North Vegas Times

U.S. Sen. Jacky Rosen (D-NV) and Secretary of Commerce Gina M. Raimondo recently unveiled a $7.3 million grant to expand broadband service into Elko County in rural Nevada. 

According to a news release from Rosen’s office, the funding will boost the county’s Spring Creek project and serve more than 5,500 households, 169 businesses and 21 institutions with money from the National Telecommunications and Information Administration Broadband Infrastructure Program.

“Expanded access to broadband is critical for the success of communities across Nevada, particularly in rural areas of our state,” Rosen said in the news release. “I’m pleased to announce that the federal government will be making an investment of more than $7 million to expand broadband in Elko County – helping connect thousands of households and over a hundred businesses via high-speed internet service. I will continue working to see that Nevada has the resources to improve broadband access.”

According to the news release, 8.6% of Nevadans live in areas that reportedly do not have access to broadband infrastructure that would even offer a minimally acceptable speed. 

In the release, Raimondo pointed out that some 30 million Americans don’t have access to reliable broadband service nationwide, and the issue is even worse in rural areas. She also noted in the release that 14% of homes in the state don’t have an internet subscription.

Rosen noted in the release that the grant would go a long way in closing the digital divide across Nevada and the nation.