U.S. Senator Jon Ossoff expanding high-speed internet to Georgia rural counties - WJBF-TV

JEFFERSON COUNTY, Ga. (WJBF) – U.S. Senator Jon Ossoff came to Jefferson County connected Friday to talk to section leaders astir a caller assistance programme that volition bring amended high-speed net to agrarian parts of Georgia.

He secured $250 cardinal done the American Rescue Plan for the program.

“When I arrived successful the Senate and sat down with my colleagues connected some sides of the aisle to trade authorities that helps Georgia, high-speed net was astatine the apical of the database due to the fact that it’s specified a important contented for communities crossed the state,” Ossoff said astatine a property conference.

He said families, tiny businesses, farms and schools volition payment from the expansion.

“As I heard contiguous from the superintendent, this straight impacts students, teachers, schoolhouse principals, some entree astatine schoolhouse and doing schoolwork astatine home. It straight impacts entrepreneurs and tiny businesses who trust upon high-speed connectivity for e-commerce. This straight impacts farmers who trust upon net access,” helium said.

Jefferson County is 1 of the areas receiving the grant.

“Jefferson County is simply a small down connected that and from a region standpoint,” said Jerry Coalson, the Jefferson County administrator. “We’re trying to drawback up and marque these improvements, and evidently this announcement contiguous volition assistance a batch successful our community.”

According to Georgia’s Department of Community Affairs, 70% of Georgians who deficiency precocious velocity net are successful agrarian communities.

“There are astir a cardinal Georgian’s who don’t person broadband net access,” Ossoff said. “This is simply a historical time successful the economical past of the CSRA. Major investments are connected their mode to assistance link homes and businesses successful Jefferson County and crossed the portion with high-speed net access.”

The Georgia Office of Planning and Budget is expected to administer the funds soon.

 Ossoff said much funds are connected the mode due to the fact that of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.

“I expect that precocious Spring, aboriginal Summer determination volition beryllium large further announcements of infrastructure upgrades to grow precocious velocity net entree further statewide,” helium said.

It’ll beryllium sometime adjacent twelvemonth earlier the task is enactment into motion, Ossoff said, and helium is dedicated to ensuring that each Georgia communities person affordable, high-quality broadband.