USDA is partnering with rural cooperatives, local organizations and Tribes to support high-speed internet deployment in 11 states. Courtesy/USDA

USDA News:

ALBUQUERQUE – U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Deputy Secretary Xochitl Torres Small today announced that USDA is partnering with rural cooperatives, local organizations and Tribes to support high-speed internet deployment in 11 states.

USDA is awarding $5.2 million in cooperative agreements through the Broadband Technical Assistance Program, which is funded through President Biden’s historic Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.

This funding will extend the reach of other high-speed internet programs to meet the Administration’s goal to connect every community in America with affordable, reliable, high-speed internet. It also reflects the goals of President Biden’s Investing in America agenda, a key pillar of Bidenomics, to rebuild the economy from the middle out and bottom up and strengthen the nation’s infrastructure.

Deputy Secretary Torres Small made the announcement during a USDA Regional Equity Commission event in McAllen, Texas.

“Keeping the people of rural America connected with reliable, high-speed internet brings new and innovative ideas to the rest of our country,” Deputy Secretary Torres Small said. “Through President Biden’s historic Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, USDA is partnering with small towns, cooperatives, local utilities and private companies working to ensure that people, no matter where they live, have access to high-speed internet. That’s how you grow the economy – not just in rural communities, but across the nation.”

The Broadband Technical Assistance Program provides funding to cooperatives and organizations interested in receiving or delivering broadband technical assistance and training. This program promotes the expansion of high-speed internet into rural and Tribal communities by funding feasibility studies, network designs, hiring efforts, application development assistance and more.

“The digital economy was an untouched realm for many people in rural America and on tribal lands, we are proud to be filling that gap with technical assistance.” State Director Patricia Dominguez added.

Today’s announcement will help people living in Alaska, Alabama, Florida, Idaho, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Texas and West Virginia.

Examples of projects in this announcement include:

• Pueblo of Jemez, receive $237,000 to promote the expansion of high-speed internet in the Tribal Community of Jemez Pueblo, as well as the nearby towns of San Ysidro, Canon and Ponderosa New Mexico. This investment in technical assistance will fund the creation of a construction plan for a broadband network, perform feasibility studies, conduct market research and provide training to local community members.
• Pueblo of Laguna Utility Authority received $74,162 to fund technical assistance in completing an application for financial assistance to support building a fiber to the premise network. The fiber build will provide low-cost internet options to the communities within the Pueblo.

A full list of projects from today’s announcement is available online.

The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law provides $65 billion to ensure every American has access to affordable, reliable high-speed internet through a historic investment in broadband infrastructure deployment. The legislation also lowers costs for internet service and helps close the digital divide, so that more Americans can take full advantage of the opportunities provided by internet access.

USDA Rural Development provides loans and grants to help expand economic opportunities, create jobs and improve the quality of life for millions of Americans in rural areas. This assistance supports infrastructure improvements; business development; housing; community facilities such as schools, public safety and health care; and high-speed internet access in rural, tribal and high-poverty areas. For more information, visit www.rd.usda.gov.

USDA touches the lives of all Americans each day in so many positive ways. In the Biden-Harris Administration, USDA is transforming America’s food system with a greater focus on more resilient local and regional food production, ensuring access to healthy and nutritious food in all communities, building new markets and streams of income for farmers and producers using climate smart food and forestry practices, making historic investments in infrastructure and clean energy capabilities in rural America, and committing to equity across the Department by removing systemic barriers and building a workforce more representative of America. To learn more, visit www.usda.gov.

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