Stay Curious. Stay Connected.
MailNewsletters♡Donate Now
Sign up
*Password must be at least 8 characters and contain one uppercase letter, one lowercase letter, one number and one symbol.
Already have an account?
By submitting, you consent that you are at least 18 years of age and to receive information about MPR's or APMG entities' programs and offerings. The personally identifying information you provide will not be sold, shared, or used for purposes other than to communicate with you about MPR, APMG entities, and its sponsors. You may opt-out at any time clicking the unsubscribe link at the bottom of any email communication. View our Privacy Policy.
Sign in to your profile
Forgot Password?
New to MPR News?
Welcome back
to news
for you
Reset Password

Enter the username on file and we'll send you a code to reset your password.

Still require assistance or not sure what your User Name is?
Welcome back
to news
for you
Email Verification

A verification code has been emailed to

Still awaiting the code?
Bob Kelleher
Duluth, Minn.

Feds give $40M to Minn. companies for rural broadband

Go Deeper.

Create an account or log in to save stories.

Log inCreate a free Account

Like this?

Thanks for liking this story! We have added it to a list of your favorite stories.

Show me!

Five rural Minnesota telephone systems will be splitting more than $40 million in U.S. Department of Agriculture grants to expand access to broadband internet.

U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack said it is part of a two-pronged federal strategy. The Department of Commerce has generally been funding broadband hubs, while the U.S. Department of Agriculture has a different role.

"We, in turn, came in and tried to sort of complete the circle, so to speak, by focusing on how we can connect people to this technology directly in their homes and their businesses," Vilsack said. "Most of our emphasis has been on last mile."

Vilsack said the awards generally go to very rural areas.

"We focused our efforts on persistent poverty counties, areas ... where there was high unemployment and difficult economic conditions," he said.

The Wickstrom Telephone Company gets $7 million to provide broadband to un-served and underserved areas in four northwestern Minnesota counties. Other awards go to the Federated Telephone Cooperative in Morris, Farmers Mutual Telephone in Lac qui Parle County, Arvig Telephone in Perham and Woodstock Telephone in southwest Minnesota.

Meanwhile, a $34 million proposal to bring broadband to Cook County residents awaits federal action. Awards will continue through September 30th.