$340 Million in BEAD Funds Awarded for Indiana Broadband Expansion

The Indiana Broadband Office (IBO) has announced the preliminary funding awards for Round 1 of the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) program. A total of $340 million has been allocated to 24 providers to support over 400 projects across the state. These deployments will deliver fiber broadband to more than 90,000 addresses—approximately 70% of Indiana’s currently eligible unserved and underserved locations.

All Round 1 projects will use fiber technology and were selected based on cost-efficiency, with an average subsidy of approximately $3,700 per passing. So far, the IBO has committed 40% of its total BEAD funding, with 60% remaining for future rounds.

Next Steps for Providers

The IBO will now work with providers to define project areas using the remaining eligible locations for Round 2. Final award approvals are expected later this year, following provisional approval by the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA).

Digital Opportunity Applications Open April 30

In addition to BEAD, the Digital Opportunity grant program opens for applications on April 30, 2025. Providers interested in applying should review the guidance and FAQ documents provided by the state and ensure they are registered at SAM.gov to obtain a Unique Entity ID (UEI), which is required for all federal funding recipients.

Two public webinars will be held in May and June to assist applicants in understanding program requirements.