Tuesday, August 11, 2020, Governor Parson announced 16 broadband projects will receive funds from the state. Back on July 2, 2020, the governor announced the Rapid Broadband Deployment Initiative. The purpose of this program was to reimburse providers that have expanded or plan to connect high-speed internet.
This connection would help unserved or underserved areas in the state. These funds help providers utilize funds to assist with construction costs for broadband expansion to households with students or vulnerable populations.
What Does Governor Parson Say?
Governor Parson said,
Access to high-speed internet is necessary to families and communities at this time.
His full quote can be found here.
And the Director of Economic Development Director, Rob Dixon said,
Connecting citizens with quality internet means the individual… will keep their job, a student will continue to get their education, or a household in need of telehealth will get the care they need.
Who Gets These First Funds?
These sixteen projects will receive more than $3 million. There are service companies already in place. The funds come from the Coronavirus Relief Fund (CRF). which will improve resiliency and accelerate connectivity. Although Oregon County was not one of the first to receive funds, some of the counties that did receive the first of the funds are Barry, Warren, Linn, Taney, Howard, and Cole County. The funds are also in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
How Fast Is High-Speed Internet?
Minimum speed High speed of 25 megabits per second/3 megabits per second or greater. This is for new subscribers.
Additional information with a complete listing of areas that receive immediate funding can be found here.
