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High speed internet access is set to expand in Schuyler and Scotland Counties in Missouri in the coming years. The Northeast Missouri Rural Telephone Company (NEMR) has received an .8 million grant from the ReConnect Program, which is funded by the federal infrastructure law, to update the aging AT&T internet infrastructure in the area.

The project will focus on the Downing, Missouri exchange, which covers Eastern Schuyler and Western Scotland Counties. As part of the upgrades, new fiber lines will be laid and a new central office will be built in Downing. The estimated cost of the entire project is over million.

Michele Gillespie, CEO and General Manager of NEMR, emphasized the importance of grants like these due to the rising cost of such upgrades. She stated that the cost has increased significantly since the COVID-19 pandemic, reaching around ,000 to ,000 per mile. Gillespie also highlighted the potential benefits of the expansion, including attracting more people to the area and enabling opportunities like remote work, online education during weather delays, and telehealth services.

Before the work can begin, an environmental review is required, which can take up to two years depending on government schedules. The aim is to start the project by the end of 2025. It is reassuring to note that internet connection across Scotland and Schuyler Counties will not be affected during the upgrade process.

For more information about the ReConnect Program, visit their official website.

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