Big ISPs Connect Nearly 6,000 to Broadband in Del.

Comcast, Mediacom and Verizon extended broadband to 5,859 Delaware homes and businesses in mainly rural areas in the past 12 months, with American Rescue Plan Act funding, Gov. John Carney (D) said Thursday. The state expects to reach another 372 locations in the next few months, said Carney’s office: When complete, Delaware will have spent $33 million of ARPA money. Competitors last year raised concerns with Delaware limiting eligibility for ARPA funding to big ISPs with existing cable franchises (see 2204090003). Meanwhile in Michigan, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer (D) announced $203 million awarded in the first round of the state’s Realizing Opportunity with Broadband Infrastructure Networks grant program. With money from the U.S. Treasury's Capital Projects Fund, the grants will connect 70,000 unserved homes and businesses to fiber, Whitmer said. The state awarded 18 projects from nine applicants, which put up $202 million in total matching funds.