Federal Grants for Broadband Expansion Begin to Flow

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Bill Lucia By Bill Lucia,
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By Bill Lucia

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Louisiana is the first state to receive planning dollars from a pair of high-speed internet programs in the infrastructure law. Funding is expected to reach other states soon.

The federal government is cracking open the spigot on billions of dollars available to states for expanding high-speed internet access.

 The Commerce Department's National Telecommunications and Information Administration said this week Louisiana was the first state to receive planning grants under two programs that are part of the bipartisan infrastructure law President Biden signed last year. All 50 states and six territories applied for funding from these programs and grants will be awarded on a rolling basis, according to Commerce.

“The Internet for All initiative is on track and on schedule,” Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo said in a statement, referencing the name the Biden administration is using for a slate of broadband programs in the infrastructure law. “Over the coming weeks, every state and territory will have funding in hand."

Louisiana is receiving a $2 million grant under the $42.4 billion Broadband Equity, Access and Deployment Program. The money is set to go toward costs like identifying areas lacking broadband, stakeholder outreach and mapping broadband-related assets.

The state will also receive about $941,000 from a $2.75 billion pool of funding included under what's known as the Digital Equity Act. This package of three grant programs was also included in the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. These planning grants can help cover costs like developing statewide digital equity plans, hiring digital equity staff and supporting partnerships with universities.

All told, the infrastructure law includes $65 billion for expanding the nation's high-speed internet network. While the initial funding will go to planning efforts, future grants will pay for costs such as building out and upgrading broadband infrastructure.

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