Brightspeed, the nation’s third-largest fiber broadband builder, announced it has secured a total of $110,727,348 in federal Broadband Equity Access and Deployment (BEAD) program grants to supercharge its fiber expansion in four states.Â
The new funding will help connect an additional 19,222 homes and businesses to its multi-gig-speed Brightspeed Fiber Internet network in Louisiana, New Jersey, North Carolina and Tennessee.
This follows the company’s recent announcement that it was awarded more than $222 million in BEAD grants to reach more than 73,000 locations in Arkansas, Georgia, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Virginia and Wisconsin with its blazing fast fiber network.
Brightspeed is already investing billions into the deployment of next-generation fiber-optic broadband network technology to more than five million locations across 20 states including Louisiana, New Jersey, North Carolina and Tennessee. In fact, its multi-gig-speed Brightspeed Fiber Internet service is already available to nearly 630,000 homes and businesses in those states, with thousands more coming online each month.
The BEAD grants build on more than $261 million in American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds already awarded to Brightspeed in Louisiana, New Jersey, North Carolina and Tennessee. Combined with nearly $128 million in the company’s private investment, the ARPA funds will give more than 114,000 Americans in those four states access to high-speed connectivity they don’t have today.
Brightspeed continues to pursue state and federal grants and funds to accelerate with one goal in mind: delivering fast, reliable internet to the people and places that need it most.
Michel Combes, Executive Chairman & CEO, Brightspeed
From the start, our vision has been bold: to transform what’s possible for millions of people in rural and suburban America. The BEAD program accelerates that vision, opening the door to life-changing connections that inspire learning, drive innovation, support businesses, spark local economies and strengthen communities for generations to come. We are committed to pursuing even more BEAD funding to bring this promise of connection and opportunity across our 20-state footprint
Pamela Sherwood, Vice President, Brightspeed Broadband Office
For families, students, and small businesses, fast and reliable internet is a bridge to opportunity. With support from the BEAD program, we can extend that bridge to more communities across our footprint—connecting people to better jobs, education, health care, and the tools they need to thrive right where they live and work