Zayo Group Holdings, Inc., a leading global communications infrastructure provider, announced it has been awarded $92.9 million from the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) Middle Mile Grant Program as a part of the overall national efforts to close the digital divide and bring reliable network infrastructure to all.
As the only national provider awarded in this latest round of grants from NTIA, the funds will be directed towards three separate projects from Zayo to bring network infrastructure to communities in need across eight states and over 2,100 route miles. Locations were selected on a needs-based criterion including current broadband speeds, rurality, and socio-economic indicators to identify opportunities where network investments could make the largest impact to the communities they serve.
"Zayo is deeply committed to providing connectivity to unserved and underserved communities," said Bill Long, Chief Product Officer at Zayo. "We're honored to be entrusted with these federal dollars and to partner with NTIA, state, and local communities to establish the critical middle-mile infrastructure needed to improve digital equity in these communities."
Umatilla/Northern California to Reno
Zayo plans to construct a high-capacity, middle-mile fiber route of more than 420 route miles that will traverse vast regions of rural communities in Oregon, California, and Nevada. These areas include high rates of unserved and underserved households, businesses, schools, and other community anchor institutions in need of broadband.
The project will support network infrastructure in the following cities and towns:
- Oregon: Fort Rock, La Pine, Lakeview, Lone, Mayville, Mitchell, Paisley, Prineville, and Umatilla
- California: Alturas, Spanish Springs, and Herlong
- Nevada: Panther Valley and Reno
El Paso to Dallas:
Zayo plans to construct a high-capacity, middle-mile fiber route spanning 644 route miles. The route will serve some of the most rural areas in Western Texas, stretching from El Paso to Dallas. There is currently no other similar fiber network that can serve the totality of such rural communities in this area.
The project will support network infrastructure in the following cities and towns:
- Albany, Andrews, Brad, Dallas, Dell City, Gail, Horizon City, Kermit, North Roby, Orla, and Wright
Dallas to Atlanta:
Zayo plans to deploy additional network connectivity exit ramps to unserved/underserved communities and anchor institutions along its unique, five-state route between Dallas, Texas, and Atlanta, Georgia, spanning 822 route miles. The exit ramps will support the critical needs for reliable, affordable connectivity along this route and expand digital equity opportunities including remote learning, telemedicine, and public safety communications.
The project will enable network infrastructure in the following cities and towns:
- Texas: Dallas, Hawkins, Marshall, Shreveport, and Willis Point
- Louisiana: Minden, Rayville, Ruston, and Tallulah
- Mississippi: Meridian, Clinton, and Forest
- Alabama: Eutaw, Leeds, Oxford, Vance, and Villa Rica
- Georgia: Atlanta
These projects mark the latest steps in Zayo's strategy to extend middle-mile connectivity across the U.S. Over the last five years, Zayo has built and operated over 4,000 new route-miles of long-haul fiber routes across 17 states. Through its acquisition of Education Networks of America (ENA) in 2021, Zayo is also now the largest independent provider of K-12 E-rate services in the nation, connecting almost 20,000 schools in the U.S. Zayo will continue to expand its network and services to support the growing needs of underserved communities to close the digital divide.
To learn more about the middle-mile projects from Zayo, visit https://www.zayo.com/resources/zayos-plan-to-connect-communities-using-the-ntia-middle-mile-grant.
If you're a local government, internet service provider, or institution with a community broadband need, visit https://www.zayo.com/info/zayo-middle-mile-resources to get in touch with the Zayo team.
