Star Communications receives USDA ReConnect IV Grant
Clinton, NC—October 30, 2023 – Star Telephone Membership Corporation, dba, Star Communications, receives a $24.9 million grant from U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to connect 2,674 residents, 84 businesses, 117 farms, and four educational facilities in Bladen, Columbus and Sampson counties with high-speed Internet services using Fiber-to-the-Home (FTTH) technology.
The USDA ReConnect Program is funded by President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and is designed to fund the most difficult high-speed Internet projects in the nation, that are the most rural, remote, and unserved areas. The nearly $700 million in grants and loans that were announced in August 2023, provides connections to thousands of rural residents, farmers, and businesses in 22 states to reliable, affordable high-speed Internet.
“Star is very grateful to once again be the recipient of a ReConnect Grant. We are thankful for the USDA and their ongoing efforts to expand access to high-speed internet in rural areas,” Star CEO Donna C. Bullard stated. “Without this program and their assistance, we could not have accelerated our buildout efforts in the way that we have over the past few years. This award is a crowing achievement for Sampson, Bladen, and Columbus counties.”
“I am proud to represent the Biden-Harris Administration today as we continue our partnership with Star Communications with the continued expansion into Sampson, Bladen, and Columbus counties with this $24.9 million ReConnect Grant,” stated Reginald Speight, USDA State Director for North Carolina. “This effort today is part of a targeted and intentional investment effort in White House designated areas called Rural Partners’ Network. This is part of the intentionality that we are having to make investments in certain counties that the White House has designated as counties that we are looking at that are unserved or underserved areas. Thank you for this opportunity to partner with you once again in your efforts to provide affordable and reliable internet to the residents of Bladen, Columbus, and Sampson counties.”
This grant is the second ReConnect grant received by Star Communications to assist the Cooperative in lowering the financial burden that prevents high-speed Internet service expansion in some of the most rural communities in the state of North Carolina. In 2019, Star Communications was awarded a $23.4 million USDA ReConnect Grant to serve more than 8,600 homes, farms, businesses and critical care facilities in Sampson and Bladen County. Star Communications provided matching funds in the amount of $7.4 million for a total investment in excess of $30 million in the expansion of broadband services in these rural communities.
Star Telephone Membership Corporation is a member owned cooperative based in Clinton, NC. Established in 1959, Star’s service area includes portions of Sampson, Bladen, Cumberland, Columbus, and Duplin County. Star provides services in additional areas through its wholly owned subsidiary StarVision, Inc. Star provides voice, video, broadband, security, hosted cloud solutions, and surveillance services across southeastern North Carolina. From more information, call (800) 706-6538, or visit www. starcom.net.
