HARTFORD, CT — Nearly 4,000 homes and businesses across 44 Connecticut communities will gain high-speed internet access through $9.9 million in state grants announced Tuesday by Governor Ned Lamont and the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP).
The funding, part of the ConneCTed Communities Grant Program, will be used by internet service providers to construct broadband infrastructure, expanding access in areas with limited or no connectivity.
“This is a milestone in the state’s ongoing work to increase access to high-speed broadband for all Connecticut residents,” Governor Lamont said. “Fast, affordable internet connectivity is essential to the success and well-being of our residents.
Being able to go online and access the internet is tied to nearly every aspect of daily life, from paying bills to finding employment and housing and even accessing healthcare.”
DEEP Commissioner Katie Dykes emphasized the significance of closing the digital divide. “Research shows that 92% of jobs require digital skills and 60% of adults get health information online,” she said. “This effort is critical. It’s about increasing access to vital elements of daily life and helping to improve health, safety, affordability, and prosperity for the people of Connecticut.”
With this second round of funding, the ConneCTed Communities Grant Program has awarded $34 million in total to build out broadband for 5,582 locations across 116 cities and towns, according to the governor’s office.
Among the recipients, Comcast issued a statement through Carolyne Hannan, senior vice president of the company’s New England Region. Additional details on the award breakdown by location are available through DEEP’s interactive grant map.
DEEP is also managing the broader $144 million Broadband Equity Access and Deployment (BEAD) program, now in its deployment phase. That effort aims to bring broadband to unserved and underserved areas as well as key community anchor institutions statewide.
Connecticut’s broadband accessibility has dramatically improved since 2022. Gigabit-speed service now reaches nearly 850,000 locations, up from virtually none just three years ago.
Basic internet access gaps among residential and small business locations have dropped from 1.7% in 2022 to 0.4% in 2024. Subscription rates have also risen, now covering 92.2% of households.
Approximately $6.7 million in funding remains available through the ConneCTed Communities Program.
Eligible applicants include municipalities, community organizations, and internet service providers, with a focus on enhancing broadband in multi-dwelling units (MDUs). DEEP has launched a survey to identify MDUs in need of upgrades.
For more on eligibility and the ongoing broadband expansion efforts, visit DEEP’s official site.
