Sen. Marshall Announces Federal Funding for Rural Broadband Project in Northeast Kansas

(Home, KS, October 27, 2022) – Today, U.S. Senator Roger Marshall, M.D announced that the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) approved a ReConnect grant for Blue Valley Tele-Communications.

“Expanding reliable internet to rural parts of our state improves the lives of Kansans in those communities,” said Senator Marshall. “With this support from USDA’s ReConnect program, rural Kansans in Washington County and Marshall County will gain access to innovative economic opportunities available through the internet, farmers can reach new customers, speaking with a health care professional can be accomplished through telehealth, and students can take classes online. I worked with my congressional colleagues to establish ReConnect in 2018, and I’m proud to see that our state is continuing to benefit from this program.”

Background:

This Rural Development investment will be used to deploy a fiber-to-the-premises network to connect 3,000 people, 255 businesses, 14 educational facilities and four farms to high-speed internet in Marshall and Washington counties in Kansas. Blue Valley Tele-Communications Inc. will make high-speed internet affordable by participating in the FCC’s Affordable Connectivity Program.

Last September, Senator Marshall penned an op-ed for the Courier Traveler highlighting the importance of increasing rural broadband in Kansas to bridge the digital divide and connect those who are truly unserved. You may click HERE to read Senator Marshall’s op-ed in its entirety.

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