DELAWARE - Gov. John Carney and Lt. Governor Bethany Hall-Long announced on Monday that Delaware is receiving $107 million dollars in federal funding to connect Delaware homes and business to high-speed internet.
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According to Delaware officials, by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, Broadband Equity, Access and Deployment is a federal grant program that aims to get all Americans online by supporting partnerships between states or territories, communities, and stakeholders to build infrastructure where needed and increase adoption of high-speed internet.Â
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Milton resident Stefanie Szatkowski lives in Milton with her granddaughter, Charleigh. She says the two of them have experienced many issues with internet service at Szatkowski's home.
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"We both couldn't be connected to my internet that I pay, what...$89 dollars a month for?!" says Szatkowski.
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Szatkowski does administrative work from home so for her a strong connection is needed.
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"you want to take advantage of staying at home, and the travel time. It's just a whole different way of the world."
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During the pandemic, it was even a safety concern. "I wound up sending her during kindergarten with a mask every day to school. I didn't know if it was the right thing to do, but she couldn't work out of the home," says Szatkowski.
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Delaware State Broadband Director Roddy Flynn says through BEAD, there will be a couple of methods the state will try to provide better service, such as high-speed fiber and more cell towers. Satellite is being considered as an option as well.
"We will run a process, folks will apply to us, then the work of laying the fiber lines or putting up towers for wireless access."
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Flynn says the state has already started laying down fiber at some homes, and he hopes more towers will be built in late 2024.
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