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Department of Agriculture - Distance Learning and Telemedicine (DLT) Grant Program

Agency/Department
Federal Agency/Bureau
Rural Utilities Service
Program Name
Distance Learning and Telemedicine (DLT) Grant Program
Authorizing Legislation

Food, Agriculture, Conservation, and Trade Act of 1990 (7 U.S.C. §§950aaa et seq.)

Program Overview

The Distance Learning and Telemedicine program helps rural communities use the unique capabilities of telecommunications to connect to each other and to the world, overcoming the effects of remoteness and low population density.

CFDA

10.855

Type of Funding

Discretionary

Link to application site, NOFO, FOA, or Grants.gov (if different from program website above)

Not Applicable

Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) or Federal Opportunity Announcement (FOA) Type

Other (i.e. one-time funding):

Important Dates (if applicable)

Not Applicable

FY2023 Appropriations Amount

Total Amount: $124,000,000
Amount Available Towards Broadband (if specified): Up to 20% of each grant can be used for broadband facilities, if those facilities will be owned by the applicant.

Matching Requirement

Yes

If yes, what is the matching requirement: 15 percent

Complementary Federal Funding Option

This program cannot be used as a match to other federal programs.

Broadband-related Program Purpose/Eligible Expenditures
If "Other", Program Purpose(s)

Distance Learning and Telehealth

Speed/Technical Requirement for Broadband Infrastructure

Not Applicable

Criteria for Eligible Recipients

This program is intended to serve rural area and towns with a population of 20,000 or less.

Grant Beneficiaries (if different from eligible recipients)

This program is specifically designed to assist rural communities in acquiring distance learning and telemedical technologies so that local teachers, and medical service providers who serve rural residents can link to other teachers, medical professionals, and other needed expertise located at distances too far to access otherwise.

Programmatic Resources
Reporting Requirements

Additional requirements, including required reporting by grant awardees, can found in the program’s regulation, 7 CFR 1734, and on the program’s website, https://www.rd.usda.gov/programs-services/telecommunications-programs/distance-learning-telemedicine-grants

Publicly-available programmatic data
Contact Information

DLTInfo@usda.gov Loan Origination and Approval Division (202) 720-0800 General Field Representatives (GFR) https://www.rd.usda.gov/contact-us/telecom-gfr

Updated

March 2023

Funding Guide
USDA_DLT.pdf (502.1 KB)