USDA ReConnect Pilot Program – Broadband Awards Update

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s ReConnect Pilot Program provides loans, grants, and loan/grant combinations to construct broadband infrastructure in areas of rural America that lack access to high-speed broadband service.

• Loan – Awardees must meet a 25/3 Mbps minimum broadband service requirement in all proposed service areas. The maximum award amount is $50M, and the interest rate is set at a fixed 2%. Applications for loans are reviewed on a rolling basis and are not evaluated competitively.

• Grant – Awardees must meet a 25/3 Mbps minimum broadband service requirement in all proposed service areas. There is a scoring incentive for higher speeds. The maximum award amount is $25 million, and a 25% match is required. Applications are evaluated in a competitive process.

• Loan/Grant Combination – Awardees must meet a 25/3 Mbps minimum broadband service requirement in all proposed service areas. There is a scoring incentive for higher speeds. The maximum award amount is $25 million for the loan and $25 million for the grant, and the interest rate is set at the U.S. Treasury Rate. Applications are evaluated in a competitive process.

USDA is currently announcing approved projects for the first round of ReConnect Program funding. To date, USDA has provided $717,907,371 million in ReConnect Pilot Program broadband funding to create or improve high-speed broadband connectivity for rural Americans across 33 states. The funded service areas for the 78 funded projects include a total of 165,254 households.

The USDA ReConnect Pilot Program’s second round application window opened on January 31, 2020, and closed on April 15, 2020. USDA received 172 applications requesting $1.57 billion in the second round of the ReConnect Pilot Program. The applications seek funding to provide or upgrade rural broadband service across 41 states. Interested parties and existing service providers may view applicants’ proposed service area maps at reconnect.usda.gov, and may submit responses through June 6th. USDA may use any information submitted to determine if there is sufficient access to broadband in any part of an applicant’s proposed funded service area.

Congress appropriated $1.3 billion for the first and second rounds of the ReConnect Program. USDA made $550 million available for the second round, which includes up to $200 million for grants, up to $200 million for 50/50 grant/loan combinations, and up to $200 million for low-interest loans. Additional details are available at https://www.usda.gov/reconnect.

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USDA Announces ReConnect Broadband Program Awards In Kansas & Oklahoma Totaling $71 Million

May 7, 2020 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture has announced four ReConnect Pilot Program broadband awards, totaling $71 million, have been provided in Kansas and Oklahoma.

Totah Communications Inc. is receiving an $18.9 million loan and an $18.9 million grant to construct 621 miles of fiber-to-the-premises broadband infrastructure. The award will enable Totah to extend broadband availability to 8,155 residents, 20 farms, and 15 businesses in Rogers, Nowata, Washington, and Osage counties in Oklahoma, and Montgomery and Chautauqua counties Kansas.

KanOkla Shidler LLC is receiving a $15 million loan and a $15 million grant to construct a 251-mile fiber-to-the-premise broadband network in Osage County, Oklahoma. The project will benefit 2,101 residents, 26 farms, and 28 businesses.

Cross Cable Television LLC is receiving a $2.2 million grant to construct a fiber-to-the-premises broadband network in Le Flore and McIntosh counties in Oklahoma. The project will benefit 265 residents, 13 farms, and six businesses.

Carnegie Telephone Company is receiving a $1.2 million loan to construct a fiber-to-the-premises broadband network in the town of Carnegie, Oklahoma. The project will benefit 926 residents.

USDA’s ReConnect Program provides loans, grants, and loan/grant combinations to construct broadband network infrastructure in rural America. The application window for the second round of funding closed on April 15, 2020, and applications are currently under review.

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USDA Announces $2 Million ReConnect Broadband Program Award In New Hampshire

May 7, 2020 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture has announced a $2 million ReConnect Pilot Program broadband award to Granite State Telephone Inc. in New Hampshire. Granite will use a loan in the amount of $1,932,298 to build a fiber broadband network that will provide speeds up to 1 GB downstream and 1 GB upstream to rural subscribers in Hillsborough, Sullivan and Cheshire counties in New Hampshire. The service area includes 890 households, an educational facility and a critical community facility, spread across 24 square miles. USDA’s ReConnect Program provides loans, grants, and loan/grant combinations to construct broadband network infrastructure in rural America. The application window for the second round of funding closed on April 15, 2020, and applications are currently under review.

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USDA Announces Three ReConnect Broadband Program Awards In New Mexico Totaling $23 Million

May 5, 2020 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture has announced three ReConnect Pilot Program broadband awards, totaling $23 million, have been provided in New Mexico.

Pueblo of Acoma will use a $942,955 grant to help provide fixed wireless broadband. Currently, the funded service area completely lacks sufficient access to broadband service. The funded project is expected to fuel long-term economic development and job opportunities in the service area, which includes 771 households spread over 22 square miles in Cibola County.

Penasco Valley Telephone Cooperative Inc. will use a $3.1 million grant to deploy a fiber broadband network. The funded service area includes 659 households spread over 363 square miles in Lincoln, Otero, Chaves, and Eddy counties.

E.N.M.R. Telephone Cooperative will use a $19.2 million grant to help build a fiber-to-the-premises broadband network serving farms, businesses, and critical community facilities in rural areas in New Mexico. The service area includes 789 households and three critical community facilities spread over 13 counties and 4,292 square miles.

USDA’s ReConnect Program provides loans, grants, and loan/grant combinations to construct broadband network infrastructure in rural America. The application window for the second round of funding closed on April 15, 2020, and applications are currently under review.

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USDA Receives 172 Applications For Second Round Of ReConnect Pilot Program Funding

April 22, 2020 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture has announced it has received 172 applications requesting $1.57 billion in the second round of the ReConnect Pilot Program. The applications seek funding to provide or upgrade rural broadband service across 41 states. Interested parties and existing service providers may view applicants’ proposed service area maps at reconnect.usda.gov, and may submit responses through June 6th. USDA will use information submitted to determine if there is sufficient access to broadband in any part of an applicant’s proposed funded service area. Congress appropriated $1.3 billion for the first and second rounds of the ReConnect Program. USDA made $550 million available for the second round, which includes up to $200 million for grants, up to $200 million for 50/50 grant/loan combinations, and up to $200 million for low-interest loans.

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USDA Extends ReConnect Pilot Program 2nd Round Application Window To April 15

March 30, 2020 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture has announced it has extended the application window for the ReConnect Pilot Program’s second round of funding to April 15th. Applicants have until midnight, based on the time zone the applicant is located in, on April 15, 2020, to submit their applications. USDA’s Broadband ReConnect Pilot Program provides loans and grants for the costs of construction, improvement, or acquisition of facilities and equipment needed to provide broadband service in eligible rural areas. To date, USDA has provided $621 million in ReConnect Pilot Program broadband funding to create or improve connectivity for rural Americans across 31 states.

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FCC Commissioner Michael O’Rielly Asks RUS To Revise ReConnect Program Award Criteria

March 16, 2020 – FCC Commissioner Michael O’Rielly has sent a letter to the administrator of  USDA’s Rural Utilities Service (RUS) to express concern about the way the RUS ReConnect Program will award broadband funding during its second round. Commissioner O’Rielly believes certain aspects of the ReConnect Program’s selection “criteria are likely to result in potentially wasteful or problematic spending.” These include the following:

(1) the decision to lower the threshold at which an area must be unserved to be eligible for a 100 percent grant from 100 percent unserved to 90 percent unserved;

(2) a lack of consistent and transparent practices governing the challenge process;

(3)the absence of comprehensive measures to exclude from eligibility areas already subject to enforceable deployment obligations; and

(4) the decision to disproportionately favor fiber technology in the application scoring process.

Commissioner O’Rielly has asked RUS to consider appropriate programmatic revisions as “[it] move[s] toward awarding further funding or designing future ReConnect Program rounds.”

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USDA Extends ReConnect Pilot Program 2nd Round Application Window

March 12, 2020 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture has announced that it has extended the application window for the ReConnect Pilot Program’s second round of funding to March 31. Specifically, the application window is extended until midnight, based on the time zone the applicant is located in, on March 31, 2020. A full description of 2020 ReConnect Pilot Program funding is available from the Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) and solicitation of applications for second round of the ReConnect Program. Additional information about eligibility, technical assistance, and recent announcements is available at www.usda.gov/reconnect.

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USDA Announces $28 Million ReConnect Program Broadband Award In Virginia

February 28, 2020 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture has announced a $2.3 million ReConnect Pilot Program broadband award has been made to Central Virginia Electric Cooperative in Virginia. Central Virginia Electric Cooperative will use a $28 million ReConnect Program loan and grant combination to construct a fiber-to-the-premises network encompassing 704 square miles. The service area is expected to reach 17,023 households, 35 pre-subscribed businesses, 20 pre-subscribed farms, 15 educational facilities, 15 critical community facilities and six health care centers in Albemarle, Amherst, Appomattox, Buckingham, Campbell, Cumberland, Fluvanna, Greene, Goochland, Louisa, Orange, Prince Edward and Powhatan counties. USDA’s ReConnect Program provides loans, grants, and loan/grant combinations to construct broadband network infrastructure in rural America. USDA continues to review first round applications, and will announce additional awards on a rolling basis.

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USDA Announces Three ReConnect Program Broadband Awards Totaling $19 Million In Texas

February 28, 2020 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture has announced three ReConnect Pilot Program broadband awards totaling $19 million have been made in Texas.

Border to Border Communications will use a $5 million ReConnect grant and a $5 million ReConnect loan to deploy a Fiber-to-the-Premises network in rural Texas. The funded service area includes 5,153 households, 20 farms, 15 pre-subscribed businesses, 15 educational facilities, and 10 critical community facilities spread over 938 square miles in Webb and Zapata counties.

Mid-South Synergy will use a $6 million ReConnect grant to deploy a Fiber-to-the-Premises broadband network in rural Texas. This network will be capable of symmetrical transmission speeds of at least 100 Mbps. The service area includes 786 households, 26 farms, 17 pre-subscribed businesses and seven critical community facilities spread over 385 square miles in Brazos, Grimes, Madison and Walker counties.

Peoples Telephone Cooperative Inc. will use a $3 million ReConnect grant to deploy a Fiber-to-the-Premises broadband network in rural areas of Texas. The funded service area includes 914 households and two critical community facilities spread over 28 square miles in Titus, Camp and Wood counties.

USDA’s ReConnect Program provides loans, grants, and loan/grant combinations to construct broadband network infrastructure in rural America. USDA continues to review first round applications, and will announce additional awards on a rolling basis.

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USDA Announces $2.3 Million ReConnect Program Broadband Award In Nevada

February 25, 2020 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture has announced a $2.3 million ReConnect Pilot Program broadband award has been made to Beehive Telephone Company Inc. in Nevada. Beehive Telephone Company will use a $2.3 million ReConnect grant to construct a fixed wireless system and three Fiber-to-the-Premises systems to connect 273 households, seven businesses, seven farms and a critical community facility in a 229-square-mile area of eastern Elko and White Pine counties. The service area includes the Pilot Valley and Montello communities in Elko County, and the Pleasant Valley community and Burbank exchange in White Pine County. USDA’s ReConnect Program provides loans, grants, and loan/grant combinations to construct broadband network infrastructure in rural America. USDA continues to review first round applications, and will announce additional awards on a rolling basis.

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USDA Announces $9.1 Million ReConnect Program Broadband Award In South Carolina

February 25, 2020 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture has announced a $3.3 million ReConnect Pilot Program broadband award has been made to TruVista Communications Inc. in South Carolina. TruVista will use a $9.1 million ReConnect grant to deploy 257 miles of fiber-optic cable in unserved areas of Kershaw County. The investment is expected to cover an 81-square-mile area that includes 6,251 rural households, 24 farms, 15 businesses, four critical community facilities, three educational facilities and a health care center. USDA’s ReConnect Program provides loans, grants, and loan/grant combinations to construct broadband network infrastructure in rural America. USDA continues to review first round applications, and will announce additional awards on a rolling basis.

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USDA Announces $3.3 Million ReConnect Program Broadband Award In Montana

February 24, 2020 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture has announced a $3.3 million ReConnect Pilot Program broadband award has been made to Southern Montana Telephone Company in Montana. Southern Montana Telephone Company will use a $3.3 million ReConnect Program grant to construct a fiber-to-the-home network in Beaverhead County. The 1,688-square-mile service area includes 109 households, 26 farms and ranches, seven businesses and the Grant Fire Station. Improved broadband access in Beaverhead County will make a significant impact on agricultural and small businesses. Farmers and ranchers will be able to monitor their operations in real time and use high-speed internet to buy, sell or trade livestock. USDA’s ReConnect Program provides loans, grants, and loan/grant combinations to construct broadband network infrastructure in rural America. USDA continues to review first round applications, and will announce additional awards on a rolling basis.

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USDA Announces Two ReConnect Program Broadband Awards Totaling $5 Million In Georgia

February 20, 2020 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture has announced two ReConnect Pilot Program broadband awards totaling $5 million have been made in Georgia.

The Darien Telephone Company will use a $1 million ReConnect Program grant to expand high-speed internet service to underserved households and businesses in McIntosh County, using Fiber-to-the-Premises technology. The project’s service area includes 257 households, 17 pre-subscribed businesses and a critical community facility.

The Pembroke Telephone Company will use a $2 million ReConnect Program grant and a $2 million ReConnect Program loan to build an FTTP network to provide high-speed internet to residents, businesses and farms in Evans County. The project’s service area includes 964 households, 20 pre-subscribed farms and 15 pre-subscribed businesses.

USDA’s ReConnect Program provides loans, grants, and loan/grant combinations to construct broadband network infrastructure in rural America. USDA continues to review first round applications, and will announce additional awards on a rolling basis.

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USDA Announces $24 Million ReConnect Program Broadband Award In Utah

February 20, 2020 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture has announced a $24 million ReConnect Pilot Program broadband award has been made to UBTA-UBET Communications Inc., dba STRATA Networks in Utah. STRATA Networks will use an $11.8 million loan and an $11.8 million grant to expand high-speed broadband connectivity within the Uintah Basin, including Ute Indian Tribe communities on the Uintah and Ouray reservation. USDA’s $600 million ReConnect Program provides loans, grants, and loan/grant combinations to construct broadband network infrastructure in rural America. USDA continues to review first round applications, and will announce additional awards on a rolling basis.

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USDA Announces $3.4 Million ReConnect Program Broadband Award In Illinois

February 14, 2020 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture has announced a $3.4 million ReConnect Pilot Program broadband award has been made to Hamilton County Telephone Cooperative Corporation Inc. in Illinois. Hamilton County Telephone Cooperative will use a $3,431,236 grant to deploy a Fiber-to-the-Premise network in rural areas of Illinois. The funded service areas include 603 households spread over 77 square miles. USDA’s $600 million ReConnect Program provides loans, grants, and loan/grant combinations to construct broadband network infrastructure in rural America. USDA continues to review first round applications, and will announce additional awards on a rolling basis.

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USDA Announces Four ReConnect Program Broadband Awards In Tennessee Totaling $9 Million

February 13, 2020 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture has announced that four ReConnect Pilot Program broadband awards have been made in Tennessee.

Ben Lomand Holdings Inc. will use a $2.2 million ReConnect Program grant to deploy a fiber-to-the-premises network to rural northeastern Cumberland County. The funded service areas include 222 households, six pre-subscribed businesses and three pre-subscribed farms spread over 100 square miles.

North Central Communications Inc. will use a $1.4 million ReConnect Program grant to provide broadband service to residents and businesses in rural Smith County. The funded service areas include 164 households, 10 pre-subscribed businesses and 21 pre-subscribed farms spread over 22 square miles.

Peoples Telephone Company, dba TEC, will use a $1 million ReConnect Program loan and a $1 million ReConnect Program grant to provide broadband service to residents and businesses in rural Houston, Henry, Stewart and Montgomery counties. The funded service areas include 642 households, two pre-subscribed businesses and five pre-subscribed farms spread over 38 square miles.

United Communications Inc. will use a $3.3 million ReConnect Program grant to provide broadband service to residents and businesses in rural Wilson, Rutherford, Williamson and Maury counties. The funded service areas include 2,716 households, 13 pre-subscribed businesses, 12 pre-subscribed farms and a critical community facility spread over 48 square miles.

USDA’s $600 million ReConnect Program provides loans, grants, and loan/grant combinations to construct broadband network infrastructure in rural America. USDA continues to review first round applications, and will announce additional awards on a rolling basis.

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USDA Announces $4.4 Million ReConnect Program Broadband Award In Georgia

February 7, 2020 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture has announced a $4.4 million ReConnect Pilot Program broadband award has been made to the Ellijay Telephone Company in Georgia. Ellijay Telephone Company will use a $4,411,079 ReConnect Program grant to deploy 90 miles of fiber-optic network infrastructure in Gilmer County. The funded service areas include 2,159 households, 25 pre-subscribed businesses, 24 pre-subscribed farms, one educational facility, and two critical community facilities spread over 11 square miles. USDA’s $600 million ReConnect Program provides loans, grants, and loan/grant combinations to construct broadband network infrastructure in rural America. USDA continues to review first round applications, and will announce additional awards on a rolling basis.

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USDA Announces $13.3 Million ReConnect Program Broadband Award In Oklahoma

February 4, 2020 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture has announced $13.3 million in ReConnect Pilot Program broadband awards have been made to Pine Telephone and Pine Cellular in Oklahoma. Pine Telephone will receive a $5.6 million grant, and Pine Cellular will receive a $7.7 million grant. Both projects will deploy fiber-to-the-premises in parts of Pushmataha and McCurtain counties. These combined investments are anticipated to impact 1,022 households, 44 farms and ranches, 35 small businesses, as well as the police and fire departments in the towns of Rattan and Haworth. USDA’s $600 million ReConnect Program provides loans, grants, and loan/grant combinations to construct broadband network infrastructure in rural America. USDA continues to review first round applications, and will announce additional awards on a rolling basis.

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USDA Announces $10.3 Million ReConnect Program Broadband Award In New York

February 3, 2020 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture has announced a $10.3 million ReConnect Pilot Program broadband award has been made to Yates County in New York. Yates County will use a $10.3 million ReConnect Program grant to deploy a fiber-to-the-home broadband network capable of delivering speeds up to 1 Gbps. The project will deliver high-speed broadband, which will help improve the overall quality of life for residents and businesses in and around Yates County. The funded service areas include 2,875 households and two educational facilities spread over 142 square miles. USDA’s $600 million ReConnect Program provides loans, grants, and loan/grant combinations to construct broadband network infrastructure in rural America. USDA continues to review first round applications, and will announce additional awards on a rolling basis.

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USDA Announces Four ReConnect Program Broadband Awards In Maine Totaling Nearly $10 Million

January 30, 2020 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture has announced that four ReConnect Pilot Program broadband awards have been made in Maine.

The Town of Arrowsic will use a $604,254 ReConnect Program grant and a $604,254 ReConnect Program loan to construct a fiber-optic broadband network with speeds up to 100 Mbps to connect 237 households, 20 pre-subscribed businesses and four pre-subscribed farms.

Monhegan Plantation will use a $626,298 ReConnect Program grant to connect the entire island community in Lincoln County, which is home to a school, power district, municipal office, museum, post office, library, and several inns and small businesses. The project’s service area includes 40 households, an educational facility, a critical community facility, 11 pre-subscribed farms and 15 pre-subscribed businesses.

The Town of Roque Bluffs will use an $893,170 ReConnect Program grant to construct a fiber-optic network to connect 166 households, 22 pre-subscribed farms and 16 pre-subscribed businesses in Washington County. The network will connect to the Downeast Ring of Maine’s “three-ring-binder” network backbone in Machias, 4.5 miles from the town line on Roque Bluffs Road.

The Biddeford Internet Corporation will use a $3.5 million ReConnect Program grant and a $3.5 million ReConnect Program loan to expand its gigabit Fiber-to-the-Premises network to connect 4,084 households, 30 pre-subscribed farms, 28 educational facilities, 23 pre-subscribed businesses, 15 health care centers and 12 critical community facilities in Hebron, Sumner, Hartford, Buckfield, Canton, North Turner, Turner, South Paris and West Paris.

USDA’s $600 million ReConnect Program provides loans, grants, and loan/grant combinations to construct broadband network infrastructure in rural America. USDA continues to review first round applications, and will announce additional awards on a rolling basis.

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USDA Announces $1.6 Million ReConnect Program Broadband Award In Arizona

January 29, 2020 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture has announced a $1.6 million ReConnect Pilot Program broadband award has been made to Wecom Inc. in Arizona. Wecom Inc. will use a $1.6 million ReConnect Pilot Program grant to construct a Fiber-to-the-Premises and hybrid Fiber-to-the-Node fixed wireless system that is expected to connect 1,492 households in Peach Springs, many belonging to members of the Hualapai Tribe, and the surrounding area to high-speed internet. USDA’s $600 million ReConnect Program provides loans, grants, and loan/grant combinations to construct broadband network infrastructure in rural America. USDA continues to review first round applications, and will announce additional awards on a rolling basis.

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USDA Announces Four ReConnect Program Broadband Awards In Kentucky Totaling $55.3 Million

January 29, 2020 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture has announced that four ReConnect Pilot Program broadband awards have been made in Kentucky.

Ballard Rural Telephone Cooperative Corporation will use a $2.4 million ReConnect Program grant to deploy a fiber-to-the-premises network in rural McCracken County. The funded service areas include 578 households and a critical community facility spread over 20 square miles.

Duo County Telephone Cooperative Corporation Inc. will use an $18.7 million ReConnect Program grant to deploy a fiber-to-the-premises network in rural Adair, Cumberland and Russell counties. The funded service areas include almost 3,650 households spread over 45 square miles.

Gibson Electric Membership Corporation will use a $32 million ReConnect Program loan to deploy a fiber-to-the-premises network in rural Fulton, Graves and Hickman counties in Kentucky, and in Dyer, Lake, Obion and Weakley counties in Tennessee. The funded service areas include almost 7,400 households spread over 1,056 square miles.

Thacker-Grigsby Telephone Company Inc. will use a $2.3 million ReConnect Program grant to deploy a fiber-to-the-premises network in rural Breathitt County. The funded service area includes 637 households spread over 109 square miles.

USDA’s $600 million ReConnect Program provides loans, grants, and loan/grant combinations to construct broadband network infrastructure in rural America. USDA continues to review first round applications, and will announce additional awards on a rolling basis.

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USDA Announces $2.4 Million ReConnect Program Broadband Award In Washington

January 29, 2020 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture has announced a $2.4 million ReConnect Pilot Program broadband award has been made to Mason Public Utility District 3 in the state of Washington. Mason Public Utility District 3, based in Shelton, Washington, will use a $2.4 million ReConnect Program grant to provide high-speed broadband to the unserved Three Fingers community in Grapeview, Washington. The Three Fingers Rural Broadband Fiber Project will provide middle-mile and last-mile fiber-optic service to each premises located within the targeted area. The funded service area includes 163 households spread over three square miles. USDA’s $600 million ReConnect Program provides loans, grants, and loan/grant combinations to construct broadband network infrastructure in rural America. USDA continues to review first round applications, and will announce additional awards on a rolling basis.

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USDA Announces $15.5 Million ReConnect Program Broadband Award In Louisiana

January 28, 2020 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture has announced a $15.5 million ReConnect Pilot Program broadband award has been made to Star Telephone Company, Inc. in Louisiana. Star Telephone Company will use $7,762,847 in loan funding and $7,762,847 in grant funding to deploy a fiber broadband network. The funded service areas include 2,609 households, 13 educational facilities, 2 healthcare centers, and 8 critical community facilities spread over 136 square miles. USDA’s $600 million ReConnect Program provides loans, grants, and loan/grant combinations to construct broadband network infrastructure in rural America. USDA continues to review first round applications, and will announce additional awards on a rolling basis.

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USDA Announces Five ReConnect Program Broadband Awards In Missouri Totaling $61 Million

January 28, 2020 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture has announced that five ReConnect Pilot Program broadband awards have been made in Missouri.

Mid-States Services LLC will use a $3 million loan to provide unserved and underserved members in and around Trenton, Mo., with Fiber-to-the-Home broadband services. The project is expected to reach 566 households, a highway patrol office, and an elementary school spread over 144 square miles.

Total Highspeed LLC will use a $20.1 million loan and a $20.1 million grant to build a Fiber-to-the-Premises network to improve broadband services to families and businesses in rural Greene County. The project is expected to reach 8,683 households, 20 pre-subscribed farms, 15 pre-subscribed businesses, eight critical community facilities, 12 educational facilities and a health care center spread over 451 square miles.

Gascosage Electric Cooperative, serving Camden, Maries, Miller, Phelps and Pulaski counties, will use a $7 million loan and a $7 million grant to develop a Fiber-to-the-Premises broadband network for its most rural areas. The project is expected to reach 20 pre-subscribed farms, 20 pre-subscribed businesses, 1,177 households and two fire protection districts spread over 160 square miles.

Green Hills Telephone Corporation will use a $2.6 million grant to expand its Fiber-to-the-Premises network to rural areas in Caldwell and Livingston counties. The project is expected to reach 20 pre-subscribed farms, 20 pre-subscribed businesses, 546 households, a fire protection district and two educational facilities spread over 42 square miles.

Marshall Municipal Utilities will use a $575,000 loan and a $575,000 grant to provide high-quality internet access to rural areas of Saline County. By expanding its current service area, an additional 21 pre-subscribed farms, 18 pre-subscribed businesses, 763 households, a private school and a nursing home will have access to broadband.

USDA’s $600 million ReConnect Program provides loans, grants, and loan/grant combinations to construct broadband network infrastructure in rural America. USDA continues to review first round applications, and will announce additional awards on a rolling basis.

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USDA Announces Two ReConnect Program Broadband Awards In Arkansas Totaling $7.1 Million

January 21, 2020 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture has announced ReConnect Pilot Program broadband awards have been made to Yelcot Telephone Company and Mountain View Telephone Company in Arkansas. Yelcot Telephone Company will use a $1.7 million ReConnect Program grant and a $1.7 million loan to deploy a fiber-to-the-home network with approximately 61 miles of fiber that is expected to connect 548 households spread over 24 square miles in Baxter and Marion counties. The Mountain View Telephone Company will use a $3.7 million ReConnect Program grant to deploy a fiber broadband network project with approximately 97 miles of fiber. The network is expected to connect 702 households, farms, and businesses in the funded service areas that are spread over 98 square miles. USDA’s $600 million ReConnect Program provides loans, grants, and loan/grant combinations to construct broadband network infrastructure in rural America. USDA continues to review first round applications, and will announce additional awards on a rolling basis.

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USDA Announces $18.7 Million ReConnect Program Broadband Grant In West Virginia

January 20, 2020 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture has announced a ReConnect Pilot Program broadband grant award has been made to Harrison Rural Electrification Association Inc. in West Virginia. Harrison will use the $18.7 million ReConnect Program grant to construct a fiber-to-the-premises network that is expected to connect 6,320 households, five educational facilities, a critical community facility and approximately 383 farms spread across 355 square miles in rural West Virginia. USDA’s $600 million ReConnect Program provides loans, grants, and loan/grant combinations to construct broadband network infrastructure in rural America. USDA continues to review first round applications, and will announce additional awards on a rolling basis.

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USDA Announces $5.7 Million ReConnect Program Broadband Grant In Nebraska

January 17, 2020 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture has announced a ReConnect Pilot Program broadband grant award has been made to Eastern Nebraska Telephone Company. The company will use the $5.7 million ReConnect grant to construct 221 miles of fiber-to-the-premises broadband infrastructure to bring service to rural areas of Pierce County, Wayne County and Madison County in Nebraska. Eastern Nebraska Telephone Company will use matching funds of $1.9 million to complete the project, for a total project cost of $7.6 million. The network will extend broadband services to every household and business in the funded area, which includes 489 households spread over 387 square miles. USDA’s $600 million ReConnect Program provides loans, grants, and loan/grant combinations to construct broadband network infrastructure in rural America. USDA continues to review first round applications, and will announce additional awards on a rolling basis.

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USDA Announces Three ReConnect Program Broadband Awards In Iowa & Minnesota Totaling $11 Million

January 17, 2020 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture has announced three ReConnect Pilot Program broadband awards have been made to Harmony Telephone Company, Osage Municipal Utilities, and Consolidated Telephone Company to bring broadband service to areas in Iowa and Minnesota. Harmony Telephone Company will use a $2.7 million ReConnect Program loan and a $2.7 million grant to construct a fiber-to-the-premises network to connect 577 households, a health care center and a critical community facility spread over 143 square miles in several counties bordering southern Minnesota and northern Iowa. Osage Municipal Utilities in northern Iowa will use a $397,749 ReConnect Program grant to deploy fiber-to-the-premise and hybrid-fiber-coax infrastructure to serve farms, residents, and businesses located in rural areas of Mitchell County, Iowa. The funded service area includes 151 households spared over 20 square miles. Consolidated Telephone Company will use a $5.2 million ReConnect Program grant to construct a fiber-to-the-premises network to serve portions of Cherry and Great Scott townships in Minnesota. Consolidated will leverage existing middle-mile infrastructure, in partnership with Northeast Service Cooperative, and require only an additional 157.1 miles of new FTTP construction. The funded service area includes 667 households, two educational facilities and two critical community facilities. USDA’s $600 million ReConnect Program provides loans, grants, and loan/grant combinations to construct broadband network infrastructure in rural America. USDA continues to review first round applications, and will announce additional awards on a rolling basis.

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USDA Announces $48 Million ReConnect Program Broadband Loan In Virginia

January 9, 2020 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture has announced a ReConnect Pilot Program broadband loan award has been made to Wilkes Telephone Membership Corporation Inc. in Virginia. Wilkes will use a $48 million ReConnect Program loan to construct a fiber-to-the-premises network encompassing 1,847 square miles. The service area is expected to reach 22,604 households, 19 educational facilities, eight critical community facilities and one health care center in Halifax, Charlotte, Lunenburg, Mecklenburg, Brunswick, King and Queen, Bedford and Pittsylvania counties. USDA’s $600 million ReConnect Program provides loans, grants, and loan/grant combinations to construct broadband infrastructure in rural America. USDA continues to review first round applications, and will announce additional awards on a rolling basis.

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USDA Announces Two ReConnect Program Broadband Award In North Dakota Totaling $23 Million

January 7, 2020 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture has announced ReConnect Pilot Program broadband awards have been made to Polar Communications Mutual Aid Corp. and Daktel Communications, LLC. Polar Communications Mutual Aid Corp. will use $10,624,167 in grant funding and $10,624,167 in loan funding to deploy an active ethernet fiber-to-the-premise network to areas in rural North Dakota. The funded service areas include 2,237 households, six educational facilities, one health care center, and one critical community facility spread over 1,870 square miles. Daktel Communications, LLC will use $1,809,290 in ReConnect grant funding to construct fiber-to-the-premises network infrastructure north of Jamestown, North Dakota. The funded service areas include 406 households and three educational facilities spread over 354 square miles. Daktel Communications will offer broadband services at 1 gigabit per second symmetrical to locations that were previously unserved in the area. USDA’s $600 million ReConnect Program provides loans, grants, and loan/grant combinations to construct broadband infrastructure in rural America. USDA continues to review first round applications and will announce additional awards on a rolling basis.

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