The state of Indiana has awarded over $637,000 in broadband funding to 10 local providers in the eighth round of the Indiana Connectivity Program (ICP). Funding recipients will contribute considerably more than that toward total build costs of nearly $1.8 million.
The funding will go to make high-speed service available to 175 addresses across 23 counties. Of these addresses, 168 are homes and seven are businesses.
The program is rather unique in how it works. Home and building owners that do not have access to high-speed broadband enter their addresses into a database and providers interested in serving them bid on the deployment.
The 10 awardees are:
- Airwave Networks
- Auburn Essential Services
- Berry Communications
- Central Indiana Communications
- Joink
- Mulberry Telecommunications
- Orange County REMC
- PSC Fiber
- SEI Communications
- Surf Broadband
The biggest award in this round went to Indiana-based provider Joink Inc. for $143,341 for 44 addresses.
Several of the companies have won funding in previous rounds of the Indiana Connectivity Program.
All 10 awardees are locally focused. Eight focus solely on Indiana. And Indiana is one of just two or three states served by the other two companies – Airwave Networks and Surf Broadband.
The awards were made through the Indiana Office of Community and Rural Affairs (OCRA). In a prepared statement, OCRA Broadband Program Director Rokshana Shireen encouraged those lacking internet service to submit their addresses to apply for ICP funding.
Additional information about the awards announced, including the amount of the award and the number of locations to be served, can be found at this link.
Additional information about Indiana broadband, including links to state funding resources and previous Telecompetitor coverage, can be found on the Broadband Nation page for the state.
