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The Biden administration has unveiled plans to further expand internet access across rural areas of the United States by 2030. In a recent announcement, the administration revealed approximately 7 million in new grants and loans to fund the development of broadband infrastructure.

Mitch Landrieu, the White House’s infrastructure coordinator, expressed the belief that every child should have reliable internet access for remote learning, stating, “no kid should have to sit in the back of a mama’s car in a McDonald’s parking lot in order to do homework.”

These grants and loans are part of the ReConnect program led by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The latest round of funding includes 37 recipients, with a previous round in April and June awarding 1.4 million to 37 projects.

The investment in broadband infrastructure is compared to the historic electrification of rural America. The Ponderosa Telephone Co. in California received the largest award, totaling over million. Their project aims to deploy fiber networks in Fresno County, benefiting over 1,200 individuals, 12 farms, and 26 businesses.

The recipients of these awards consist of telephone cooperatives, counties, and telecommunications companies in 22 states and the Marshall Islands. At least 50% of the households in the areas receiving funding currently lack access to internet speeds considered “underserved” by the federal government, defined as speeds below 100 megabits per second download and 20 Mbps upload. The mandate for the recipients is to build networks that increase speeds to a minimum of 100 Mbps for both upload and download for all households, businesses, and farms within their service areas.

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack highlighted the potential benefits of these investments, such as economic opportunities for farmers, improved access to medical care through telemedicine, and expanded academic offerings in schools.

The Biden administration’s commitment to investing in rural America has been greeted with enthusiasm, as it recognizes the necessity for continued development and opportunity in these areas.

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