INDIANA—Indiana homes and businesses in rural areas lacking high-speed internet have until Sunday, December 7th, to submit applications for the state’s Indiana Connectivity Program (ICP). The program is a key initiative designed to bridge the digital divide by helping to offset the cost of extending internet coverage to the state’s most remote locations.
Administered by the Office of Community & Rural Affairs (OCRA) as part of the Next Level Connections Broadband Program, the ICP aims to connect underserved residents and businesses with internet service providers (ISPs).
Eligibility and Program Goals
The primary goal of the Indiana Connectivity Program is to assist Hoosiers who currently lack reliable, high-speed internet.
Locations are eligible to apply if they are considered unserved or underserved, generally meaning they experience actual internet speeds of less than 100 Mbps download and 20 Mbps upload.
Once an application is submitted, it initiates a unique process:
- OCRA compiles the submitted addresses and publishes them to registered ISPs.
- ISPs review these locations and submit competitive bids to the state, outlining the cost of extending service to those addresses.
- OCRA evaluates the bids and awards grants to providers whose proposals offer the lowest cost to the state for service extension.
OCRA announces grant awards for these projects every three months, ensuring a continuous cycle of broadband deployment.
How to Apply Before the Deadline
The deadline to be included in the current batch of potential service extension projects is Sunday, December 7th.
Interested residents and business owners can submit their information through the official Next Level Connections portal.
To apply or learn more, residents can:
- Visit the official website: in.gov/ocra/broadband/icp/
- Call the Indiana Broadband Connect Center: 833-639-8522
- Submit information by mail: Attn: Indiana Broadband Connect Center, The Office of Community and Rural Affairs, 1 N. Capitol Ave., Suite 600, Indianapolis, IN 46204.
