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Indiana announces $189 million in broadband grants, spread across 80 counties

2022 marks the third round of funding through Gov. Eric Holcomb’s broadband grants program.
Brandon Smith
/
IPB News
2022 marks the third round of funding through Gov. Eric Holcomb’s broadband grants program.

More than 52,000 Hoosier homes and businesses will be able to connect to broadband through grants announced Monday.

The latest round of awards totals $189 million across 80 counties.

This is the third round of funding through Gov. Eric Holcomb’s broadband grants program. The money goes to telecom companies and providers who then connect unserved communities.

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Holcomb said while the focus so far is those who don’t have internet, the state is also expanding its focus as the program moves forward to include those with inadequate broadband coverage.

“It’s got to do with access, it’s got to do with affordability, it’s got to do with speed,” Holcomb said.

The state portion of the money for this round of grants comes from President Joe Biden’s American Rescue Plan, the COVID-19 stimulus bill passed last year.

Contact reporter Brandon at bsmith@ipbs.org or follow him on Twitter at @brandonjsmith5.

Brandon Smith is excited to be working for public radio in Indiana. He has previously worked in public radio as a reporter and anchor in mid-Missouri for KBIA Radio out of Columbia. Prior to that, he worked for WSPY Radio in Plano, Illinois as a show host, reporter, producer and anchor. His first job in radio was in another state capitol, in Jefferson City, Missouri, as a reporter for three radio stations around Missouri. Brandon graduated from the University of Missouri-Columbia with a Bachelor of Journalism in 2010, with minors in political science and history. He was born and raised in Chicago.