The USDA reports…

US Department of Agriculture (USDA) is providing $759 million to bring high-speed internet access to people living and working across 24 states, Puerto Rico, Guam and Palau. The investments include funding from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, which provides a historic $65 billion to expand reliable, affordable, high-speed internet to all communities across the US. The $759 million in loans and grants comes from the third funding round of the ReConnect Program, including:

Here are the awards in Minnesota:

Mille Lacs Energy Cooperative $3,788,680
This Rural Development investment will be used to deploy a fiber-to-the-home network to connect 473 people, 15 farms and nine businesses to high-speed internet in Aitkin and Crow Wing counties in Minnesota. Mille Lacs Energy Cooperative will make high-speed internet affordable by participating in the FCC’s Affordable Connectivity Program.

Tekstar Communications $12,602,274
This Rural Development investment will be used to deploy a fiber-to-the-premises network to connect 3,113 people, 171 farms, 103 businesses and a school to high-speed internet in Douglas, Otter Tail, St. Louis, Stearns and Todd counties in Minnesota. Tekstar Communications Inc. will make high-speed internet affordable by offering its “Gig Price for Life” promotion for new services. Tekstar Communications Inc. also will participate in the FCC’s Affordable Connectivity and Lifeline programs.