The USDA Rural Development is still accepting applications from “state or town governments, cooperatives, incorporated organizations, Indian Tribes and Tribal Organizations for Community Connect Grants” needing to finance the expansion of broadband internet access in rural communities.
Last October, USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack announced $190.5 million in grants and loans to make broadband and other advanced communications infrastructure improvements in rural areas. One of the first recipients of the USDA Rural Development Community Connect Broadband Grant is Lafayette, Tennessee’s North Central Telephone Cooperative (NCTC), which was awarded $1.77 million to increase connectivity for the areas residents.
The desired outcome of the grant is detailed on the USDA’s blog.
Upon completion, NCTC service area residents will have access to internet speeds ranging from 5 Megabits per second (Mbps) to a full 1 Gigabit per second (Gbps). This means businesses will be able to capitalize off of e-commerce business strategies and offer teleworking options to their employees; community members will have more efficient and reliable access to commercial and emergency services.
USDA Blog | World Accessibility in Rural America
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