BOZEMAN, Mont., Oct. 17, 2024 – U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development Under Secretary Dr. Basil Gooden today announced nearly $173 million in funding to connect rural residents, farmers, and business owners in Montana and eight other states to reliable high-speed internet. Among the projects funded is 3 Rivers Telephone Cooperative Inc. in Montana, which will receive a $5,575,520 loan as part of the Re-Connect Program to expand high-speed internet access in Madison and Teton counties. This project will benefit 594 people, 27 businesses, 47 farms, and two educational facilities.
The investments are part of the fifth round of the Re-Connect Program, a cornerstone of the current administration’s Investing in America agenda to rebuild the economy. The Re-Connect Program aims to provide high-speed internet to some of the most rural and remote areas of the nation, helping bridge the digital divide that has long affected rural communities.
“Keeping the people of rural America connected with reliable, high-speed internet brings new and innovative ideas to the rest of our country and creates good-paying jobs,” said Under Secretary Gooden. “Thanks to USDA’s Re-Connect Program, we are connecting the most rural and remote communities to a global marketplace. The investments we are announcing today will drive economic security and rural prosperity for generations to come.”
In Montana, the 3 Rivers Telephone Cooperative project will deploy a fiber-to-the-premises network, ensuring that residents, farmers, and businesses in Madison and Teton counties can participate in the modern economy with the same high-speed internet access as urban areas. This investment aligns with the USDA’s mission to improve the quality of life in rural communities.
Kathleen Williams, Montana State Director for USDA Rural Development, emphasized the importance of this funding for rural Montanans. “In Montana, reliable internet is not a luxury, it’s a necessity,” said Williams. “This investment by USDA Rural Development will connect families, businesses, agriculture, and schools to the high-speed internet they need to survive and thrive. It’s a game-changer for rural communities in Madison and Teton counties, helping them compete, innovate, and grow.”
USDA’s Re-Connect Program is a key element of the Administration’s Internet for All initiative, which seeks to connect every American to reliable, high-speed internet by 2030. Without programs like Re-Connect, many rural areas would continue to lack access to this critical infrastructure.
For more information on the Re-Connect Program and how it benefits rural Montana, visit USDA Rural Development MT.