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N.D. (NewsDakota.com) USDA Rural Development state director, Jasper Schneider announced that BEK Communications Cooperative will receive two grants for million to bring broadband service to rural areas that currently do not have access.

BEK Communications will use the funds for two projects providing fiber-to-the-home technology. He says the northern rural Barnes County service area will be connected to BEK’s existing network and bring high-speed broadband capabilities to customers who otherwise have no broadband or service below three megabits per second.

In addition, BEK will provide high-speed broadband to a rural and sparsely populated area in the southern portion of Barnes County. The fiber networks will introduce new capabilities, including voice and video, for educational, healthcare and public safety institutions.

The grant funding is made possible through USDA’s Community Connect Grant program. Since 2009, USDA has invested more than $344 million into North Dakota broadband and telecommunications projects. For more information on USDA Rural Development, please visit http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/nd.