Overview
Middle mile infrastructure is any broadband infrastructure that does not connect directly to an end-user location. It is the "interstate highways of the Internet, carrying large amounts of data at high speeds to connect entire communities," as Assistant Secretary Davidson says.
The Middle Mile Grant Program provides funding for the expansion and extension of middle mile infrastructure across U.S. states and territories. In total, the program allocated $980 million to fund projects for the construction, improvement, or acquisition of middle mile infrastructure covering more than 370 counties across 40 states and Puerto Rico in Summer 2023. The ultimate purpose of this funding is to expand and strengthen U.S. high-speed Internet networks by reducing the cost of connecting areas that are unserved or underserved to the Internet backbone.