Tester Secures High-Speed Internet for Eureka

Senator Announces Grant to Expand Fiber-Optic Cable, Strengthen Economy in Tobacco Valley

(U.S. Senate) – U.S. Senator Jon Tester today announced a $486,000 grant to bring high-speed internet to the Town of Eureka.

The grant funding comes from the U.S. Economic Development Administration (EDA).

“Investments in rural Montana help our families, schools, and small businesses thrive—which means new jobs and new opportunities,” said Tester, Montana’s only member of the Commerce Committee. “To compete in the 21st century economy, you need high-speed internet. This grant will give folks in Eureka the ability to build stronger businesses and open new opportunities for folks in northwest Montana.”

The EDA grant is awarded to the Interbel Telephone Cooperative and will fund the installation of fiber-optic cable to deliver high-speed internet service.

“Getting businesses connected to fiber is vital to creating jobs, attracting new companies and supporting existing businesses. Without fiber connections rural companies would have to consider moving to larger markets,” said Interbel General Manager Randy Wilson. “Thank you to Senator Tester for his continued commitment to improving high-speed internet access in rural towns.”

As part of his #ConnectMT initiative has called on the USDA to expand access to broadband across rural Montana and introduced legislation to require the Federal Communications Commission to identify and address gaps in internet connectivity.