Brightspeed Awarded $9.8 Million NJBIDE Grant to Expand High-Speed Internet in Underserved New Jersey Communities

Brightspeed Awarded $9.8 Million NJBIDE Grant to Expand High-Speed Internet in Underserved New Jersey Communities 

New funding from the New Jersey Office of Broadband Connectivity accelerates Brightspeed’s mission to close the state’s digital divide for thousands of homes and businesses 

PENNS GROVE, N.J. — July 3, 2025 — Brightspeed, the nation’s third-largest fiber broadband builder, joined the New Jersey Office of Broadband Connectivity last week to receive the New Jersey Broadband Infrastructure Deployment Equity (NJBIDE) grant – a critical step in expanding high-speed internet access to historically underserved communities across the Garden State. The $9.8 million grant will help Brightspeed deploy its state-of-the-art, high-speed fiber network in Sussex and Warren Counties. 

“High-speed internet isn’t a luxury anymore; it’s a basic need,” said John Mizerak, director of government affairs and public policy at Brightspeed. “From remote work and online learning to virtual healthcare and just staying connected with loved ones, these grants allow us to bring dependable, affordable internet to the families and businesses who need it most.”

In April, the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities (NJBPU) approved $40 million in grants that will bring broadband to more than 9,000 broadband serviceable locations (BSLs) in seven counties in the state. The grants were made possible by the NJBIDE Pilot Program.

Currently, Brightspeed’s superior internet service reaches more than 17,100 homes and businesses across Sussex and Warren Counties. The new funding will expand this critical resource to another 3,315 locations, including 1,113 businesses, 2,172 homes, and 30 community anchor institutions. 

Together, Brightspeed and the New Jersey Office of Broadband Connectivity are aligned in the mission to connect the unconnected and ensure all residents, businesses, and communities have access to affordable, high-speed internet. Read the full announcement about the start of the deployment phase here.

About Brightspeed

Headquartered in Charlotte, N.C. and with assets and associated operations in 20 states, Brightspeed provides broadband and telecommunications services through a network platform capable of serving more than 7.3 million homes and businesses. Our 4,000 employees are committed to building a future where more communities benefit from a more connected life, deploying a state-of-the-art fiber network and a customer experience that makes being connected as simple as it should be. For more information, please visit www.brightspeed.com.