Rural America receives a boost to affordable, high speed internet access

Rural America is receiving more money to expand affordable, high-speed internet.

Ag Secretary Tom Vilsack announced more than $700 million in grants and loans to be spread out over 19 states.

“We’re announcing today the expansion of broadband access in these 19 states across 33 projects. This brings to a total of 142 projects that have been financed through this Administration under the reconnect program, helping 314,000 rural residents across nearly half the states in this country, provide access and have access to high-speed broadband. The Colorado River Indian Tribe in La Paz County, Arizona, is going to receive a $25 million grant to establish fiber-to-premise projects. Basically, this takes the fiber ultimately to the business, to the home, to the farm, to the educational facilities. Nearly 2,000 people in this county will be assisted in helped in terms of access to high-speed internet; 41 Businesses, three farms, and four educational institutions and facilities. And as Mitch indicated, with the Affordable Connectivity Program, people in this county will be able to actually access this new tool because it will be affordable for them.”

This is part of President Biden’s “Investing in America” agenda.

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