Wabash Communications Cooperative has been awarded $ 24 million in grants and loans to extend broadband coverage to locations with limited or no access in parts of Clinton and Jefferson Counties.
The high-speed internet investments announced are the fourth round of the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s ReConnect Program. The program is a key part of the Administration’s Internet for All initiative to connect everyone in America to high-speed internet by 2030.
With the funding award, Wabash plans to deploy a fiber-to-the-premises network to provide high speed internet to an area of Clinton County west of Centralia to the Hoffman area and an area in Jefferson County on both sides of I-64 west of Interstate 57 and Mt. Vernon. In all, 4,042 people, 133 businesses, 102 farms and ten educational facilities will be served. Wabash Communications will work to make the high speed internet affordable to socially vulnerable in the area by participating in the Federal Communications Commission’s Lifeline and Affordable Connectivity Programs.
Wabash Communications General Manager/Executive Vice President says the cooperative is incredibly fortunate to have this opportunity to enhance their services to the region by extending the broadband coverage to locations with limited or no access.
