ReConnect Program Round 5
In addition to today’s high-speed internet investments, Secretary Vilsack also announced that USDA will begin accepting applications on March 22, 2024 for its fifth round of funding for the ReConnect Program to connect millions of people in rural America to affordable high-speed internet.
In order to continue connecting rural families, business owners and agricultural producers to reliable, affordable high-speed internet, USDA is making several program improvements under Round 5. This will further increase the availability of funding in rural areas where residents and businesses lack access to affordable, high-speed internet.
Award funds may be used to pay for the following costs:
- To fund the construction or improvement of facilities required to provide fixed terrestrial broadband service. Eligible facilities include buildings, land, and fixed wireless service. If other services will be provided over these facilities, then award funds may also be used to acquire the additional equipment. For example, awards funds may be used to purchase equipment that is required to comply with the Communications Assistance for Law Enforcement Act, 47 U.S.C §1001 et seq (CALEA).
- To fund reasonable pre-application expenses.
Funding for pre-application expenses may not exceed five percent of the award. Pre-application expenses must be included in the first request for advance of award funds and will be funded with either grant or loan funds. If the funding category applied for has a grant component, then grant funds will be used for this purpose. If pre-application expenses are not included in the first request for advance of award funds, they will become an ineligible purpose. Costs associated with satisfying the environmental review requirements are eligible for reimbursement under this category. Up to 3% three percent of the total award can be used to cover costs associated with satisfying the environmental review requirements. The environmental review costs count as part of the overall 5% percent allowable for pre-application expenses. If an applicant applied for funding in ReConnect Round Four, preapplication expenses may be eligible for reimbursement if these expenses support the application in response to this notice, such as engineering design, market survey, and subscriber projections. Note, however, that RUS, in its sole discretion, reserves the right to accept or reject expenses associated with round four. Otherwise, preapplication expenses may only be reimbursed if they are incurred after the publication date of the Notice of Funding Opportunity published February 21, 2024 and are properly documented. Additional details concerning pre-application expenses can be found in the Notice of Funding Opportunity. - To fund the acquisition of an existing system that does not currently provide sufficient access to broadband (eligible for 100 percent loan requests only).
The cost of the existing system acquisition is limited to 40 percent of the award amount requested. After improvements are made, the upgraded system must meet the minimum requirements of the most recent Notice of Funding Opportunity.
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