USDA Invests $17.1 Million to Bring High-Speed Internet Access to Communities In Rural Arizona
PHOENIX, Oct. 27, 2022 – USDA Rural Development Arizona State Director Charlene Fernandez today announced that USDA is investing $17.1 million to build and improve critical infrastructure in rural Arizona. The investments will help expand access high speed internet in people’s homes and businesses in rural communities and tribal lands across the state.
"The ReConnect Program will assist the rural communities in Arizona, especially with our Tribal communities," Fernandez said. "This program will aid the Navajo and Tohono O'odham Tribal communities and numerous areas in Navajo, Maricopa, Pima, and Pinal counties. The equity in the program allows disadvantaged rural areas, Tribal reservations, and trust lands to get the same high-speed internet access as elsewhere in Arizona."
In Arizona, two projects are announced:
- Navajo Tribal Utility Authority (NTUA) will use a $7.1 million grant to deploy a fiber-to-the-premises network to connect thousands of people, businesses, schools and farms to high-speed internet in Navajo County in Arizona. NTUA will make high-speed internet affordable by participating in the FCC's Affordable Connectivity Program. This project will serve the Navajo Nation Reservation and socially vulnerable communities in Navajo County.
- Tohono O'odham Utility Authority (TOUA) will use a $10 million grant investment to deploy a fiber-to-the-premises network to connect thousands people, farms, businesses and schools in Maricopa, Pima, and Pinal counties in Arizona. TOUA will make high-speed internet affordable by participating in the FCC's Lifeline and Affordable Connectivity programs. This project will serve socially vulnerable communities in Maricopa, Pima and Pinal counties as well as the Tohono O'odham Nation Reservation and Tohono O'odham Nation Off-Reservation Trust Land.
These projects are provided through the third funding round of the ReConnect Program. Today’s announcement is part of a nationwide announcement of $759 million USDA is investing in multiple states.
To be eligible for ReConnect Program funding, an applicant must serve an area that does not have access to service at speeds of 100 megabits per second (Mbps) (download) and 20 Mbps (upload). The applicant must also commit to building facilities capable of providing high-speed internet service with speeds of 100 Mbps (download and upload) to every location in its proposed service area.
To learn more about investment resources for rural areas, visit www.rd.usda.gov/az or contact the USDA Rural Development Phoenix state office.
President Biden forged consensus and compromise between Democrats, Republicans and Independents to demonstrate our democracy can deliver big wins for the American people. After decades of talk on rebuilding America’s crumbling infrastructure, President Biden delivered the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law – a historic investment in America that will change people’s lives for the better and get America moving again.
USDA Rural Development provides loans and grants to help expand economic opportunities, create jobs and improve the quality of life for millions of Americans in rural areas. This assistance supports infrastructure improvements; business development; housing; community facilities such as schools, public safety and health care; and high-speed internet access in rural, tribal and high-poverty areas. For more information, visit www.rd.usda.gov.
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