A new program aimed at bringing high-speed internet to rural communities was announced Saturday afternoon by Georgia Senator David Perdue and U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue.
The Broadband ReConnect Program, an initiative created by the Trump administration, was created to foster the development of broadband internet access in rural areas, which Senator Perdue described as a "necessity" in today's global economy.
“This investment will have a huge impact on education, business, and healthcare in Southwest Georgia. Most importantly, it will help ensure no Georgian is left behind," Perdue said in a statement sent to media outlets on Saturday. "The Trump Administration knows that when rural communities succeed, America succeeds, and I applaud their commitment to closing the digital divide.”
The program operates by furnishing "loans and grants to provide funds for the costs of construction, improvement, or acquisition of facilities and equipment needed to provide broadband service in eligible rural areas."
Ag. Secretary Sonny Perdue echoed the Senator's statement, saying the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) is dedicated to boosting economic opportunity in rural communities in order to increase prosperity.
“We know that rural communities need robust, modern infrastructure to thrive, and that includes having access to broadband e-Connectivity," he continued. "Under the leadership of President Trump, USDA is proud to partner with rural communities to deploy this critical infrastructure.”
The release said that, to date, the USDA has created or otherwise improved internet connectivity in rural areas by investing more than $529 million in high-speed infrastructure.
