Denver — Today, Colorado U.S. Senator Michael Bennet welcomed the announcement from the National Telecommunications Information Administration (NTIA) that Colorado was awarded more than $5 million to prepare for the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) funding program, based on Bennet’s bipartisan BRIDGE Act, introduced in June 2021 and secured in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.
The BEAD program is the country’s largest-ever investment in broadband, and provides funding to build infrastructure and provide equitable opportunities through access to the internet. It is estimated that BEAD will allocate between $400 and $700 million to Colorado to bridge the digital divide by funding projects that support access, affordability, and digital literacy.
“Affordable, high-speed broadband is essential for modern American life, allowing people to telework, learn remotely, and access telemedicine,” said Bennet. “I worked to ensure that the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law included historic funding for broadband because millions of Americans still lack access – disproportionately from our rural areas, low-income neighborhoods, and communities of color. This initial $5 million investment will strengthen Colorado’s ability to plan for the broadband funding next year and maximize this once-in-a-generation opportunity for our state.”
“This exciting grant builds upon our work to connect over 99% of Coloradans to affordable, high-speed broadband in the next five years,” said Governor Jared Polis. “We are continuing to save people money on internet, making sure that no matter where you live, you have access to internet you can count on and we look forward to continued partnership with the federal government to achieve our bold goals.”
The BEAD program is based on the bipartisan BRIDGE Act that Bennet introduced in June 2021 to provide flexible funding to states, Tribal governments, U.S. territories, and the District of Columbia to deploy affordable, high-speed networks and support local initiatives to promote broadband affordability, adoption, and inclusion.
The historic broadband investment in the Infrastructure Law builds on Bennet’s longtime leadership to ensure access to affordable, high-speed broadband for every American. In March 2021, he led a bipartisan letter urging the Biden Administration to raise and align broadband speeds and standards across the federal government. Bennet also helped secure more than $7 billion for the FCC’s E-Rate program in the American Rescue Plan to connect low-income students online. In June 2020, Bennet cosponsored the Emergency Broadband Connections Act, which was adapted into the Affordable Connectivity Program to provide eligible Americans a $30 subsidy to afford high-speed internet.