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Biden admin invests to bring high-speed internet to rural areas

The Biden administration is investing $63 million to bring high-speed internet access to rural areas of Illinois, Michigan, Minnesota, and Mississippi.

Ag Secretary Tom Vilsack says investing in high-speed internet is a fundamental part of the partnership between the department and rural communities.

The investment includes funding from President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.  Grants will be funded from the third round of the ReConnect Program which provides loans and grants for the costs of construction, improvement, or facilities and equipment needed to provide broadband service in eligible areas.

The four projects being funded in this announcement include:

In Illinois, the McDonough Telephone Cooperative is receiving an $18 million grant to deploy a fiber-to-the-premises network in Illinois that will bring high-speed internet to more than 1,5000 people and 274 farms in Hancock, Henderson, McDonough, and Warren counties. 

In Michigan, Alpha Enterprises Limited is receiving $19.5 million which will connect more than 1,000 people and 10 farms in Chippewa and Mackinac Counties.  The project will serve socially vulnerable communities in Mackinac County.

In Minnesota, Paul Bunyan Rural Telephone Cooperative is the recipient of a $10 million grant that will connect more than 3,500 people and 35 farms in Hubbard, Itsasca, and St. Louis counties.

In Mississippi, Uplink Internet is receiving a $15 million grant to bring high-speed internet to more than 2,300 people and 143 farms in Coahoma, Quitman, and Tunica counties.