‘Internet for All’ initial broadband proposal approved for Idaho; state could request $583M

Christina Lords, Idaho Capital Sun

(Idaho Capital Sun) — The U.S. Department of Commerce’s National Telecommunications and Information Administration has approved Idaho, North Dakota and American Samoa’s first proposals for nan Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment program, a portion of Biden-Harris administration’s “Internet for All” initiative.

The support enables nan states and territory to petition entree to backing and statesman implementation of nan equity and entree programme — “a awesome measurement toward closing nan integer disagreement and gathering nan president’s extremity of connecting everyone successful America pinch affordable, reliable, high-speed net service,” according to a National Telecommunications and Information Administration property release.

The support allows nan states and territories to request:

• over $583 cardinal successful Idaho
• over $130 cardinal successful North Dakota
• over $37 cardinal successful American Samoa

The equity and entree programme is simply a $42.45 cardinal authorities assistance programme authorized by nan Biden-Harris administration’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.

Once nan program’s broadband deployment goals are met, immoderate remaining backing tin beryllium utilized connected high-speed net adoption, training and workforce development, among different eligible uses, according to nan release.

“Today, Idaho, North Dakota, and American Samoa tin move their Internet for All efforts from readying to action,” said Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Communications and Information and NTIA Administrator Alan Davidson successful nan release. “I congratulate nan authorities and territory broadband offices for processing beardown proposals for really they will link each of their residents to high-speed net service.”

Eligible entities — states, territories, and nan District of Columbia — are required to taxable an first connection detailing really they scheme to walk their allocation to present high-speed net entree to each unserved and underserved locations wrong their borders. All states submitted their proposals by Dec. 27, 2023. One twelvemonth from nan first proposal’s approval, states must taxable their last connection for ensuring broadband coverage.