Vilsack: Nearly $20 million headed to south Georgia for broadband internet project

WASHINGTON, D.C.; In a conference call with reporters late Wednesday afternoon, U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack said that the federal government will award nearly $20 million in grants to provide high-speed broadband internet service to rural portions of southern Georgia.

Vilsack said that $13 million has been awarded to the South Georgia Regional Technology Authority to provide mobile and static broadband availabilty in Baker, Calhoun, Early, Miller and Mitchell Counties.

Additionally, another $4.5 million in grants has been awarded to the state with the promise of $1.5 million in a private match to allow the rural broadband company Windstream to provide enhanced internet service to many Southern Georgia counties including Early and Miller.