US Department of Agriculture
![](https://www.benton.org/sites/default/files/styles/thumbnail/public/usda_update_5.jpg?itok=n17NdMlM)
USDA Invests More Than $16 Million in High-Speed Broadband in Rural Mississippi
The Trump Administration announced that the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) is investing more than $16 million to provide broadband service in unserved and underserved rural areas in Mississippi. This investment is part of the $100 million in grant funding made available for the ReConnect Pilot Program through the CARES Act.
![](https://www.benton.org/sites/default/files/styles/thumbnail/public/usda_2.png?itok=AbR6vjXY)
Trump Administration Invests More Than $12.5 Million in High-Speed Broadband in Rural Georgia
The Trump Administration announced that the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) is investing more than $12.5 million to provide broadband service in unserved and underserved rural areas in Georgia. This investment is part of the $100 million in grant funding made available for the ReConnect Pilot Program through the CARES Act.
![](https://www.benton.org/sites/default/files/styles/thumbnail/public/usda_1.png?itok=sqzjLzkF)
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:
![](https://www.benton.org/sites/default/files/styles/thumbnail/public/usda_update_3.jpg?itok=5vYW4qUi)
USDA Invests $3.3 Million in High-Speed Broadband in Rural South Dakota
The US Department of Agriculture (USDA) is investing $3.3 million to provide broadband service in unserved and underserved rural areas in South Dakota. This investment is part of USDA’s round one investments through the ReConnect Pilot Program. USDA is providing the $3.3 million grant to help SDN Communications deploy fixed wireless broadband in rural areas of Pennington and Lawrence counties in South Dakota. This service area extends across 13 square miles and will provide broadband access to 275 people, 14 businesses and two farms.
USDA Invests $2 Million in High-Speed Broadband in Rural New Hampshire
US Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Sonny Perdue announced that USDA is investing $2 million to provide broadband service in unserved and underserved rural areas in New Hampshire. This funding is part of USDA’s round one investments through the ReConnect Pilot Program. USDA is providing a $2 million loan to help Granite State Telephone Inc. build fiber to provide speeds up to 1 gigabyte downstream and 1 gigabyte upstream to rural subscribers in Hillsborough, Sullivan and Cheshire counties in New Hampshire.
USDA Invests $71 Million in High-Speed Broadband for Rural Kansas and Oklahoma
US Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Sonny Perdue announced that USDA is investing $71 million to provide broadband service in unserved and underserved rural areas in Kansas and Oklahoma. This funding is part of USDA’s round one investments through the ReConnect Pilot Program.
![](https://www.benton.org/sites/default/files/styles/thumbnail/public/USDA_33.jpg?itok=Bi3DIESw)
USDA Invests $23 Million in High-Speed Broadband in Rural New Mexico
The Department of Agriculture (USDA) is investing $23 million for three recipients in New Mexico to provide broadband service in unserved and underserved rural areas. These investments are part of USDA’s round one investments made through the ReConnect Pilot Program.
![](https://www.benton.org/sites/default/files/styles/thumbnail/public/USDA_Logo_10.png?itok=ysKkw6fn)
USDA Extends ReConnect Application for Rural Broadband Funding Deadline to March 31
The US Department of Agriculture (USDA) has extended the deadline for ReConnect Pilot Program applications to March 31. “By extending the ReConnect Program application deadline, we are helping even more qualified organizations access the essential funding to make high-speed broadband connectivity a reality for rural communities across America,” USDA Deputy Under Secretary for Rural Development Bette Brand said.
Educational Opportunities Spread with Broadband Expansion in Rural America
As a former teacher, education and its long-reaching benefits are dear to my heart. While joining Deputy Under Secretary Donald “DJ” LaVoy at Lindsey Wilson College in Columbia (KY) to announce over $55.3 million in ReConnect funding, I thought of the impact this funding would have on the education of our fellow Kentuckians. While it is true that rural communities stand to benefit from broadband expansion in a number of ways, its ability to help close the very real digital divide between rural and urban America is a shining promise to the future for all Americans.
![](https://www.benton.org/sites/default/files/styles/thumbnail/public/USDA_Logo_9.png?itok=XdmMBFgm)
USDA Invests Nearly $10 Million for Broadband in Maine’s Rural, Coastal and Island Communities
The US Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced a $9.87 million investment in four infrastructure projects that will create or improve rural e-Connectivity for 4,527 households and 215 businesses in rural Maine. USDA announced the following projects: