News

The Biden administration is taking further steps to achieve internet access for all Americans by 2030. As part of this initiative, they have announced approximately 7 million in grants and loans to develop more broadband infrastructure in rural areas of the United States. Mitch Landrieu, the White House Infrastructure Coordinator, expressed the importance of this investment, stating, “We believe no child should have to sit in the back of their mother’s car in the McDonald’s parking lot to do homework.”

This funding represents the fourth round of financing under the program known as ReConnect, administered by the USDA. Previously, in April and June, 37 projects received 1.4 million in grants and loans. Landrieu emphasized that the money invested through federal broadband programs, including the recent announcement and the .5 billion infrastructure program revealed earlier in the summer, will lead to the “electrification of America.”

Ponderosa Telephone in California received the largest grant of over million to expand fiber-optic networks in Fresno County. This effort alone is expected to benefit more than 1,200 individuals, 12 farms, and 26 other businesses, according to the USDA. The recipients of these new awards, including telephone cooperatives, counties, and telecommunications companies, are based in 22 states and the Marshall Islands.

At least 50% of households in the areas receiving funding currently lack access to the federal government’s defined broadband standards of 100 megabits per second for download and 20 megabits per second for upload. The objective for the grant recipients is to build networks that increase these speeds to a minimum of 100 Mbps for both upload and download per household, business, and farm within their service areas.

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack highlighted the potential benefits of these investments, such as opening new economic opportunities for farmers, improving access to medical professionals through telemedicine for those without adequate healthcare access, and expanding academic offerings, including advanced placement courses in high schools.

Vilsack expressed his satisfaction with the administration’s commitment to investing in rural America to create more opportunities. These initiatives aim to bridge the digital divide and ensure that every American has access to reliable and high-speed internet connectivity.

The post The Biden Administration Announces 7 Million in Grants and Loans for Rural Broadband Infrastructure appeared first on ISP Today.