The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Office of Rural Development announced it will begin accepting applications April 23 for a funding to expand high-speed broadband internet in rural areas.
Telecommunications companies, rural electric cooperatives and utilities, internet service providers, and municipal governments with insufficient broadband service can apply for funding from the Rural e-Connectivity Pilot Program, commonly called ReConnect. Funds will be awarded to projects with financially sustainable business models that will bring broadband to rural communities.
The initiative was announced in December and will receive up to $600 million in funding: $200 million in grants, $200 million in loan and grant combinations, and $200 million in low-interest loans. The application deadlines are:
The Office of Rural Development also recently created a free toolkit aimed at helping rural communities get or improve their broadband service. It contains a list of 27 USDA programs that support broadband development, along with a user guide and examples of how some rural communities are using e-Connectivity resources to increase broadband services.
The administration may take other steps to facilitate rural broadband buildout too. On Friday, President Trump proposed a $20 billion program called the Rural Digital Opportunity Fund to expand rural broadband over the next decade. Federal Communications Commission Chairman Ajit Pai said the fund could launch later this year after a period of public notice and comment.
Telecommunications companies, rural electric cooperatives and utilities, internet service providers, and municipal governments with insufficient broadband service can apply for funding from the Rural e-Connectivity Pilot Program, commonly called ReConnect. Funds will be awarded to projects with financially sustainable business models that will bring broadband to rural communities.
The initiative was announced in December and will receive up to $600 million in funding: $200 million in grants, $200 million in loan and grant combinations, and $200 million in low-interest loans. The application deadlines are:
- May 31, 2019, for grants
- June 21, 2019 for loan/grant combinations
- July 12, 2019, for low-interest loans
The Office of Rural Development also recently created a free toolkit aimed at helping rural communities get or improve their broadband service. It contains a list of 27 USDA programs that support broadband development, along with a user guide and examples of how some rural communities are using e-Connectivity resources to increase broadband services.
The administration may take other steps to facilitate rural broadband buildout too. On Friday, President Trump proposed a $20 billion program called the Rural Digital Opportunity Fund to expand rural broadband over the next decade. Federal Communications Commission Chairman Ajit Pai said the fund could launch later this year after a period of public notice and comment.
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