The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development Wisconsin State Director, Julie Lassa, announced a $4.6 million grant and $4.6 million loan for the Bloomer Telephone Company in Chippewa County, Wisconsin. This funding, part of the USDA’s ReConnect Program, will deploy a fiber-to-the-premises network, providing high-speed internet to 1,278 people, 32 businesses, and 73 farms in Chippewa and Dunn counties.
This initiative is part of a broader $313 million investment to connect rural communities across 18 states to high-speed internet, supporting President Biden’s Investing in America agenda and the Internet for All initiative. Since the start of the Biden-Harris Administration, the ReConnect Program has delivered $4.4 billion in funding for high-speed internet in rural areas, with $2.2 billion coming from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.
The program addresses the digital divide in underserved areas, enhancing access to education, healthcare, and business opportunities. For more details, visit the USDA Rural Development website.
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