Thousands of additional workers will be needed to build out infrastructure associated with tens of billions of dollars in funding from eight recent government broadband infrastructure deployment programs, the Federal government’s chief watchdog agency said.

Connecticut Gov. Ned Lamont announced that the state is receiving approximately $5 million through two grant awards from the U.S. Department of Commerce to help develop a plan that will identify and expand access to affordable, high-speed internet, as well as ways to develop skills needed to engage in a digital society.

Following the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) releasing the updated National Broadband Map, West Virginia officials are asking residents to report any inaccuracies about their internet service.

In a bid to close the digital divide, Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey is engaging in a series of statewide meetings as part of a new initiative, the Alabama Community Broadband Technical Assistance Program (TAP).

Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear announced that the application window for $206 million in grant funding to expand high-speed internet access is now open.

The Biden administration said it will set up a new Tribal communications and technology office, while the Commerce Department approved another $73 million of funding grants to expand broadband service on Tribal lands.

The Pennsylvania Broadband Development Authority has released the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania’s Statewide Broadband Plan. Gov. Tom Wolf said the plan “addresses both the immediate needs and long-term needs of Pennsylvanians.”

New York state is challenging the accuracy of the Federal Communications Commission’s (FCC) broadband data and has submitted more than 31,000 unserved or underserved addresses from across the state under the FCC’s Broadband Data Collection challenge process.

In a bid to improve internet access for underserved households, the Maryland Board of Public Works approved a contract of up to $30 million for the Office of Statewide Broadband to provide laptops for an estimated 150,000 underserved households in the state. The contract is part of the state’s larger Connect Maryland initiative.

As part of the state’s push to expand broadband access, the Indiana Farm Bureau (INFB) is encouraging residents to take the Indiana Speed Test before the end of the year to ensure accurate broadband mapping data.