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The U.S. Department of Agriculture has announced that over million will be invested in rural Missouri as part of the latest round of federal broadband spending. This funding comes from the ReConnect Program, which is distributing nearly 0 million in broadband grants and loans to rural areas in 22 states and the Marshall Islands.

The ReConnect Program aims to provide funding for internet providers to expand their services to eligible rural communities. The goal is to improve access to broadband for those who are currently underserved and difficult to reach. This round of funding will support the construction, improvement, and acquisition of facilities and equipment needed to provide broadband service.

In Missouri, the million will be allocated to three projects. Aptitude Internet Solutions will receive a .3 million loan to expand internet coverage in Osage, Maries, Phelps, Gasconade, Franklin, and Crawford counties. This project aims to benefit over 18,000 residents, 480 businesses, 1,452 farms, and 15 educational facilities. The network will be a fiber-to-home system, providing a 100 percent fiber network that will future-proof service capabilities for years to come.

Mountain View Rural Fiber will receive a .8 million grant to deploy internet fiber in Howell, Shannon, and Texas counties. The project will provide service to approximately 5,500 people, 298 businesses, 46 farms, and 29 educational facilities. The network will offer speeds of 10 Gbps.

Northeast Missouri Rural Telephone Company will receive a federal funding of .8 million to deploy fiber to Schuyler and Scotland counties, benefiting 1,188 people, 15 businesses, and 256 farms. The new service will offer speeds of 1 Gig.

These investments in broadband infrastructure aim to close the digital divide in rural Missouri and bring reliable, high-speed internet access to underserved communities. They will support economic growth and prosperity for future generations. The ReConnect funding complements the previous .7 billion investment made by the federal government in June to expand broadband in Missouri, as well as the state’s own investment from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds. Please visit usda.gov/reconnect for a map of approved and ongoing projects.

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