Two Mid-Columbia area projects to extend broadband service in to rural areas are receiving federal loans and grants as part of the fourth funding round of the ReConnect program.  U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development announced a $10.235 million dollar grant and a loan of the same amount to North-State Telephone to deploy a fiber-to-the-premises network to provide high-speed internet to 1,490 people, 64 businesses and 43 farms in Wasco County.  And Home Telephone Company will be receiving an $18 million grant and a loan of the same size to deploy a fiber-to-the-premises and hybrid-fiber-coax network to provide high-speed internet to serve what Rural Development termed “socially vulnerable communities” in Klicktat County.  The department says that network will benefit 4,183 people, 138 businesses, 74 farms and seven educational facilities in Klickitat County.  ReConnect Program funding must serve a rural area that lacks access to service at speeds of 100 megabits per second download and 20 Mbps upload.