The Broadband Ready Communities Program was created as a tool to encourage broadband development throughout Indiana by serving as an information resource and certifying local communities as being broadband ready. The program was established by IC 5-28-28.5.

Certified Broadband Ready Communities

The following local units of government have established the necessary procedures to be certified.

If you would like more information about what procedures these communities followed, email our office: INbroadband@lg.in.gov

Broadband Task Force

The following local units of government have established a Broadband Task Force.

Are you aware of a community that has a leadership group not shown on the map? If so please contact INBroadband@lg.IN.gov

• To view sample or specific Broadband Ready Community Ordinances, please contact Earnie Holtrey at eaholtrey@sba.in.gov.
• Broadband Ready Communities and Task Force Contact Information

Broadband Development Resources

The following websites are helpful resources for communities and telecommunications companies seeking to develop broadband infrastructure in Indiana:

• Indiana Broadband Map
• Indiana Broadband Demographics 
• Indiana Department of Transportation Utility Coordination 
• Indiana Department of Natural Resources Permits
• Indiana Department of Environmental Management Permits
• Local Government Contacts
• Permitting on Federal Land 

Broadband Ready Community Certification

The Broadband Ready Community certification sends a signal to the telecommunication industry that a community has taken steps to reduce barriers to broadband infrastructure investment. While investment in broadband infrastructure is not guaranteed to follow once a community obtains the certification, reducing the regulatory hurdles that deter investment is a key step towards creating an environment ripe for broadband investment.

A local unit of government will be certified as a Broadband Ready Community if it has established a broadband deployment procedure that complies with the statutory requirements listed in IC 5-28-28.5-7.

Eligibility & Process

Any community in Indiana pursuing improved broadband access is eligible for the Broadband Ready Community certification and may apply.

The Indiana Broadband Office will certify a unit as a Broadband Ready Community if it meets the following requirements:

• Complete an application
• Upload any supporting documentation necessary to demonstrate compliance with the eight (8) statutory requirements under IC 5-28-28.5-7.

Minimum Statutory Requirements
In order to comply with statutory requirements, a unit seeking the Broadband Ready Community certification must institute procedures that provide for:

1. The appointment of a single point of contact for all matters related to broadband development projects
2. The establishment of procedures to allow for the electronic submission of all forms, applications, and documentation required for a broadband development project
3. A requirement that all permit applications are approved or denied within 10 business days after they are filed
4. An assurance that all inspections related to a broadband project will be completed in a timely and expeditious manner

These procedures must also prohibit the unit from:

5. Requiring the designation of a final contractor to complete a broadband project
6. Imposing a fee to review an application or to issue a permit on a broadband project
7. Imposing a seasonal moratorium on the issuance of permits for a project
8. Discriminating among communications service providers

How to Apply

Use the link below to submit your application. If you have questions please contact the Indiana Broadband Office at INbroadband@lg.in.gov

• Complete an application

Model Ordinance/Resolution

One way a unit can comply with the requirements of state law is to pass a resolution or ordinance establishing permit procedures.

The State of Indiana, in collaboration with the telecommunications industry and local government representatives, has created a model ordinance to assist communities in this effort. The model ordinance satisfies the minimum requirements under IC 5-28-28.5-7.|

Model Ordinance/Resolution Language

Whereas, [the unit] seeks to promote private investment in broadband infrastructure, and Whereas [the unit] seeks to be designated as a Broadband Ready Community pursuant to IC 5-28-28.5, Therefore, [the unit] adopts the following:

An Ordinance For A Broadband Ready Community

Sec. 1. As used in this chapter, "permit" means any local permit, license, certificate, approval, registration, or similar form of approval required by policy, administrative rule, regulation, ordinance, or resolution with respect to a project.

Sec. 2. As used in this chapter, "project" means the construction or deployment of wireline or wireless communications facilities to provide communications services (as defined in IC 8-1-32.5- 3) in a unit.

Sec. 3. Notwithstanding any other provision of this [unit’s ordinance, regulation, policy or practice], the following shall apply to a project:

The applicable governing body of the unit shall:

(a) appoint a single point of contact for all matters related to a project’

(b) establish procedures to allow all forms, applications, and documentation related to a project to be filed or submitted and signed by electronic means;

(c) review and approve or reject all applications for a permit related to a project within ten (10) business days after an application is filed or submitted;

(d) assure that after an application is approved pursuant to subsection (a)(3), any inspections, including any additional necessary approvals, related to a project will occur in a timely and expeditious manner.

Sec. 4. [The unit or applicable department of the unit] shall adopt adequate processes and procedures to implement the provisions of Sec. 3. Processes and procedures established hereunder may not do the following:

(a) Require an applicant to designate a final contractor to complete a project;

(b) Impose a fee to review an application or issue a permit for a project;

(c) Impose a seasonal moratorium on the issuance of permits for a project;

(d) Discriminate among communications service providers or utilities with respect to any action described in this section or otherwise related to a project, including granting access to public rights-of-way, infrastructure and poles, river and bridge crossings, and any other physical assets owned or controlled by [the unit].

Contact us

Earnie Holtrey | Deputy Director of the Indiana Broadband Office
Indiana Broadband Office
Phone: (317) 775-2660 
Email: eaholtrey@sba.in.gov