MT. VERNON — Rally Networks, formerly Oregon Telephone Corp., has been awarded $30.8 million in grant and loan funding to expand broadband high-speed internet infrastructure in Grant County.

Oregon’s U.S. Sens. Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley announced on June 20 a $15.4 million grant and a $15.4 million U.S. Department of Agriculture loan to Rally Networks to support the expansion of fiber optic broadband internet infrastructure in the region.

“It could potentially bring additional business,” said Casey Kenison, project manager at Rally Networks in Mt. Vernon. “The most important part is bringing faster internet to the kids — the future of America. That’s huge, in my opinion. … (Businesses) will be able to have a lot better access from just about anywhere in our service territory.”

Colten Richards, vice president of marketing and sales for Rally Networks said the new money will go toward upgrading broadband in the John Day and Canyon City area, in addition to bringing high-speed internet to the Kuna area in Idaho, southeast of Ontario.

“We’re seeing more and more, whether it’s education or business or employment, being pushed towards being more home-centered,” Richards said. “People want to have that option. So having a fiber optic network to support that is going to help the community quite a bit.”

Merkley said reliable and affordable broadband has become crucial to the success of Oregon’s workforce, students and communities.

“Improving and investing in the foundational infrastructure needed for high-speed internet will help support the economy, education, and quality of life for folks in rural Oregon,” he said.

Wyden agreed.

“Oregonians need broadband access so all communities can have modern access to jobs, education and telehealth opportunities that depend on high-speed internet.”

Wyden said he’s pushed the Department of Commerce to fix out-of-date broadband maps so that 48,000 unserved locations in Oregon could receive federal broadband grants.

“From homework to telehealth, connecting communities to high-speed internet is a central part of efforts to ensure access to services and build our economy by creating good-paying jobs in every corner of Oregon,” he said.

Last September, Oregon Telephone Corp. was awarded $20.4 million in grants and loans to install fiber optic infrastructure in Grant, Malheur and Baker counties. Internet speeds are expected to improve from 10-25 megabits per second over existing copper lines to more than 2 gigabits per second over fiber — a 200 times faster connection.