Governor Mike Parson awards second round of Emergency Broadband Investments
Today, Governor Mike Parson announced 11 broadband projects will receive $846,407 through round two of the state’s Emergency Broadband Investment Program. 465 Missouri households will be connected to broadband as a result of these projects, and nine of the projects will provide households the ability to access gigabyte service.
“Broadband is critical to the evolving needs of our workforce,” Governor Parson said. “With so many Missourians now depending on the internet for health care, education, and work, this initiative is more important than ever.”
In July, six programs were created to rapidly expand broadband across the state through libraries, telehealth, education, and more. The Emergency Broadband Investment Program previously awarded just over $3 million to sixteen projects in round one.
“Broadband internet infrastructure is a requirement for economic growth,” Department of Economic Development Director Rob Dixon said. “The pandemic has set a whole new way of working and living into motion, and our economy’s recovery depends on our ability to connect online.”
The program was designed to reimburse providers that have expanded, or plan to connect, high-speed internet to residents in unserved or underserved areas in the state in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Providers will use funds to assist with construction costs for new broadband expansion to households with citizens on telework, students or vulnerable populations.
“Our team congratulates the five broadband providers and we very much look forward to assisting these eleven projects in connecting more Missourians to high speed internet,” stated Tim Arbeiter, Director of Broadband Development.
To view the list of recipients, click here.
To learn more about the Emergency Broadband Investment Program, click here.
|
