Rhode Island State Broadband Office

Rhode Island State Broadband Office Overview

Rhode Island Broadband Grant Award Status

BEAD: $108.7 M

Rhode Island 5 Year Plan
2
Initial Proposal Approved by NTIA
3
Challenge Process Concluded
4
ISP Selection Begun
5
ISP Selection Complete
6
Final Proposal Released for Public Comment

Treasury Capital Projects Fund: $112.3 M

Treasury Approved
Application Window
Awards Announced

Broadband Office Name:

Governors Office (Digital Equity)

Rhode Island Broadband Director

Brian Thorn

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About Governors Office (Digital Equity)

With the passage of the Infrastructure Investment and Job Act, Rhode Island will receive at least $100 million for improving broadband services and connecting the 12 percent of Rhode Island households currently without internet.

Governor Dan McKee announced $1.7 million in late November 2021 to connect a number of projects in local communities.

RI Commerce leads ConnectRI in partnership with the Department of Business Regulation. ConnectRI is immediately engaged (Fall 2021) in statewide broadband mapping activities, in partnership with the Newport County Development Council.

State Rep. Deborah Ruggiero has called the state’s broadband issues to the public’s attention, writing in an op-ed, that the municipalities of Rhode Island desperately need access to broadband.

Already, some municipalities like Newport and Middletown are working to provide high-speed internet to low and moderate-income communities and apartment complexes.

Still, Rhode Island is one of the best states for broadband availability, ranking as the fourth best within the United States.

Rhode Island Broadband Articles

Rhode Island and Connecticut get NTIA approval on BEAD Initial Proposals Vol. 1-2 Thumbnail Image

Rhode Island and Connecticut get NTIA approval on BEAD Initial Proposals Vol. 1-2

July 18, 2024

Carl Franzen

Rhode Island kicks off BEAD Challenge Process with new broadband map — open till June 28, 2024 Thumbnail Image

Rhode Island kicks off BEAD Challenge Process with new broadband map — open till June 28, 2024

May 31, 2024

Carl Franzen

Rhode Island Broadband Investment Maps

Rhode Island broadband investment map ready strength rank

Rhode Island Map of Ready Strength Rank

Rhode Island broadband investment map yield on cost

Rhode Island Yield on Cost Maps

Rhode Island broadband investment pricing and competition map

Rhode Island Pricing & Competition Map

Rhode Island broadband investment map anchor institutions

Rhode Island Map of Anchor Institutions

Rhode Island broadband investment map provider coverage

Rhode Island Provider Coverage Maps

Rhode Island broadband investment map BSLs

Map of Rhode Island Broadband Serviceable Locations