Biden administration unveils additional funding for rural broadband infrastructure

The Biden administration is making significant strides towards achieving universal internet access by 2030. In its latest move, the administration has announced approximately $667 million in grants and loans aimed at building broadband infrastructure in rural areas of the United States.

Mitch Landrieu, the White House’s infrastructure coordinator, emphasized the importance of this investment, stating, “With this funding, we are reaching communities across the nation because we firmly believe that every child should have equal opportunities and not have to rely on fast-food restaurants for internet access just to complete homework assignments.”

This round of funding, known as ReConnect, is the fourth installment under the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s program. The previous rounds saw 37 projects receive $771.4 million in grants and loans, with the aim of expanding broadband access.

Landrieu highlighted that these federal broadband initiatives, combined with the recently unveiled $42.5 billion infrastructure program, will bring about a modern version of “the electrification of rural America,” providing essential services to underserved areas.

The largest grant award, amounting to over $42 million, has been granted to Ponderosa Telephone Co. in California. This funding will enable the deployment of fiber networks in Fresno County, benefiting over 1,200 individuals, 12 farms, and 26 businesses.

The winning recipients of these new awards are telephone cooperatives, counties, and telecommunication companies from 22 states and the Marshall Islands.

In the areas designated for funding, at least 50% of households currently lack access to internet speeds of 100 megabits per second download and 20 Mbps upload, which the federal government considers to be “underserved” in terms of broadband capabilities. The mandate for the awardees is to establish networks capable of providing a minimum of 100 Mbps upload and download speeds to every home, business, and farm within their service areas.

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack stated that these investments have the potential to bring new economic opportunities to farmers, improve access to healthcare through telemedicine for those in remote locations, and expand educational offerings, including Advanced Placement courses in high schools.

Vilsack expressed his enthusiasm towards the administration’s understanding and recognition of the need for continued investment in rural America to create more equal opportunities and promote growth in these areas.

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Harjai, reporting from Los Angeles, is a corps member for The Associated Press/Report for America Statehouse News Initiative. Report for America is a nonprofit national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on undercovered issues.