Contact:
Tracy Warren, NRECA
Phone: (703) 907-5746
Mobile: (703) 517-3411

ARLINGTON, VA; November 17, 2010 – Twelve cooperatives nationwide have received a total of nearly $280 million in federal grants and loans to bring much-needed communications infrastructure to rural America.

“Rural electric cooperatives understand that a robust communications infrastructure is vital to the sustainability of rural communities in 21st-century America,” said Glenn English, CEO of the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA).

Under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (the stimulus bill), $7.2 billion was made available for broadband grant and loan programs, with $2.5 billion being appropriated to the Rural Utilities Service (RUS) and $4.7 to the National Telecommunications & Information Administration (NTIA).

“With a substantial stake (both literal and figurative) in their communities, rural co-ops are eager to partner with the Department of Commerce and the Rural Utilities Service in building the middle and last mile of the communications highway,” English said.

The National Rural Electric Cooperative Association is the national service organization that represents the nation’s more than 900 private, not-for-profit, consumer-owned electric cooperatives, which provide service to 42 million people in 47 states.