Rural eConnectivity Broadband Loan and Grant Program (ReConnect)

Laurel Leverrier
202.720.9554
laurel.leverrier@usda.gov

Online contact form

The Rural eConnectivity Broadband Loan and Grant Program (Short title: ReConnect) provides funding to expand broadband service to rural areas without sufficient broadband access, which is defined as 100 megabits per second (Mbps) downstream and 20 Mbps upstream.

Applicants are limited to one of the following project types:

1. 100% grant - The proposed funded service area for this category must be in an area where 90% of the households do not have sufficient broadband access.
2. 50% grant/50% loan - The proposed funded service area for this category must be in an area where 90% of the households do not have sufficient broadband access.
3. 100% loan - The proposed funded service area for this category must be in an area where 90% of the households do not have sufficient broadband access.
4. 100% grant for tribes and socially vulnerable communities - Includes Alaska native corporations, tribal governments, colonias, persistent poverty areas, and other socially vulnerable areas where 90% of the households do not have sufficient broadband access

ReConnect provides funding for:

• Construction, improvement, and acquisition of facilities required to provide service at a minimum of 100 Mbps downstream and 20 Mbps upstream
• Acquisition of an existing system not currently providing sufficient access to broadband, under certain circumstances and with restrictions
• Some pre-application expenses may also be eligible for reimbursement

Eligible applicants include:

• Nonprofit entities
• For-profit corporations
• Limited liability companies
• Cooperative or mutual organizations
• States, local governments, or any agency, subdivision, instrumentality, or political subdivision thereof
• Territories or possessions of the United States
• Tribes, tribal organizations, and tribal governments

Service area eligibility requirements include:

• The area must be rural.
• At least 50% of households in the area must lack sufficient access to broadband service.
• The proposed network must be capable of providing 100 Mbps symmetrical broadband service to all premises located in the proposed funded service area (PFSA) at the time of application submission.

The type and amount of award will depend on the type of financing or funding that best fits the applicant's business model, service area, and financial plan.

100% grant:

• Award ceiling: $25,000,000 ($35,000,000 for frontier and remote areas)
• Total funding available: $150,000,000
• 25% match required

50% grant/50% loan :

• Award ceiling: $25,000,000 loan and $25,000,000 grant
• Total funding available: $150,000,000
• Interest rate: Set at the Treasury rate for the remaining amortization period at the time of each advance of funds

100% loan:

• Maximum loan request: $50,000,000
• Total funding available: $150,000,000
• Interest rate: Set at a fixed 2%

100% grant for tribes and socially vulnerable communities:

• Award ceiling: $35,000,000
• Total funding available: $350,000,000
• No match required

Application instructions are available in the Federal Register, grants.gov, and the program website.

Apply using the online application portal.

Additional guidance, application materials, and other resources are available on the forms and resources page.