Agricultural News
OKFB Welcomes $30 Million Grants for Rural Broadband
Thu, 12 Aug 2021 11:33:52 CDT
Oklahoma Farm Bureau commends the U.S. Department of Agriculture's recent announcement to invest more than $30 million dollars in broadband infrastructure in rural Oklahoma, a priority issue for the organization.
A part of the USDA's ReConnect Program, the grants will provide internet connection to1,528 households including 3,897 people and 383 farms in Oklahoma.
"The USDA's recent announcement to send more federal dollars to rural Oklahoma for broadband expansion is welcome news for Farm Bureau members," said Rodd Moesel, OKFB president. "While tremendous efforts are underway in our state to bring high-speed internet to all Oklahomans, we know it's a costly endeavor that cannot be done without significant federal investment. Fast, reliable and affordable internet is critical in ensuring our farmers, ranchers and rural communities can continue to compete in a growing world, so investments like these are imperative to our state's work to bring all Oklahomans online."
Texhoma Fiber LLC will receive a $2.6 million grant to deploy a fiber-to-the-premises network to allow 353 households, 890 people, three educational facilities, two essential community facilities, two health care facilities, 60 businesses and a farm internet connectivity.
A $2.2 million grant provided to the Southern Plains Cable LLC will be used to deploy a fiber-to-the-premises and hybrid-fiber-coax network to 123 households, 293 people, an essential community facility, seven farms and five businesses.
The ReConnect program will provide $1.8 million to Terral Telephone Company to deploy a fiber-to-the-premises including 105 households, 255 people, two educational facilities, three essential community facilities, a health care facility, 11 businesses and 74 farms.
Oklahoma Western Telephone company will utilize a $23.3 million ReConnect grant to deploy a fiber-to-the-premises network for 947 households, 2,459 people, an educational facility, two essential community facilities, 17 businesses and 301 farms.
"Generations ago, the federal government recognized that without affordable access to electricity, Americans couldn't fully participate in modern society and the modern economy," said U.S Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack. "Broadband internet is the new electricity. It is necessary for Americans to do their jobs, to participate equally in school learning and health care, and to stay connected."
To learn more about the program, visit usda.gov/reconnect.
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