The State of Nevada, in partnership with the Governor’s Office of Science, Innovation, and Technology (OSIT), has begun subgrantee selection for Phase III of the High-Speed Nevada Initiative (HSNV), which aims to expand broadband to hard-to-reach rural areas.
Phase III will dole over $400 million to deploy broadband to over 52,000 unserved and underserved residential and community locations in Nevada.
HSNV will derive funding for Phase III mainly from Nevada’s allocation of Broadband Equity Access Deployment (BEAD) and will fund ‘last mile’ broadband deployment projects or projects within communities and neighborhoods that bring connectivity to the home.
Nevada received $416 million in BEAD funding from the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA).
OSIT has grouped unserved and underserved locations and eligible Community Anchor Institutions (CAIs) into Regional Project Areas (RPAs). OSIT said it will conduct an open subgrantee selection process to allocate funding to winning applicants to serve all the eligible locations within an RPA. The Nevada Regional Project Area Map was designed to visualize the RPAs across the state. Defined by OSIT, these project areas will guide funding distribution to awardees.
Complementing the middle mile
Phase III complements OSIT’s earlier announcement of a $250 million 2,500-mile middle-mile network in Phases I and II.
The Nevada Middle Mile Network will deploy broadband infrastructure with sufficient bandwidth to provide high-speed, affordable, reliable connections in unserved residential and community areas.
Middle-mile infrastructure is the fiber-based infrastructure that traverses major Interstate and US Highways in a state.
Nevada’s middle mile network, which Zayo will lead, will bring service to communities with few network connectivity options. It passes through rural population centers and areas, terminating in Las Vegas and Reno.
The network, which will have two routes through Reno and Las Vegas, will enable connectivity for 40,000 underserved locations, including households, schools, libraries, and community buildings:
· US 93 Route through Las Vegas: This network build will include a $43.5 million investment from the NTIA Middle Mile Grant Program and $43.5 million funded by the Nevada Department of Transportation.
· I-80 Route through Reno: This route includes a $66 million funded by the Department of Treasury Capital Project Funds and the State of Nevada.
Five-year plan
Nevada’s middle mile and last mile broadband efforts are part of the state’s five-year Action Plan.
This plan establishes Nevada’s vision for broadband deployment and digital equity, as well as the goals and objectives, priorities, strategies, and activities the state will take.
OSIT is tasked with administering the BEAD Program in Nevada. The BEAD Program is an integral part of the High-Speed NV program.
Nevada Governor’s Office of Science, Innovation and Technology (OSIT) ensures that “every Nevadan has access to high-speed internet that is affordable, reliable, and scalable.”
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