ELLY GRIMM
• Leader & Times
Broadband access expansion continues to be a priority for the Kelly Administration and earlier this week, the State of Kansas took some action to help with just that.
Friday, Gov. Laura Kelly announced federal approval of the state’s Broadband Equity Access and Deployment (BEAD) Initial Proposal Volume 2, which provides an investment of more than $450 million to expand Kansas’ high-speed internet infrastructure. Funding will be granted to areas that have been identified as underserved through a competitive application process that will begin in July, according to a release from the State of Kansas
“Kansans, no matter their ZIP code, deserve access to reliable, high-speed internet,” Gov. Kelly noted in the State of Kansas release. “The distribution of BEAD funds will break down the barriers that have prevented some from fully participating in a thriving digital economy. Becoming a top 10 state for broadband and connecting every Kansan by the end of the decade is a significant goal for this administration, and this announcement puts Kansas on the path to reaching that goal.”
“We understand the importance of providing opportunities for all Kansans by setting up our communities for success now and in the future,” Lieutenant Governor and Secretary of Commerce David Toland noted in the State of Kansas release. “With this federal approval, we can help ensure all Kansans have the digital tools they need to find jobs, work remotely, seek out telehealth options and more. High-speed internet access is key to supporting economic initiatives that drive state and local economies alike.”
Eligible homes and businesses within the predetermined funding areas will be made public for 60 days before the application process opens. This transparency ensures that applicants have adequate time to become aware of opportunities and to prepare for the process. Preregistration for BEAD applicants is set to begin May 13, according to the State of Kansas release.
“For communities across Kansas, this announcement provides a timeline for solutions in areas that have long languished in the digital divide,” Office of Broadband Development Director Jade Piros de Carvalho noted in the State of Kansas release. “We recognize that reliable broadband is the foundation of modern life, and we are eager to put these dollars to work.”
Project funding applications will be accepted in rounds to enable equitable distribution of funds, the State of Kansas release noted, and the first 30-day application window tentatively opens July 8, offering interested stakeholders the opportunity to submit their proposals for consideration.
Learn more about the Broadband Equity Access and Deployment program and dates for technical assistance webinars at https://www.kansascommerce.gov/officeofbroadbanddevelopment/broadband-equity-access-and-deployment/
Friday’s announcement comes after an approval of expansion that had been signed in December 2022.
“Communities across the Kansas have enormous potential for a new chapter of innovation and success,” Gov. Kelly noted in a Dec. 22, 2022 State of Kansas release. “This funding will propel the state forward, accelerating our efforts to ensure all Kansans can fully participate in the digital world. These funds are part of the designated $65 billion as outlined in the federal bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act passed in 2021, dubbed the Internet for All Initiative.”
“Kansans use the internet to work, learn, keep in touch with family, grow a business, get health care, and more. While access to high-speed internet is a gateway to opportunity, that opportunity is not distributed equally in our state,” Rep. Sharice Davids (KS-03) noted in the Dec. 22, 2022 State of Kansas release. “I’m proud to have voted for this new federal funding from the bipartisan infrastructure law that will help every Kansan thrive in the digital age. The Kansas Department of Commerce’s Office of Broadband Development (OBD) will use these funds in a variety of ways. Almost $5 million will be used to deploy the Broadband, Equity, Access and Deployment (BEAD) program that is part of the Internet for All Initiative. The remaining $692,000 will be used to deploy the first phase of NTIA’s Digital Equity Act.”
“These planning dollars will allow our office the opportunity to connect and engage with all Kansans,” Piros de Carvalho, Director of the Office of Broadband Development noted in the Dec. 22, 2022 State of Kansas release. “This will a great opportunity to connect with communities across Kansas and ask for partnership and support as we coordinate efforts to connect Kansans with high-speed, reliable internet access.”
