The U.S. division of Agriculture’s Rural Utilities Service has declared $1.2 billion in funding and loans for 126 broadband operation schemes in 38 states and tribal areas. The new award, proclaim on Wednesday, include contribution for WiMax,fiber and DSL deployments. The RUS has circulated more than $2.6 billion in broadband grants and finance during the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA), a vast economic stimulus enclose approved by the Congress in early 2009.

The grants and loans will enable telemedicine and distance learning and allow farmers and ranchers to get update information on weather and commodity prices, said Tom Vilsack, U.S. secretary of agriculture. About 5% of all U.S. schools will profit from broadband projects funded by his organization, he said.