What state leaders must do to access billions of dollars in broadband funding for rural communities

Lexington, Ky. and Nashville, Tenn. (June 8, 2022) - The pandemic raised awareness about the millions of Americans still without adequate access to broadband (high-speed internet). As a result, federal lawmakers approved an unprecedented amount of funding to expand the nation's current internet infrastructure particularly in rural areas.

Brent Legg, who serves as the Vice President of Government Affairs for Connected Nation, recently spoke with RFD-TV, a national rural affairs television network based in Nashville, about the Notifications of Funding Opportunities (NOFOs), which lay out the rules of that funding.

"Congress actually appropriated more than $65 billion for broadband expansion when the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act was passed back in November," said Legg. "So, now, federal agencies are in the process of standing up the federal programs that were authorized including a $42.45 billion program to expand broadband access to rural communities and states are going to have a huge role in determining where that funding goes."

Watch the full interview below to find out what your state and community leaders should be doing now to access the funds AND learn how establishing Internet Exchange Points can help.