Minnesota, Rhode Island award broadband funds

Minnesota awarded $52 million to expand broadband access to an estimated 7,700 homes and businesses. Funding was distributed through two different broadband infrastructure programs: $25 million from the Border-to-Border program, wherein providers are reimbursed for up to half of the eligible cost, capped at $10 million; and $27 million from the Low Population Density Program, which covers up to 75% of a project in a low-density area, with grants capped at $10 million. Awards went largely to local telcos and cooperatives, as well as regional providers Mediacom (two grants totaling $377,800) and Midco ($689,700). This round of funding, which comes from the American Rescue Plan’s capital projects fund, follows a $50 million round awarded in March, also primarily to local ISPs. Minnesota was awarded $83 million for its Border-to-Border program and $44 million for its Line Extension Program via the US Treasury Department’s capital projects funds, funded by the American Rescue Plan.

The state of Rhode Island awarded $25 million in capital projects funding to Verizon and GoNetspeed for projects that will connect 6,700 locations in Jamestown, Newport and Westerly. GoNetspeed picked up one grant for $9.3 million (Newport), while Verizon was awarded two grants, one for $2 million (Jamestown) and another for $1.56 million (Westerly). According to a press release from the state: “Three proposals were selected in a competitive bid process which prioritized speed and affordability by requiring buildouts to include end-to-end fiber networks that can deliver speeds of 100/100Mbps without exceeding $53.09/month.” Funding for the projects comes from the American Rescue Plan. Rhode Island said it expects to award an additional $25 million in capital projects funding, in addition to $108.7 million forthcoming from the Broadband Equity Access and Deployment (BEAD) program.

GoNetspeed will soon launch services for more locations in Enfield, Connecticut. Work is currently underway to expand to 2,800 homes and businesses through a $1.9 million infrastructure project and investment by GoNetspeed, with the first customers expected to be connected in the “coming months.” GoNetspeed is funded by Oak Hill Capital.

C Spire will soon start construction in Laurel, Mississippi, to reach more than 1,300 homes with fiber, according to a press release. Construction will begin in two neighborhoods later this month and will continue in six additional neighborhoods in 2025. C Spire (formerly Cellular South) has been serving Laurel with wireless communications since 1990.