$5.483 Million In Federal Funding For Rural Broadband Projects In Fresno County

WASHINGTON,D.C. –The Cities of San Joaquin, Tranquility and other rural West Fresno County townswill be seeing an expansion of broadband Internet connections thanks to acombined federal grant and loan of $5,483,010 announced today. It willprovide access to approximately 1,500 households, local businesses and otherinstitutions in West Fresno County.

"Expandingbroadband to rural communities is a win for the local economy, small businessesand families in rural Fresno County," Costa said. "It is estimated thatnearly 80 jobs will be created to build, support, manage and install the newinfrastructure. Also, small businesses on the West Side will have greaterand more dependable access to the Internet to solicit business from around theregion and across the country. I am looking forward to seeing the resultsof this grant."

Thefunds were awarded to Audeamus, a wholly owned subsidiary of SebastianEnterprises, Inc., which is a parent company of Kerman Telephone Company. Audeamus estimates this broadband project will help the unemployment rate inWest Fresno County and provide new economic, medical, telemedicine andeducational opportunities that quality broadband access makes possible.

Fundswere made possible by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act to help bringbroadband services to rural and un-served and underserved communities acrossthe nation.