South Bend becomes 75th ‘Broadband Ready’ community
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The Indiana Broadband Office has designated the city of South Bend as an official Broadband Ready Community. South Bend is the state’s 75th community to earn the broadband ready status, which signals to the telecommunication industry that the community is reducing barriers to broadband infrastructure investment.
The Broadband Ready Communities Program aims to encourage broadband development throughout Indiana.
“Broadband is essential for our students, job seekers, businesses and entrepreneurs,” said South Bend Mayor James Mueller. “I thank Governor [Eric] Holcomb’s administration and the Indiana Legislature for helping South Bend become a Broadband Ready Community. We look forward to continued collaboration with the state on digital infrastructure and equity programming.”
Earnie Holtrey, deputy director of the Indiana Broadband Office, said nearly 15 communities have become Broadband Ready in 2022.
“It’s been another aggressive year with communities across the state becoming Broadband Ready,” said Holtrey. “With our 75th community now certified, South Bend has joined a running list of Hoosier cities, towns, counties and regions who are taking notice and investing in themselves.”
The certification was approved following the city’s adoption of a Broadband Ready Community ordinance.