$826.5 million high-speed broadband plan approved

(COLORADO) — The National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) moved forward to implement the Broadband, Equity, Access and Deployment (BEAD) Plan on Tuesday, June 11.

The $826.5 million program approved by the NTIA plans to connect every household with affordable, high-speed internet. Colorado is the 8th state to receive approval.

The official approval now allows Colorado to begin to distribute federal funding to build out high-speed broadband in underserved communities across the state.

“Colorado is excited to expand reliable, high-speed broadband across our state and this approval of our plans for BEAD funding from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law will accelerate those efforts,” said Colorado Governor Jared Polis. “I was pleased to be the first governor in the nation to support this law and I thank the Biden administration for their partnership. We look forward to seeing even more Colorado households get access to the Internet they need to thrive.”

BEAD funding plans to connect 99% of Colorado households by the end of 2027. The program’s plan also aims to fill approximately 3,000 job openings required for infrastructure projects and future maintenance.

The Colorado Broadband Office (CBO) will launch a Project Area Map showing locations eligible to be connected by BEAD funding, and public comment. CBO will begin taking applications in late summer.

To read the complete summary of the BEAD plan, proposal, and public comments, click on the link above.

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