News
Puerto Rico has gained a key approval has opened the door for the territory to access $334 million in federal funds for broadband.
By: Brad Randall, Broadband Communities
Approval of Puerto Rico’s initial Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) proposal now means the territory can begin requesting access to more than $334 million in federal funds to expand access to broadband.
The funding will make up a little less than half of broadband infrastructure funds the territory will have access to, according to the website for the Puerto Rico Broadband Program.
The program, created by the territorial government of Puerto Rico through executive orders, also counts nearly $400 million from the territory’s general fund, $140 million from the Capital Projects Fund, and approximately $70 million from the Community Development Block Grant Mitigation Fund as available for broadband expansion.
Governor Pedro Pierluisi said the BEAD funds will make a “huge difference” in Puerto Rico. His comments were included in the National Telecommunication and Information Administration (NTIA) release announcing Puerto Rico’s approval earlier this month.
“(The BEAD funds) will help us ensure that our Island has the necessary broadband infrastructure, and that all our citizens have the Internet access, tech assistance and training they need and deserve,” Pierluisi said.
He said money from BEAD that has been allocated to the territory, along with money from the Capital Reserve Fund, through the treasury department’s American Rescue Plan, will help build access for disadvantaged communities.
“We are already hard at work to build sustainable growth and progress through an all-inclusive ambitious investment in the technology our citizens need for their future,” Pierluisi said.
Puerto Rico’s initial BEAD proposal approval was announced with that of Illinois and Oregon. The approval, which signifies that volumes 1 and 2 of the territory’s initial BEAD proposal have been approved, was announced June 13.
The territory will now be expected to submit their final BEAD proposal in June 2025, which will detail the subgrantees that were chosen and how the territory will ensure service to unserved and underserved locations.
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