Columbia Missouri’s Socket Holdings Corp. has applied for a $16.6 million federal grant that would build up broadband infrastructure in rural parts of the state. Socket’s co-owner Carson Hoffman said, "It would bring 21st century technology and new job and education growth to Callaway County." Socket already provides Internet services in more than 400 Missouri cities:

The proposed service area would include about 20 percent of Fulton. It also would include many critical institutions, especially those along Route F to Millersburg. This area includes Callaway Community Hospital, Missouri Department of Social Services, Callaway County Ambulance District, Westminster College, William Woods University, Fulton City Hall, Callaway County Courthouse, Missouri School for the Deaf, Fulton State Hospital, Fulton Reception and Diagnostic Center, Fulton High School, and the Missouri National Guard.

"This will be a major asset for Callaway County for creation of new jobs and improving education and health care as well as many other services throughout the county," Coffman said. It approved, the project would create 525 jobs.

Read more about the project here.