Support is pouring in from local leaders from across Northern Indiana as the state’s Next Level Connections (NLC) broadband grant program applies for grants to build rural broadband. Surf Internet, a leader in cutting-edge fiber-optic broadband services, is working closely with community leaders and has invited him to apply for the fourth round of NLC funding in hopes of bringing broadband to Hoosier households. has committed to invest $35 million.
We received more than 110 letters of support from community leaders, local residents, and stakeholders in 16 Northern Indiana counties to partner with Surf in obtaining state grants.
The NLC program is a statewide initiative that invests $350 million to deploy broadband infrastructure to unserved end users. To date, NLC’s three rounds of funding have awarded him $251 million in 81 counties and provided broadband access to more than 69,150 residential and commercial properties. We are currently in the process of raising our fourth round of funding. According to Indiana’s NLC website, the state expects him to award the grant in the summer of 2024. The applicant will have 24 months from the date of award to complete construction.
Local leaders have begun taking a more proactive approach to providing broadband internet to their communities in recent years, as the digital divide deepens and residents feel the tangible effects of being left behind. There is. High-speed broadband is no longer a means to get ahead, but a prerequisite for everything from distance learning to employment. Schools and employers increasingly require fast, reliable internet connections to attend classes during the school day or make company Zoom calls while working remotely. Masu. People without broadband are finding that they are unable to get certain jobs and that their children are missing out on important classes and even extracurricular activities.
“Broadband is to the 21st century what rural electrification was to the 20th century,” said Mary Perren, Interim Executive Director of the Stark County Economic Development Foundation (SCEDF). SCEDF is excited to be part of the ongoing effort to bring broadband to our residents. Access to reliable internet means people can work remotely. , essential in the era of e-learning, and an essential business tool, all of which help rural communities grow and thrive.”
“Rural Hoosiers want real solutions to their connectivity problems,” said Steve Callender, Surf’s director of special funds. “Public-private partnerships have been, and continue to be, key to delivering reliable, high-speed access.” Additionally, Carender believes communities are already taking proactive approaches to bridging the digital divide. points out that they are in the best position to do so.
Another great opportunity to provide grants for broadband projects in the future is the federal Broadband Equity Access and Deployment (BEAD) program. But after that, chances for state and federal grants may be slim to none, and local governments will have to partner with ISPs at higher costs to complete efforts to connect all residents to high-speed broadband. It turns out you need to.
To see if Surf Internet service is currently available at a particular address, visit https://surfinternet.com/ and click Check Availability.
About surfing internet
Surf Internet is an innovative fiber-optic internet company that serves as a critical gateway to connectivity across the Great Lakes region of Illinois, Indiana, and Michigan. The company is building bridges to a wide open future by bringing fast, reliable internet to homes and businesses in underserved and rural communities. His team of over 200 people at Surf are locally based, giving them an edge in customer care and community advocacy. Headquartered in Elkhart, Indiana, Surf also has offices in La Porte, Indiana, Byron Center and Fowlerville, Michigan, and Coal City and Rock Falls, Illinois. For more information, please visit https://surfinternet.com.
