More than 50,000 Indiana homes and businesses will get access to high-speed internet through new federal funding.
The Biden administration announced this week it will send $187 million to the Hoosier state for broadband expansion.
The money comes from the American Rescue Plan, the COVID-19 relief bill signed into law last year. It will be funneled through Indiana’s existing Next Level Connections Broadband Grant Program, an initiative Gov. Eric Holcomb launched in 2019.
The program awards grants to service providers to extend better coverage to underserved areas. There have been three rounds of grants so far in the program, paid for with both state and federal dollars.
The White House said the newest round of funding will help connect more than 7 percent of locations in the state that still lack high-speed internet access. And it notes that Indiana’s program prioritizes school buildings, rural health clinics and households with students.
Contact reporter Brandon at bsmith@ipbs.org or follow him on Twitter at @brandonjsmith5.
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