Washington, D.C. – Oregon’s U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden announced today a $4,419,306 grant for high-speed broadband internet infrastructure in Lane County. This federal investment for Pioneer Telephone Cooperative will be used to deploy a fiber-to-the-premises network to provide high-speed internet. This network will benefit 75 people, 12 businesses, and eight farms in Lane County. The funding is provided through the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) ReConnect Program.
“Access to high-speed internet is critical for individuals, families, small businesses, and farms across Oregon,” Merkley said. “Yet many areas still lack reliable service, creating challenges for staying connected in the 21st century economy. This federal investment will expand broadband in Lane County, helping residents strengthen their economies and enhance their quality of life.”
“Dependable access to the internet is a must for Oregonians who need and deserve modern access to emergency services, telehealth appointments, school research and more,” said Wyden, who last year worked with U.S. Commerce Secretary Gina Raimundo to fix broadband maps that provided $689 million to modernize and expand broadband services in rural and underserved parts of Oregon. “I applaud this new $4.4 million federal grant for Lane County, and I will keep building on successes just like today’s to secure more federal resources for broadband throughout Oregon.”
This funding is part of an announcement from the USDA of $313 million in funding to connect rural residents, farmers, and business owners in 18 states to reliable high-speed internet.
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