The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Rural Utilities Service has released a Notice of Funding Opportunity for its Rural eConnectivity (ReConnect) program for fiscal year 2024. The RUS says these loan and grant funds will be awarded to qualified applicants to fund the costs of construction, improvement or acquisition of facilities and equipment needed to provide broadband service.
The ReConnect program provides loans, grants or a combination of both to facilitate rural broadband deployment. In facilitating the expansion of broadband services and infrastructure, the program will fuel long-term rural economic development and opportunities.
Applicants must be able to provide broadband service with speeds of at least 100/20 Mbps. USDA will coordinate with the NTIA, states, and grantees to ensure that ReConnect and the BEAD program complement one another. To that end, RUS will notify NTIA and the state at least 30 days in advance of any award in that state, and request that the state notify RUS of an objection based on any pending subgrantees. In such cases, if the objection is not resolved, it may result in the rejection of the ReConnect application to avoid funding duplication.
USDA says it’s committed to work with ReConnect applicants and its federal and state partners to ensure awards can still be made as part of this coordinated effort. It expects that ReConnect funds will largely be directed to those states and territories in which there is the greatest need.
The application window opens on March 22. Applications can be submitted through the RUS online application portal until 11:59 p.m. Eastern on April 22.
By Leslie Stimson, Inside Towers Washington Bureau Chief
Reader Interactions