Trump Administration Invests $86 Million in Rural Broadband Service in Eight States

The US Department of Agriculture (USDA) is investing $86 million in rural broadband service for 17,000 people and businesses in eight states. USDA is providing loans to six telecommunications providers to build, expand and improve broadband services in Alabama, Arkansas, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Tennessee, Texas and Wisconsin. Below are examples of projects that USDA is funding through the Telecommunications Infrastructure Loan and Loan Guarantee Program:

• The Ardmore Telephone Company Inc. is receiving a $20 million loan to install 435 miles of Fiber-to-the-Premises (FTTP) in Ardmore, New Market and Elkmont (AL); and in Minor Hill and McBurg (TN).
• The Pulaski-White Rural Telephone Cooperative is receiving a $19 million loan to install 355 miles of Fiber-to-the-Home (FTTH) technology in the Buffalo and Star City exchanges (IN).
• The Chibardun Telephone Cooperative Inc. is receiving a $10 million loan to install 328.5 miles of FTTP to serve the rural areas of the Prairie Farm and Sand Creek exchanges (WI).

Since October 2019, USDA has invested $744 million to bring high-speed broadband e-Connectivity to 172,000 households, 19,000 rural small businesses and farms, and more than 500 health care centers, educational facilities and critical community facilities in 34 states.