USDA Announces Second Round ReConnect Broadband Program Awards

October 16, 2020 – So far, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has awarded funding to 40 rural broadband projects in 23 U.S. states through the second round of its ReConnect Program. The funded service areas for these 40 awards include a total of 56,484 households. This brings total second round funding to $345,189,017. Nine of the ReConnect Program second round awards received funding from the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act).

For comparison purposes, USDA made 73 awards totaling $698,036,513 in the ReConnect Program’s first round. To date, total first and second round ReConnect Program awarded funding stands at $1,043,225,530.

The ReConnect Program’s second round application window opened on January 31, 2020, and closed on April 15, 2020. USDA received 172 round two applications seeking $1.57 billion in funding to provide or upgrade rural broadband service across 41 states.

Congress appropriated $1.3 billion for the first and second rounds of the ReConnect Program. USDA made $550 million available for the second round, which includes up to $200 million for grants, up to $200 million for 50/50 grant/loan combinations, and up to $200 million for low-interest loans.

Below are summaries of the 40 second round awards made as of October 16, 2020.

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USDA Announces $252,000 ReConnect Program Broadband Award In Rural Wyoming

October 16, 2020 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture has announced a $252,000 ReConnect Program broadband grant has been awarded to Union Telephone Company in rural Wyoming. Union Telephone will receive a $252,786 ReConnect grant to deploy a fixed-wireless network to connect 106 people, seven businesses, a post office, a fire station, and a farm to high-speed broadband service in Carbon, Sweetwater, and Fremont counties in Wyoming. The funded service area includes 49 households spread over 30.46 square miles. This grant is the 40th award made under the second round of the ReConnect Program. It brings the total funding awarded in the second round to $345,189,017.

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USDA Announces $750,000 ReConnect Program Broadband Award In Rural Pennsylvania

October 15, 2020 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture has announced a $750,000 ReConnect Program broadband loan has been awarded to Youngsville Television Corporation d/b/a Blue Fiber Corp. in rural Pennsylvania. Blue Fiber will receive a $750,000 ReConnect loan to deploy a fiber-to-the-premises network to connect 685 people, 34 businesses, eight farms, two educational facilities, two town halls, a post office, and a fire station to high-speed broadband service in Crawford County, Pennsylvania. The funded service area includes 237 households spread over 7.1 square miles. This loan is the 39th award made under the second round of the ReConnect Program.

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USDA Announces $6 Million ReConnect Program Broadband Award In Rural South Dakota – SDN Communications

October 15, 2020 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture has announced a $6 million ReConnect Program broadband grant has been awarded to South Dakota Network, LLC d/b/a SDN Communications in rural South Dakota. SDN Communications will receive a $6 million ReConnect grant to deploy a fixed-wireless network to connect 1,112 people, 16 businesses and three farms to high-speed broadband service in Pennington and Lawrence counties in South Dakota. The funded service area includes 49 households spread over 30.46 square miles. This grant is the 38th award made under the second round of the ReConnect Program.

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USDA Announces $1.5 Million ReConnect Program Broadband Award In Rural South Dakota

October 14, 2020 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture has announced a $1.5 million ReConnect Program broadband grant has been awarded to Alliance Communications Cooperative Inc. in rural South Dakota. Alliance Communications will receive a $1.5 million grant to deploy a fiber-to-the-premises network to connect 1,176 people, 19 businesses and 30 farms to high-speed broadband service in Lincoln and Turner counties in South Dakota. The funded service areas include 413 households spread over 23.28 square miles. The total project cost is $3,176,366. The award was made under the loan and grant combination category, but Alliance Communications substituted the 50% loan amount with matching funds of $1,588,183. This is the 37th award made under the second round of the ReConnect Program.

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USDA Announces $10.8 Million ReConnect Program Broadband Award In Rural Montana

October 14, 2020 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture has announced a $10.8 million ReConnect Program broadband loan and grant combination has been awarded to Project Telephone Company in rural Montana. Project Telephone will receive a $5.4 million ReConnect grant and $5.4 million ReConnect loan to deploy a fiber-to-the-premises network to connect 2,182 people, 160 farms, and 67 businesses to high-speed broadband service in Big Horn, Stillwater, and Carbon counties in Montana. The funded service areas include 943 households spread over 548.94 square miles. This loan and grant combination is the 36th award made under the second round of the ReConnect Program.

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USDA Announces Three ReConnect Program Broadband Awards In Idaho, Oregon, & Nevada Totaling $43.2 Million

October 14, 2020 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture has announced that three ReConnect Program broadband awards have been made in Idaho, Oregon, and Nevada totaling $43.2 million.

Midvale Telephone Company will receive a $5.4 million ReConnect grant and $5.4 million ReConnect loan to deploy a fiber-to-the-premises network to connect 236 people, 15 businesses, four farms, and one fire station to high-speed broadband service in Washington, Custer, Blaine, Valley and Idaho counties in Idaho.

Direct Communications Rockland Inc. will receive a $9.8 million ReConnect grant and a $9.8 million ReConnect Loan to deploy a fiber-to-the-premises network to connect 2,064 people, 118 farms, 30 businesses, a post office, and a fire station to high-speed broadband service in Bear Lake, Power, Franklin and Oneida counties in Idaho.

Oregon-Idaho Utilities Inc. will receive a $12.8 million ReConnect grant to deploy a fiber-to-the-premises network to connect 612 people, 75 farms, and three businesses to high-speed broadband service in Owyhee County, Idaho; Malheur County, Oregon; and Humboldt and Elko counties in Nevada.

These are the 33rd, 34th, and 35th awards made under the second round of the ReConnect Program.

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USDA Announces $5.5 Million ReConnect Program Broadband Award In South Dakota

October 14, 2020 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture has announced a $5.5 million ReConnect Program broadband grant has been awarded to Valley Telecommunications Cooperative Association Inc. in rural central South Dakota. Valley Telecommunications will receive a $5.5 million grant to deploy a fiber-to-the-premises network to connect 1,561 people, 30 businesses, 185 farms, three essential community facilities and six educational facilities to high-speed broadband service in Beadle, Brookings, Clark, Kingsbury, and Moody counties in South Dakota. The funded service areas include 599 households spread over 260.21 square miles. This is the 32nd award made under the second round of the ReConnect Program.

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USDA Announces Two ReConnect Program Broadband Awards In Rural Illinois Totaling $46.4 Million

October 13, 2020 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture has announced that two ReConnect Program broadband awards have been made in rural Illinois.

Hamilton County Telephone Co-op will receive a $20 million ReConnect grant and a $20 million ReConnect loan to deploy a fiber-to-the-premises network to connect 19,749 people, 462 businesses, 347 farms, 16 educational facilities, three post offices, and four fire stations to high-speed broadband service in Saline, Williamson, Franklin, and White counties in Illinois.

Flat Rock Telephone Co-op Inc. will receive a $3.2 million ReConnect grant and a $3.2 million ReConnect loan to deploy a fiber-to-the-premises network to connect 1,460 people, 50 farms, 13 businesses, and a fire station to high-speed broadband service in Crawford and Lawrence counties in Illinois.

These are the 30th and 31st awards made under the second round of the ReConnect Program.

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USDA Announces Two ReConnect Program Broadband Awards In Rural Alaska Totaling $46.5 Million

October 13, 2020 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture has announced that two ReConnect Program broadband awards have been made in rural Alaska.

AP&T Wireless Inc. will receive a $21.5 million ReConnect grant to deploy a fiber-to-the-premises network to connect 225 people, 32 businesses, an educational facility, a post office, and a fire station to high-speed broadband service in Prince of Wales-Hyder Census Area, Alaska.

Unicom Inc. will receive a $25 million ReConnect grant to deploy a fiber-to-the-premises network to connect 7,441 people, 310 businesses, 10 educational facilities, seven post offices, four fire stations, and a city hall to high-speed broadband service in Kodiak Island Borough, Lake and Peninsula Borough, Aleutians East Borough and Aleutians West Census Area in Alaska.

These are the 28th and 29th awards made under the second round of the ReConnect Program.

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USDA Announces $5.4 Million ReConnect Program Broadband Award In Rural Iowa

October 13, 2020 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture has announced a $5.4 million ReConnect Program broadband loan and grant combination has been awarded to South Slope Cooperative Telephone Company in rural Iowa. South Slope will receive a $2.7 million grant and a $2.7 million loan to deploy a fiber-to-the-premises network to connect 1,984 people, 147 farms, and 26 businesses to high-speed broadband service in Iowa and Johnson counties in Iowa. The funded service area includes 763 households spread over 74.29 square miles. This loan/grant combo is the 27th award made under the second round of the ReConnect Program.

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USDA Announces $6.3 Million ReConnect Program Broadband Award In Rural Colorado

October 13, 2020 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture has announced a $6.3 million ReConnect Program broadband grant has been awarded to Emery Telecommunications & Video Inc. in rural Colorado. Emery will receive a $6.3 million ReConnect grant to deploy a fiber-to-the-premises network to connect 1,638 people, 91 farms, 52 businesses, three fire stations, and two post offices to high-speed broadband service in Dolores, San Miguel, and Montezuma counties in Colorado. The funded service areas include 684 households spread over 354.54 square miles. This grant is the 26th award made under the second round of the ReConnect Program.

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USDA Announces Five ReConnect Program Broadband Awards In Rural Tennessee Totaling Nearly $17 Million

October 8, 2020 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture has announced that five ReConnect Program broadband grants totaling nearly $17 million have been awarded in Tennessee.

Volunteer Energy Cooperative will receive a $3.7 million ReConnect grant to deploy a fiber-to-the-premises network to connect 2,687 people, 79 farms and nine businesses to high-speed broadband service in Meigs County, Tennessee.

Ben Lomand Holdings, Inc. will receive a $1.9 million ReConnect grant to deploy a fiber-to-the-premises network to connect 152 people, 33 farms, and one business to high-speed broadband service in Cumberland County, Tennessee.

Highland Communications, LLC will receive a $6.4 million ReConnect grant to deploy a fiber-to-the-premises network connecting 2,908 people, 73 farms, 25 businesses, eight educational facilities, and a fire station to high-speed broadband service in Campbell County, Tennessee.

DeKalb Telephone Cooperative, Inc. will receive a $2.2 million ReConnect grant to deploy a fiber-to-the-premises network to connect 2,053 people, 65 farms and 17 businesses to high-speed broadband service in Smith, Trousdale, and Wilson counties in Tennessee.

West Tennessee Telephone Company, Inc. will receive a $2.7 million ReConnect Grant to deploy a fiber-to-the-premises network to connect 2,940 people, 40 farms, five businesses, and a fire station to high-speed broadband service in Carroll County, Tennessee.

A total of 25 awards have now been made under the second round of the ReConnect Program.

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USDA Announces $3 Million ReConnect Program Broadband Award In Rural Wisconsin

October 8, 2020 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture has announced a $3 million ReConnect Program broadband grant has been awarded to Ntera, LLC in Wisconsin. Ntera will receive a $3,095,922 grant to deploy a fiber-to-the-premises network to connect 2,044 people, 33 farms, and 33 businesses to high-speed broadband service in Chippewa, Rusk, and Taylor counties in Wisconsin. The funded service areas include 746 households spread over 26.28 square miles. The grant combo is the 20th award made under the second round of the ReConnect Program.

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USDA Announces $1 Million ReConnect Program Broadband Award In Rural Indiana

October 7, 2020 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture has announced a $1 million ReConnect Program broadband grant has been awarded to Tipmont Rural Electric Membership Corporation in rural Indiana. Tipmont Rural Electric will receive a $1,040,872 grant to deploy a fiber-to-the-premises network to connect 279 people, 10 businesses and 16 farms to high-speed broadband service in Indiana’s Fountain County. The funded service area includes 109 households spread over 12.37 square miles. This grant is the 19th award made under the second round of the ReConnect Program.

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USDA Announces Three ReConnect Program Broadband Awards In Rural Arkansas Totaling $11.8 Million

October 7, 2020 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture has announced three ReConnect Program broadband grants totaling $11.8 million have been awarded to provide broadband service in rural areas in Arkansas.

Mountain View Telephone Company (MVTC) will receive a $2.9 million ReConnect grant to deploy a fiber-to-the-premises network connecting 1,331 people, 39 farms, six businesses, two fire stations, and one post office to high-speed broadband in Stone County, Arkansas.

Northern Arkansas Telephone Company (NATCO) will receive a $4.7 million ReConnect grant to deploy a fiber-to-the-premises network to connect 1,202 people, 68 farms, and six businesses to high-speed broadband service in Marion County, Arkansas.

Arkansas Telephone Company (ATC) will receive a $4.1 million grant to deploy a fiber-to-the-premises network to connect 491 people, 92 farms, and four businesses to high-speed broadband service in Pope and Van Buren counties in Arkansas.

These three grants are the 16th, 17th, and 18th awards made under the second round of the ReConnect Program.

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USDA Announces $3.8 Million ReConnect Program Broadband Award In Rural Indiana

October 6, 2020 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture has announced a $3.8 million ReConnect Program broadband loan/grant combination has been awarded to Jackson County Rural Electric Membership Corporation in Indiana. Jackson County Rural Electric will receive a $1.9 million loan and a $1.9 million grant to deploy a fiber-to-the-premises broadband network to connect 4,881 people, 198 farms, and 36 businesses to high-speed Internet access in Jackson and Lawrence counties in Indiana. The funded service area includes 1,927 households and one essential community facility spread over 117.26 square miles. The loan/grant combo is the 15th award made under the second round of the ReConnect Program. It brings the total funding awarded in the second round to $138,389,797.

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USDA Announces $4.6 Million ReConnect Program Broadband Award In Mississippi

October 5, 2020 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture has announced a $4.6 million ReConnect Program broadband grant has been awarded to Bay Springs Telephone Company, Inc. in Mississippi. Bay Springs will receive a $4.6 million grant to deploy a fiber-to-the-premises network to connect 5,139 people, 69 businesses, 77 farms, three fire stations, two post offices, two health care facilities, and five educational facilities to high-speed broadband in Jasper, Jones, Newton, Lauderdale, and Smith counties in Mississippi. The funded service areas include 2,037 households spread over 96.71 square miles. The grant is the 14th award made under the second round of the ReConnect Program.

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USDA Announces $1.7 Million ReConnect Program Broadband Award In South Dakota And Wyoming

September 29, 2020 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture has announced a $1.7 million ReConnect Program broadband grant has been awarded to Golden West Telecommunications Cooperative, Inc. in rural southwestern South Dakota and eastern Wyoming. Golden West will receive a $1.7 million grant to deploy a fiber-to-the-premises network that will connect 218 people, five businesses, 65 farms, and one essential community facility to high-speed broadband service in Fall River and Custer counties in South Dakota, and Niobrara and Weston counties in Wyoming. The funded service area includes 100 households and one essential community facility spread over 404.74 square miles. The grant is the 13th award made under the second round of the ReConnect Program. It brings the total funding made in the second round to $129,781,192.

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USDA Announces $7.5 Million ReConnect Program Broadband Award In South Carolina

September 17, 2020 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture has announced a $7.5 million ReConnect Program broadband loan has been awarded to OneTone Telecommunications in rural South Carolina. OneTone Telecommunications will receive a $7.5 million loan to deploy a fiber-to-the-premises network that will connect 12,938 people, 29 businesses, and three educational facilities to high-speed broadband internet in Anderson and Oconee counties in South Carolina. The funded service area includes 5,263 households spread over 2.67 square miles. The loan is the 12th award made under the second round of the ReConnect Program. This brings the total funding made in the second round to $128,049,562.

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USDA Announces $21.6 Million ReConnect Program Broadband Award In North Carolina

September 11, 2020 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture has announced a $21.6 million ReConnect Program broadband grant has been awarded to Atlantic Telephone Membership Corporation in rural North Carolina. ATMC will receive a $21.6 million grant to construct a fiber-to-the-premises network which will bring high-speed broadband internet access to 17,424 people, 209 farms, 285 businesses, 19 educational facilities, nine health care facilities, seven fire stations, and seven post offices in Pender County. The funded service area includes 6,853 households spread over 539.44 square miles. The grant is the 11th award made under the second round of the ReConnect Program.

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USDA Announces $2.3 Million ReConnect Program Broadband Award In North Carolina

September 10, 2020 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture has announced a $2.3 million ReConnect Program broadband grant has been awarded to Randolph Telephone Membership Corporation in rural North Carolina. RTMC will receive a $2.3 million grant to deploy a fiber-to-the-premises network to bring high-speed broadband internet access service to 3,333 people, 17 farms, 26 businesses, and nine educational facilities in northern Moore County. The funded service area includes 1,302 households spread over 16.24 square miles. The grant is part of the $100 million Congress allocated to the ReConnect Program through the CARES Act, and is the 10th award made in the second round of USDA’s ReConnect Program.

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USDA Announces $9.8 Million ReConnect Program Broadband Award In Tennessee

September 9, 2020 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture has announced a $9.8 million ReConnect Program broadband grant and loan combination has been awarded to Ardmore Telephone Company in rural Tennessee. Ardmore Telephone Company will receive a $4.9 million grant and a $4.9 million loan to deploy a fiber-to-the-premises network to connect high-speed broadband internet access service to 4,005 people, 263 farms, 28 businesses, four educational facilities, and one fire station in Benton, Giles and Lincoln counties in Tennessee. The funded service area includes 1,658 households spread over 128.55 square miles. Funding for the award was allocated through the CARES Act and from the $550 million available in the second round of ReConnect Program.

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USDA Announces $9 Million ReConnect Broadband Program Award In Virginia

August 31, 2020 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture has announced that Scott County Telephone Cooperative in rural Virginia has received a $9 million ReConnect Pilot Program grant. Scott County Telephone Cooperative will use the $9 million grant to deploy a fiber-to-the-premises network connecting 7,496 people, 416 farms, 97 businesses, a fire station, a town hall, and two educational facilities to high-speed broadband internet in Scott County, Virginia. The funded service area includes 3,005 households and 195.88 square miles.

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USDA Announces $2.9 Million ReConnect Broadband Program Award In Missouri

August 19, 2020 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture has announced that Big River Broadband in rural Missouri has received a $2.9 million ReConnect Pilot Program award made through the CARES Act. Big River Broadband will use the $2.9 million grant to deploy a fiber-to-the-premises network connecting 4,839 people, 54 farms, 27 businesses, two public schools, and one fire station to high-speed broadband internet in Cape Girardeau County, Missouri. The funded service area includes 1,746 households and 28.11 square miles. USDA received 11 Round Two ReConnect Program applications that are eligible for the $100 million Congress allocated to the program through the CARES Act.

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USDA Announces Two ReConnect Broadband Program Awards In Oklahoma Totaling $29 Million

August 6, 2020 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture has announced two ReConnect Pilot Program awards made through the CARES Act in Oklahoma totaling $29 million.

Pioneer Telephone Cooperative of Oklahoma received a $24.2 million grant to deploy a fiber-to-the-premises network that will connect 4,480 people, 595 farms, 44 businesses, and two fire stations to high-speed broadband Internet in Blaine, Dewey, Ellis and Kingfisher counties. The funded service area covers 1,832 households and over 826.04 square miles.

Cimarron Telephone Company of Oklahoma will receive a $5.4 million grant to deploy a fiber-to-the-premises network that will connect 746 people, 107 farms, and three businesses to high-speed broadband Internet in Pawnee and Osage counties. The funded service area covers 287 households and over 125.24 square miles.

USDA received 11 Round Two ReConnect Program applications that are eligible for the $100 million Congress allocated to the program through the CARES Act. USDA expects to announce more broadband awards made through the CARES Act in the coming weeks.

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USDA Announces $13 Million ReConnect Broadband Program Award In Maryland

August 1, 2020 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture has announced that Easton Utilities Commission in rural Maryland has received a $13.1 million ReConnect Pilot Program award made through the CARES Act. Easton received the $13.1 million grant to deploy a fiber-to-the-premises network that will connect 8,607 people, 144 farms, 183 businesses, eight educational facilities, and one nursing home to high-speed broadband Internet in Talbot County. The funded service area includes 3,447 households and over 122.36 square miles. USDA received 11 Round Two ReConnect Program applications that are eligible for the $100 million Congress allocated to the program through the CARES Act. USDA expects to announce more broadband awards made through the CARES Act in the coming weeks.

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USDA Announces $3.2 Million ReConnect Broadband Program Award In North Carolina

July 27, 2020 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture has announced a $3.2 million ReConnect Pilot Program award made through the CARES Act in North Carolina. French Broad Electric Membership Corporation received a grant of $3,231,412 to deploy a fiber-to-the-premises network to connect 4,056 people, 189 farms, 64 businesses, and two fire stations to high-speed broadband Internet in southwest Madison County in western North Carolina. The funded service area includes 1,740 households and over 133.03 square miles. USDA received 11 Round Two ReConnect Program applications that are eligible for the $100 million Congress allocated to the program through the CARES Act. USDA expects to announce more broadband awards made through the CARES Act in the coming weeks.

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USDA Announces $16 Million ReConnect Broadband Program Award In Mississippi

July 14, 2020 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture has announced a $16 million ReConnect Pilot Program award made through the CARES Act in Mississippi. In rural Mississippi, Tallahatchie Valley Electric Power Association received a $16 million grant to deploy a fiber-to-the-premises network to connect 2,082 people, 331 farms, 32 businesses, a post office, and six fire stations to high-speed broadband Internet in Yalobusha, Tallahatchie, Panola, Grenada, and Quitman counties. The funded service area includes 878 households and over 474.74 square miles. USDA received 11 Round Two ReConnect Program applications that are eligible for the $100 million Congress allocated to the program through the CARES Act. USDA expects to announce more broadband awards made through the CARES Act in the coming weeks.

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USDA Announces $12.5 Million ReConnect Broadband Program Award In Georgia

June 25, 2020 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture has announced a $12.5 million ReConnect Pilot Program award made through the CARES Act in Georgia. In rural Georgia, DoveTel Communications, LLC (dba SyncGlobal Telecom) received a $12.5 million grant to deploy a fiber-to-the-premises network to connect 7,348 people, 121 farms, 15 businesses, four fire stations, and one elementary school to high-speed broadband Internet in Heard, Troup, and Carroll counties. The funded service area includes 2,779 households and over 125.31 square miles. USDA received 11 Round Two ReConnect Program applications that are eligible for the $100 million Congress allocated to the program through the CARES Act. USDA expects to announce more broadband awards made through the CARES Act in the coming weeks.

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