By STAN MADDUX Indiana Correspondent WASHINGTON D.C. — Indiana, Illinois, Kentucky and Tennessee are among the states receiving $152 million from USDA for extending and improving broadband service. In its Oct. 9 announcement, USDA said the investments are through its Community Connect Grant Program, the Telecommunications Infrastructure Loan Program and the Rural Broadband Access Loan and Loan Guarantee Program. In Indiana, $14.3 million is going to the Washington County Rural Telephone Cooperative in Pekin to convert a legacy-copper system to an Active Ethernet Fiber-to-the-Premises network. Once finished, a dedicated home-run fiber will connect directly to the subscriber’s premises from either a central office or a remote terminal, delivering downstream and upstream speeds of 1Gb/1Gb to voice/internet subscribers over a Fiber-to-the-Premises (FTTP) platform. The USDA said 502 digital voice, 1,705 Internet and 491 digital voice/Internet subscribers are expected to be served by the new connection. “Expanding connectivity capabilities increases access to educational, social and business opportunities in the state,” said Michael Dora, Indiana’s state director for USDA Rural Development. Another $39 million in Kentucky is going for three separate broadband related projects by Logan Telephone Cooperative, Inc., Crystal Broadband Networks, Inc., and Peoples Rural Telephone Cooperative Corporation. A Fiber-to-the-Home (FTTH) telecommunications system within Butler, Logan and Muhlenberg counties in the southwest part of the state will be upgraded to provide access to higher speed broadband service and improved telephone voice services to 5,311 residential and business consumers. A Fiber-to-the Premises network to 101 establishments will be constructed to provide faster speeds for a service area in Beverly, Field and Bell counties in southeast Kentucky to help with economic and business development along with telehealth and educational improvements. A community center will also be established in that area for residents to access broadband service at no cost for at least two-years. A 47.5 mile FTTP network for 269 residences, four businesses and a new community facility will also be constructed in Primrose and Lee counties. More than half of the $18 million for Illinois is going to the Egyptian Telephone Cooperative Association to construct 304 miles of modified Fiber-to-the Premises facilities to enhance broadband speed and other services. The remainder is for Flat Rock Telephone Cooperative, Inc. to convert a legacy copper system to an Active Ethernet Fiber-to-the-Premises network for higher speeds to 436 voice and 364 Internet subscribers. Nearly $25 million for Tennessee was awarded to Ben Lomand Rural Telephone Cooperative for similar work in Monteagle, Laager, Tracy City, Doyle, Viola and Dibrell. The outcome will be enhanced telehealth, educational, telecommuting and home based business services for that area between Manchester and Chattanooga. The remainder of the USDA funds are for providers in Texas, Minnesota, Virginia, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Wisconsin, North Carolina, Missouri and North Dakota. According to USDA, the CCG program helps fund broadband deployment into rural communities where it’s not economically feasible yet for private sector providers to deliver service. TILP provides financing for construction, maintenance, improvement and expansion of telephone service and broadband in rural areas and towns with a population of 5,000 or less. Donald LaVoy, USDA deputy under secretary for Rural Development said the latest funding illustrates the ongoing commitment to give rural areas more ability to compete in a technology driven global economy. “President Trump and Agriculture Secretary Perdue are committed to fully utilizing all resources Congress provides for building and modernizing this critical infrastructure in rural America, because we believe that when rural America thrives, all of America thrives,” he said. |
