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RTC Awarded $7 Million for Broadband to Underserved Rural North Dakota and Montana by USDA

By November 11, 2020No Comments
RTC CEO/General Manager Shane Hart

Bismarck, ND, October 29,2020 –USDA North Dakota State Director for Rural Development Clare Carlson announced that RTC has been awarded $6,959,459 in grant funds, from the Department’s ReConnect Program. The Broadband ReConnect Program offers unique federal financing options in the form of grants, loans, and combinations thereof to create or improve e-Connectivity for rural customers across America.

RTC will use the funds to bring broadband internet connectivity to rural, underserved areas in western North Dakota and Eastern Montana. The project will benefit nearly 1,500 rural residents over 541 square miles.

“These under-served homes, farms, ranches and businesses are just outside RTC’s current service area,  so when this program became available, it was a logical decision for RTC to apply for funds to serve these locations as these are our friends and neighbors.” Shane Hart, RTC CEO/General Manager

RTC will expand its current fiber optic infrastructure to these underserved locations to provide state of the art telephone, video, and broadband services.  The customers in these areas can expect access to broadband speeds up to 1 GB and will have access to the same services offered to current subscribers of RTC;  they will be provided the best broadband speeds available across the country.

To learn more about Rural Development’s ReConnect program, go to www.USDA.gov/reconnect.

Speakers at the award event: (from left to right) Darrell Nitschke – Western Regional Director for Representative Kelly Armstrong, Seth Arndorfer – Dakota Carrier Network CEO, John Hoeven – North Dakota Senator, Shane Hart – RTC CEO/General Manager, Clare Carlson – ND USDA State Director, Rick Collin – Southwest Regional Representative for Senator Kevin Cramer.