U.S. Virgin Islands received $1.25 million federal broadband planning grant

The Office of Management and Budget received a $1.25 million Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment planning grant from the National Telecommunications and Information Administration, Government House said on June 27, 2023.

According to the announcement, the grant was intended to support broadband planning for unserved and underserved areas in the U.S. Virgin Islands, with a focus on rural communities, and to help develop a five-year action plan.

Government House said OMB would oversee the proposed Virgin Islands Broadband Equality project and coordinate with other agencies. The work was to include identifying unserved and underserved locations, providing technical assistance to potential subgrantees, training employees involved in territorial broadband efforts, expanding broadband office capacity, mapping broadband-related assets and activities, and surveying unserved, underserved and underrepresented communities about barriers to adoption.

The announcement said the BEAD program was funded through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.

Official source: https://www.vi.gov/usvi-awarded-27-1-million-from-biden-administration-to-extend-broadband-services-in-territorys-underserved-areas/