The U.S. Department of Agriculture is accepting online applications for funding through the new ReConnect Rural Broadband Pilot Program.The programming aims to create partnerships between the federal government, the private sector and rural communities to improve broadband in areas that are deemed to have insufficient service. The program defines this as connections offering less than 10 Mbps for downloading and 1 Mbps for uploading.
Funding for the proof-of-concept program was appropriated last year. The first round will make at least $600 million available for rural projects. The funds will be divided evenly: $200 million in grants, $200 million in loan and grant combinations and $200 million in low-interest loans. There are deadlines during the next three months:
- May 31, 2019, for projects seeking federal funds from the grants-only package;
- June 21, 2019, for projects seeking a combination of federal loans and grants; and
- July 12, 2019, for projects seeking low-interest federal loans.
“Reliable, high-speed broadband internet e-Connectivity is critical for economic prosperity and quality of life in the 21st century, from education to health care to agriculture to manufacturing and beyond,” Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue said () in a press release. “We at USDA are very excited to begin accepting applications for funds from this new and innovative program, which will bring critical infrastructure investments to homes, farms, ranches, schools and health care sites in rural America.”
Applications can be filed at reconnect.usda.gov. Future funding rounds for the program will be announced later this year.
In April, 2017, the Trump administration established the Interagency Task Force on Agriculture and Rural Prosperity. The goal was to “identify legislative, regulatory and policy changes that could promote agriculture and prosperity in rural communities,” according to the press release. Thirty-one recommendations were presented by Secretary Purdue to President Trump in January, 2018. This announcement is an outcome of those recommendations.