Colorado Broadband Deployment Board Awards Historic $22.8M in Grants to Connect 4,267 Homes to High-Speed Internet

DENVER - Colorado’s Broadband Deployment Board (BDB), which operates under the Colorado Broadband Office (CBO), has awarded more than $22.8 million to 15 broadband projects that will connect 4,267 additional households to high-speed internet. This is the most funding awarded during a BDB grant cycle in the board’s eight-year history, and it moves the state closer to achieving its goal of connecting 99% of Colorado households to fast, reliable broadband by 2027. 

“We have historic opportunities to expand broadband access in Colorado, with funding coming from state and federal programs,” said Colorado Broadband Office Executive Director Brandy Reitter. “This is just the beginning of our work to connect as many households, businesses and schools as possible so no Coloradan is held back by lack of reliable internet access.” 

Eleven Colorado counties will benefit from the BDB’s most recent cycle of grant funding, including Adams, Douglas, Douglas, Dolores, Clear Creek, El Paso, Moffat, Montrose, Ouray, Pueblo, Routt, and Yuma. Grant recipients have a two-year window to complete their projects.

Of the 15 broadband projects awarded grants, 10 will be funded by the State and Local Federal Recovery Fund (SLFRF), which is dedicated to helping states recover from the COVID-19 pandemic. In the 2021 legislative session, the Colorado General Assembly approved and Gov. Polis signed bipartisan legislation to direct $35 million in SLFRF funding to the BDB for broadband expansion, part of which was awarded earlier this year. The BDB also awarded five additional grants through a state broadband fund called the High-Cost Support Mechanism.

Grant Awards Funded by the Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds (SLFRF) 

Grant Awards Funded By the High Cost Support Mechanism