Area Missouri residents to see boost toward rural internet

wireready_07-28-2019-11-22-05_00192_broadband

Broadband service is expected to be expanded to area residents in the Show Me State. The Federal Communications Commission has authorized nearly $10.7 million in funding over the next decade for the expansion to nearly 4,000 unserved rural Missouri residences and businesses, and over $3 million were allocated to Ozark, Howell and Oregon counties.

According to the West Plains Daily Quill, the expansion is part of the third wave of support from last year’s Connect America Fund Phase II auction. Providers are expected to begin receiving funding this month.

In May and June, $46.5 million were authorized for Missouri. That authorization brings the total to $57.2 million to connect over 21,000 residences and businesses to modern broadband.

Aristotle United Communications of Little Rock will receive the funding to provide the internet service. The company will get over $1.66 million for Ozark County and over $411,000 for Howell County.

Nationwide, last fall’s auction allocated almost $1.5 billion to expand broadband to over 700,000 unserved rural homes and businesses over the next 10 years. More information on the auction is available at fcc.gov/auction/903.

WebReadyTM Powered by WireReady® NSI