The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development is inviting applications for the Rural Broadband Access Loan and Loan Guarantee Program. Funding awarded through this program may be used to construct, improve, or acquire facilities and equipment to provide high-speed broadband to rural areas.
To be eligible, the applicant must serve an area where at least 15 percent of households are currently unserved. Applications proposing to provide broadband service to the most unserved households will receive priority. Additionally, applicants must provide a minimum bandwidth of 25 megabits downstream and three megabits upstream for both mobile and fixed service.
The minimum loan amount available is $100,000, and the maximum award amount is $20 million. Under this program, loans and loan guarantees are awarded through a national competition.
USDA will provide pre-application assistance upon request to help with the development of complete applications. Rural Development staff will be available on a first-come, first-served basis through September 22, 2017, to review draft applications and help applicants identify and correct deficiencies before the final applications are formally submitted.
Once an application is officially submitted through the online system RD Apply, USDA will be unable to provide additional assistance; nor can the applicant submit additional supporting information. Applications must be received by September 30, 2017.
More information is available on page 34473 of the July 25, 2017, Federal Register, and applicants are encouraged to refer to the Rural Broadband Access Application Guide.
Questions related to applications for USDA's Rural Broadband Access Program should be directed to Richard Anderson, (202) 720-0800.
You can also learn more about the Rural Broadband Access Program online.