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Ohio is among the states to be receiving part of another $667 million in rural broadband loans and grants, from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, according to a report by the Ohio Capital Journal on Aug. 21.
This is Round Four in the awarding of USDA Rural Development ReConnect money, and -- this time, at least -- Ohio is getting only a $5,007,614 loan for Sycamore Telephone Co., the request for which was sponsored by Sens. J.D. Vance, R-Ohio, and Sherrod Brown, D-Ohio, and U.S. Rep. Bob Latt, R-Bowling Green.
"This rural development investment will be used to deploy a fiber-to-the-premises network to provide high-speed Internet. This network will benefit 38 people and four farms in Seneca, Crawford and Wyandot counties in Ohio," the USDA said. "Sycamore Telephone Co. will make high-speed internet affordable by participating in the Federal Communications Commission's Affordable Connectivity Program."
Think about that -- a more-than $5 million loan for a project that will benefit 38 people on four farms.
In this case, Ohio is fortunate to have representatives in Washington, D.C., who know affordable rural broadband connectivity is worth every penny.
"We're delivering this funding because the Internet is no longer a luxury," said Mitch Landrieu, White House coordinator for the infrastructure law, according to the Capital Journal. "It's a necessity to fully participate in today's society."
For farmers like those in the Buckeye State, keeping up with the technology necessary to meet stricter regulatory standards means having access to the Internet. It means better educational, telehealth and communication options, too.
"The reality is that we have faced some challenging times in rural places," U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack said. "When we talk about broadband and high-speed Internet it really is basically creating the opportunity for people, regardless of their ZIP code, to have a sense of connection, a sense that the federal government cares deeply about their economic opportunity and about their families."
Well, the federal government urged on by local and state representatives who do care about doing right by rural families. Officials in our municipalities, counties and representing the state as a whole must not let off the pressure in making sure the federal government keeps caring as much as it says it does.