The U.S. Department of Agriculture has announced $759 million in grants and loans to enable rural communities to access high-speed internet.
It’s part of the broader $65 billion push for high-speed connectivity from last year’s infrastructure law.
Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack and White House senior adviser Mitch Landrieu traveled to North Carolina to unveil the grants on Thursday. The funding includes $17.5 million for the state’s AccessOn Networks to provide broadband service to 100 businesses, 76 farms and 22 educational facilities in two counties.
South Dakota will receive nearly $17 million.