Rural Development

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Community Connect Broadband Grant Program
Rural Development 1400 Independence
Ave. Washington, DC 20250 www.usda.gov/rus/
Presenter Alyssa Clemsen
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What is Community Connect?

• A nationally competitive grant program to provide
  broadband service on a community-oriented
  connectivity basis to the most rural and
  economically challenged communities.
• Since its inception, the Community Connect
  program has provided 130 grants and invested
  almost 60 million to provide service to local
  communities.

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Program Basics

• Serves one Community
• Community without Broadband
• Provides a Community Center
• Free service to Critical Facilities

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New for 2008

• Added Rand McNally as a community qualifier if
  the Census is not recognizing a community
• Using MHI based on the state average rather than
  PCI based on the national level
• Clarified allowable operating expenses

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Benefits

• Fosters economic growth
• Delivers enhanced
• Educational opportunities
• Health Care
• Public Safety Services

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Success Story

• Air Advantage, LLC
• Community Connect Grants
• 2003 Unionville, Michigan (Pop. 605) 214,532
• 2003 Port Hope, Michigan (Pop. 310) 219,176
• Broadband Loans
• 2004 43 communities, 1,500,000
• 2005 12 communities, 1,028,000
• Exciting Fact Today they are serving 55
  mid-Michigan communities and providing service to
  2,174 rural Michigan customers

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Success Story

• Lenowisco Inc. I
• Community Connect Grants
• 2005 Rose Hill, Lee County, Virginia (Pop. 714)
  506,048
• 2006 Ewing, Lee County, Virginia (Pop. 436)
  454,558.
• Exciting Fact Rolling out service at 5 Mb!!

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Success Story

• Nixs Medical Supply
• Dba CSWeb.net
• 2006 Gans, Sequoya County, Oklahoma (Pop. 208)
  531,750
• Exciting Fact They already have 50 subscribers

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Keys to Success

• Good management of the project
• High local involvement especially local
  leadership
• Good service at reasonable rates

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Thank you

• I hope you will join us in the afternoon breakout
  sessions to learn more about the Community
  Connect Grant Program.