美国农业部投1450万美元扩威斯康星州七县高速互联网：光纤直达居民、企业、农场与学校
美国威斯康星州 Stevens Point：美国农业部（USDA）农村发展局威斯康星州主任 Andrew C. Iverson 10月26日宣布，农业部将提供逾1450万美元融资，支持 West Wisconsin Telecom Cooperative 在威斯康星州七个乡村县铺设光纤到户高速互联网，惠及当地居民、企业、农场与学校。
这笔资金将用于把光纤到户（fiber-to-the-premises）高速互联网扩展到 Buffalo、Chippewa、Dunn、Eau Claire、Pepin、Pierce 与 St. Croix 七县。Iverson 说：「这个项目不只是宽带。它是把这七个县的人们与更大的机会和经济增长连接起来。农业部对高速互联网基础设施的投资将扩大医疗与教育机会、加强企业连接、支持就业创造，帮助乡村社区在日益数字化的世界里连接、竞争、繁荣。」
资金来自农业部的电信基础设施贷款与贷款担保计划（Telecommunications Infrastructure Loans and Loan Guarantees program），该计划通过联邦融资银行提供直接贷款与贷款担保，支持电信传输与分发设施建设。
农业部农村发展局通过贷款、拨款与贷款担保计划投资乡村地区，项目涵盖高速互联网、电力与交通基础设施，并支持企业增长、医疗、教育、住房及其他社区基本服务。
USDA Invests $14.5 Million to Expand High-Speed Internet in Seven Wisconsin Counties: Fiber to Residents, Businesses, Farms and Schools
Stevens Point, Wisconsin — U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development Wisconsin State Director Andrew C. Iverson announced on Oct. 26 that USDA will provide more than $14.5 million in financing for a West Wisconsin Telecom Cooperative project to expand fiber-to-the-premises high-speed internet across seven rural Wisconsin counties, improving access for residents, businesses, farms and schools in Buffalo, Chippewa, Dunn, Eau Claire, Pepin, Pierce and St. Croix counties.
"This project is about more than broadband. It is about connecting people across these seven counties to greater opportunities and economic growth," Iverson said. "USDA's investment in high-speed internet infrastructure will expand access to healthcare and educational opportunities, strengthen business connectivity, and support job creation, helping rural communities connect, compete, and thrive in an increasingly digital world."
The funding is provided through USDA's Telecommunications Infrastructure Loans and Loan Guarantees program, which offers direct loans and loan guarantees through the Federal Financing Bank to support telecom transmission and distribution facilities.
USDA Rural Development invests in rural America with loan, grant and loan guarantee programs to promote rural prosperity. Its programs expand access to high-speed internet, electric and transportation infrastructure, and support business growth, healthcare, education, housing and other community essentials.
来源：GSM·美国（原文链接）
图片来源：照片：Wikideas1，CC0，经 Wikimedia Commons（威斯康星州议会大厦，Madison，资料图）
