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Pioneer Telephone Watonga Republican
Federal dollars are finding their way to this part of Oklahoma, according to a recent press release from Pioneer Telephone Cooperative. That company has nailed down a $24.2 million grant for fiber optic service to individuals in rural Oklahoma. The network will connect 4,480 people, 595 farms, 44 businesses and two fire stations to high speed broadband internet. The facilities will spread out across Blaine, Dewey, Kingfisher and Ellis counties.
The money comes as part of the United States Department of Agriculture to provide broadband service in unserved and underserved rural areas in Oklahoma. This investment is part of the $100 million in grant funding made available for the ReConnect Pilot Program through the CARES Act.
“We are very excited with the recent announcement from the USDA,” said Mike Dobrinski, Pioneer Trustee for District #1.
“This grant will allow Pioneer to connect many more rural customers along with the communities where we are building fiber with more than $400 million of our own money over the next five years. We have been addressing the needs of our customers already but this grant will enable us to do more, faster. Pioneer and our members are very thankful for the help of the USDA at this critical time,” he finished.
Dobrinski is also the newly elected Oklahoma House State Representative for District 59.
“The need for rural broadband has never been more apparent than it is now – as our nation manages the coronavirus national emergency. Access to telehealth services, remote learning for school children, and remote business operations all require access to broadband,” said U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue. “I am so proud of our rural communities who have been working day in and day out, just like they always do, producing the food and fiber America depends on. We need them more than ever during these trying times and expanding access to this critical infrastructure will help ensure rural America prospers for years to come.”
In March 2018, Congress provided $600 million to USDA to expand broadband infrastructure and services in rural America. On Dec. 13, 2018, Perdue announced the rules of the program, called “ReConnect,” including how the loans and grants will be awarded to help build broadband infrastructure in rural America.
Connie Burcham can be reached at Editor@WatongaRepublican.com