Promoting connectivity

remc hosts announcement of broadband expansion in indiana

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Posted on Jul 10 2022 in Miami-Cass REMC
Broadband announcement Miami-Cass
Guests at the broadband expansion announcement at the cooperative included, from left, Denny Spinner, executive director of the Office of Community and Rural Affairs; Indiana Lt. Gov. Suzanne Crouch; Miami-Cass REMC CEO Rob Schwartz; Indiana State Sen. Andy Zay; REMC member Jim Parsons; and Indiana State Sen. Ethan Manning.

Miami-Cass REMC recently had the privilege to host Lt. Gov. Suzanne Crouch and her team at its office. The group was there to announce the expansion of broadband access to more than 250 Hoosier locations spanning across 40 Indiana counties through the first round of the Office of Community and Rural Affairs’ (OCRA) Indiana Connectivity Program. 

Also in attendance was State Rep. Ethan Manning, a Logansport County Council member, along with representatives from Carroll and Cass counties’ economic development teams, Indiana Electric Cooperatives staff (service association for the state’s electric cooperatives) and several of Miami-Cass REMC’s board members. 

The Indiana Connectivity Program is designed to connect residents and businesses lacking access to broadband internet service with service providers. It also assists in the expense of extending broadband to those locations. 

As part of this program, Miami-Cass REMC’s Broadway Broadband was awarded grant money to help facilitate approximately 44 of the 250 locations. These include locations in Cass, Carroll, White and parts of Miami counties. Additional homes may also receive service if the homes are on the way to these locations.

In this first round of the program, the OCRA awarded $654,678 to internet providers throughout the state. Additional rounds of money will be awarded for a total of $2.2 million. 

Miami-Cass REMC has also been awarded an additional nearly $5.9 million in grant money from Indiana’s Next Level OCRA program to provide service to areas of Carroll, Cass, Miami and White counties, passing 1,359 homes/businesses. The Next Level program is designed to provide funds to help deploy broadband to areas which are underserved. 

While the Next Level program is used to target more generalized areas, the Indiana Connectivity Program is more targeted to specific locations. We are encouraging all of our members who are in an underserved area to make their needs known through the Indiana Connectivity Program. You can use the following website (https://indianaegms.force.com/nlc/s/login/SelfRegister) to register your specific household or business need. You can also call 833-639-8522 or scan the QR code below.

If you have any questions about these programs, contact our office at 765-473-6668, ext. 1015.

Interested in broadband internet?

Are you interested in broadband internet in your underserved area?

Go to https://indianaegms.force.com/nlc/s/login/SelfRegister to register your household or business need.

You can also call 833-639-8522 or scan the QR code below on your Smartphone.