When handing over the notification to Mayor Rudolf Müller and representatives of the municipality of Ruderting, Federal Minister Andreas Scheuer emphasized the progress that has been made so far with the help of the federal broadband funding program. According to Scheuer, it is extremely important to provide companies with a future-proof digital infrastructure. Ulf Freienstein, Head of the Infrastructure Funding Department at aconium GmbH, the project sponsor of the federal broadband funding program, congratulated the municipality of Ruderting on the funding for the fiber optic expansion in the Ebental industrial estate. Mayor Müller expressed his sincere thanks for the excellent support during the application process and for the quick decision. Just two months after the application was submitted in May 2019, the funding for the expansion was approved. Before the construction work for the new broadband network in Ruderting can begin, the municipal council must approve the expansion and the construction contracts must be put out to public tender.
Background to the special program
In November 2018, the federal government launched the special program to promote commercial and industrial areas as well as ports and the special call to connect schools and hospitals to the broadband network. Since then, local authorities – such as municipalities or city states – districts and municipal special-purpose associations have been able to apply for funding. Applications can be submitted at any time. The funding is awarded on a first-come, first-served basis. This means that funding is awarded in the order in which applications are received. Information on the federal broadband funding program: https://www.bmvi.de/Breitbandfoerderung
Information on the special program for the promotion of commercial and industrial areas and ports on the project sponsor’s website: https://aconium.eu/kompetenzen/foerdermittelberatung/projekttraeger-breitband/gewerbegebietsfoerderung/