Federal Grant For Fiber Optics May Mean More CT Jobs

Members of Connecticut’s congressional delegation say a new federal grant to roll out broadband Internet access could result in more than a thousand jobs in the state. WNPR’s Harriet Jones reports.

Connecticut is to benefit from a $94 million grant from the Department of Commerce, the second largest grant awarded to any state in this $480 million round of funding. The cash will allow the state to deploy more than five thousand miles of fiber optic cable to upgrade and expand existing broadband infrastructure. The improvements will focus on underserved schools, community colleges, libraries and public safety facilities.

The cash is part of the federal stimulus effort, and in making the announcement, Representative Rosa DeLauro, said both short and long term employment is an important aspect of the initiative.

As workers are taken on to lay cable and install network equipment, they estimate that as many as 1,200 jobs could be either created or saved in the state.

For WNPR, I'm Harriet Jones.