Residents in rural Iowa will receive better broadband internet after the USDA invested over $7 million to the cause. | Pixabay
Residents in rural Iowa will receive better broadband internet after the USDA invested over $7 million to the cause. | Pixabay
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is spending $1.8 million and $5.4 million to implement better broadband service in rural Iowa, the Trump administration said.
This program is an effort to get better broadband internet to rural areas in Iowa that presently have poor internet connections and speed.
“USDA supports both farmers and rural communities through investments in farm operations and essential infrastructure,” USDA Under Secretary for Farm Production and Conservation Bill Northey told Aberdeen News. “Broadband is so important to farms, and other businesses as it can help improve the quality of life in rural communities and help grow rural economies.”
South Slope Cooperative Telephone Co. will use the $2.7 million ReConnect grant and a $2.7 million ReConnect loan to connect 1,984 people to better broadband internet.
Osage Municipal Utilities will use the $368,000 that it was given to connect 397 people.
C-M-L Telephone Cooperative Association will use the $744,000 ReConnect grant that it was given to finish the last-mile, fiber-to-the-premises network it has already started.
Citizens Mutual Telephone Cooperative will use the $731,500 that it was given to connect 941 people to better broadband internet.
Alerts Sign-up