Oregon gets $16M for broadband

Cities in three Oregon counties will collect a total of $16 million in grants designed to enhance broadband technology.
 
The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act money will help develop and expand high-speed Internet service within Clackamas, Crook and Jefferson counties. Oregon Gov. Ted Kulongoski said the project will create thousands of upfront jobs and drive economic development in the communities for several years.
 
The money comes through the federal Broadband Technology Opportunities Program. The program aims to help small businesses become more competitive thanks to their increased access to education, health care information exchanges, public safety agencies, public libraries and business development information.
 


Clackamas County collected $7.8 million from the program. The county also provided a $3.3 million grant of its own toward boosting access. Some 250,000 people and 3,500 businesses could benefit from the award.
 
Bend Cable Communications LLC collected $4.4 million and matched the money with another $1.9 million. The money will help the operator build more than 130 miles of new fiber in central Oregon. By better connecting area business parks, more than 3,000 people and 1,000 businesses in Jefferson and Crook counties will take advantage of the grant.
 
Crook County’s $3.9 million federal grant spurred a county $1.8 million match. The funds will build a 65-workstation computer learning center in Prineville. The project will include a mobile lab with satellite connectivity that brings instruction and training to remote areas of the county.