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United Fiber bringing high-speed internet to NWMO

By July 17, 2013 No Comments

July 16, 2013

United Electric Cooperative is a partner in the MoBroadbandNow initiative; company is bringing high-speed access to nearly 5,500 homes in six counties

During visit to United Electric Cooperative in northwest Missouri, Gov. Nixon highlights success of broadband initiative

SAVANNAH, Mo. – Gov. Jay Nixon today visited United Electric Cooperative in Savannah to highlight the success of Missouri’s public/private partnership in expanding broadband. United Electric, a partner in the Governor’s MoBroadbandNow initiative, is installing 1,230 fiber miles throughout the six counties it serves in northwest Missouri as part of its UnitedFiber project.

During visit to United Electric Cooperative in northwest Missouri, Gov. Nixon highlights success of broadband initiative.United Electric Cooperative is a partner in the MoBroadbandNow initiative; company is bringing high-speed access to nearly 5,500 homes in six counties.

“To continue Missouri’s economic growth, we must make sure businesses and communities have access to broadband services so that they can stay competitive and successful in today’s global economy,” Gov. Nixon said. “That’s why the MoBroadbandNow initiative is helping local providers in rural Missouri and throughout the state connect their customers with broadband access. I congratulate United Electric on its accomplishments, and I thank them for their commitment to northwest Missouri.”

Gov. Nixon launched the MoBroadbandNow initiative in 2009 to greatly expand broadband to reach more homes, businesses, schools, health care facilities, and public safety agencies. Over the next few years, Missouri will see a total investment of more than $310 million to expand broadband throughout the state, through a combination of federal, state, local and private sector resources, including more than $192 million in competitive federal funding obtained by the state of Missouri and its private and local partners.

United Electric Cooperative worked closely with state officials through MoBroadbandNow and was awarded $21 million in grants and loans in competitive federal funding. The United Electric Cooperative broadband project will bring high speed internet access to nearly 5,500 households and local schools in northwest Missouri.

Once the UnitedFiber project is finished, nearly 95 percent of the homes in United’s service area will have high-speed access, compared to less than 38 percent when the project was launched. The project is projected to create or retain more than 100 jobs in the area.

To learn more about the MoBroadbandNow initiative, visit MO.gov.