Disconnected: DEEP discusses broadband

LITCHFIELD — “Here is one of the biggest hot spots in the state for unserved and underserved addresses,” said Nadya Hoolahan from the Office of Telecommunications and Broadband at the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP).

In 2023, towns in the Northwest Corner remain notable behind the majority of the state when it comes to available high-speed internet. On Thursday, Oct. 26, representatives from DEEP hosted an informational forum on the subject.

The audience of 18 was primarily composed of residents without broadband internet, several of whom were members of the Sharon Connect Task Force, which set out to properly map connectivity levels of every home in town. 

In Sharon, Hoolahan pointed out on the interactive map on broadbandmaps.ct.gov, 0% of homes meet the standard set by the state for high-speed internet.

“That’s a problem for us,” said Hoolahan.

Connecticut has set a goal of achieving universal one gigabit-per-second download speeds and 100 megabit-per-second upload speeds by 2028. 

To achieve the state’s connection goals, two distinct funding streams are in place to bridge the gap in unserved and underserved locations: $144 million will come from Broadband Equity, Access and Deployment (BEAD) and $41 million from the America Rescue Plan Act (ARPA).

The money will initially be allocated to areas that have demonstrated a severe lack of coverage, meaning accurate documentation of internet speeds is necessary in order for towns to receive funding. Aside from Sharon, the bulk of mapping information in the Northwest Corner has been provided by internet service providers (ISP) up to this point.

Audience members took issue with this, stating that ISPs have not given accurate information of speeds in the area. 

“It’s like asking the Catholic priest how child molestation is going,” said Katherine Keifer, Salisbury resident and candidate for selectman.

Individuals can “challenge” current information if they verify a notable difference in download/upload speeds with at-home speed tests. Independent challenges can be submitted through Dec. 28, after which time challenges can only be submitted through a municipal government or regional Council of Governments.

“When we get to the BEAD program, this official challenge process, the window will close for the status of the FCC map, which will dictate where BEAD funding goes,” said Kevin Pisacich, director of DEEP’s Office of Telecommunications and Broadband.

DEEP encouraged residents who believe that their internet speeds are slower than what has been mapped to independently submit connectivity reports on broadbandmaps.ct.gov.

A grassroots effort to properly map high-speed internet availability is precisely what the Sharon Connect Task Force accomplished.

Jill Drew, co-chair of Sharon Connect Task Force, said the group set out to improve broadband coverage in Sharon. The group has collected data on every address and telephone pole in Sharon to accurately map connectivity in the town. 

“We did it with all volunteers,” said Drew. “It took over a year, it was very time consuming.”

While larger municipalities in the state are often able to outsource data collection to professionals, in rural Connecticut the burden has fallen on individuals and volunteer groups. 

Those seeking to comment on the map can contact David Lukens, broadband mapping coordinator at the Office of Policy Management, at david.lukens@ct.gov.

Volume 1 of the Initial Proposal for BEAD funding has been posted online and is open for public comment through Nov. 17. This volume lays out goals of the program and provides more information on the challenge process. 

Visit www.tinyurl.com/3a6j3v3b to see Volume 1 of the proposal.

Volume 2, expected to be published in November, will give information on remaining requirements including the selection process, performance measures, and deployment projects. Volume 2 will also have a 30-day public comment period. Comments on the BEAD Initial Proposal should be submitted via email to DEEP.Broadband@ct.gov for review.