(KNZA)--The Doniphan County Commission this week heard about a new rural broadband program.

Representatives from Rainbow Communications and County Economic Development Director Leah Johnson met with the Commission to discuss the USDA’s ReConnect Program, an initiative to connect rural areas that currently have insufficient broadband service.

In December, U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue announced the department would be distributing $600 million in a combination of grants and loans to build broadband infrastructure in rural areas of the country through the program.

Telecommunication companies, rural electric cooperatives and utilities, internet service providers and municipalities are eligible to apply for funding through the program.

Johnson said in order to determine Doniphan County’s qualification in applying for funds, an engineering map would need to be developed for the county.

She presented the Commission with a proposal from RVW Inc., of Columbus, Nebraska, to create a broadband map of the county at a cost of $580.

Once developed, the map would be used to determine broadband service areas and as a foundation for future economic growth.

The Commission voted to enter into an agreement with RVW to create the broadband map.