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USDA announces funding for rural broadband and telecommunications infrastructure [New Vision (Uganda)](New Vision (Uganda) Via Acquire Media NewsEdge) Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack recently announced $190.5 million in grants and loans to make broadband and other advanced communications infrastructure improvements in rural areas. "Modern telecommunications and broadband access is now as essential to the businesses and residents of rural America as electricity was in the 1930s," Vilsack said. "USDA is committed to ensuring that rural Americans have robust broadband and telecommunications systems. The investments we are announcing will provide broadband in areas that lack it, help rural-serving public television stations begin using digital broadcasts, and support other telecommunications infrastructure improvements." USDA is providing assistance through the Community Connect Grant program, the Public Television Digital Transition Grant program and the Telecommunications Infrastructure Loan program. Community Connect grants establish broadband service in rural areas to boost economic growth and offer educational, health care, social and public safety benefits. Public television grants help public television stations serving rural areas acquire the equipment they need to transition from analog to digital broadcasts. Telecommunications infrastructure loans help maintain, upgrade or expand rural telecommunications networks. Through this announcement, USDA is providing $190.5 million for 25 projects in 19 states, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Funding is contingent upon the recipients meeting the terms of their grant or loan agreements. In Arkansas, Arkwest Communications is receiving a $24 million telecommunications loan to provide voice, broadband and internet TV service to nearly 4,000 customers and to make other system improvements. COPYRIGHT (c) 2014 NEWVISION. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. (Syndigate.info). |