WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Rep. Mike Bost (IL-12) announced a boost in funding for Jefferson County’s high-speed broadband infrastructure through the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s ReConnect Pilot Program. The $12.8 million in investment in the Wabash Telephone Cooperative will also benefit residents in neighboring Wayne County.
“From e-commerce to education and health care, the internet plays a critically important role in our daily lives,” said Bost. “This investment will help expand access for Jefferson County residents to a modern broadband infrastructure, empowering small businesses and families to better connect with each other and the world.”
The Wabash Telephone Cooperative, Inc. will use the $12.8 million 50 percent loan-grant combination to deploy 298 miles of fiber-optic cable to serve 1,684 households, 31 farms, 29 businesses, nine educational facilities, two critical community facilities, and one health care center including many in Jefferson County.
Click here for more information about the USDA ReConnect Loan and Grant Program.
