PUD to get $13.8 million for high-speed internet in county

Federal officials announced $13.8 million in funding Monday to bring high-speed internet to rural customers of Jefferson County Public Utility Service No. 1.

The federal money includes a $9.2 million grant and $4.6 million loan from the U.S. Department of Agriculture ReConnect Loan and Grant Program.

“We know that access to the internet isn’t just about whether you can stream ‘The Mandalorian’ on Disney Plus,” U.S. Rep. Derek Kilmer (D-Washington) said in a press statement.

“It’s about whether you can have a tele-health appointment or take an online class or participate in an online meeting. And in our neck of the woods, too many folks can’t because internet infrastructure hasn’t reached them,” he added. “That’s why these investments matter. Federal dollars for projects like these go a long way in connecting folks.”

The 6th District Democrat said the funding for Jefferson County PUD will result in high-speed internet to more than 650 additional households.

Local PUD officials said they grateful for the funding, and for Kilmer’s support.

The funding was made possible by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, which includes $65 billion for high-speed internet through the Internet for All initiative, and money for the upgrades come from the fourth funding round of the ReConnect Program.

As a member of the Appropriations Committee, Kilmer pressed for increased federal investment in the ReConnect Program. The program offers loans and grants for the construction, improvement, and acquisition of broadband facilities and equipment in eligible rural areas.

“During the pandemic, it became clear to our rural public utility that access to the internet was an essential service,” said Jefferson County PUD General Manager Kevin Streett.

“In 2021, Jefferson County PUD set a goal of building fiber internet to every home and business in our electric service territory that can’t get access to broadband. With the Reconnect Grant and Loan, we’re now more than 90 percent to having that goal funded,” Streett added.

Officials said funding has been approved for 142 ReConnect projects that will bring high-speed internet access to 314,000 rural Americans.

Monday’s announcement included $714 million in U.S. Department of Agriculture investments in Washington, Alaska, Arkansas, Arizona, California, Georgia, Idaho, Kansas, Kentucky, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, New Mexico, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Utah.