(NAFB) – Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack Wednesday announced the Department of Agriculture is investing $167 million in 12 states to deploy broadband infrastructure.

The investment focuses on rural areas without sufficient access to high-speed internet.

Secretary Vilsack says broadband “is necessary for Americans to do their jobs, to participate equally in school learning and health care, and to stay connected.”

The investments will benefit rural people in Alaska, Arizona, Colorado, Georgia, Missouri, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah and Virginia. As part of the investment, Central Virginia Services Inc. will use a $14.1 million grant to deploy a fiber network in rural Virginia, and the Altamaha Electric Membership Corporation in Lyons, Georgia, will use a $10.6 million loan and a $10.6 million grant to deploy a fiber network in rural Georgia.

USDA’s ReConnect Program provides the loans and grants to construct, improve or acquire facilities and equipment needed to provide broadband service in eligible rural areas.