The U.S. Department of Agriculture has announced $1.2 billion in grants and loans to increase rural access to broadband Internet through126 broadband infrastructure projects in 38 states and numerous American Indian reservations, the Grand Forks Herald reports.
Several of the infrastructure projects will include initiatives to boost access to telehealth services.
On Wednesday, USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack said that strengthened Internet service will help to improve health care facilities in rural and remote areas, as well as aid local first responders (Johnson, Grand Forks Herald, 8/4).
The grants represent the second round of funding from a $7.2 billion allotment in the 2009 economic stimulus package for broadband access and adoption (Krigman, "Tech Daily Dose," National Journal, 8/4).
Examples of Local Projects
Oregon will receive $17 million in grant funding, some of which will go toward building health information exchanges.
Approximately $5.4 million of the funding will aid Oregon's Warm Springs Indian Reservation and the Warm Springs Telecommunications Company in building a wireless network.
The network will benefit more than 18 businesses and 22 community institutions, including health care facilities (KVTZ, 8/5).
Future Funding Expected
In a posting on the White House Blog, Vilsack and Commerce Secretary Gary Locke said that roughly $4 billion in additional funding will be provided for broadband services across the next few months (Vilsack/Locke, White House Blog, 8/4).