An announcement has been made by the Trump administration that the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) has granted $37 million to several companies in Alabama to provide broadband for underserved or unserved areas.
Central Alabama Electric Cooperative and Pine Belt Telephone Company Inc., which serve Perry County, were among the recipients of the funds.
Central Alabama Electric Cooperative was given $8.6 million and will use the money to connect 13,853 people, 149 farms, 77 businesses and one fire station to high-speed internet.
Pine Belt Telephone Company received $6.5 million and will connect 5,799 people, 143 farms, 83 businesses, five fire stations, five educational facilities and four post offices in the counties they serve.
“Access to a high-speed internet connection is a cornerstone of prosperity, and unfortunately many of America’s rural communities lack access to this critical infrastructure,” USDA Deputy Under Secretary for Rural Development Bette Brand said.
“Under the leadership of President Trump and Agriculture Secretary Perdue, USDA is committed to leveraging all available resources and being a strong partner to rural communities in deploying high-speed broadband e-Connectivity to the people, businesses and community facilities that don’t have access yet. Connecting America’s rural communities to this essential infrastructure is one of USDA’s top priorities, because we know that when rural America thrives, all of America thrives.”
The funds were part of the ReConnect Program, formed by Congress in March 2018 to provide broadband for rural areas.
Others to receive grants in Alabama were:
Hayneville Telephone Company Inc. - $1.5 million
Mon-Cre Telephone Cooperative Inc. - $5.8 million
Moundville Telephone Co. Inc. - $166,000
Millry Telephone Company Inc. - $8.3 million
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