Bluebonnet Fiber, USDA partner to expand underground broadband infrastructure in South Texas
(UI) — Bluebonnet Fiber has announced a new partnership with the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) to complete pre-construction efforts for the installation of underground fiber optic cables to expand broadband access in Duval, Frio, Jim Hogg, La Salle, and Zavala counties.
Bluebonnet estimates 6,684 residents across ten distinct communities will benefit from this effort.
Without broadband access, rural residents face unique social and community challenges, with documented impacts on education, income, and health. As technology becomes more integral to everyday life, communities must have access to affordable and reliable broadband for remote learning, telehealth, workforce development, emergency services, and job procurement.
Accelerated by the COVID-19 pandemic, an estimated 35 million jobs nationally are remote or hybrid roles. Those impacted by the digital divide are effectively excluded from these opportunities, and with many in-person roles requiring online applications or assessments, more opportunities are lost.
The partnership between Bluebonnet Fiber and the USDA will focus on laying underground fiber optic cables to provide universal broadband access in the area, improving the residents' quality of life. This infrastructure upgrade will ensure reliable and high-speed internet access for the community.
Wyatt Ciomperlik, president of operations, said, "Our partnership with the USDA will help us better address the unique challenges faced by rural communities in South Texas and ensure that our plans align with the needs and expectations of local residents. We're committed to providing reliable, high-speed internet access to everyone, regardless of where they live."
As part of this partnership, residents in the impacted areas will receive a survey. The survey asks questions about existing internet access, takes a few minutes to complete, requires no return postage, and should be in residents' mailboxes around Saturday, July 6th, 2024.
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