USDA Highlights Rural Broadband Project

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack highlighted the newly announced Recovery Act Broadband Infrastructure project in Ohio that will receive a grant worth $1 million and a loan worth nearly $1.4 million in funding through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. Vice President Joseph Biden announced on December 17 during an event in Georgia that this project is among the first wave of broadband Recovery Act projects to be funded. Congress provided $2.5 billion in Recovery Act funding to USDA to help bring broadband services to rural un-served and underserved communities. USDA is providing the Consolidated Electric Cooperative with a grant worth $1 million and a loan worth nearly $1.4 million. These funds - which are being matched by $1.2 million from the company - will fund construction of a 166 mile 'middle mile' network that will bring major city connectivity into underserved areas of Northern Delaware County, Morrow County and the western portions of Knox and Licking Counties. This investment will offer nearly 5,000 homes in the area access to broadband service for the first time. It will affect nearly 50 local community institutions, offering libraries, schools, hospitals, community centers and fire stations a direct connection to broadband to improve their network speed and help them provide critical services. The expansion has the potential to improve the quality and lower the cost of broadband for 2000 businesses located in the service area.

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