Posted: 07.08.2010

USDA Rural Utilities Service Administrator Jonathan Adelstein and USDA Rural Development State Director Stan Gruszynski have announced that more than $5.2 million is on its way to the Reedsburg Utilities Commission for broadband infrastructure improvements and service expansion.  

Reedsburg Utility Commission, Inc received a $5,239,168 grant and $2,303,357 in private investment for the Reedsburg Utility Commission Fiber Network Expansion project. The funding will extend an existing municipal fiber-to-the-premise network operated by City of Reedsburg to the surrounding rural area to provide affordable advanced broadband service to residents and businesses that are currently confined to traditional dial-up, wireless, and satellite services. This rural area of southwestern Wisconsin is deficient in broadband services due to the hilly terrain and numerous valleys which severely limit wireless and satellite service coverage.

In addition, Marquette-Adams Telephone Cooperative, Inc. received a $6,202,326 loan and $13,805,175 grant combination.  This project will extend fiber optic service from the existing Telephone Cooperative service area where all customers can currently receive broadband voice, video and data services to unserved and under-served rural areas bordering the Telephone Cooperative’s current territory.

“Building a broadband infrastructure is critical to creating jobs and economic opportunity in rural areas and with investments in broadband we are fostering innovation and bringing our rural communities into the digital age,” said Gruszynski.  “At USDA Rural Development, we are focused every day to helping create thriving rural communities where people want to live and raise families.  These funds will put people to work constructing new facilities, erecting towers to transmit signals and high speed broadband services installed in homes, businesses and community education, safety and public health centers.”

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