USDA Opens Rural Broadband Pilot ReConnect Program

The department said its Rural Development division will be the primary agency in charge of the program, with assistance from other federal partners. USDA set out details in a notice for Friday's Federal Register. $200 million of the appropriated funds will go toward grants, $200 million to loan and grant combinations and $200 million for low-interest loans. Grant applications are due April 29, loan-grant combination applications are due May 29 and loan applications are due June 28, the department said. The department will begin accepting applications early next year, starting no later than the "second or third week of February," said Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue during an event announcing the program's rules and application schedule. The ReConnect Program, in conjunction with Rural Utilities Service broadband language in the farm bill Congress passed this week (see 1812120053), will go “hand in hand” to improve Agriculture's ability to improve rural broadband connectivity, Perdue said. “Our goal is to … open up the opportunity for transformative connectivity” in rural areas. Approved projects will be allowed to serve only rural communities of fewer than 20,000 people and that currently have either no broadband service or services with a maximum of 20/2 Mbps, Agriculture said. Projects must create a minimum 25/3 Mbps service. The department said it's prioritizing projects that will connect rural homes, agriculture production facilities, e-commerce, healthcare and educational institutions. It's "dedicated to spurring broadband deployment and investment in the areas that need it most,” said White House Office of Science and Technology Policy Director Michael Kratsios in a statement. “We can’t allow rural America to fall behind.” NTIA “looks forward to providing technical assistance to potential applicants,” said Administrator David Redl. “NTIA’s BroadbandUSA team has extensive experience working in the telecommunications industry, building broadband networks and consulting with service providers and local governments.” Sen. Shelley Moore Capito, R-W.Va., said the program and similar initiatives “can help us close the digital divide." She "will continue to push for similar resources” in future bills. NTCA CEO Shirley Bloomfield praised the launch. The program and the farm bill's broadband provisions “highlight a much-needed shift in federal policy to make rural broadband a possibility for the estimated 23 million Americans who lack it,” said National Rural Electric Cooperative Association CEO Jim Matheson.