,000 investment from Zayo. It will include 300 laptops, two years of multi-language tech support and warranties.
Compudopt will provide digital literacy and workforce development curriculums for those new to the internet. The programs are expected to be used by approximately 1,500 people.
“Zayo’s work with Dallas County is a game-changer for local communities, particularly those currently without access to reliable internet. By enabling local ISPs to provide competitive services, we’re not only making internet connectivity more accessible and affordable for Dallas County residents but also opening doors for local communities to take advantage of enhanced broadband access,” said Brian Daniels, Zayo’s Chief Sales Officer.
This was Zayo’s second success this year in ARPA’s middle mile program. In May, the company was the top winner in a $250 million project to deploy a 2,500 mile open access fiber network in Nevada. Zayo won funding for the two main middle-mile routes on the network, which is expected to be operational by 2028.
The Zayo group of companies supports a network spanning 18 million fiber miles and 145,000 route miles.
