USDA funds high-speed internet for Dakota communities

By Scout Nelson

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development has announced a significant investment of nearly $173 million aimed at connecting rural residents, businesses, and farmers in the Dakotas and eight other states to reliable high-speed internet.

This funding is part of the fifth round of the ReConnect Program and is essential to President Biden’s Investing in America initiative, which seeks to rebuild the economy through improved infrastructure.

“Keeping the people of rural America connected with reliable, high-speed internet brings new and innovative ideas to the rest of our country and creates good-paying jobs,” said a USDA official.

“Thanks to USDA’s ReConnect Program, we are connecting the most rural and remote communities to a global marketplace. The investments we are announcing today will drive economic security and rural prosperity for generations to come.”

This funding announcement took place during a visit to a telecommunications company in North Dakota, which is set to receive more than $22 million in grants. This project is expected to benefit several hundred residents and businesses in the region, along with numerous farms and schools.

The ReConnect Program is specifically designed to tackle the challenges associated with providing high-speed internet to the most underserved areas of the country. Many rural residents and businesses would struggle to access such services without this program, which is a crucial component of the Administration’s Internet for All initiative, aiming to ensure that all Americans have access to high-speed internet by 2030.

Today’s investments will expand high-speed internet connectivity in states including Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, Kansas, Montana, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oregon, South Dakota, and Virginia.

For instance, several companies are receiving loans to enhance internet services in specific counties, benefiting thousands of residents and numerous businesses.

Since the beginning of the current Administration, millions of homes and small businesses have gained access to high-speed internet for the first time, with the USDA investing over $4 billion in ReConnect projects that will enhance connectivity for hundreds of thousands of people in rural areas.

The USDA continues to play a vital role in expanding economic opportunities, improving quality of life, and supporting infrastructure development in rural, Tribal, and high-poverty areas. To learn more about these initiatives and their impact on rural America, visit the USDA website.

Photo Credit:usda