Today, U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development Arkansas StateDirector David Branscum announced USDA has invested $7.1 million in two, high-speed broadband infrastructure projects that will create or improve rural e-Connectivity for 1,250 rural households in north-central Arkansas. This is one of many funding announcements in the first round of USDA’s ReConnect Pilot Program investments.

“Through USDA’s ReConnect Program, more than 1,250 Arkansans living in rural communities will get access to the latest broadband technology that will connect them to opportunities in education, healthcare, and economic development,” Branscum said. “Under the leadership of PresidentTrump and Agriculture Secretary Perdue, USDA has made deploying this critical infrastructure across rural America a top priority because when rural America thrives,all of America thrives.”

Yelcot Telephone Company will use a $1.7million ReConnect Program grant and a$1.7 million loan to upgrade facilities from copper cable and drops to a fiber-to-the-home (FTTH) network that is expected to connect 548 households in Baxter and Marion counties.

Mountain View Telephone Company will use a $3.7 million ReConnect Program grant to upgrade facilities from copper cable and drops to an FTTH network that isexpected to connect 702 households, 15 pre-subscribed farms and a pre-subscribed business in Stone County.

“We are excited about the opportunity to upgrade over 150 miles of copper to fiber in 10 remote areas between YelcotTelephone Company and Mountain View Telephone Company,” Yelcot President Sara Zimmerman said.

Pictured Left to Right. Front Row: Gene Higginbotham, US Senator Boozman’soffice; State Representative Nelda Speaks; State Senator Missy Irvin; PresidentYelcot Sara Zimmerman. Second Row: State Senator Bobby Ballinger; TeriGarrett – US Representative Steve Womack’s office; Ty Davis, US SenatorBoozman’s office; Clint Moore, Governor's Office of Broadband Development, ADFA. Third Row: State Representative Jack Fortner; Melinda Boyer, USRepresentative Westerman’s office; State Senator Scott Flippo; Shawn Lane, Operations Manager Yelcot. Fourth Row: Stone County Judge Stacy Avey; BillVogt, USDA Field Representative; Stetson Painter, US Representative Crawford’soffice; David Branscum, USDA Arkansas State Director for Rural Development.