As part of the BEAD process the CBO requested public comment on the Final Proposal before submission to the NTIA. The public comment period was held to promote transparency and gather feedback from all of CBO’s stakeholders. As part of our commitment to transparency, the CBO has released a summary of feedback received.
The CBO submitted our Final Proposal for the BEAD grant awards to the NTIA on Wednesday, Sept. 3. The BEAD Final Proposal details the projects we have selected for funding from the NTIA’s Benefit of the Bargain Round, specifying the areas that will receive BEAD funding to add or improve high-speed, reliable internet access. The NTIA will now review our proposal and either approve or revise our BEAD awards.
A visual representation of the proposed CBO BEAD awards is below.
The Final Proposal details the outcomes of the NTIA’s Benefit of the Bargain Round of applications, presenting a map of areas in Colorado that will receive BEAD funding, information on awarded providers, and proposed funding amounts. Colorado intends to connect 48% of eligible locations via fiber, 50% through low-Earth orbit (LEO) satellite, and 2% using wireless providers.
The NTIA has released a Restructuring Policy Notice for the Broadband Equity, Access and Deployment (BEAD) program. The Colorado Broadband Office is aware of this guidance and is currently reviewing it. We will communicate the next steps for the BEAD program soon.
We greatly appreciate the effort BEAD applicants put forth in Round 1 and Round 2 and look forward to continuing to work together to connect Coloradans as quickly as possible.
Dove Creek is a small town in southwest Colorado, in Dolores County. Despite its size, it's where the county seat and many other vital community services reside. Due to the rural nature of the area, internet service has been spotty and unreliable for the schools, businesses and residents. Thanks to a USDA ReConnect grant awarded to an internet service provider in rural Utah, every home and business in Dove Creek is now connected to high-speed internet.
The National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) has awarded Colorado $12M in a Digital Equity Act Capacity Grant. The funding will support the carrying out of essential digital equity initiatives from the Colorado Digital Access Plan.
A new broadband project in Crowley County using money awarded from the CBO will connect 1,753 of the 5,600 homes in Crowley to fiber. Southern Colorado Economic Development District will receive the award and partner with SECOM, a provider in rural Colorado where there is limited high-speed internet access. Learn more about this federally-funded project.
With funds from the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s American Rescue Plan Capital Projects Fund (CPF), residents of Kiowa and Elizabeth are now enjoying fast, reliable internet access. 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. Read more.
Potential BEAD applicants can now access the BEAD application in the Advance Colorado Broadband Grant Portal, as well as the timelines, key documents and information needed to apply on the Advance-BEAD page of our site.
The National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) approved Colorado’s Digital Access Plan, which outlines how to make internet access affordable, provide devices and offer essential digital skills training to empower Coloradans for a brighter, more connected future.