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 25 megabits per second (Mbps) downstream and 3 Mbps upstream.

Applicants may apply under one of the following funding categories. The proposed funded service area (PFSA) for all categories must be in an area where 90% of the households do not have sufficient broadband access.

1. 100% grant - All funds are awarded competitively in the form of a grant
2. 50% grant/50% loan - Funds are awarded competitively. Loan and grant amounts must be equal
3. 100% loan - Funds are awarded on a rolling basis and are not evaluated competitively
4. 100% grant for tribes and socially vulnerable communities - Funds are awarded competitively to Alaska native corporations, tribal governments, colonias, persistent poverty areas, and other socially vulnerable areas

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:

• Corporations
• Limited liability companies and partnerships
• Cooperatives or mutual organizations
• States, local governments, or any agency, subdivision, instrumentality, or political subdivision thereof
• Territories or possessions of the United States
• Tribes and tribal organizations

Service area eligibility requirements include:

• The area must be rural.
• At least 90% 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
• 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: $100,000,000
• 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: $200,000,000
• Interest rate: Set at a fixed 2%

100% grant for tribes and socially vulnerable communities:

• Award ceiling: $25,000,000
• Total funding available: $150,000,000
• 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.

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