The U.S. Department of Agriculture has announced a $3,987,550 investment in a Linn County communications company to expand reliable, affordable high-speed internet. Prairieburg Telephone Company Inc. received a $1,993,775 USDA loan and a $1,993,775 USDA grant to deploy a fiber-to-the-premises network. The funding comes from the USDA’s ReConnect Program, which is funded by the federal Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. The network will benefit 1,232 people, 51 businesses, two farms and nine educational facilities in Linn County, according to a news release. The company will make high-speed internet affordable by participating in the Federal Communications Commission’s Lifeline and Affordable Connectivity Programs, the release said. This investment is part of the fourth round of funding through the ReConnect Program. A full list of projects receiving grants and loans from this round of funding is available at this link. All Iowa projects that have received funding through the ReConnect Program are listed here.
