Monday, October 30, 2023
Access to reliable high-speed internet is important to keeping Hoosiers connected in the 21st century.
Broadband internet allows Hoosiers to complete schoolwork, work from home, receive telehealth, read the news, stream movies and TV shows, communicate worldwide with friends and family and more.
For many Hoosiers across the state, and especially those who live in rural communities, reliable access to high-speed internet can be difficult.
According to Purdue University, thousands of Hoosiers live in internet darkness because they do not have access to high-speed internet.
Like access to electricity in the mid-20th century, access to broadband is seen as an infrastructure necessity for Hoosiers in every corner of the state.
With so much happening online, the state is working to expand high-speed internet through its Next Level Connections Broadband Program.
Through this program, the state will invest $270 million to improve broadband access throughout Indiana.
The Indiana Connectivity Program, administered by the Office of Community and Rural Affairs, works to connect residents and businesses that have limited broadband access, or no broadband access, with service providers and help with the expense of extending high-speed internet to these locations.
Recently, the program announced its seventh round of grants, which awarded more than $550,000 to 140 addresses across 27 counties.
The Indiana Broadband Office can help residents in need of affordable and reliable high-speed internet connect with resources available to help spread coverage. Through the office's website, you can find the Connecting Indiana speed test, which allows Hoosiers to determine their download and upload speeds and report their results through a survey. Reporting your speed can also help ensure the state has accurate broadband data, identify underserved areas and help Indiana obtain additional funding for broadband expansion and upgrades.
For more information about the Indiana Broadband Office, click here.
To learn more about the Indiana Connectivity Program, click here.
For more about the Next Level Connections Broadband Program, click here.
