Holcomb Announces $22M for Broadband Expansion

(Image courtesy of the state of Indiana.)

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Eleven broadband expansion infrastructure projects statewide are receiving significant funding. Governor Eric Holcomb has announced $22.1 million in funding for the imitative, which is part of the Next Level Broadband program.

Officials say the support will establish broadband infrastructure in more than 4,800 homes and commercial locations in 12 counties.

Next Level Broadband is under the $1 billion Next Level Connections infrastructure program, which works to expand broadband services in rural Indiana, grow the state’s systems of trails, create more nonstop international flights and move up the completion of major highway projects.

“Hoosiers need affordable, quality internet regardless of where they live, work or go to school,” Holcomb said in a news release. “Access to broadband brings countless opportunities and that’s why I’m excited to see these key infrastructure projects positively impact economic development, health, agriculture and quality of life.”

Recipients of the funding include: 

Miles Communication Corporation (Bartholomew, Jennings and Shelby counties)

• This project will serve approximately 366 unserved households and 135 unserved businesses, in primarily rural portions of Bartholomew, Jennings and Shelby counties in southeastern Indiana. The requested grant amount is $2.8 million with a local match of $2.9 million, for a total project cost of more than $5.7 million.

Washington County Rural Telephone Cooperative Inc. (Clark and Floyd counties)

• This project will serve approximately 334 unserved households, four unserved businesses and one unserved community anchor institution in primarily rural portions of southwest Clark County and northern Floyd County. The requested grant amount is more than $2.8 million with a local match of more than $754,000, for a total project cost of more than $3.6 million.

Smithville Communications Inc. (Howard and Tipton counties)

• This project will serve 127 unserved households in northern Tipton County, northwest of the Town of Tipton in Liberty and Prairie Townships and Howard County in Harrison and Taylor Townships. The requested grant amount is $250,000 with a local match of nearly $756,000 for a total project cost of more than $1 million.

Smithville Communications Inc. (Monroe County)

• This project will serve 21 unserved households in northeastern Monroe County, northeast of the Town of Ellettsville in Bean Blossom and Bloomington Townships. The requested grant amount is $137,000 with a local match of more than $413,000, for a total project cost of more than $550,000.

LigTel Communications (Noble County)

• This project will serve 83 unserved households and 12 unserved businesses in the rural towns of Brimfield and Merriam in Noble County. The requested grant amount is almost $442,000 with a local match of more than $117,000 for a total project cost of nearly $559,000.

Perry-Spencer Rural Telephone Cooperative Inc. (Perry County)

• This project will serve approximately 357 unserved households and 39 unserved businesses in rural portions of southern Perry County. The requested grant amount is almost $1.5 million with a local match of more than $396,000, for a total project cost of almost $1.9 million.

Perry-Spencer Rural Telephone Cooperative Inc. (Spencer County)

• This project will serve approximately 1,578 unserved households and 176 unserved businesses in primarily rural portions of Spencer County. The requested grant amount is $5 million with a local match of more than $6 million for a total project cost of more than $11 million.

Perry-Spencer Rural Telephone Cooperative Inc. (Spencer County)

• This project will serve approximately 747 unserved households and 187 unserved businesses in Spencer County. The requested grant amount is nearly $5 million with a local match of more than $1.3 million, for a total project cost of more than $6.3 million.

Perry-Spencer Rural Telephone Cooperative Inc. (Spencer County)

• This project will serve approximately 473 unserved households and 53 unserved businesses in Spencer County. The requested grant amount is nearly $3.5 million with a local match of nearly $919,000 for a total project cost of nearly $4.4 million.

Tipmont REMC (Tippecanoe County)

• The project will serve 27 unserved households and three unserved businesses in northwestern Tippecanoe County to include portions of Shelby Township. The requested grant amount is more than $444,000 with a local match is more than $118,000 for a total project cost of more than $562,000.

New Lisbon Broadband and Communications LLC (Wayne County)

• The project will provide reliable broadband service to 82 unserved households in Wayne County. New Lisbon Broadband will place middle mile fiber cable east from US 27 along Wallace Road to the Whitewater Community. The requested grant amount is nearly $260,000 with a local match of more than $270,000, for a total project cost of more than $530,000.