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PCCA Journal|4

th

Quarter 2010

7

O

n September 13 Agri-

culture Secretary Tom

Vilsack announced

the funding of 43 new

broadband infrastructure

projects that will create

jobs and provide rural residents in

27 states and Native American tribal

areas access to improved internet

service. Funding is provided through

the American Recovery and Rein-

vestment Act (Recovery Act).

“The broadband projects an-

nounced today will give rural Ameri-

cans access to the tools they need

to create jobs and access improved

health care and educational opportu-

nities,” Vilsack said. “These projects

will not only create jobs for the peo-

ple who will build these networks,

the completed systems will provide a

platform for rural economic growth

for years to come.”

One example is in Louisiana,

where Pride Network, Inc. will

receive an $18.4 million loan and

a $17.7 million grant to deploy a

fiber-to-the-premises network to

bring broadband service to St. Hel-

ena, Washington, and Tangipahoa

Parishes. The project will benefit ap-

proximately 25,000 residents, 3,000

businesses, and about 200 communi-

ty facilities. The company estimates

the project will create 1,300 jobs.

In Washington state, EcliptixNet

Broadband, Inc. will receive a $6.1

million loan and a $14.3 million

grant to provide high-speed broad-

band service to rural portions of Fer-

ry, Stevens, and Spokane counties.

Upgraded service will be available to

over 68,000 residents, 3,600 busi-

nesses and 300 community facilities.

The company estimates the project

will create 230 jobs.

In all, $518 million will be in-

vested in the 43 broadband infra-

structure projects with funding made

available through the Recovery

Act. An additional $34.1 million in

private investment will also be com-

mitted to the projects. By leveraging

$2.5 billion in Recovery Act fund-

ing authorized by Congress, USDA

has been able to provide loans and

grants of $3.6 billion to construct

307 broadband projects in 46 states

and one territory.

Funding is contingent upon the

recipient meeting the terms of the

loan, grant or loan/grant agreement.

A complete list of projects receiv-

ing Recovery Act broadband grant

awards today can be viewed in full

at

http://www.usda.gov/docu-

ments/ARRA_PDF_09-14-2010.pdf

or by calling Mike Ancell at PCCA,

(703) 212-7734.

RDUP News

RDUP News continued on page 8

USDA Announces 43 New

Recovery Act Broadband Projects

V

ice President Biden on August 18 announced 94 Recovery Act

investments in broadband projects that will create jobs and

expand economic opportunities within 37 states. These invest-

ments in high-speed internet infrastructure will help bridge the

technological divide in communities that are being left in the 20

th

cen-

tury economy and support improvements in education, healthcare,

and public safety. The August announcement included an investment

totaling $1.8 billion.

The projects receiving funds are part of a program administered by

the Department of Commerce’s National Telecommunications and

Information Administration and the Department of Agriculture’s Rural

Utilities Service to expand broadband access and adoption across the

country.

The announcement includes 66 grants awarded by the Commerce

Department for projects to deploy broadband infrastructure and

connect community anchor institutions to broadband, create and

upgrade public computer centers, and encourage the sustainable

adoption of broadband service. It also includes 28 awards from USDA

for broadband infrastructure and satellite projects that will provide

rural residents in 16 states and Native American tribal areas access to

improved service.

A complete list of projects in the August 18 announcement can

be viewed in full at www.whitehouse.gov/sites/default/files/micro-

sites/20100818_Broadband_Awards.pdf or by calling Mike Ancell at

PCCA, (703) 212-7734.

Biden Announces

Broadband Investments