ground was broken on a $20 million project to improve broadband coverage to hospitals, law enforcement, and education facilities in South Dakota, particularly in rural communities.  This broadband improvement project, being undertaken by SDN Communications, is the first in the country to get started with money allocated under the Federal stimulus program.

Gov. Rounds says, "SDN is also adding $5 million of its own money to the $20 million dollar federal grant to make sure that Project Connect South Dakota will be a success."

The ceremony took place at Rapid City Regional Hospital, which will be one of the first of more than 300 institutions in the state to make use of the new broadband capabilities.

Al Van Zee