Full story link: http://www.usda.gov/Newsroom/0307.04.html Release No. 0307.04 Claiborn Crain (202) 720-1263 USDA AWARDS $18 MILLION IN BROADBAND LOANS TO BRING HIGH-SPEED SERVICE TO RURAL AREAS WASHINGTON, July 26, 2004-Agriculture Secretary Ann M. Veneman today announced, as part of the Bush Administration's effort to expand the availability of broadband technology in rural areas, the approval of $18 million in broadband loans for New Mexico, Oklahoma and New Hampshire. "Advanced high-speed Internet technology will enable rural Americans to access more information to improve educational, health and business opportunities," said Veneman. "President Bush established the goal of having broadband access available to every household by the year 2007. He understands the value of such technology and is committed to the idea that every American should have the tools available to succeed." In New Mexico, $11,388,000 in loan funds will help Yucca Telecommunications purchase network and access equipment and also provide for outside plant construction. The funding comes from USDA's rural broadband access program that provides loans and loan guarantees for the construction, improvement and acquisition of facilities and equipment for broadband service in eligible rural communities. Priority is given to applications that propose to serve areas where no residential broadband service currently exists. Additional loans announced include: Vidia Communications, Inc., Okla.--$2.88 million, will be used to upgrade an existing cable television system to a Hybrid Fiber Coax network, upgrade an existing video head end and CMTS to provide for additional channels and subscribers additions. It will also provide for construction of 106 miles of fiber optic/coaxial plant. The upgrades will make it possible for Vidia to provide CATV services to 1,813 subscribers of which 520 will take advantage of high speed cable modem service and 625 will take voice-over-IP service. Merton Capital, LLC, New Hampshire--$3.717 million, will be used to construct Fiber-to-the-Premise (FTTP) broadband systems in the town of Hanover, New Hampshire and deploy 99 miles of new fiber cable. The loan will also enable the company to provide broadband service to Hanover, including approximately 1,322 subscribers receiving high-speed data services and 1,199 subscribers receiving video services. Funding of selected applicants will be contingent upon meeting the conditions of the loan agreements. USDA provides a number of other important tools to advance broadband service in rural America. Included is the Distance Learning and Telemedicine grant program, with funding levels of $25 million a year during the Bush Administration. USDA has also used a broadband grant program called Community Connect as well as community facilities programs to build connectivity for rural homes and businesses. Since the beginning of the Bush Administration, over $2 billion in telecommunication funding has provided over one million rural homes and businesses with access to high speed broadband connections. To learn more about available funding through USDA's broadband program, visit www.usda.gov or contact USDA Rural Development broadband staff at (202) 720-9554. USDA Rural Development's mission is to deliver programs in a way that will support increasing economic opportunity and improve the quality of life of rural residents. Rural Development provides investment and technical assistance to finance and foster growth in homeownership, business development, and critical community and technology infrastructure. Further information on rural programs is available at a local USDA Rural Development office or by visiting USDA's web site at http://www.rurdev.usda.gov. # USDA News oc.news@xxxxxxxx 202 720-4623 ---------------------------------------------------- To unsubscribe, send email to oc.news@xxxxxxxx and reference your email address.
