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Utah Broadband says the expansion is its official entry into Cache County, Utah, where the company previously had not operated.
Edited by Brad Randall, Broadband Communities
Utah Broadband announced last week it has been awarded almost $23 million from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s ReConnect program to build a new fiber-to-the-premises network across parts of northern Utah.
The funding, part of Round 5 of the USDA Rural Utilities Service (RUS) program, is split evenly between a grant and a loan and will support construction of roughly 315 miles of fiber through Cache, Summit, Utah, and Wasatch counties.
The project, listed by the USDA as RUS Project UT 1707-A59, aims to deliver symmetrical speeds as high as 10/10 gigabits per second to more than 3,000 homes, businesses, farms and community anchor institutions, the company said.
Utah Broadband framed the expansion as its official entry into Cache County, where the company previously had not operated, and said the buildout will expand its footprint across both the Wasatch Front and Back.
“This award represents more than just infrastructure; it’s about bridging the digital divide for our neighbors who have been left behind by the modern economy,” said Ben Elkins, CEO of Utah Broadband.
Elkins, who has previously appeared on our Beyond the Cable podcast, also emphasized the project’s local impact, saying the high-speed service will give rural students, small businesses, and families access to the same opportunities available in urban areas.
Mike Simmons, Utah Broadband’s vice president of fiber and wireless development, additionally noted that selecting a provider with local experience was important for the USDA award.
“Rural Utah requires a provider that understands our unique geography and the specific needs of residents,” he said.
The ReConnect program, launched in 2018, has provided federal support for rural broadband projects nationwide, directing billions of dollars to expand internet access for agriculture, education and healthcare.
Funding for the future of ReConnect had previously been in doubt before budget negotiations recently addressed the matter.
Utah Broadband, meanwhile, has served Utah communities since 2002 and is a subsidiary of Boston Omaha Corporation.
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