Connect Kansas: The Rural Broadband Initiative

The Kansas Department of Commerce is leading an initiative to increase broadband Internet access throughout rural Kansas. The initiative, titled Connect Kansas, is funded primarily by the federal American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, which has invested $7.2 billion to help states expand broadband access to underserved communities. The investment will go toward 1) helping states map their current broadband capacity and 2) providing federal grants and loans to qualified organizations involved in expanding broadband to rural areas.

Mapping
A key component of the Connect Kansas initiative is the mapping of the state's current broadband capacity. Beginning July 20, Internet service providers are asked to visit www.connectkansas.org to contribute data to the mapping process. Kansas citizens can also visit the site to test their connection speed and learn about broadband in their area.

Federal Grants and Loans
As of July 14, Kansas organizations and Internet service providers are invited to apply for federal funding intended to improve broadband Internet access in rural areas. The funding is available through the following two federal programs:

Broadband Initiatives Program (BIP)
Sponsored by the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Rural Utilities Service, BIP will make loans and grants primarily to Internet service providers for broadband infrastructure projects in rural areas.

Broadband Technology Opportunities Program (BTOP)
Sponsored by the U.S. Department of Commerce's National Telecommunications Information Administration, BTOP will provide grants to various organizations ─ such non-profits, government entities, educational institutions, libraries and hospitals ─ to fund broadband infrastructure, public computer centers and sustainable broadband adoption projects.

Click here for details on the definitions and requirements of the BIP and BTOP programs.

Click here to download an application for the BIP and BTOP programs.

For more information, contact Public Information Officer Joe Monaco at (785) 296-3760 or jmonaco@kansascommerce.com.

Broadband Technology Opportunities Program Criteria