A Boulder, Colorado-based company has been awarded $27.8 million from the American Rescue Plan Act to expand critical middle-mile infrastructure and help deliver equitable Internet access across Dallas County.

Zayo, a communications infrastructure provider, said the project will enable local internet service providers (ISPs) to extend high-speed internet to areas most in need, including roughly 24,000 households in Dallas County that currently lack home internet access, and serve as a catalyst for future economic growth and innovation in the region.

“Dallas County residents, and lower-income residents in particular, face significant challenges both in affording Internet services, and in obtaining the devices needed to make effective use of these services,” Dallas County Judge Clay Jenkins said in a statement. “Dallas County is committed to improving its digital infrastructure and literacy resources to enable equitable Internet access and digital opportunities for every member of the community. Our partnership will help our most in-need residents receive both affordable, high-speed internet services and the hardware to utilize them to their full potential.”

Zayo said that without adequate middle-mile infrastructure, many communities in Dallas County face deep inequities in internet access and affordability, limiting opportunities for remote work, online education, and virtual healthcare. The company said its new middle-mile fiber network in Dallas County will directly address these regional disparities in digital services via construction and upgrades of more than 60 miles of middle-mile network infrastructure across Dallas County and in up to 10 priority ZIP codes, selected based on a general needs assessment.

Other resources from Zayo

Beyond the infrastructure investment, Zayo said it’s also partnering with Houston-based national nonprofit Compudopt, which provides technology access and education to under-resourced youth and their communities. With a $150,000 investment over two years, Zayo said it will fund the distribution of 300 laptops including two years of multi-language tech support and warranties, to Dallas County students and school-aged children.

Combined with Compudopt’s digital literacy and workforce development curriculums for new Internet users, Zayo said the initiative is expected to positively impact approximately 1,500 people.

“Zayo’s work with Dallas County is a game-changer for local communities, particularly those currently without access to reliable internet,” Zayo Chief Sales Officer Brian Daniels said in a statement. “By enabling local ISPs to provide competitive services, we’re not only making internet connectivity more accessible and affordable for Dallas County residents but also opening doors for local communities to take advantage of enhanced broadband access. However, laying the infrastructure isn’t enough, which is why Zayo is also investing in the future of Dallas County, providing residents with the tools and skills needed in an increasingly connected world.”

Compudopt CEO Megan Steckly said the initiative could be a game changer for many Dallas County families.

“Though many of us use a computer every day with ease, this is not the reality for thousands of Dallas County families, some of whom have never owned an in-home device,” Steckly said. “While device accessibility is the first step toward digital equity, we must equip our communities with the knowledge and resources to make the most of their computers. Compudopt is proud to partner with Zayo and Dallas County to continue advancing our North Texas impact and laying the foundation for economic mobility.”

Zayo said the Dallas County Middle-Mile Fiber Network project comes on the heels of its recent middle-mile initiative in Nevada and the groundbreaking of its National Telecommunications and Information Administration-funded Oregon-California-Nevada route, reinforcing the company’s mission to enhance connectivity and support increased bandwidth needs in locations that need it the most.

Get on the list.
Dallas Innovates, every day.

Sign up to keep your eye on what’s new and next in Dallas-Fort Worth, every day.