Governor Mike Parson has announced 16 broadband development projects will receive a total of $3.05 million through the state of Missouri’s broadband grant program.
According to a news release, the selected projects will bring service to more than 4,400 Missouri homes, businesses and farms that lack access to high-speed internet.
According to the latest Federal Communications Commission data, nearly 600,000 rural Missourians lack access to high-speed internet. The broadband grant was established by the legislature in 2018, and is a joint effort between the Department of Economic Development and the Department of Agriculture. The program matches up to 50 percent of eligible expenses.
“The COVID-19 outbreak has emphasized the importance of strong connectivity for our families, businesses and communities, especially in rural Missouri,” Missouri Department of Agriculture Chris Chinn said. “The demand on our digital infrastructure is unprecedented right now. We need every last mile connected to high-speed internet – all the way to the farm gate – for our rural students, workforce and entrepreneurs.”
According to Missouri Department of Economic Development, in the KMMO listening area, Alma Communications, serving Saline, Lafayette and Johnson Counties; Socket Telecom, serving New Franklin; Chariton Valley Communications- serving Rockford Hills; and Worldwide Technologies, serving Lexington have received grants.
Alma Communications Company will deploy a fixed wireless solution with $127,913 in assistance to the project area consisting of eastern Lafayette County, western and central Saline County and parts of northern Johnson County. The project will enable delivery of broadband at speeds of at least 25/3 Mbps to 711 households, farms and businesses.
Socket Telecom LLC – New FranklinSocket Telecom, LLC will construct a fiber-to-the-premise network to the city of New Franklin with the assistance of $129,860. The project will provide new access to 439 households, businesses and community institutions currently designated unserved or underserved by the FCC. Once constructed, Socket will provide internet service at speeds up to 1 Gbps/100 Mbps.
Chariton Valley Communications Corporation will extend high speed broadband internet service with the assistance of $50,625 to 19 locations in portions of unserved and underserved census blocks along Rockford Hills Avenue in Chariton County. Using the fiber-to-the-home model and construction process, Chariton Valley will deploy 1 Gbps service to the project area.
Worldwide Technologies Inc. – LexingtonWorldwide Technologies, Inc., will deploy fiber optic cable and associated electronics to improve broadband service with the assistance of $370,990 in Lexington. The service area for this project will include 468 homes and two community institutions, providing high speed internet service over its new fiber-to-the-home network to underserved subscribers.
For more information about the broadband grant program and to view the detailed list of recipients, go to this link: https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMDEsInVyaSI6ImJwMjpjbGljayIsImJ1bGxldGluX2lkIjoiMjAyMDA0MTcuMjAzMDg0NjEiLCJ1cmwiOiJodHRwczovL2RlZC5tby5nb3YvY29udGVudC9taXNzb3VyaS1icm9hZGJhbmQtZ3JhbnQtcHJvZ3JhbSJ9.lhOTlR5qJN8O0yIEZqykJC0rSBAHYrZf63wYlk6D_sI/br/77552211952-l.