[Satellite TODAY 06-16-11] ViaSat’s high-speed satellite Internet service subsidiary WildBlue has launched a broadband service targeted to unserved rural households in the West and Midwest, the company announced June 15.

            As of June 3, eligible customers that are unserved by other broadband alternatives can connect to WildBlue with 1 Mbps download speeds for $39.95 per month – a price that is lifetime guaranteed for the customer, WildBlue said.

            The service launch is funded under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, more commonly known as President Barack Obama’s Stimulus Package of 2009. The Recovery Act funds, administered through the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Rural Utilities Service (RUS), used local WildBlue dealers, installers, and U.S.-based customer care.

“We believe the RUS program showcases one of the quickest and most cost effective ways to spur broadband adoption in rural areas. This is a great opportunity to connect our rural and unserved citizens with the WildBlue service,” WildBlue President Tom Moore said in a statement.