illi News - RTC Communications Preliminarily Awarded .1 Million Federal BEAD Grant to Expand Fiber Broadband in Southern Indiana

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MONTGOMERY, Ind. - illiNews -- RTC Communications has been preliminarily awarded $3,052,592 in federal Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) Program funding to expand high-speed fiber internet to specific unserved and underserved areas of Daviess and Martin counties. RTC will contribute an additional $3.1M in matching funds – bringing the total investment to nearly $6.2M – to connect nearly 1,300 homes and businesses with world-class fiber internet. The grant represents a significant milestone in the company's ongoing mission to bridge the digital divide in rural Southern Indiana.

This award, part of Indiana's provisional BEAD announcements totaling $486.3 million statewide, remains subject to final approval by the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA). RTC was one of 29 providers selected to help close Indiana's digital divide through expanded broadband infrastructure.

"This BEAD grant will allow us to reach areas that have been waiting far too long for reliable, high-speed connectivity," said Kirk Lehman, CEO of RTC Communications. "We're proud to bring world-class fiber internet to every corner of our service territory."

The BEAD Program, administered by the NTIA under the Infrastructure Investments and Jobs Act, represents the largest federal investment in broadband infrastructure in U.S. history – allocating $42.5 Billion nationwide to bring high-speed internet to unserved and underserved areas. Indiana received $868 million to support these efforts.

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Following the June 2025 BEAD Restructuring Policy Notice, which removed regulatory barriers, emphasized technology neutrality, and accelerated implementation timelines, all 56 states and territories received approval to begin the "Benefit of the Bargain" round of funding.

RTC's project will deploy fiber-to-the-premises technology, delivering symmetrical speeds of up to 5 gigabits per second. The all-fiber network ensures future-proof infrastructure capable of meeting the evolving bandwidth demands of remote work, telehealth, distance learning, and smart agriculture applications critical to rural communities.

Construction is expected to begin later in 2026, pending final NTIA approval. The project will connect hundreds of previously unserved and underserved locations across the Montgomery Exchange area and nearby communities and continues RTC's long history of reinvesting locally – with more than $50 million of its own funds already invested over the last several years into fiber deployments throughout the communities it serves today.

RTC Communications has been serving Southern Indiana for more than seven decades, combining cutting-edge technology with the personalized service of a locally owned cooperative. The company's board of directors, including President David Redman (Williams Exchange), Vice President Joshua Bauer (Trinity Springs Exchange), Secretary/Treasurer Bennie Lawyer (Plainville Exchange), Terry Street (Alfordsville Exchange), Rob Sullender (Glendale Exchange), and Jeff Doyle (Montgomery Exchange), provide strategic direction rooted in deep community ties.

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Jeff Doyle, board member representing the Montgomery Exchange, played an instrumental role in securing the federal funding. His deep understanding of the community's connectivity needs for the Montgomery area and tireless advocacy for rural broadband expansion were critical to the success of the application process.

"Jeff's leadership and vision have been invaluable," Lehman said. "His commitment to ensuring every family and business in our service area has access to world-class internet service exemplifies the community-first values that have guided RTC for over 75 years."

"This is about more than just faster internet," Doyle said. "It's about economic opportunity. It's about keeping our young people here. It's about ensuring our farmers can use precision agriculture technology, our kids can access the same educational resources as students in metro areas, and our businesses can compete in the global marketplace. This investment will pay dividends for our communities for generations."

"We're honored to receive this grant and grateful to the community members, county officials, and stakeholders who supported our application," Lehman added.

For more information about RTC Communications' BEAD project and fiber expansion plans, visit rtccom.com or call 812-486-3211.

About RTC Communications

RTC Communications is a leading rural telecommunications provider serving Daviess, Martin, Lawrence, and Knox counties in Southern Indiana. Operating for more than 75 years as a communications company, RTC delivers high-speed fiber internet, voice services, and business solutions to residential and commercial customers. As a locally owned cooperative, RTC prioritizes community investment, exceptional customer service, and cutting-edge technology to ensure Southern Indiana remains connected to opportunity. Learn more at www.rtccom.com.