Every Delaware home will have access to high-speed wired broadband internet thanks to $56 million in federal infrastructure grants.
Grants were awarded to Comcast, Verizon and Mediacom – Delaware’s three largest service providers.
Comcast will receive $33.1 million, Verizon will receive $11.8 million and Mediacom will receive $11.1 million.
With those funds, the three companies will extend their existing coverage areas to serve more than 11,600 Delaware homes and businesses that do not have access to high-speed broadband service.
Construction is expected to begin in the next few weeks.
“Stable, high-speed internet connection is important for all Delaware families, students, and businesses,” Gov. Carney said in a press release. “Now, with the availability of federal funds, we are on our way to giving Delawareans across the state access to connect to school, work, health care, and more.”
Over the next 36 months, Comcast, Verizon and Mediacom will build out and extend current infrastructure to deliver fixed, wireline internet access with transmission speeds that, at a minimum, provide 100 megabits per second download speed and 20 megabits per second upload speed.
Delawareans can find out if their area has internet access and report addresses that don’t have internet access to Delaware’s Broadband Hub.
The Delaware Department of Technology and Information plans to update the interactive map with expansion project updates and real-time data. Addresses reported as lacking service during the construction phase will be included within the current project.
The broadband infrastructure grants are part of the $110 million commitment to broadband infrastructure Carney announced in August 2021.
Funding for the initiative comes from the federal American Rescue Plan Act and Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.
The grants cover up to 75 percent of the capital construction costs, with the internet service providers contributing a minimum 25 percent match.
Selections were made based on an efficient edge-out strategy extending the services of current vendors to close broadband gaps as outlined in the Delaware Broadband Strategic Plan.
Charlie Megginson covers government and politics for Town Square LIVE News. Reach him at (302) 344-8293 or [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter @cmegginson4.
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