During Co-op Day at the North Dakota State Fair, USDA Rural Development announced two loans to help local cooperatives expand and improve broadband service to customers. Northwest Communications Cooperative will receive a $40 million loan and SRT Communications will receive a $15 million loan through USDA’s Telecommunications Infrastructure program.
“Being able to connect with people from anywhere in the world opens up a lot of economic and educational opportunities and provides numerous social benefits,” said Ryan Taylor, USDA Rural Development state director. “North Dakota has some of the most advanced, connected rural areas in the country. That only comes with commitment and capital--the commitment of cooperatives like SRT and Northwest Communications to provide gig-capable service, and their access to affordable capital from USDA Rural Development."
Serving the counties of Williams, Divide, Burke and Mountrail, Northwest will use the financing to build-out their fiber optic network. A portion of funds will also purchase and install new equipment. When the system improvements are complete, 100 percent of Northwest’s subscribers will be served by fiber, allowing for high quality, reliable services such as Internet and telephone.
SRT will use the loan funds to upgrade the rural portions of three exchanges (Deering, Sawyer, and Minot) from an aging copper system to a fiber optic network. The upgraded system will allow SRT to meet current and future requirements for delivery of voice, high speed data and video to subscribers.
Since 2009, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Rural Utilities Service has invested more than $400 million in North Dakota broadband and telecommunication projects. More information on these and other rural programs is available by visiting USDA's web site at http://www.rd.usda.gov/nd.