Beaver Creek Cooperative Telephone Company (BCT) is one of a handful of companies in Oregon to have been awarded funds through the USDA ReConnect Program to deploy a fiber-to-the-premises network for high-speed internet connectivity. 

The ReConnect Program offers loans, grants, and loan-grant combinations to facilitate broadband deployment in areas of rural America that currently do not have sufficient access to broadband. In facilitating the expansion of broadband services and infrastructure, the program will fuel long-term rural economic development and opportunities in rural America.

This $30.5 million loan to improve BCT’s network will benefit 2,800 households, 202 businesses, 136 farms and six educational facilities within their nearly 60 square mile service area. This is a slightly smaller footprint than the size of Washington, D.C. itself. 

The company anticipates the project will take several years to complete given the challenging terrain and underground installation of the fiber optic conduit. Additional information about the timeline and initial rollout locations will be provided as the master plan progresses. 

View the USDA press release regarding the award here: https://www.usda.gov/reconnect/round-four-awardees

View Senator Jeff Merkley’s announcement here: https://www.merkley.senate.gov/news/press-releases/merkley-wyden-announce-51-million-coming-to-oregon-for-high-speed-internet-access