December Newsletter
Updates
Happy Holidays from the IBO!
Our office wants to say THANK YOU to all of our internet service providers and broadband stakeholders for your partnership throughout the year!
We can't wait to continue our work with you all in the new year!
BEAD Updates
Indiana's Broadband Equity, Access and Deployment (BEAD) awards have been approved and all awardees should have received next steps from the Indiana Broadband Office.
Before the subgrant agreements can be executed, the IBO has requested required pre-execution documentation, along with updated GIS files. All information must be submitted to the IBO via IndianaBroadband@iot.in.gov.
Our team will then be reaching out to start the subgrant agreement process.
Congratulations to all internet service providers on this incredible milestone and we thank you for your continued collaboration!
We're Hiring!
The Indiana Broadband Office is looking for a Controller to join the team!
The Controller is involved in a variety of executive duties that require discretion in the interpretation, application, and execution of agency and department policies and programs. The candidate will monitor the division's budget by ensuring compliance with spending plans, providing financial analysis and recommendations for new initiatives and policies, and ensuring expenditures are properly tracked and reflected in accounting records. All activities must comply with Federal and State regulations.
Apply now!
Resources available for BEAD Subgrantees
The National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) released a number of resources for subgrantees to prepare for BEAD Subgrant Agreements.
Resources include; guidance to help subgrantees craft their NEPA project milestone schedules, the Environmental Screening and Permitting Tracking Tool overview, BEAD FAQs, and more.
You can also find updated documents including the DRAFT Subgrant Agreement, IBO BEAD Specific Award Conditions and more on IBO’s BEAD Final Proposal webpage and check out the NEW IBO Permitting page map to stay up-to-date on county and city government offices' contact lists - a valuable tool for anyone looking to work in a county or city's Right-of-Way.
Indiana Connectivity Program Round 17 Challenge Phase Open, Round 16 is closed
The bidding phase for Round 16 of the Indiana Connectivity Program (ICP) ended December 7, 2025, and the Challenge Phase for ICP Round 17 is open through December 26.
If you are a provider and did not receive the addresses eligible for challenging this round, please reach out to the team at: NLC@ocra.IN.gov.
ICP helps Hoosier residents and business owners, often in rural areas, obtain access to reliable broadband by assisting internet providers with the expense of extending its services to unserved and underserved locations of Indiana.
Unserved or underserved home or business owners can apply to the program by entering their information into the Next Level Connections portal to initiate their interest in receiving broadband service. At least every three months, the IBO will publish to registered providers the addresses requesting service. Submitting location information into the portal does not guarantee extension of service.
If any provider is interested in participating in the Indiana Connectivity Program (ICP) moving forward, they must contact the Next Level Connections/ Indiana Connectivity Program team at NLC@ocra.IN.gov. Providers can take a look at the Instructions document here.
Broadband providers must complete their projects within nine months of the contract date.
For more information, visit the IBO website.