Zip code map for Dallas County, Zayo’s priority target. [Image: Zayo]
The Boulder, Colorado-based company received a $27.8 million grant from the American Rescue Plan Act to help expand critical middle-mile infrastructure and provide equitable internet access throughout Dallas County.
Communications infrastructure provider Zayo said the project will enable local internet service providers (ISPs) to extend high-speed internet to areas most in need, including approximately 24,000 households in Dallas County that currently do not have internet access at home, and will serve as a catalyst for future economic growth and innovation in the region.
“Dallas County residents, especially low-income residents, face significant challenges both in the cost of receiving internet service and obtaining the equipment needed to effectively use those services,” Dallas County Judge Clay Jenkins said in a statement. “Dallas County is committed to improving digital infrastructure and literacy resources to ensure equitable internet access and digital opportunities for all members of our community. Our partnership will help ensure residents who need it most receive both affordable, high-speed internet services and the hardware to make the most of them.”
Zayo said that without adequate middle-mile infrastructure, many communities in Dallas County face severe inequities in internet access and affordability, limiting opportunities for remote work, online education and virtual healthcare. The company said Dallas County’s new middle-mile fiber network will directly address these regional disparities in digital services through the construction and upgrade of more than 60 miles of middle-mile network infrastructure across Dallas County and up to 10 priority zip codes, selected based on a public needs assessment.
More Resources from Zayo
Beyond the infrastructure investment, Zayo said it’s also partnering with Compudopt, a national nonprofit based in Houston that provides technology access and education to under-resourced youth and their communities. Zayo said it will invest $150,000 over two years to fund the distribution of 300 laptops, including two years of multilingual tech support and a warranty, to students and school-age children in Dallas County.
Combined with Compudopt’s new digital literacy and workforce development curriculum for internet users, Zayo says the initiative is expected to positively impact approximately 1,500 people.
“Zayo’s work with Dallas County is groundbreaking, especially for areas that currently lack access to reliable internet,” said Brian Daniels, Zayo’s chief commercial officer, in a statement. “Enabling local ISPs to offer competitive service not only makes internet connectivity more accessible and affordable for Dallas County residents, it also paves the way for local communities to take advantage of enhanced broadband access. But building infrastructure alone is not enough, which is why Zayo is also investing in Dallas County’s future, equipping residents with the tools and skills they need in an increasingly connected world.”
Compudopt CEO Megan Steckley said the initiative could make a big difference for many families in Dallas County.
“While many of us use computers easily every day, that’s not the case for thousands of families in Dallas County, some of whom have never owned a home device,” said Steckley. “Device accessibility is the first step toward digital equity, but we need to provide communities with the knowledge and resources to get the most out of their computers. Compudopt is proud to partner with Zayo and Dallas County to continue to expand our impact in North Texas and lay the foundation for economic mobility.”
Zayo said the Dallas County Middle Mile Fiber Network project follows its recent Middle Mile initiative in Nevada and groundbreaking on the National Telecommunications and Information Administration-funded Oregon, California and Nevada route, reinforcing the company’s mission to enhance connectivity and meet growing bandwidth needs in places where it’s needed most.
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