IARN — The Trump Administration this week announced that the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) is investing $5.4 million to provide broadband service in unserved and underserved rural areas in Iowa. This investment is part of the $550 million Congress allocated to the second round of the ReConnect Program.
“USDA supports both farmers and rural communities through investments in farm operations and essential infrastructure,” USDA Under Secretary for Farm Production and Conservation Bill Northey said. “Broadband is so important to farms, and other businesses as it can help improve the quality of life in rural communities and help grow rural economies.”
South Slope Cooperative Telephone Company will use a $2.7 million ReConnect grant and a $2.7 million ReConnect loan to deploy a fiber-to-the-premises network to connect 1,984 people, 147 farms and 26 businesses to high-speed broadband internet in Iowa and Johnson counties in Iowa.
(Story from USDA)
Reprinted courtesy of the Iowa Agribusiness Radio Network
