WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senator Roy Blunt (Mo.), a member of the Senate Commerce Committee, announced that the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has awarded 17 Missouri broadband providers a total of more than $346 million to expand high speed internet in rural areas. The resources were awarded through the FCC’s Rural Digital Opportunity Fund Phase I auction.

“The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted how essential connectivity is for everything from child care and education, to telehealth, to farming and local business,” said Blunt. “While we’ve made meaningful progress toward ending the digital divide, nearly one-third of rural Missourians still don’t have access to broadband. This investment will get us another step closer to bringing high-speed internet to unserved areas in our state. I will continue working to ensure the federal government does its part to expand broadband and provide a foundation for more jobs, better education, and stronger economic growth in our rural communities.”

Blunt has led efforts in Congress to expand high speed internet in Missouri. In October, Blunt commended the U.S. Department of Agriculture for investing an additional $91.5 million in broadband grant funding through the ReConnect Pilot Program. Over the past two years, Missouri has received nearly $200 million in funding through the Blunt-backed program, amounting to about 20% of all the support provided nationwide.

In addition, in 2018, the FCC Connect America Fund Phase-II auction awarded $255 million in broadband funding to communities across the state. Missouri received about 17% of the total amount allocated nationwide.

Following are the recipients of the grant funding announced today, according to the FCC: