CT Awards Funds To Newtown Internet Provider To Boost Service

NEWTOWN, CT — Connecticut has awarded $69,805 to an internet, TV and phone service provider serving the Newtown area, Governor Ned Lamont and the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection announced Tuesday.

Frontier Communications, which serves 158 individual households/small businesses in New Fairfield, New Milford, Sherman and Newtown was the recipient.

The grant was among $9.9 million handed out in a second round of broadband expansion grants through its ConneCTed Communities Grant Program.

The latest funding will support internet infrastructure projects in 44 cities and towns, aiming to connect an estimated 3,802 homes and businesses. The program is part of a broader initiative funded through the American Rescue Plan Act’s Coronavirus Capital Projects Fund to improve access to high-speed, affordable, and reliable internet across the state.

“This is a milestone in the state’s ongoing work to increase access to high-speed broadband for all Connecticut residents,” Lamont said. “Fast, affordable internet connectivity is essential to the success and wellbeing of our residents.”

This round builds on $24 million awarded in the first phase of the program last year, bringing total funding to $34 million. To date, the program has funded broadband buildouts for 5,582 locations in 116 communities, including 30 designated distressed municipalities.

Roughly $6.7 million remains available through the ConneCTed Communities Program. DEEP is encouraging municipalities, nonprofits, and internet providers to apply, with particular emphasis on improving service in multi-dwelling units. The agency has launched a statewide survey to identify locations most in need.

According to the 2024 Connecticut Broadband Report, high-speed gigabit internet is now available to 850,000 locations statewide, up from nearly none in 2022. The share of homes and small businesses lacking basic internet access has dropped from 1.7% to 0.4%, and 92.2% of households now subscribe to internet services.