Indiana Plans Second Round of Federal Broadband Grants
The state will launch a new bidding process for unserved locations using federal funding for internet expansion.
Updated on Oct. 15, 2026 in Telecommunications
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The Trump administration has authorized Indiana to conduct a second round of BEAD grant bidding, targeting approximately 15,000 unserved locations. This initiative follows an initial $418 million investment that will provide broadband to 122,000 homes and businesses across the state.
Why it matters
The second round aims to capture homes and businesses overlooked during the initial allocation process. By mandating a shift toward lower-cost technologies, federal officials hope to maximize the reach of remaining broadband infrastructure funds.
The second phase is restricted to unserved locations that lack speeds of at least 25 mbps download and 3 mbps upload. Providers must commit to covering at least 25% of their project costs.
The players
Trump administration
This federal executive branch is responsible for the oversight and mandate of the national BEAD program overhaul.
Strategic Management LLC
This company received a $150 million grant during the first round of Indiana broadband funding.
SpaceX
This aerospace and telecommunications company received $26.4 million in BEAD funding for its Starlink satellite service.
The details
Indiana will publish a list of potentially eligible addresses for a public challenge period before seeking new provider applications. This process incorporates federal requirements to evaluate lower-cost technology options to stretch available resources.
Timeline
June 2025: The Trump administration ordered a major BEAD program overhaul.
Fall 2026: Indiana expects some broadband construction to begin.
January or February 2027: The state expects to receive the federal list of eligible addresses.
End of 2030: All first-round broadband projects are scheduled for completion.
The Tech Race
This second-round bidding process marks a departure from original deployment strategies by prioritizing lower-cost technologies to bridge the digital divide. It positions state infrastructure efforts against the backdrop of federal mandates to increase competition among internet providers.
Residents in unserved areas may gain access to high-speed internet as the state targets locations currently lacking 25 mbps download and 3 mbps upload speeds. The public will also have the opportunity to participate in a challenge process to verify eligible addresses.
The takeaway
The addition of a second grant round provides a final opportunity for overlooked rural and underserved communities to secure broadband access. Households should monitor state announcements regarding the public challenge period to ensure their address is correctly identified as unserved.
What happens next
Indiana expects to receive the federal eligibility list for the second round of grants in January or February 2027.
Further reading
Learn more about local internet infrastructure updates on the Indiana Telecommunications page.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Indiana Public Media.
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