While legislation related to COVID-19 will likely take center stage during Indiana’s 2021 legislative session, Indiana Governor Eric Holcomb’s multiple-year push to increase broadband accessibility will continue.
The Federal Communications Commission currently defines broadband as 25 megabits per second download speed and 3 megabits per second upload. Indiana hopes to adopt that standard with its grants.
While announcing the 2021 legislative wish list, Holcomb, through Lt. Governor Suzanne Crouch, pointed to unifying Indiana’s broadband standard as a priority.
"Through the creation of the Director of Broadband Opportunities as well as the Next Level Connections grant program, we are meeting Hoosiers where they are to expand broadband," Crouch said.
The state’s Director of Broadband Opportunities, Scott Rudd, who works under the Lt. Governor, believes it is important for Indiana to award grants for service that mirrors the federal standard.
The state's Next Level Broadband Grant Program has awarded more than $79 million to projects in 41 counties, but estimates show more than one in ten Hoosiers are still unable to access broadband.
Rudd says the pandemic has shined a light on the importance of accessible broadband.
"If Hoosiers don’t have the 25/3 speed, currently, then they don’t have broadband," he said.
Studies have shown rural communities reap a 4:1 return on broadband infrastructure investments, but communications providers don’t often benefit. Providers often don’t have incentive to build in rural communities because of the limited number of customers, high initial build cost, and low population density.
Earlier this month, the Utilities District of Western Indiana REMC (UDWI) announced a partnership with Smithville Fiber to deliver service. The project's initial phase will begin in January with hopes of connecting 280 homes sometime next year.
Both utilities and communications providers are granted territory to serve. The above partnership is possible because the build takes place where both Smithville and UDWI serve customers.
A growing number of REMCs across Indiana are beginning to provide service, but barriers remain.
