The Wyoming Broadband Office (WBO) leads programs to expand broadband across the state, supporting every citizen to access affordable, reliable, and future-proof broadband.
The WBO is working to secure $348 million in federal grant funds from the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) program at the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) to support broadband infrastructure grants to Wyoming’s broadband providers.
To access the BEAD funds, WBO developed a detailed plan, referred to as an Initial Proposal (IP), that demonstrates how (at a minimum) all unserved locations in the state will be connected to broadband by the end of the program. NTIA has approved this plan and WBO is beginning the implementation phases.
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The BEAD Application portal is now open!
Helpful application materials are available on the Grant Application page, including an Application Guide that provides subgrantee applicants with guidance and clear instructions about 1) Wyoming’s Subgrantee Application, and 2) the online portal in which subgrantee applicants will complete their applications. Templates and samples are also available for use during the application process.
The WBO also has hosted several informative webinars to help applicants prepare for their BEAD Grant Application. See our Webinar page for recordings and slide decks for each of these webinars.
Wyoming expects to receive $348M.
To access the funding, WBO must present a plan to serve all locations without service today, defined as anything less than or equal to 25 Mbps down and 3 Mbps up. The BEAD program requires a preference for fiber, but will also allow other technologies when fiber is not feasible. WBO may award funds for a mix of technologies, including, but not limited to fiber, licensed fixed wireless, HFC, unlicensed fixed wireless, and satellite.
Connect Wyoming 2 (CPF) is underway currently and uses funding awarded by the U.S. Treasury’s Capital Projects Fund. There are similarities between the programs, but NTIA and Treasury maintain different rules and timelines.
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