Texas Insider Report: WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congressman Kevin Brady (TX-08) released the following statement after Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue announced new grant funding for three rural broadband projects in Texas, including the MidSouth Electric Cooperative Association in Navasota, Texas:
“I want to thank Secretary Perdue and the Rural Development Broadband ReConnect Program for their commitment to providing broadband to underserved communities.
“Many of my constituents in the Eighth Congressional District of Texas live in rural communities, and are affected by the lack of broadband connection. This new funding will bridge the digital divide and help my constituents by improving access to telehealth services and promoting economic development. I was proud to advocate on behalf of MidSouth’s grant application, and I look forward to seeing the positive impact this program will have on the rural communities in Texas.”
“Congressman Kevin Brady provided exceptional support and was an integral part of making the grant funds for fiber-based broadband a reality for the consumer-members of MidSouth Electric Co-op,” said MidSouth CEO Kerry Kelton. “The grant funds will help MidSouth bridge the digital divide by bringing rural families, schools, and businesses access to fiber-based broadband at gigabit speed.”
“Many of my constituents in the Eighth Congressional District of Texas live in rural communities, and are affected by the lack of broadband connection. This new funding will bridge the digital divide and help my constituents by improving access to telehealth services and promoting economic development. I was proud to advocate on behalf of MidSouth’s grant application, and I look forward to seeing the positive impact this program will have on the rural communities in Texas.”
“Congressman Kevin Brady provided exceptional support and was an integral part of making the grant funds for fiber-based broadband a reality for the consumer-members of MidSouth Electric Co-op,” said MidSouth CEO Kerry Kelton. “The grant funds will help MidSouth bridge the digital divide by bringing rural families, schools, and businesses access to fiber-based broadband at gigabit speed.”
Background:
In November 2019, Congressman Brady sent a letter to the Rural Utilities Service Administrator Chad Rupe in support of MidSouth Electric Cooperative Association’s application to the USDA ReConnect Program.
About MidSouth Electric Cooperative Association:
MidSouth Electric Co-op serves over 25,000 consumer-members in and around Grimes, Montgomery, Walker, Madison, Brazos, and Waller counties. The co-op is focused on providing quality service at a reasonable price, bringing vital services to increase both the quality of life and economic health in the MidSouth service area.
About the USDA Rural Development Broadband ReConnect Program:
The USDA Rural Development Broadband ReConnect Program offers unique federal financing and funding options in the form of loans, grants, and loan/grant combinations to facilitate broadband deployment in areas of rural America that don’t currently have sufficient access to broadband. This program will generate private sector investment to deploy broadband infrastructure to provide high-speed internet e-Connectivity to as many rural premises as possible, including homes, community facilities for healthcare and public safety, schools, libraries, farms, ranches, factories, and other production sites.
