Northeast Louisiana Telephone Company has received $12.4 million from the federal stimulus package to improve broadband access in rural Morehouse Parish. The Collinston based company will replace its current copper network with buried fiber optic cable that will give all of its customers access to high speed internet, digital TV service and expanded telephone service.

The funds, awarded by the U. S. Department of Agriculture following a grant application by the company last summer, include a $4,359,000 grant and a $8,124,600 low interest loan. The project has a three year time line under the terms of the loan and grant.

“We are extremely excited to be able to provide these upgrades for our customers,” said Mike George, the company’s chief financial officer.

The company has begun the engineering phase of the project with plans for construction to begin within the next five months.

Northeast Louisiana Telephone Co., founded in 1947, serves customers in Collinston, Bonita and Jones.