Connectivity Program to Expand Broadband Access in SEI

Two local providers have received funding from OCRA to expand broadband access to unserved and underserved areas.

Above is a map of the addresses funded during round four. Photo courtesy of OCRA. 

INDIANAPOLIS – More than a dozen addresses in southeastern Indiana will benefit from funding to expand broadband access in unserved and underserved areas. 

Lt. Governor Suzanne Crouch and the Indiana Office of Community and Rural Affairs today announced the fourth-round recipients of the Indiana Connectivity Grant Program.

In total, the program awarded $935,174 to expand broadband access to 256 addresses across 31 counties.

Local recipients included:

• SEI Communications – 2 addresses, $9,600
• Southeastern Indiana REMC – 14 addresses, $63,385

The Indiana Connectivity Program acts as a tool to connect residents and businesses that lack internet service with internet service providers and assist in the expense of extending broadband to unserved and underserved locations.

“The Indiana Connectivity Program has now helped expand broadband access to 764 families and businesses,” said Lt. Gov. Suzanne Crouch. “This program has impacted each of these homeowners or business owners’ daily lives by providing resources only available through reliable internet.”

The program accepts addresses on a rolling basis. Hoosiers and business owners lacking internet connectivity can communicate their interest by entering their address and information into the Next Level Connections portal at in.gov/ocra/broadband. Submitting location information into the Next Level Connections Broadband portal does not guarantee extension of service. 

For more information, visit https://www.in.gov/ocra/broadband/icp/.