Barry Electric Cooperative receives CARES Act funds
August 19, 2020
Sheila Harris
Friday, August 14, Barry Electric Cooperative, in Cassville, welcomed Missouri State Treasurer Scott Fitzpatrick, Missouri Representative Scott Cupps, and Missouri Senator David Sater to recognize and honor Barry Electric for their receipt of up to $82,000 in CARES Act funds. The money will be used to provide fiber-optic internet service to households in areas previously underserved, primarily southwest of Washburn and Seligman in Barry County, and in southeast McDonald County.
On August 11, Governor Mike Parson announced 16 broadband projects from eight broadband providers would receive more than $3 million through the state’s Emergency Broadband Investment Program and connect almost 2,000 Missouri households.
“Expanding broadband is essential to our state’s infrastructure,” Governor Parson said. “Connecting more Missourians with high-speed internet will allow them to utilize digital platforms for education, health, and business that are so critical during this time.”
In July, six programs were created within the nearly $50 million Rapid Broadband Deployment Initiative which uses the state’s CARES Act funding. The Emergency Broadband Investment Program was allocated up to $20 million. The August 11 announcement highlighted the first round of recipients, of which Barry Technology Services (goBEC Fiber Network) was one.
The program was designed to reimburse providers that have expanded, or plan to connect, high-speed internet to residents in unserved or underserved areas in the state in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Providers will utilize funds to assist with construction costs for new broadband expansion to households with students or vulnerable populations.
According to Fitzpatrick, the CARES Act funds must be used quickly - before the end of the year.
"Guidelines require that recipients must be a member of one of two demographics who it is believed will benefit most from internet service: students and the elderly,” he said.
"Telehealth has become a major component of medical services," Fitzpatrick added, "and without internet service, many of our older residents are really handicapped."
Bill Shiveley, former CEO of Barry Electric, said the board made the decision to jump into fiber optic broadband service in 2000.
“We wanted to see where it would go,” he said. "Twenty years later, we see that it’s made a huge difference to our community, plus it’s a draw for visitors and prospective residents of our area.”
With the successful installation of goBEC broadband to the designated households whose applications were approved, Barry Electric will be looking at a reimbursement of up to $82,000 from the CARES Act funds.
Current Barry Electric CEO, Mark Aeilts, is pleased to be able to expand fiberoptic internet services to a broader radius and to carry on the tradition which began 20 years ago as an investment in the community.
Friday, August 14, Barry Electric Cooperative, in Cassville, welcomed Missouri State Treasurer Scott Fitzpatrick, Missouri Representative Scott Cupps, and Missouri Senator David Sater to recognize and honor Barry Electric for their receipt of up to $82,000 in CARES Act funds. The money will be used to provide fiber-optic internet service to households in areas previously underserved, primarily southwest of Washburn and Seligman in Barry County, and in southeast McDonald County.
On August 11, Governor Mike Parson announced 16 broadband projects from eight broadband providers would receive more than $3 million through the state’s Emergency Broadband Investment Program and connect almost 2,000 Missouri households.
“Expanding broadband is essential to our state’s infrastructure,” Governor Parson said. “Connecting more Missourians with high-speed internet will allow them to utilize digital platforms for education, health, and business that are so critical during this time.”
In July, six programs were created within the nearly $50 million Rapid Broadband Deployment Initiative which uses the state’s CARES Act funding. The Emergency Broadband Investment Program was allocated up to $20 million. The August 11 announcement highlighted the first round of recipients, of which Barry Technology Services (goBEC Fiber Network) was one.
The program was designed to reimburse providers that have expanded, or plan to connect, high-speed internet to residents in unserved or underserved areas in the state in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Providers will utilize funds to assist with construction costs for new broadband expansion to households with students or vulnerable populations.
According to Fitzpatrick, the CARES Act funds must be used quickly - before the end of the year.
"Guidelines require that recipients must be a member of one of two demographics who it is believed will benefit most from internet service: students and the elderly,” he said.
"Telehealth has become a major component of medical services," Fitzpatrick added, "and without internet service, many of our older residents are really handicapped."
Bill Shiveley, former CEO of Barry Electric, said the board made the decision to jump into fiber optic broadband service in 2000.
“We wanted to see where it would go,” he said. "Twenty years later, we see that it’s made a huge difference to our community, plus it’s a draw for visitors and prospective residents of our area.”
With the successful installation of goBEC broadband to the designated households whose applications were approved, Barry Electric will be looking at a reimbursement of up to $82,000 from the CARES Act funds.
Current Barry Electric CEO, Mark Aeilts, is pleased to be able to expand fiberoptic internet services to a broader radius and to carry on the tradition which began 20 years ago as an investment in the community.