(KAIR)--Armed with American Rescue Plan funds, the Doniphan County Commission enters into a Memorandum of Understanding to proceed with a broadband expansion project, increasing the availability of high speed internet for some county residents.

Entering into the agreement with Everest-based Rainbow Communications came during Monday’s meeting of the Commission, who unanimously granted approval to the plan. According to the unofficial minutes of the meeting, the broadband expansion project will be completed along U.S. Highway 36, from the east city limits of Troy to the west city limits of Wathena.

A completion date of December 31, 2026 is set for the project, which will be funded through Doniphan County’s American Rescue Plans funds. The County will pay a 25% initial down payment, or more than $369,000 of the total project cost of nearly $1.5 million. A second payment of more than $738,105, or 50% of the total project cost, will be paid at the start of construction, while a final payment of more than $369,000, or 25%, is to be paid within seven days after Rainbow’s completion of the scope of work.

Meanwhile, a telecommunications company has submitted a public comment challenge to the Doniphan County and Iowa Tribe of Kansas and Nebraska application to Kansas Office of Broadband Capital Projects fund broadband grant.

According to the meeting’s unofficial minutes, NextLink submitted the rebuttal to the grant application, saying they could provide service to proposed areas within the county. However, RDOF maps, which show Nextlink’s coverage area, indicates the company does not provide service in the area of the county that applies to the grant submission. Additionally, the company “is currently only providing wireless service which does not work with Donpihan County’s terrain.”

If the funds are awarded, Rainbow Communications will install fiber internet service.

The Commission voted unanimously to submit a rebuttal letter to the Kansas Office of Broadband Capital Projects Fund broadband grant for expansion of service to the Iowa Tribe, the City of White Cloud, north of highland, north and south of Troy, and north and south of Wathena.