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Grand Canyon Times

Tuesday, May 21, 2024

Sinema, Kelly Announce Over $6.7 Million to Connect Arizonans in Rural Communities to High-Speed Internet from Bipartisan Infrastructure Law

K sinema

Senator Kyrsten Sinema | Official U.S. House headshot

Senator Kyrsten Sinema | Official U.S. House headshot

WASHINGTON – $6,772,420 will be invested in delivering affordable, accessible high-speed internet to Arizona families, businesses, and schools in Mohave County from the bipartisan infrastructure law led by Senator Kyrsten Sinema and shaped by Senator Mark Kelly.

The investment was awarded through the Reconnect Loan and Grant Program funded by Sinema and Kelly’s infrastructure law. The program awards funds to the most difficult high-speed internet projects in the nation, which connect the most rural, remote, and underserved communities.

“As Arizona’s senior Senator, I focus on delivering lasting solutions to the communities I’m honored to serve – and that’s why when I wrote the infrastructure law, I made sure all corners of our state would benefit from the law’s investments. I’m proud to announce that, thanks to this work, Arizonans in Mohave County will now have increased access to affordable, reliable internet services to connect with loved ones, advance their education, and fuel a healthy economy,” said Sinema, lead negotiator and co-author of the bipartisan infrastructure law.

“More than ever, access to high-speed internet is critical to the development and well-being of our communities. Our historic bipartisan infrastructure law is having an impact across the state, and now it will provide much-needed high-speed internet access to families, business owners, and students in Mohave County,” Kelly said.

The more than $6.7 million investment will be used to deploy a fiber-to-the-premises network to provide high-speed internet – benefitting more than 3,000 people, 47 businesses, and five educational facilities across Mohave County.

The senators’ infrastructure law makes historic investments in repairing and upgrading America’s critical infrastructure, deploying high-speed broadband, expanding broadband internet access, and helping families afford broadband service.

Sinema and Kelly’s law makes internet more affordable and requires internet providers to offer a low-cost option to participate in federal broadband deployment funding. Following passage of the infrastructure law, the Federal Communications Commission established the Affordable Connectivity Program using the funding Sinema and Kelly secured to help Arizonans access affordable internet. The program provides eligible families $30 a month toward their internet bills and $75 a month toward internet service in tribal areas.

Fort Mojave Telecommunications Inc. will help make broadband services affordable by participating in the Affordable Connectivity Program.

Original source can be found here.

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