The Colorado Broadband Office (CBO) announced Monday the two communities are the first to benefit from the state’s nearly $1 billion allocation from federal broadband initiatives, including CPF.
At the start of this year, the CBO determined which counties across the state would each receive a $113.5 million allocation from the CPF. The CBO identified the counties with the highest need based on the percentage of unserved locations and the percentage of households with broadband subscriptions. Residents can explore a map of funded counties on the CBO’s website.
Rural areas like Kiowa and Elizabeth have often lagged behind urban communities in accessing high-speed broadband, according to the office’s executive director.
“While residents along Colorado’s Front Range enjoy opportunities like remote work, telehealth and online education, rural populations often remain disconnected,” Brandy Reitter, CBO executive director, told Government Technology. “Addressing this disparity is crucial to ensure everyone can benefit from modern technology.”
Maverix Broadband, the Internet service provider behind the CPF-funded project in Kiowa and Elizabeth, was chosen through a competitive application process earlier this year. The middle-mile network the company constructed between the two towns laid the foundation for future connectivity opportunities.
“Maverix is among many great partners in Colorado’s effort to expand and improve broadband,” Reitter said via email. “This fiber connection can be used for years to come, allowing additional providers to expand broadband in these areas.”
The middle-mile network not only increases the number of providers, it enhances competition, ultimately lowering consumer costs. One person using the network described it as beneficial for all involved.
“This fiber project is a big deal for the entire county,” Corey Basquez, the first resident connected through the project, said in a statement. “It will help residents and businesses with the cost of Internet, and our schools and businesses will benefit from the fiber that is now available.”
The new digital infrastructure should have considerable positive impact across the public and private sectors, Reitter said.
“Businesses, schools and public services in the area will benefit greatly from the middle-mile network because, in addition to potentially providing better service to these entities, it will also provide much-needed redundancy,” she said. “And redundancy ensures a higher probability that people and organizations can stay online during severe weather events.”
CPF funding has set the stage, but Colorado is also gearing up to deploy $826.5 million from the federal Broadband Equity, Access and Deployment program. Part of these funds will support additional middle-mile projects in underserved rural areas, according to Reitter. The state also recently launched a grant program funded by its High-Cost Support Mechanism, allocating $14 million annually with 60 percent reserved for middle-mile projects.
“By 2027, Colorado has a goal to improve broadband access by building a network for future generations,” Reitter revealed. “This includes improving adoption by expanding digital inclusion and adoption to achieve affordability, access and digital literacy and building a more resilient network that addresses Colorado’s unique geographic challenges.”
