USDA begins accepting rural broadband funding applications

by | Nov 30, 2021 | 5 Ag Stories, News

The U.S. Department of Agriculture is now accepting applications through its ReConnect Program.

U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack says the application period is open for up to $1.15 billion in loans and grants to help people in rural areas get access to high-speed internet. This announcement comes on the heels of the recently enacted Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, which provides another nearly $2 billion in additional funding for the ReConnect program. USDA anticipates issuing a new Notice of Funding Opportunity to make the additional funds in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law available in 2022.

In October, Secretary Vilsack talked about the purpose of the Reconnect Program funds.

?For the first time, we?re going to have 100% grants for tribal areas and socially vulnerable communities that may not be able to have that match that is often necessary in programs like this,? said Vilsack. ?We?re also going to make sure we streamline the application process.?

Vilsack explained the importance of bringing high speed internet to rural areas.

?This is incredibly important for rural communities whether it?s telemedicine, distance learning, a small business market development opportunity, or farmers who need this for precision agriculture or just to know what the markets are on a particular day,? said Vilsack. ?If you don?t have adequate access, you are really in a situation where you are behind.?

Applicants must commit to building facilities capable of providing broadband service at speeds of 100 Mbps (download and upload) to every location in a proposed service area at the same time.

?About 300,000 households have been positively impacted by this (program) and we are going to expand with this announcement today,? said Vilsack. ?At the end of the day, we really do need a national commitment of a significant size to really make a fundamental difference in rural places. This should not be a situation of what your zip code is that you have service or don?t have service.?

Visit the USDA?s website for more information.