The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is funding 24 projects through several loan and grant programs administered by the Rural Utilities Service (RUS); Broadband, Telecommunications loans, the Community Connect grant program, and the Public Television Digital Transition.
In the recently completed fiscal year, USDA Rural Development has funded over $170 million in rural telecommunications projects nationwide.
Broadband Loans
North Dakota
• Consolidated Enterprises, Inc. –$68,897,967; FTTH primarily in the outer city limits of Dickinson and the adjacent rural areas in Stark County.
Community Connect Grants
Indiana
• Q-Wireless, LLC,– $782,000; Broadband services through the construction of a wireless middle-mile and access network.
Kentucky
• Inter Mountain Cable, Inc. — $1,059,704; a Hybrid Fiber-Coax Network.
Louisiana and Pennsylvania
• MTPCS, LLC, – $144,670; Upgrade MTPCS’ cellular telephone network
Virginia
• Scott County Telephone Co-Operative,-$1,500,000; FTTP network.
Telecommunications Infrastructure Loans
California
• Kerman Telephone Company– $10,057,000. FTTH network.
• Foresthill Telephone Company, Inc.– $6,560,000. FTTH network
North Dakota
• Northwest Communications Cooperative– $9,870,000. Fiber-to-premises facilities in six of the 16 exchanges.
Oregon
• Monitor Cooperative Telephone Company– $2,865,000; Funds will be used to build fiber-to-premises facilities capable of broadband services to all customers in the borrower’s service area.
Texas
• Mid-Plains Rural Telephone Cooperative, Inc. – $2,590,000; Fiber and Gigabit Ethernet to exchanges.
Various projects related to digital transition in public television were also funded.