USDA Announces ReConnect Broadband Program Awards – CARES Act Funding

The U.S. Department of Agriculture has announced seven ReConnect Pilot Program broadband grants in six states made through the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act). USDA received 11 Round Two ReConnect Program applications that are eligible for the $100 million Congress allocated to the program through the CARES Act. Below are summaries of each CARES Act award made so far.

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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 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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