This fact sheet provides information on cooperative involvement in middle mile, and the need for additional federal support. Middle mile broadband networks are critical to connecting rural America to high-speed internet, but many rural providers lack access to these networks altogether or face significant fees to connect. The 2021 Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) provided $1 billion in funding for NTIA's Middle Mile Grant Program, however the agency received significantly more requests for funding than what was made available. Given the strong need for assistance in building middle mile networks, we urge Congress to provide additional funding for NTIA's Middle Mile Grant Program.
