PIERRE, S.D. (WNAX) – The Federal Communications Commission has authorized over $4.9 billion in support over the next 10 years to expand and maintain affordable rural broadband service.

South Dakota is set to get the largest amount at over $705 million.

Greg Dean, with the South Dakota Telecommunications Association, says it will be a big boost.

Dean says there is a lot of ground to cover to provide broadband.

Dean says the new money will help with those high costs for rural telecom providers.

The federal support is targeted to smaller rural companies, those known as “rate of return” carriers.