U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Tom Vilsack today announced that the Department is awarding $502 million in loans and grants (PDF, 221 KB) to provide high-speed internet access for rural residents and businesses in 20 states. The funding is part of the Biden-Harris Administration’s commitment to investing in rural infrastructure and providing reliable, affordable, high-speed internet for all. USDA is making the investments through the third funding round of the ReConnect Program. The Department will make additional investments for rural high-speed internet in the coming months, including funding from President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, which provides a historic $65 billion investment to expand affordable, high-speed internet to all communities across the U.S.
Three of the grants include communities in Minnesota…
Winnebago Cooperative Telephone Association
Loan: 12,556,772
Grant: $12,556,772
This Rural Development investment will be used to deploy a fiber-to-the home network. This network will connect 3,597 people, 80 businesses and 458 farms to high-speed internet in Freeborn County in Minnesota. Winnebago Cooperative Telephone Association will make high-speed internet affordable by participating in the FCC’s Affordable Connectivity and Lifeline programs
Upsala Cooperative Telephone Association
Loan: $3,275,879
Grant: $3,275,879
his Rural Development investment will be used to deploy a fiber-to-the-premises network. This network will connect 1,595 people, 32 businesses, 101 farms, and one educational facility to high-speed internet in Morrison, Stearns, and Todd counties in Minnesota. Upsala Cooperative Telephone Association will make high-speed internet affordable by participating in the FCC’s Affordable Connectivity Program by providing low-income consumers who qualify up to $30 monthly service credit
Spring Grove Communications
Loan: $5,707,048
Grant: $5,707,048
This Rural Development investment will be used to deploy a fiber-to-the-premises network. This network will connect 983 people, 42 businesses, and 122 farms to high-speed internet in Allamakee and Winneshiek counties in Iowa and Houston County in Minnesota. Spring Grove Communications will make high-speed internet affordable by participating in the FCC’s Affordable Connectivity and Lifeline programs
Blandin on Broadband 