Some of the $714 million in funding announced this week from the Biden administration to help rural areas in 19 states connect to the internet will end up in Oklahoma.
Loans and grants were awarded to companies in the Oklahoma Panhandle and in the southeast part of the state.
Congress approved the funding for the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s ReConnect Program in the bipartisan infrastructure law that members of both political parties approved last year.
The Agriculture Department’s funding is a fraction of the $65 billion that U.S. lawmakers authorized for programs that aim to connect all Americans to the internet.
Among the funding was a $21.7 million grant and a $21.7 million loan for the Panhandle Telephone Cooperative Inc. which serves the Oklahoma Panhandle and parts of northeastern New Mexico.
A $5 million grant and a $5 million loan was also made for Canadian Valley Telephone Company.
The Panhandle Telephone Cooperative has offices in Guymon, Laverne, Boise City, and Beaver in Oklahoma and others in Perryton, Spearman, and Canadian in the Texas Panhandle.
The Canadian Valley Telephone Company serves customers in Pittsburg County.
“The president honestly believes that in order to have the fullest opportunity available to bring manufacturing back, to bring precision agriculture, to reconnect young people to economic opportunity in rural places, the expansion of broadband access is essential,” U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack said on a call with reporters.
Thirty-three difference projects received funding according to the announcement.
Alaska: A $35 million grant for Interior Telephone Company.
Alaska: A $35 million grant for Mukluk Telephone Company Inc.
Alaska: A $17.9 million grant for Copper Valley Telephone Cooperative Inc.
Alaska: A $12.6 million grant for Matanuska Telecom Association Inc.
Arkansas: A $30.4 million loan for Decatur Telephone Company Inc.
Arkansas and Missouri: A total of $13.4 million in grants and $13.4 million in loans for Ozark Telephone Company.
Arizona: A $3.5 million grant for South Central Utah Telephone Association Inc.
Arizona: A $25 million grant for Colorado River Indian Tribes.
California: A $25 million grant for Cal-Ore Telephone.
Georgia: A $9.5 million grant for Pembroke Telephone Company Inc.
Idaho and Oregon: A $15.4 million grant and a $15.4 million loan for Oregon Telephone Corporation.
Kansas: A $50 million loan for Craw-Kan Telephone Cooperative Inc.
Kentucky: A $9.4 million grant and a $9.4 million loan for Peoples Rural Telephone Cooperative Corporation Inc.
Kentucky: A $25 million grant for Duo County Telephone Cooperative.
Minnesota: A $7.9 million grant and a $7.9 million loan for Johnson Telephone Company.
Minnesota: A $6.8 million grant and a $6.8 million loan for MiEnergy Cooperative.
Minnesota: A $19 million grant for Meeker Cooperative Light & Power Association.
Missouri: A $29.5 million loan for Goodman Telephone Company Inc.
Missouri: A $14.2 million grant and a $14.2 million loan for Seneca Telephone Company.
Montana: A $12.1 million grant for InterBel Telephone Cooperative Inc.
Montana: A $35 million grant for Nemont Telephone Cooperative Inc.
New Mexico and Oklahoma: A $21.7 million grant and a $21.7 million loan for Panhandle Telephone Cooperative Inc.
Ohio: A $21.3 million loan for Amplex Electric Inc.
Oklahoma: A $5 million grant and a $5 million loan for Canadian Valley Telephone Company.
Oregon: A $30.6 million loan for Beaver Creek Cooperative Telephone Company.
Oregon: A $10.2 million grant and a $10.2 million loan for North-State Telephone Co.
South Carolina: A $6.2 million grant for Home Telephone Company Inc.
Tennessee: A $1.6 million grant for DeKalb Telephone Cooperative Inc.
Utah: A $2.2 million grant and a $2.2 million loan for Beehive Telephone Company Inc.
Washington: A $9.2 million grant and a $4.6 million loan for Public Utility District No.1 of Jefferson County, Washington.
Washington: An $18.1 million grant and an $18.1 million loan for Home Telephone Company Inc.
Washington: A $24.2 million grant for Public Utility District 1 of Lewis County.
Washington: A $3 million loan for Hat Island Telephone Company.