Members of NTCA–The Rural Broadband Association received over $375 million in loans and grants for broadband deployment through the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s latest distribution of ReConnect Program funding. The agency has awarded more than half a billion dollars to NTCA members so far this year, including previously announced awards of approximately $200 million through its ReConnect and Telecommunications Infrastructure Loan and Loan Guarantee programs.
“NTCA’s community-based broadband providers have a long track record of serving some of the most remote parts of our country, so it’s thrilling—even if not a surprise—to see so many of our members seek and receive awards to help connect even more rural Americans to high-speed Internet,” said NTCA Chief Executive Officer Shirley Bloomfield. “We are grateful that USDA has recognized the hard work of these providers, and we look forward to working with federal and state entities to ensure that community-based providers of all kinds can continue to help rural America get and stay connected.”
The following NTCA members received funding through ReConnect loans and grants announced today:
- Arctic Slope Telephone (Anchorage, Alaska)
- Pine Belt Telephone Company Inc. (Arlington, Ala.)
- Mon-Cre Telephone Cooperative Inc. (Ramer, Ala.)
- Fort Mojave Telecommunications, Inc. (Mohave Valley, Ariz.)
- Egyptian Telephone Cooperative Association (Steeleville, Ill.)
- Winnebago Cooperative Telecom Association (Lake Mills, Iowa)
- JBN Telephone Company Inc. (Holton, Kan.)
- Upsala Cooperative Telephone Association (Upsala, Minn.)
- Spring Grove Communications (Spring Grove, Minn.)
- Chariton Valley Telephone Corporation (Macon, Mo.)
- Bay Springs Telephone Company Inc. (Bay Springs, Miss.)
- TEC of Jackson Inc. (Jackson, Miss.)
- Project Telephone Company (Scobey, Mont.)
- Atlantic Telephone Membership Corporation (Shallotte, N.C.)
- Halstad Telephone Company (Halstad, Minn.)
- Consolidated Enterprises Inc. (Dickinson, N.D.)
- Griggs County Telephone Co. (Enderlin, N.D.)
- BEK Communications Cooperative (Steele, N.D.)
- Oregon Telephone Corporation (Mt. Vernon, Ore.)
- Dekalb Telephone Cooperative Inc. (Alexandria, Tenn.)
- Big Bend Telephone Company Inc. (Alpine, Texas)
- Taylor Telephone Cooperative Inc. (Merkel, Texas)
- Totelcom Communications LLC (De Leon, Texas)
- Tri-County Telephone Association Inc. (Cody, Wyo.)
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NTCA–The Rural Broadband Association is the premier association representing nearly 850 independent, community-based telecommunications companies that are leading innovative change in smart rural communities across America. In an era of transformative technological developments, regulatory challenges and marketplace competition, NTCA members are advancing efforts to close the digital divide by delivering robust and high-quality services over future-proof networks. Their commitment to building sustainable networks makes rural communities fertile ground for innovation in economic development, e-commerce, health care, agriculture and education, and it contributes billions of dollars to the U.S. economy each year. Visit us at www.ntca.org.