Is your state ready to handle the influx of federal funds for expanding broadband?

The federal government is pouring billions of dollars into expanding broadband internet access, namely through the $65 billion included in the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. But it’s at the state level where the financial rubber meets the fiber-optic road. History suggests some states are ahead of the game while others will have to play catch-up. Not all states are equally positioned to handle the funds; some states have operated formal broadband offices for years, and many have extensive experience running their own broadband grant programs. Yet in others there are multiple agencies with jurisdiction over broadband, so even deciding who will develop the action plan may be challenging. Some states have built detailed broadband maps that move beyond the highly criticized FCC versions, and clearly depict areas without access. Others were early adopters of “digital inclusion” efforts and have an established base of nonprofits and public entities that have already been successful at this type of work. In short, states have varying track records when it comes to broadband projects. Rolling out billions of dollars of funding will be a challenge for states without a history of evaluating applications – or those that are brand-new to the quickly growing field of digital equity.