CT Anounces $28M To Increase Broadband Access In Bethel, Other Towns

BETHEL, CT — The state today announced the release of $28 million in grants awarded under the first round of the Connecticut's ConneCTed Communities Grant Program.

Administered by the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection, these grants will support the buildout of broadband infrastructure in more than half of the state's communities. A total of 88 cities and towns in the state, including 26 on the state’s Distressed Municipalities list, will benefit from the grants under this initial round.

According to the allocation plan, Bethel will share in the $21.3 million divvied among 75 Comcast projects.

The funding comes from Connecticut's portion of American Rescue Plan Act Capital Project Fund dollars, which is designed to support access to high-speed internet by funding infrastructure projects to support the goal of universal access to affordable, resilient, and reliable broadband. A total of $40.8 million is available for this program.

"The expansion of broadband infrastructure will make Connecticut’s towns and cities stronger, more resilient, and better positioned to engage in today’s increasingly digitized world," Gov. Ned Lamont said Friday in a news release. "Awarding these funds is a critical step in the crucial push to make broadband more widely available."

The second round of funding under this program is expected to distribute another $12.8 million in grants. The application period for the second round opened on Oct. 1, 2024, and applications will be accepted on a rolling basis until funds are expended in advance of the December 2026 ARPA funding deadline. The second round will continue to support infrastructure buildouts and will also include support service for multi-dwelling units in distressed municipalities.

In addition to this program, DEEP is also administering the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) Program, which is funding the deployment of broadband infrastructure to remaining unserved and underserved locations throughout Connecticut. Approximately $144 million is available for this program. DEEP will begin accepting prequalification applications from potential BEAD applicants later this month.