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Source: USDA, 8/11/21 Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today announced that the United
States Department of Agriculture (USDA) is investing $167 million in 12 states to deploy broadband infrastructure (PDF,
360 KB) in rural areas without sufficient access to high-speed internet.“Generations ago, the federal government recognized that without affordable access to electricity, Americans couldn’t fully participate in modern society and the modern economy. Broadband internet is the new electricity. It is necessary for Americans to do their jobs, to participate equally in school learning and health care, and to stay connected,” Secretary Vilsack said. “This is why President Biden’s American
Jobs Plan prioritizes building 'future-proof’ broadband infrastructure – like the investments we’re announcing today – in areas without sufficient access to broadband, so that we finally reach 100 percent high-speed broadband coverage.” These investments will
benefit rural people in Alaska, Arizona, Colorado, Georgia, Missouri, North
Dakota, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah and Virginia. For example, as part of today’s announcement:
- Gila Local Exchange Carrier,
Inc., which does business as Alluvion Communications, headquartered in
Chandler, Ariz., will use a $14.8 million grant to deploy a
fiber-to-the-premises network in rural Arizona. The funded service area
includes 5,547 households, 22,645 people, 142 businesses, a school, a
health care facility and six farms spread over 59 square miles.
- Central Virginia Services Inc.,
headquartered in Arrington, Va., will use a $14.1 million grant to deploy
a fiber-to-the-premises network in rural Virginia. The funded service area
includes 37 educational facilities, three health care facilities, 14 essential
community facilities, 4,139 households, 13,886 people, 193 businesses and
65 farms spread over 65 square miles.
- Altamaha Electric Membership
Corporation, headquartered in Lyons, Ga., will use a $10.6 million loan
and a $10.6 million grant to deploy a fiber-to-the-premises network in
rural Georgia. The funded service area includes 6,665 households, 18,789
people, 25 educational facilities, 17 essential community facilities, 10
health care facilities, 573 businesses and 207 farms spread over 246 square
miles.
The investments being
announced today are part of the $550 million Congress allocated to the second round of the ReConnect Program (PDF,
3.8 MB) as well as other funds made available for the program since 2018. USDA
expects to begin inviting applications for a third round of program funds in
the coming weeks. Background:USDA’s ReConnect Program provides loans and
grants to construct, improve or acquire facilities and equipment needed to
provide broadband service in eligible rural areas. To learn more about
ReConnect Program eligibility, technical assistance and recent announcements,
visit www.usda.gov/reconnect.
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