Federal grants for internet | digital divide

WASHINGTON, D.C. – In an effort to close the internet’s digital divide, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) awarded $502 million in loans and grants to provide high-speed internet access for residents on Tribal land and in rural areas, as well as schools and businesses across 20 states.

“High-speed internet will improve the rural economy. It will help rural businesses grow and get access to new markets. It will help rural residents get access to more and better health care and educational opportunities,” saidUSDA Secretary Tom Vilsack.

The states receiving the awards are Alabama, Alaska, California, Colorado, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, North Carolina, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Oregon, Tennessee, Texas and Wyoming.

According to the press release, “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.”

Some of the funding examples include:

Michigan’s Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians to connect 1,217 residents and 26 businesses to high-speed internet.
15 public schools, 300 businesses and more will be able to connect to the internet in Barton County, MO.
7,093 people, 230 businesses, six farms and 29 schools will be able to connect to high-speed internet in Oklahoma’s Caddo, Comanche, Cotton and Grady counties.

Need help connecting to the internet?

The federal government’s Affordable Connectivity Program allows eligible households to get high-speed internet for free in partnership with internet service providers.

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Written by:

Robin Layton

Editor, Broadband Content

Robin Layton is an editor with Allconnect. She works closely with the content team writers to ensure consumers get a fair and balanced reporting of the state of broadband services to help them understand the pro… Read more