Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2018 (Pub. L. 115, 141
ReConnect offers grants, loan-grant combinations, and low-interest loans for broadband infrastructure to connect rural families, businesses, farms, ranches, schools, libraries, and public safety facilities to modern, high-speed internet. ReConnect funds can be used to construct, improve, and acquire facilities that provide internet services to customers’ premises, with reliable technologies that are suitable for rural community high-speed internet use.
10.752
Discretionary
Loan or loan guarantee
Other (i.e. loan-grant combo; if there is a set-aside amount for certain recipients, please indicate the amount): 50-50 Loan-Grant Combinations are offered
Applications must be submitted electronically through the RUS on-line application portal located at https://www.usda.gov/reconnect. The FOA will be made available for informational purposes on Grants.gov.
Reissue/Renewal
Not Applicable
Total Amount: $338,000,000
Amount Available Towards Broadband (if specified):
Other (i.e. if match is beneficial to an application but not required): Matching requirements are determined in each Funding Opportunity Announcement and may not be required for specific applicant types.
This program cannot be used as a match to other federal programs.
Minimum broadband speed requirements are determined in each Funding Opportunity Announcement and posted in the Federal Register.
This program is intended for rural areas without sufficient access to broadband. Rural area is defined in the program regulation as any area that is not located within: (1) A city, town, or incorporated area that has a population of greater than 20,000 inhabitants; or (2) an urbanized area contiguous and adjacent to a city or town that has a population of greater than 50,000 inhabitants as defined in the Agency mapping tool. This definition excludes incarcerated populations and provides limited exclusion of military base populations.
Households, business, and anchor institutions within the approved project service area.
ReConnect Program Proposed and Approved Projects Map: https://ruraldevelopment.maps.arcgis.com/apps/webappviewer/index.html?id=e2d4c909e06c46d3aa9577bea695a2b9
ReConnect Program Announcements Page: https://www.usda.gov/reconnect/announcements
Additional requirements, including required reporting by grant awardees, can found in the program’s regulation, 7 CFR 1740, and on the program’s website,
https://www.usda.gov/reconnect
ReConnect Program Proposed and Approved Projects Map: https://ruraldevelopment.maps.arcgis.com/apps/webappviewer/index.html?id=e2d4c909e06c46d3aa9577bea695a2b9
ReConnect Program Announcements Page: https://www.usda.gov/reconnect/announcements
Please contact the ReConnect Program Staff at https://www.usda.gov/reconnect/contact-us
March 2023