Pilot broadband loan grant combo - grant

The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Rural Utilities Service awarded a $8,134,548 Project Grant under the Distance Learning and Telemedicine Loans and Grants program (CFDA 10.855) to Southern Plains Cable, L.L.C., a for-profit telecommunications company based in Lawton, Oklahoma. The 2-year grant, awarded on June 10, 2024, supports Southern Plains Cable's efforts to expand access to critical telemedicine and distance learning capabilities in underserved rural areas around Lawton. Specifically, the grant funding will enable the company to implement telecommunications-enabled information, audio, and video equipment, as well as related advanced technologies, to improve access to healthcare and educational resources for residents in these outlying communities. Through this federally funded initiative, Southern Plains Cable plays a key role in addressing the healthcare and learning needs of rural Oklahoma populations.