Landrieu Welcomes Northeast Telephone Company Owner to Nation's Capital

Louisiana business recipient of broadband expansion award.

**PHOTO AVAILABLE**

WASHINGTON, March 24 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- United States Senator Mary L. Landrieu, D-La., Chair of the Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship, along with Jonathan Adelstein, Administrator of the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Rural Utilities Services, yesterday welcomed Mike George, owner and Chief Financial Officer of Northeast Telephone Company, Inc., to her office in Washington, DC. In January, the Northeast Telephone Company was awarded more than $12 million in loans and grants from the U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) American Recovery and Reinvestment Act funds for broadband internet expansion.

"The Northeast Telephone Company was given a great opportunity by the U.S. Department of Agriculture to expand their broadband Internet services to rural Louisiana," Sen. Landrieu said. "Increasing their coverage area and capacity will allow them to build on their existing investments to create jobs and spur economic growth by enabling rural small businesses to better compete in outside markets. We welcome them to the nation's capital and congratulate them on their award."

"Bringing Broadband to remote locations in Louisiana will give residents the opportunity to engage in distance learning and other educational opportunities, find jobs and work from home," said Jonathan Adelstein, Administrator of the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Rural Utilities Services. "The Obama Administration understands that bringing Broadband to rural America provides a gateway to businesses and key institutions, setting the stage for local economic growth."

Founded in 1947, Northeast Telephone Company, Inc. is a local family-owned, independent telecommunications company headquartered in Collinston, Louisiana. They provide local phone service for residential/business customers in Collinston, Bonita, and Jones. The company has over 1,000 customers and also offers long distance, cable TV, and Internet services. To view more information about the award announcement, please click here.

To view a photo from yesterday's meeting, please click here.

For more information on Sen. Landrieu's broadband expansion efforts, please click here.

SOURCE U.S. Senate Committee on Small Business & Entrepreneurship

WANT YOUR COMPANY'S NEWS FEATURED ON PRNEWSWIRE.COM?

440k+
Newsrooms &
Influencers

9k+
Digital Media
Outlets

270k+
Journalists
Opted In

GET STARTED