The Department of Commerce’s National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) says it has awarded $930,021,354.34 in grants to spark the deployment of more than 12,000 miles of middle-mile fiber networks. The projects cover 35 states and Puerto Rico and will bring such fiber within 1,000 feet of 6,961 community anchor institutions. The awardees will provide an additional $848.46 million in matching investment to complete the projects.
More than 350 counties will see new middle-mile fiber infrastructure, NTIA states. Grants range from $2.7 million to $88.8 million, with an average award of $26.6 million. Thirty-four applicants received awards; more than 260 applied. Successful applicants ranged from states to tribes to local and regional operators to wholesale network operators.
Among the successful applicants were:
- Blackfoot Telephone Cooperative
- Concho Valley Electric Cooperative
- DoveTel Communications
- ENMR Telephone Cooperative
- Hawaiian Telecom
- Horizon Telcom
- Liberty Communications of Puerto Rico
- Peninsula Fiber Network
- Whidbey Telephone Co.
- Troy Cablevision.
“The Middle Mile program is a force multiplier in our efforts to connect everyone in America,” said Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Communication and Information Alan Davidson. “Middle Mile infrastructure brings capacity to our local networks and lowers the cost for deploying future local networks. These grants will help build the foundation of networks that will in turn connect every home in the country to affordable, reliable high-speed Internet service.”
Applications for the program originally were due September 30, 2022. NTIA extended the deadline to November 1, 2022, for eligible entities that submitted applications for projects that would deploy in certain areas affected by natural disasters.
Stephen Hardy | Editorial Director & Associate Publisher
Stephen Hardy is editorial director and associate publisher of Lightwave and Broadband Technology Report, part of the Lighting & Technology Group at Endeavor Business Media. Stephen is responsible for establishing and executing editorial strategy across the both brands’ websites, email newsletters, events, and other information products. He has covered the fiber-optics space for more than 20 years, and communications and technology for more than 35 years. During his tenure, Lightwave has received awards from Folio: and the American Society of Business Press Editors (ASBPE) for editorial excellence. Prior to joining Lightwave in 1997, Stephen worked for Telecommunications magazine and the Journal of Electronic Defense.
Stephen has moderated panels at numerous events, including the Optica Executive Forum, ECOC, and SCTE Cable-Tec Expo. He also is program director for the Lightwave Innovation Reviews and the Diamond Technology Reviews.
He has written numerous articles in all aspects of optical communications and fiber-optic networks, including fiber to the home (FTTH), PON, optical components, DWDM, fiber cables, packet optical transport, optical transceivers, lasers, fiber optic testing, DOCSIS technology, and more.