These nine Eastern Colorado counties are going to see federal funding for high-speed internet - KNBN NewsCenter1 - Newscenter1.tv

COLORADO – An net supplier for consumers successful 9 Eastern Colorado counties is acceptable to person millions from a national assistance to found a fiber-optic web to amended high-speed net service.

The Eastern Slope Rural Telephone Association, Inc. volition get an $18.7 cardinal U.S. Department of Agriculture assistance for the project, a news release from U.S. Sens. Michael Bennet and John Hickenlooper said.

The web volition supply high-speed net to astir 2,300 radical successful Adams, Arapahoe, Cheyenne, Crowley, Elbert, Kiowa, Kit Carson, Lincoln, and Washington counties, according to the senators’ offices.

The backing for the assistance was allocated to the USDA by the national Bipartisan Infrastructure Bill.

“This $18.7 cardinal assistance is precisely the benignant of concern we person to marque successful agrarian America,” said Bennet, who’s moving for reelection. “In the twelvemonth 2022, high-speed net is simply a necessity for families, farmers, and tiny businesses everywhere.”

Hickenlooper added that high-speed net volition beryllium “critical for tiny businesses, telehealth, virtual classes, and more” successful the region.

Eastern Slope Rural Telephone Association, Inc. General Manager/CEO Patricia White said the broadband volition screen astir 4,000 quadrate miles.

“Upon completion of the fiber-to-the-premise project, our cooperative members volition person entree to abundant, reliable and affordable broadband,” she said.