WASHINGTON, Aug. 18, 2004 –- Agriculture Secretary Ann M. Veneman today announced the approval of a Rural Development broadband loan totaling $6.375 million for Progressive Telephone Cooperative, Inc. in Rentz, Georgia. The funds will allow for the expansion of broadband access to high-speed Internet as part of the Bush Administration's effort to expand universal access to broadband technology by the year 2007.

    "Business entrepreneurs are the backbone to America's rural economy," said Veneman. "These funds will help provide rural residents and businesses ready access to technologies necessary to compete domestically and globally."

   The loan will be used to construct a Digital Subscriber Line (DLS) based broadband system to provide high-speed Internet access and video programming to approximately 1,230 high-speed data service subscribers and 1,941 video subscribers in six central Georgia communities: Cadwell, Cedar Grove, Chester, Dexter, Dudley and Rentz.

   Funding will be contingent upon meeting the conditions of the loan agreement. USDA provides a number of other important tools to advance broadband service in rural America, including the Distance Learning and Telemedicine grant program which provides advance technologies for educational and health care needs.

   Since the beginning of the Bush Administration, over $2 billion in telecommunication funding has provided over one million rural homes and businesses with access to high speed broadband connections. To learn more about available funding through USDA's broadband program, visit http://www.usda.gov/rus/telecom/broadband-initiatives.htm or contact USDA Rural Development broadband staff at (202) 720-9554.

   USDA Rural Development's mission is to deliver programs in a way that will support increasing economic opportunity and improve the quality of life of rural residents. As a venture capital entity, Rural Development provides equity and technical assistance to finance and foster growth in homeownership, business development, and critical community and technology infrastructure. Further information on rural programs is available at a local USDA Rural Development office or by visiting USDA's web site at http://www.rurdev.usda.gov.