Good news about broadband service in Fayette County may be on the horizon.
About 25 people attended a broadband listening session Thursday. A panel from the Indiana Broadband Office gave updates to the state BEAD program. The good news: Affordable broadband could be available all over Fayette and nearby counties by 2030.
The state is reviewing proposals to extend affordable broadband internet service to nearly 145,000 unserved or underserved homes and businesses in Indiana, said Stephen Cox, Indiana Broadband Office (IBO) director. But it will still be a few months before that office can announce what companies will be awarded funding for broadband extension.
Madisen Mrotek, a consultant working with the IBO, said, “This is a once in a generation opportunity, once in a lifetime. We have $868 million to get every single eligible home and business [in Indiana] connected.”
After the meeting, Fayette County Commissioner Dale Strong said he has spoken with three internet service providers about their plans for Fayette County. He feels certain that the state program will provide broadband extension to all of the county.
Strong had started the meeting by saying he is “the unofficial broadband drumbeater” for broadband extension. “We’ve been fortunate that we’ve had expansion on the east side of the county,” he said.
Cox and representatives of a consulting firm which is helping the IBO develop plans for serving the entire state explained BEAD, the Broadband Equity Access and Deployment Program. Funded at $868 million by the federal government, the Broadband Office has mapped the locations of 144,478 unserved or underserved residences or businesses.
In Fayette County, the mapping process identified 1,215 locations. Neighboring Rush County has 2,103; Union County, 703; and Franklin County, 2,211.
The state defines inadequate broadband service as having access to actual speeds less than 100 Mbps download and 20 Mbps upload.
In developing the map, the IBO initially used information reported to the Federal Communications Commission by internet service providers (ISPs), according to Megan Minor, a consultant. Then, they allowed challenges to that information by people or groups within the state. They found many locations where actual broadband service is not provided at acceptable levels, despite what ISPs had reported to the FCC.
It’s been a slow process but the IBO believes it provides a more accurate way of finding actual needs, Minor said.
In Fayette County, the largest number of unserved and underserved locations are on the west side. Locations which did not participate in the mapping process cannot now be added to the list of eligible locations. But, said Cox, the IBO has access to other programs that can help people find and connect to affordable broadband.
For 45 days ending in February, the IBO accepted proposals for expanding service from interested ISPs. The office is reviewing them now and hopes to be able to announce which companies will receive funds to help pay for the expansions.
She expects project awards will come in a few months, with work commencing in late 2025 or early 2026. ISPs will have four years to finish.
In the first round, the IBO received 743 applications from 34 ISPs, covering 94% of eligible locations. Of that, 93% are for fiber installation. Areas where no one has made a proposal will be put into a second round and possibly a third round for proposals.
BEAD grants will pay up to 75% for a project with the ISP paying at least 25%. In the first round, ISPs pledged to cover 45% of costs, on average, Minor said.
The IBO is reviewing each proposal and will decide who wins the grant to service an area.
“Where we are now will end with getting every single address serviced,” Minor said. All projects must be completed within four years of being approved at the federal level.