Greenwich Receives $1.8 Million To Increase Broadband Access

GREENWICH, CT — Gov. Ned Lamont and Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) Commissioner Katie Dykes last week announced the release of $28 million in grants to improve broadband access in 88 towns and cities, and included is $$1,815,488 for Greenwich.

The funds are being awarded under the first round of the state’s ConneCTed Communities Grant Program.

Administered by DEEP, these grants will support the buildout of broadband infrastructure in more than half of Connecticut’s communities, including 26 on the state’s Distressed Municipalities list.

"The expansion of broadband infrastructure will make Connecticut’s towns and cities stronger, more resilient, and better positioned to engage in today’s increasingly digitized world," Lamont said in a news release. "Awarding these funds is a critical step in the crucial push to make broadband more widely available."

The applicant for the grant money in Greenwich is Verizon, and 148 locations in town are part of the project, a news release from Lamont's office said.

The funding comes from Connecticut’s portion of American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) Capital Project Fund dollars, which is designed to support access to high-speed internet by funding infrastructure projects to support the goal of universal access to affordable, resilient, and reliable broadband. A total of $40.8 million is available for this program.

"Broadband is a necessary part of daily life and bringing high-speed internet access to every community in the state is essential for our future," Dykes said in a news release. "The ConneCTed Communities Grant Program was developed with the goal of reaching every unserved and underserved location in the state, preparing our communities with the infrastructure they’ll need in the years to come."

The second round of funding under this program is expected to distribute another $12.8 million in grants. The application period for the second round opened on Oct. 1, and applications will be accepted on a rolling basis until funds are expended in advance of the December 2026 ARPA funding deadline.

The second round will continue to support infrastructure buildouts and will also include support service for multi-dwelling units in distressed municipalities. DEEP hosted a webinar last week for interested governmental agencies, nonprofits, community organizations, municipalities, and internet service providers.

To watch a recording of the webinar, click here.

In addition to this program, DEEP is also administering the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) Program, which is funding the deployment of broadband infrastructure to remaining unserved and underserved locations throughout Connecticut.

Approximately $144 million is available for this program. DEEP will begin accepting prequalification applications from potential BEAD applicants later this month.