Glenn W. Thompson
09/15/2025 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 09/15/2025 11:07
Thompson Announces More Than $1.5 Million in Federal Funding for Forest County Broadband
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Representative Glenn "GT" Thompson today announced Forest County will receive $1,573,883 in grant funding from the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) to expand broadband services in the county.
The grant funding will cover the third phase of the county's broadband project. As a result, seven telecom/network sites will be constructed to serve four communities including: Hickory, Barnett, Green, and Harmony townships.
Due to its small population, many of the broadband service providers have chosen not to place broadband towers within Forest County. The lack of broadband connectivity has created economic hardship for businesses and has hampered the ability to attract new businesses.
"The lack of high-speed internet service in rural America results in lost opportunities to expand businesses, learn new skills, educate our children, or even participate in daily activities," Rep. Thompson said. "I supported this ARC funding for Forest County so it can continue to close the digital divide and ensure that our smaller towns are not left behind when it comes to access to high-speed internet."
The Forest County Board of Commissioners - Chairman Mark S. Kingston, Commissioner Robert J. Snyder, and Commissioner Patrick F. Kline - said in a joint statement it is appreciative of the broadband buildout funding the county has received:
"This will be extremely beneficial to both seasonal and permanent residents. It will especially impact the students in our school district that either have poor internet service or none at all. This will be a great incentive for individuals who work remotely and want to move to our small, rural County. Our businesses will also benefit immensely from the ability to have access to high-speed broadband. In short, this will be a win for all of Forest County."
Broadband Buildout
Forest County has worked on expanding broadband in phases:
Phase I: Constructed 3 broadband poles
Phase II: Constructed 2 broadband poles
Phase III: 7 broadband poles will be constructed in this phase thanks to the ARC funding.
Funding for this project is from ARC's North Central/North Appalachian Broadband grant dollars.
About the Appalachian Regional Commission
The Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) is an economic development agency of the federal government and 13 state governments focusing on 423 counties across the Appalachian region. ARC's mission is to innovate, partner, and invest to build community capacity and strengthen economic growth in Appalachia and help the region achieve socioeconomic parity with the nation.
The grant funding will cover the third phase of the county's broadband project. As a result, seven telecom/network sites will be constructed to serve four communities including: Hickory, Barnett, Green, and Harmony townships.
Due to its small population, many of the broadband service providers have chosen not to place broadband towers within Forest County. The lack of broadband connectivity has created economic hardship for businesses and has hampered the ability to attract new businesses.
"The lack of high-speed internet service in rural America results in lost opportunities to expand businesses, learn new skills, educate our children, or even participate in daily activities," Rep. Thompson said. "I supported this ARC funding for Forest County so it can continue to close the digital divide and ensure that our smaller towns are not left behind when it comes to access to high-speed internet."
The Forest County Board of Commissioners - Chairman Mark S. Kingston, Commissioner Robert J. Snyder, and Commissioner Patrick F. Kline - said in a joint statement it is appreciative of the broadband buildout funding the county has received:
"This will be extremely beneficial to both seasonal and permanent residents. It will especially impact the students in our school district that either have poor internet service or none at all. This will be a great incentive for individuals who work remotely and want to move to our small, rural County. Our businesses will also benefit immensely from the ability to have access to high-speed broadband. In short, this will be a win for all of Forest County."
Broadband Buildout
Forest County has worked on expanding broadband in phases:
Phase I: Constructed 3 broadband poles
Phase II: Constructed 2 broadband poles
Phase III: 7 broadband poles will be constructed in this phase thanks to the ARC funding.
Funding for this project is from ARC's North Central/North Appalachian Broadband grant dollars.
About the Appalachian Regional Commission
The Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) is an economic development agency of the federal government and 13 state governments focusing on 423 counties across the Appalachian region. ARC's mission is to innovate, partner, and invest to build community capacity and strengthen economic growth in Appalachia and help the region achieve socioeconomic parity with the nation.
Glenn W. Thompson published this content on September 15, 2025, and is solely responsible for the information contained herein. Distributed via Public Technologies (PUBT), unedited and unaltered, on September 15, 2025 at 17:07 UTC. If you believe the information included in the content is inaccurate or outdated and requires editing or removal, please contact us at [email protected]