USDA awards $502 million from ReConnect to expand rural broadband in underserved areas

USDA awards $502 million from ReConnect to expand rural broadband in underserved areas

USDA is investing more than $500 million to expand access to high-speed rural broadband in 20 states.

Ag Secretary Tom Vilsack says the funds will help improve existing projects for residents and businesses in underserved areas including tribal lands, which highlight the administration’s efforts to increase the capacity and capability of the fiber systems currently being upgraded. “So that the download and upload speeds are significantly greater and there’s capacity to increase them even more.”

The $502 million is being made available through the third round of the ReConnect Program for projects in Alabama, Alaska, California, Colorado, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, North Carolina, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Oregon, Tennessee, Texas and Wyoming.

.