The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Rural Development Wisconsin State Director Julie Lassa announced the investment Friday.
Nearly $17.6 million has been awarded to Wisconsin through the Community Connect program since 2021.
"Access to high-speed internet is a necessity in today's world," said Lassa. "The projects funded through the Community Connect grants help expand online educational opportunities for rural students, enable people to access medical care without leaving home, and allow business owners to connect with customers and markets around the world."
Lassa said it's part of the Biden-Harris Administration's commitment to "investing in rural infrastructure and affordable high-speed internet for every American."
The Community Connect Program helps rural communities extend access where high-speed internet service is least likely to be commercially available, "but where it can make a tremendous difference is in the quality of life for rural people and businesses," the release says.
In Barron County, a $4.3 million grant will be used by CTC Telcom, Inc. to construct a fiber system to benefit 785 residents and 22 businesses in the area, the release says.
Subscribers will have access to service up to 10 gigabits per second download and 1 gigabit per second upload, expanding access to economic, educational, health care and public safety opportunities.
"A community center space will be provided in the Crystal Lake Town Hall where residents can access the internet free of charge for at least two years," the release says.
Then in the Burnett and Washburn counties areas, a $4.3 million grant will be used by Chibardun Telephone Cooperative, Inc. to construct a fiber system to benefit 789 residents and 21 businesses in the area, the release says.
"Subscribers will have access to up to 10 Gbps symmetrical service, expanding access to economic, educational, health care and public safety opportunities," the release says.
A community center space will be provided in Evergreen Town Hall "where residents can access the internet free of charge for at least two years," the release says.
Recipients of Community Connect awards use grant funds to equip community centers that provide free access to high-speed internet service to area residents for at least two years.
In total, the USDA is awarding more than $63.8 million in grants under the Community Connect Program to build high-speed internet networks in rural areas in Alaska, Arkansas, Colorado, Idaho, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Missouri, Mississippi, Virginia, Washington and Wisconsin.
Since 2021, 2.4 million American homes and small businesses have been connected to high-speed internet for the first time, and the Department has invested more than $4 billion for 345 ReConnect projects that will bring high-speed internet access to more than 600,000 people in the most rural and remote areas of America.
© 2024 The Chippewa Herald, Chippewa Falls, Wisc. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
