High-Speed Internet Will Benefit Elko and Humboldt Counties
The Trump Administration today announced that the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) is investing $43 million to provide broadband service in unserved and underserved rural areas in Idaho, Oregon and Nevada, benefiting nearly 3,000 people, 197 farms and 48 businesses. This investment is part of the $550 million that Congress allocated in the second round of the ReConnect Program.
“So many rural communities across the west and across the nation need this critical infrastructure to prosper,” said USDA Under Secretary for Natural Resources and Environment Jim Hubbard, at an event in Nampa, Idaho. “This funding will allow for economic expansion, opportunity, and increased quality of life in these rural communities, which is desperately needed. I appreciate the leadership of President Trump and Secretary Perdue in prioritizing this critical initiative for rural communities across the country.”
Oregon-Idaho Utilities Inc. will use a $12.8 million ReConnect grant to deploy a fiber-to-the-premises network to connect 612 people, 75 farms and three businesses to high-speed broadband internet in Owyhee County, Idaho; Malheur County, Oregon; and Humboldt and Elko counties in Nevada.
Midvale Telephone Company will use a $5.4 million ReConnect grant and $5.4 million ReConnect loan to deploy a fiber-to-the-premises network to connect 236 people, 15 businesses, four farms and one fire station to high-speed broadband internet in Washington, Custer, Blaine, Valley and Idaho counties in Idaho.
Direct Communications Rockland Inc. will use a $9.8 million ReConnect grant and a $9.8 million ReConnect Loan to deploy a fiber-to-the-premises network to connect 2,064 people, 118 farms, 30 businesses, a post office and a fire station to high-speed broadband internet in Bear Lake, Power, Franklin and Oneida counties in Idaho.
To learn more about ReConnect Program eligibility, technical assistance and recent announcements, visit https://www.usda.gov/reconnect.
USDA Rural Development Nevada provides loans and grants to help expand economic opportunities and create jobs in rural areas. This assistance supports infrastructure improvements; business development; housing; community facilities such as schools, public safety and health care; and high-speed internet access in rural areas. For more information, visit https://www.rd.usda.gov/nv.