(HARTFORD, CT) – Governor Ned Lamont and Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) Commissioner Katie Dykes today announced the release of $28 million in grants awarded under the first round of the state’s ConneCTed Communities Grant Program.

Administered by DEEP, these grants will support the buildout of broadband infrastructure in more than half of Connecticut’s communities. A total of 88 cities and towns in the state, including 26 on the state’s Distressed Municipalities list, will benefit from the grants under this initial round.

The funding comes from Connecticut’s portion of American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) Capital Project Fund dollars, which is designed to support access to high-speed internet by funding infrastructure projects to support the goal of universal access to affordable, resilient, and reliable broadband. A total of $40.8 million is available for this program.

“The expansion of broadband infrastructure will make Connecticut’s towns and cities stronger, more resilient, and better positioned to engage in today’s increasingly digitized world,” Governor Lamont said. “Awarding these funds is a critical step in the crucial push to make broadband more widely available.”

“Broadband is a necessary part of daily life and bringing high-speed internet access to every community in the state is essential for our future,” Commissioner Dykes said. “The ConneCTed Communities Grant Program was developed with the goal of reaching every unserved and underserved location in the state, preparing our communities with the infrastructure they’ll need in the years to come.”

The grant recipients for the first round of the ConneCTed Communities Grant Program are as follows:

The second round of funding under this program is expected to distribute another $12.8 million in grants. The application period for the second round opened on October 1, 2024, and applications will be accepted on a rolling basis until funds are expended in advance of the December 2026 ARPA funding deadline. The second round will continue to support infrastructure buildouts and will also include support service for multi-dwelling units in distressed municipalities. DEEP hosted a webinar earlier this week for interested governmental agencies, nonprofits, community organizations, municipalities, and internet service providers. (To watch a recording of the webinar, click here.)

In addition to this program, DEEP is also administering the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) Program, which is funding the deployment of broadband infrastructure to remaining unserved and underserved locations throughout Connecticut. Approximately $144 million is available for this program. DEEP will begin accepting prequalification applications from potential BEAD applicants later this month.

To learn more about DEEP’s Office of Telecommunications and Broadband and its broadband deployment efforts, visit portal.ct.gov/deep/energy/broadband-deployment.