CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — The U.S. Department of Agriculture is investing $3.4 million to create or improve rural internet for 603 rural households, 12 farms and a business in Hamilton County, said USDA Rural Development Illinois State Director Douglas Wilson.
This high-speed broadband infrastructure project is one of many funding announcements in the first round of USDA’s ReConnect Pilot Program investments.
“High-speed broadband is critical for the prosperous future of rural communities,” Wilson said. “It is essential for economic development and improved access to health care and educational resources. President Trump and Agriculture Secretary Perdue have made the deployment of this much-needed service a priority. I congratulate Hamilton County Telephone Cooperative on this award and look forward to seeing more communities get access to this vital infrastructure.”
Hamilton County Telephone Cooperative Corp. will replace copper wire with fiber-optic cable wire. The upgrade will benefit 146 customers in the area.
The company provides broadband internet access, entertainment video and voice services to 1,600 customers over approximately 467 square miles.