Graves Applauds Rural Broadband Investment in North Missouri
WASHINGTON D.C. — Today, in Trenton, MO, U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Deputy Under Secretary for Rural Development Donald "DJ" LaVoy announced USDA has invested $60.9 million in high-speed broadband infrastructure that will create or improve e-Connectivity for more than 11,000 rural households, 81 farms, 73 businesses, 16 educational facilities, 12 critical community facilities and two health care facilities in rural Missouri.
Two of those investments are in North Missouri. Green Hills Telephone Corporation will receive a $2.6 million grant and Mid-States Services LLC will receive a $3 million loan from the USDA's ReConnect Pilot Program.
Congressman Sam Graves (MO-06) applauded the announcement.
"The lack of high speed internet in North Missouri is one of the greatest challenges we face today. Our schools, businesses and farms all depend on reliable broadband access. The ReConnect program was authorized by Congress to help address this critical need. I'm thrilled that Green Hills Telephone Corporation and Mid-States Services have received this funding and I'm glad that the USDA sees the importance of connecting rural Missouri," said Graves.
Green Hills Telephone Corporation will use a $2.6 million grant to expand its Fiber-to-the-Premises (FTTP) network to rural areas in Caldwell and Livingston counties. This investment is expected to reach 20 pre-subscribed farms, 20 pre-subscribed businesses, 546 households, a fire protection district and two educational facilities.
Mid-States Services LLC will use a $3 million loan to provide unserved and underserved members in and around Trenton, Mo., with Fiber-to-the-Home (FTTH) broadband services. This investment is expected to reach 566 households, a highway patrol office and an elementary school.
"High-speed broadband internet connectivity, or e-Connectivity, is essential today to run a successful business or agricultural operation, access specialized health care or education, and connect with loved ones living far away," Deputy Under Secretary LaVoy said. "Under the leadership of President Trump and Agriculture Secretary Perdue, USDA has made the deployment of this critical infrastructure in rural America a top priority, because we know that when rural America thrives, all of America thrives."
Background:
In March 2018, Congress provided $600 million to USDA to expand broadband infrastructure and services in rural America. On Dec. 13, 2018, Secretary Perdue announced the rules of the program, called "ReConnect," including how the loans and grants will be awarded to help build broadband infrastructure in rural America. USDA received 146 applications between May 31, 2019, and July 12, 2019, requesting $1.4 billion in funding across all three ReConnect Program funding products: 100 percent loan, 100 percent grant, and loan-grant combinations. USDA is reviewing applications and announcing approved projects on a rolling basis. Additional investments in all three categories will be made in the coming weeks.
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