Reconnect 100% grant infrastructure investments and jobs act

The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Rural Utilities Service awarded a $25,000,000 Rural eConnectivity (ReConnect) Program grant to Arctic Slope Telephone Association Cooperative Inc. (dba Astac), a not-for-profit telecommunications provider in Alaska. The project grant, awarded on Aug 7, 2023, will fund infrastructure investments and job creation to expand broadband availability and connectivity in rural Alaskan communities over a 2-year performance period ending Aug 7, 2025. The ReConnect Program provides grant funding to facilitate the deployment of broadband infrastructure and services in rural, underserved areas across the United States. Through this award, Astac will utilize the grant funding to build out broadband networks, improve access to telehealth and distance learning resources, and enhance telework capabilities for residents in remote Alaskan regions.