American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA)

The US Department of the Treasury announced the approval of high-speed internet projects in New York under the American Rescue Plan’s (ARPA) Capital Projects Fund (CPF). The state will use its funding to connect nearly 100,000 low-income housing units to affordable, high-speed internet.

As provided for in each Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds (SLFRF) and Capital Projects Fund (CPF) award agreement, the Uniform Guidance applies to all uses of funds made available under those awards unless provided otherwise by the US Department of the Treasury. In response to questions from recipients and internet service providers, Treasury is proposing to issue the following guidance regarding the application of the Uniform Guidance to broadband infrastructure projects.

Some of Syracuse’s poorest neighborhoods will soon have free broadband service. City lawmakers approved a $3.5 million plan to build a new city-owned wireless network. Syracuse will use federal stimulus money to provide service in 10 Census tracts on its south, southwest, and near west sides.

Alabama has committed $537 million in federal funds for high-speed internet under plans state lawmakers and Governor Kay Ivey (R-AL) approved during a special session. About one-fifth of addresses in Alabama lack access to high-speed internet, and about three-fourths do not have access to the speed officials consider the standard for the next decade.

Verizon is planning to build 500,000 new Fios passings in 2023 as it works to increase its overall footprint to 18 million locations. The company is “actively building” in all nine of the states where it already offers Fios service. Verizon has recently laid out plans to pass more than 70,000 new locations in Massachusetts, nearly 2,000 in Delaware, 1,500 in upstate New York, and 349 in Virginia.

Warren County (OH) and altafiber announced a new partnership to bring gigabit high-speed broadband fiber Internet access to approximately 52,000 addresses over the next 36-48 months. Upon completion of the project, 100 percent of Warren County’s single-family residences will have access to fiber-based Internet. altafiber’s total investment in the project will be approximately $100 million, which includes bringing fiber to 50,000 Single Family Units, as well as 2,000 Multi-Dwelling Units.

Verizon is bringing more choices for home and business internet to customers in Delaware as it deploys high-speed broadband internet service across the state.

Two states recently made moves on broadband funding. Funding bills were passed by legislatures and signed into law by governors in Alabama and Idaho. Governor Kay Ivey (R-AL) signed legislation to make $260 million in funding from the federal American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) available for broadband deployments. The funding represents a portion of $1.06 billion that was released to the state in its final ARPA allotment.

In his recent State of the Union address, President Joe Biden said all construction materials used in federal infrastructure projects — and he specifically mentioned fiber optic cables — must be made in America. On its face, that sounds like a nice policy that even Democrats and Republicans can agree on.

Governor Laura Kelly (D-KS) announced that Kansas is the first state to receive $15 million in US Department of Treasury Digital Connectivity Technology (DCT) funds. The money will support equal access to high-speed internet, provide devices to underserved Kansans, and expand digital skills training for communities across Kansas. The DCT funds are made available under the American Rescue Plan Act's (ARPA) Capital Projects Fund (CPF).