USDA Providing $759 Million to Improve Rural Broadband Access

Ag Secretary Tom Vilsack says his agency is providing $759 million to improve internet access for people living and working in 24 states, Puerto Rico, Guam, and Palau.  The investments include funding from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law that provides $65 billion to help expand reliable, affordable, high-speed internet access to communities across the United States.

“People living in rural towns across the nation need high-speed internet to run their businesses, go to school, and connect with their loved ones,” says Vilsack. “That’s how you grow the economy, not just for rural areas, but across the nation.”

The $759 million in loans and grants comes from the third round of funding under the ReConnect Program.  Northwest locations receiving funding include:  

• Madison County, Idaho 
• Benton, Lane, Lincoln, and Polk counties in Oregon 
• And Washington’s Cowlitz County. 

So far this year, USDA has announced $1.6 billion from the third round of ReConnect funding.

Click Here for a complete list of funded projects nationwide.

If you have a story idea for the PNW Ag Network, call (509) 547-9791, or e-mail glenn.vaagen@townsquaremedia.com