USDA Rural Utilities Service Promotes Last-Mile Rural Connectivity

The US Department of Agriculture's Recovery Act Broadband Initiatives Program (BIP) awarded $3.5 billion to extend last-mile rural broadband infrastructure across the U.S. in an effort to extend high-speed Internet connections to homes, businesses, hospitals, schools, and public safety agencies.

According to the USDA report:

"This funding will enable around 7 million rural Americans to connect to one of 285 last-mile, 12 middle-mile, or four satellite projects funded by the BIP program.  On top of that, over 360,000 businesses and 30,000 community service organizations will be connected to a high-speed digital future."

One of the BIP grants funds a $66.5 million project of the Highland Telephone Cooperative in Tennessee which will bring advanced broadband to approximately 18,000 homes, 1,800 small businesses, and 100 anchor institutions. A modern day Tennessee Valley Authority, the project seeks to bridge the digital divide and bring rural customers unprecedented broadband access while at the same time supporting good union jobs in rural Tennessee.

Just as important as the electrification of our rural communities and universal telephone service, spreading broadband access should be the goal of a new generation of policy makers and communications workers.

Advancing Broadband - A Foundation for Strong Rural Communities (USDA - BIP)

Highland Telephone Cooperative Selects Calix E7 for Broadband Stimulus Project