DENVER - Residents of Elizabeth and Kiowa are now enjoying fast, reliable internet access, made possible by funds from the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s American Rescue Plan Capital Projects Fund (CPF). These communities are the first to benefit from Colorado’s substantial allocation of nearly $1 billion from two federal programs aimed at enhancing broadband infrastructure across the state.
The Colorado Broadband Office (CBO) announced the awardees of $113.5 million from CPF in Jan. 2024. In total, CPF projects will connect approximately 18,000 unserved Colorado households with reliable internet. These investments represent a significant step in closing the digital divide and ensuring that all Coloradans have access to the connectivity they need for education, work and daily life.
The provider behind the CPF-funded project in Kiowa and Elizabeth is Maverix Broadband. Their broadband project will bring high-speed internet to residents like Corey Basquez, the first resident connected by the Maverix Broadband project. “This fiber project is a big deal for the entire county,” said Corey. “It will help residents and businesses with the cost of internet and our schools and businesses will benefit from the fiber that is now available.”
The Maverix Kiowa project is laying fiber between Kiowa and Elizabeth. The new infrastructure will create a middle-mile network connecting the two towns and provide residents with a fast, reliable option for internet for future generations.
Next, the CBO will award $826.5 million from the Broadband Equity, Access and Deployment (BEAD) program, the bigger of the two federal programs.
Learn where other CPF funding is being invested on the Colorado Broadband Office website.