Comcast, Verizon Get $17.4 Million in Delaware BEAD Funding

The Delaware Department of Technology and Information (DTI)’s Delaware Broadband Office (DBO) and the office of Governor John Carney have awarded Comcast and Verizon with Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) Program funding of $17.4 million. The goal is to bring broadband to more than 5,600 unserved or underserved homes and businesses in the state.

Delaware will receive a total of $107 million in BEAD funding. It is the second state — after Louisiana — to announce its BEAD awards. 

In all, 5,635 addresses in Kent (1,712 addresses), New Castle (556 addresses), and Sussex (3,367 addresses) counties will get service. 

The DBO received 21 proposals from five broadband providers to build out services to eight grant areas across the state. The proposals were assessed on cost, speed to deployment, workforce readiness/development, and affordability.

The BEAD Program is part of the Broadband Infrastructure Law. Delaware’s initial award is provisional pending a public comment period that begins today and final approval by the National Telecommunication and Information Administration (NTIA), the press release says.

“In order to fully participate in the digital economy, everyone needs access to high-speed internet,” Chief Information Officer Greg Lane said in the announcement of the Delaware BEAD funding. 

“This BEAD funding will help us to continue the work already begun through the American Rescue Plan Act to bridge the digital divide and ensure that Delawareans have access to affordable and reliable service.”

In addition to the BEAD grants, Comcast and Verizon also are receiving American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding for projects in Delaware. The two carriers — along with Mediacom — were winners of $33 million to connect more than 6,200 locations in the state. As of late October, 5,859 connections were completed.

In November, Louisiana announced awards of $1.355 billion aimed at making broadband available to all eligible unserved and underserved locations in the state, including about 95% to 96% that will receive fiber broadband.

Additional information about Delaware broadband, including links to state funding resources, previous awards made, state specific Telecompetitor coverage and more, can be found on the Telecompetitor Broadband Nation webpage for the state.