Denver — Today, Colorado U.S. Senator Michael Bennet, Colorado Governor Jared Polis, U.S. Congressman Joe Neguse, National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) Associate Administrator Doug Kinkoph, and broadband contributors from across the state shared plans for the more than $826 million awarded to Colorado from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law’s Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) program. The BEAD program is the largest broadband investment in American history, and provides funding to build essential infrastructure and connect Coloradans to affordable high-speed internet.
“The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law’s BEAD program, based on my bipartisan BRIDGE Act, will bring high-speed internet to communities across Colorado, ensuring our students can continue learning in the digital age and connecting homes, farms, and small businesses across the state,” said Bennet. “Just as earlier generations had the foresight to electrify the nation and build our interstate highway system, now it is our turn to invest in our communities and lay the foundation for decades of economic growth.”
“This exciting federal support builds upon our work to make sure Coloradans can access high-speed, reliable internet,” said Polis. “Here in Colorado, we continue to make bold progress towards our goal of connecting 99% of Colorado households to affordable, high-speed broadband by 2027, and we welcome the needed federal support to help connect more Coloradans.”
“This significant federal investment into improving access to broadband across Colorado, made possible through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law we successfully worked to enact in Congress, is truly historic,” said Neguse. “These resources, coupled with the significant partnership with the state, will transform so many communities and make sure every Coloradan is connected.”
“Our community extends beyond the City of Loveland, as our students, workforce, and employers don’t stop at city limits. We are excited to collaborate with Larimer County to access BEAD funding, which will allow us to provide widespread, affordable, and high-quality access to this vital resource,” said Brieana Reed-Harmel, City of Loveland broadband manager.
“For years, the Delta Montrose Electric Association has proven that we can provide rural Colorado communities with fast, affordable, and reliable broadband. We used this experience to help Senator Bennet develop the BRIDGE Act to close the digital divide. We look forward to working with Governor Polis and the Colorado Broadband Office to ensure that our state makes the most of this historic opportunity,” said Kent Blackwell, Chief Technology Officer of Delta-Montrose Electric Association.
The BEAD program provides $42.45 billion to expand high-speed internet access by funding planning, infrastructure deployment, and adoption programs in all 50 states and territories. The program prioritizes unserved and underserved locations that have no or very slow internet access. In Colorado, 10 percent of locations are unserved or underserved, and 190,850 households lack access to the Internet. Up-to-date information is available through the Colorado Broadband Mapping Hub.
The BEAD program is based on the bipartisan BRIDGE Act that Bennet introduced in June 2021 to provide $40 billion in flexible broadband funding to states, Tribal governments, U.S. territories, and the District of Columbia to ensure all Americans have access to affordable high-speed internet.