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Southeast MO to receive more broadband access

Southeast Missouri is receiving support for rural broadband through the CARES Act.

Ag Secretary Sonny Perdue, Senator Roy Blunt and Missouri Director of Ag Chris Chinn announced nearly $3 million going to Big River Communications for the installment of rural broadband Wednesday.

Chad Rupe, USDA’s administrator for rural utilities service, says the funding will provide broadband to thousands of Missourians.

“Big River Communications is receiving a $2.9 million reward to lay over 53 miles of high-speed fiber broadband to connect 4,839 people.”

Chinn says the Missouri Department of Agriculture’s goal is to have 90 percent broadband coverage in the state by 2025 and the CARES Act funding will help speed up the timeline.

Perdue says the funding will help sustain rural communities.

“We’ve got some wonderful communities out here in which many people love to live,” Perdue said. “But if they’re disadvantaged and cannot connect to the global marketplace, that’s a real disadvantage.”

Construction will start next month, and the first availability of the new broadband is expected by the end of the year.