WASHINGTON – U.S. Sen. Mark R. Warner (D-VA) announced that the U.S. Department of Agriculture has approved a $1.5 million grant to the Scott County Telephone Cooperative (SCTC) to build out its network in order to provide high speed internet service in the previously unserved Flat Top/Sandy Ridge area of Scott County.

Scott County Telephone Cooperative will provide a $250,000 match and will use the Rural Utilities Service grant funds to provide broadband services through a FTTP network.  The network will provide high speed Internet services to all critical community facilities, residents and businesses.  The Flat Top/ Sandy Ridge Volunteer Fire Department and community center will receive broadband service free of charge for two years.  A community center will be constructed as part of the project where free broadband service will be available to community residents for two years. SCTC wants to construct a Broadband IP Ethernet Network with one gigabyte of bandwidth.

“This is great news for the residents of Scott County and will provide greater opportunities for job creation in Southwest Virginia,” Senator Warner said. “As a businessman, as Governor and now as Senator, I have long been committed to bringing broadband services to all parts of the Commonwealth. With this funding and the work of the Scott County Telephone Cooperative, residents and businesses and public safety officials will now have access to high speed internet.”

USDA administers and manages housing, business and community infrastructure and facility programs through a national network of state and local offices. These programs are designed to improve the economic stability of rural communities, businesses, and residents and improve the quality of life in rural America. The Community Connect program provides grants to rural, economically challenged communities. Funds can be used to construct, acquire or lease facilities to deploy broadband to community facilities such as schools and public safety buildings, as well as residents and businesses in the community.  Each project requires a matching contribution and must serve an area where broadband is not available. The grantee must agree to provide local community centers in the selected towns with at least 10 computers which are accessible free for two years.  USDA funding for all loans and grants is contingent upon the recipient meeting the terms of the loan or grant agreement.

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