USDA Announces Rural Broadband Investments

The Department of Agriculture will invest $97 million in 12 rural broadband projects to improve services in 11 states. Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue announced the investment Wednesday, saying the action will expand access for 22,000 subscribers to “help grow their rural communities and America’s economy.” USDA is making the investments through the Telecommunications Infrastructure Loan Program and the Community Connect Grant Program. Through the investment, improvements are being made to rural broadband in Arizona, Iowa, Idaho, Maryland, Minnesota, Missouri, Nevada, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Wisconsin and Wyoming. USDA says investing in telecommunications infrastructure connects people to each other: businesses to customers, farmers to markets, and students to a world of knowledge. For more information, visit www.rd.usda.gov.