USDA Broadband Stimulus Awards for 4 States

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced the funding of new Recovery Act broadband infrastructure projects that will create jobs and provide access to improved Internet service to rural residents in northern Mississippi, central Arkansas, eastern Colorado, and southwest Nevada.

A $2.63 million award will allow The Digital Bridge Corporation to bring affordable, fourth-generation broadband services to rural portions of Panola and Quitman Counties (MS) lacking high-speed access. The network stands to benefit approximately 18,200 people, more than 1,300 businesses, and 87 community institutions where 74 percent of the premises are without high-speed access. The project will cover 191 square miles. In addition to the six jobs created or retained, the company estimates this project will create, it will provide a foundation for economic growth and job creation for decades to come. Funding is contingent upon the recipient meeting the terms of the loan, grant or loan/grant agreement.

The $7.3 million award for Arkansas, with more than $2.4 million in private investment, will allow The Windstream Corporation to provide digital telephone, high-speed Internet and high-definition video and entertainment services to residential and business customers. The network stands to benefit approximately 15,000 people, more than 330 businesses and 33 anchor institutions that otherwise may never enjoy the benefits of broadband. In addition to the 122 jobs created or retained, the company estimates this project will create, it will provide a foundation for economic growth and job creation for decades to come.

In Colorado a 791,947 award, matched by $245,510 in private funding, will allow The Willard Telephone Company to upgrade its facilities to offer Fiber to the Home in the Willard Community, a non-designated community in northeastern Colorado. The network stands to benefit approximately 1,900 people, eight businesses, a fire department, and two military facilities, all of which lack high-speed Internet access. The project will cover 132 square miles with 93 miles of fiber-optic cable. This area of farm and ranch land has an average density of 0.7 premises per square mile. In addition to the 11 jobs the company estimates this project will create, it will provide a foundation for economic growth and job creation for decades to come.

Finally, in Nevada, a $7.75 million award, matched by $148,500 in private contribution, will allow the Arizona Nevada Tower Corporation to offer a state-of-the-art microwave radio backbone and middle-mile system to provide significant bandwidth to WISPS, anchor institutions and enterprise users. The project will provide highly reliable and scalable broadband transport to enhance existing fiber-optic cable or where fiber-optic cable is not available to serve users living outside of Washoe and Clark counties. Approximately 41,000 people stand to benefit, as do approximately 186 businesses and community institutions in 15 service areas. In addition to the eight jobs the company estimates this project will create, it will provide a foundation for economic growth and job creation for decades to come.