Lt. Gov. Crouch, OCRA award nearly $1.5M to expand broadband to 326 locations

Tuesday, October 8, 2024 at 11:44 AM

By Staff report

Lt. Gov. Suzanne Crouch and the Indiana Office of Community and Rural Affairs today announced 326 addresses in 34 counties will gain access to high-speed broadband as a result of $1,489,320 awarded in the 11th round of the Indiana Connectivity Program.

The Indiana Connectivity Program helps Hoosier residents and business owners, often in rural areas, obtain access to reliable broadband by assisting internet providers with the expense of extending its services to under served locations of Indiana.

"This new round of funding through the Indiana Connectivity Program takes Indiana one step closer to providing reliable broadband access to all Hoosiers across the state,” said Lt. Gov. Crouch, Indiana’s Secretary of Agriculture and Rural Development. “This access will be a key contributor to improving quality of life in our rural communities, and I look forward to seeing that trend continue in these 34 counties.”

Of the 326 addresses funded in the Indiana Connectivity Program’s 11th round, 310 are households and 16 are businesses. Internet providers carrying out the projects are matching $5,286,195 for a total investment of $6,775,515. To find a list of providers granted funding, visit in.gov/ocra/broadband/icp.

“The Indiana Connectivity Program is a game changer for rural Hoosiers looking to receive high-speed broadband," said OCRA Executive Director Duke Bennett. “We've seen a tremendous impact through the program so far and I look forward to seeing more residents continue to get connected across the state.”

The program accepts addresses on a rolling basis. Hoosiers and business owners lacking internet connectivity can communicate their interest by entering their address and information into the Next Level Connections portal at in.gov/ocra/broadband. Submitting location information into the portal does not guarantee extension of service.

Broadband providers must complete their projects within nine months of the contract date.

Airwave Networks, LLC	9	$35,500
Auburn Essential Services	5	$24,000
Berry Communications	1	$4,800
Joink Inc.	17	$61,412
Mulberry Telecommunications	41	$196,800
PSC Fiber	41	$149,208
SEI Communications	4	$19,200
Surf Internet	208	$998,400
Total Awarded	326	$1,489,320