September 12, 2020 – As of September 11, 2020, the U.S. Department of Agriculture has awarded funding to 11 rural broadband projects in eight states through the second round of its ReConnect Program. Of the 11 awards, 10 are grants and one is a loan and grant combination. Funding for the 11 awards totals $120,547,805. The funded service areas include a total of 25,527 households. Nine of the ReConnect Program second round awards received funding from the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act).

USDA describes the ReConnect Program as “a pilot program offering unique federal financing options in the form of grants, loans, and combinations thereof to create or improve rural e-Connectivity for rural customers across America.” The agency expects to continue announcing more broadband awards in the coming weeks and months. Below are summaries of the 11 awards made so far in the program’s second round.

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USDA Announces $21.6 Million ReConnect Program Broadband Award In North Carolina

September 11, 2020 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture has announced a $21.6 million ReConnect Program broadband grant has been awarded to Atlantic Telephone Membership Corporation in rural North Carolina. ATMC will receive a $21.6 million grant to construct a fiber-to-the-premises network which will bring high-speed broadband internet access to 17,424 people, 209 farms, 285 businesses, 19 educational facilities, nine health care facilities, seven fire stations, and seven post offices in Pender County. The funded service area includes 6,853 households spread over 539.44 square miles. The grant is the 11th award made under the second round of the ReConnect Program.

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USDA Announces $2.3 Million ReConnect Program Broadband Award In North Carolina

September 10, 2020 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture has announced a $2.3 million ReConnect Program broadband grant has been awarded to Randolph Telephone Membership Corporation in rural North Carolina. RTMC will receive a $2.3 million grant to deploy a fiber-to-the-premises network to bring high-speed broadband internet access service to 3,333 people, 17 farms, 26 businesses, and nine educational facilities in northern Moore County. The funded service area includes 1,302 households spread over 16.24 square miles. The grant is part of the $100 million Congress allocated to the ReConnect Program through the CARES Act, and is the 10th award made in the second round of USDA’s ReConnect Program.

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USDA Announces $9.8 Million ReConnect Program Broadband Award In Tennessee

September 9, 2020 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture has announced a $9.8 million ReConnect Program broadband grant and loan combination has been awarded to Ardmore Telephone Company in rural Tennessee. Ardmore Telephone Company will receive a $4.9 million grant and a $4.9 million loan to deploy a fiber-to-the-premises network to connect high-speed broadband internet access service to 4,005 people, 263 farms, 28 businesses, four educational facilities, and one fire station in Benton, Giles and Lincoln counties in Tennessee. The funded service area includes 1,658 households spread over 128.55 square miles. Funding for the award was allocated through the CARES Act and from the $550 million available in the second round of ReConnect Program.

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USDA Announces $9 Million ReConnect Broadband Program Award In Virginia

August 31, 2020 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture has announced that Scott County Telephone Cooperative in rural Virginia has received a $9 million ReConnect Pilot Program grant. Scott County Telephone Cooperative will use the $9 million grant to deploy a fiber-to-the-premises network connecting 7,496 people, 416 farms, 97 businesses, a fire station, a town hall, and two educational facilities to high-speed broadband internet in Scott County, Virginia. The funded service area includes 3,005 households and 195.88 square miles.

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USDA Announces $2.9 Million ReConnect Broadband Program Award In Missouri

August 19, 2020 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture has announced that Big River Broadband in rural Missouri has received a $2.9 million ReConnect Pilot Program award made through the CARES Act. Big River Broadband will use the $2.9 million grant to deploy a fiber-to-the-premises network connecting 4,839 people, 54 farms, 27 businesses, two public schools, and one fire station to high-speed broadband internet in Cape Girardeau County, Missouri. The funded service area includes 1,746 households and 28.11 square miles. USDA received 11 Round Two ReConnect Program applications that are eligible for the $100 million Congress allocated to the program through the CARES Act.

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USDA Announces Two ReConnect Broadband Program Awards In Oklahoma Totaling $29 Million

August 6, 2020 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture has announced two ReConnect Pilot Program awards made through the CARES Act in Oklahoma totaling $29 million.

Pioneer Telephone Cooperative of Oklahoma received a $24.2 million grant to deploy a fiber-to-the-premises network that will connect 4,480 people, 595 farms, 44 businesses, and two fire stations to high-speed broadband Internet in Blaine, Dewey, Ellis and Kingfisher counties. The funded service area covers 1,832 households and over 826.04 square miles.

Cimarron Telephone Company of Oklahoma will receive a $5.4 million grant to deploy a fiber-to-the-premises network that will connect 746 people, 107 farms, and three businesses to high-speed broadband Internet in Pawnee and Osage counties. The funded service area covers 287 households and over 125.24 square miles.

USDA received 11 Round Two ReConnect Program applications that are eligible for the $100 million Congress allocated to the program through the CARES Act. USDA expects to announce more broadband awards made through the CARES Act in the coming weeks.

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USDA Announces $13 Million ReConnect Broadband Program Award In Maryland

August 1, 2020 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture has announced that Easton Utilities Commission in rural Maryland has received a $13.1 million ReConnect Pilot Program award made through the CARES Act. Easton received the $13.1 million grant to deploy a fiber-to-the-premises network that will connect 8,607 people, 144 farms, 183 businesses, eight educational facilities, and one nursing home to high-speed broadband Internet in Talbot County. The funded service area includes 3,447 households and over 122.36 square miles. USDA received 11 Round Two ReConnect Program applications that are eligible for the $100 million Congress allocated to the program through the CARES Act. USDA expects to announce more broadband awards made through the CARES Act in the coming weeks.

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USDA Announces $3.2 Million ReConnect Broadband Program Award In North Carolina

July 27, 2020 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture has announced a $3.2 million ReConnect Pilot Program award made through the CARES Act in North Carolina. French Broad Electric Membership Corporation received a grant of $3,231,412 to deploy a fiber-to-the-premises network to connect 4,056 people, 189 farms, 64 businesses, and two fire stations to high-speed broadband Internet in southwest Madison County in western North Carolina. The funded service area includes 1,740 households and over 133.03 square miles. USDA received 11 Round Two ReConnect Program applications that are eligible for the $100 million Congress allocated to the program through the CARES Act. USDA expects to announce more broadband awards made through the CARES Act in the coming weeks.

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USDA Announces $16 Million ReConnect Broadband Program Award In Mississippi

July 14, 2020 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture has announced a $16 million ReConnect Pilot Program award made through the CARES Act in Mississippi. In rural Mississippi, Tallahatchie Valley Electric Power Association received a $16 million grant to deploy a fiber-to-the-premises network to connect 2,082 people, 331 farms, 32 businesses, a post office, and six fire stations to high-speed broadband Internet in Yalobusha, Tallahatchie, Panola, Grenada, and Quitman counties. The funded service area includes 878 households and over 474.74 square miles. USDA received 11 Round Two ReConnect Program applications that are eligible for the $100 million Congress allocated to the program through the CARES Act. USDA expects to announce more broadband awards made through the CARES Act in the coming weeks.

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USDA Announces $12.5 Million ReConnect Broadband Program Award In Georgia

June 25, 2020 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture has announced a $12.5 million ReConnect Pilot Program award made through the CARES Act in Georgia. In rural Georgia, DoveTel Communications, LLC (dba SyncGlobal Telecom) received a $12.5 million grant to deploy a fiber-to-the-premises network to connect 7,348 people, 121 farms, 15 businesses, four fire stations, and one elementary school to high-speed broadband Internet in Heard, Troup, and Carroll counties. The funded service area includes 2,779 households and over 125.31 square miles. USDA received 11 Round Two ReConnect Program applications that are eligible for the $100 million Congress allocated to the program through the CARES Act. USDA expects to announce more broadband awards made through the CARES Act in the coming weeks.

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USDA Releases Progress Report On Broadband Accomplishments

June 25, 2020 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture has released a Progress Report detailing broadband deployment accomplishments that have been achieved since the release of the American Broadband Initiative Milestones Report. USDA’s report shows broadband achievements made by removing regulatory barriers to broadband deployment, leveraging public resources for broadband expansion, and maximizing the impact of federal broadband funding. Of the 60 commitments included in the ABI Milestones Report, 48 have been successfully completed, and the remaining 12 commitments are in progress. USDA’s progress report includes the following highlights:

USDA, through its ReConnect program, has awarded more than $744 million in funds through March 2020 to support more than 80 broadband projects benefiting more than 430,000 rural residents in 34 states.

USDA worked with FCC to establish processes to coordinate awards for rural broadband deployment to ensure that USDA-funded grants do not overlap with the FCC’s $20 Billion Rural Digital Opportunity Fund (RDOF) or the $9 Billion 5G Fund for Rural America.

USDA developed a public map viewer that displays basic information, such as location, site designation, and contact information for all communications sites located on National Forest System lands. Additionally, the data was provided to the Department of Interior for use in their JOEL map.

USDA partnered with GSA to finalize a revised Standard Form (SF-299), making this Common Application Form suitable for telecommunications purposes.

USDA published a final rule in April 2020 to implement the 2018 Farm Bill, which streamlined the Forest Service’s procedures for evaluating applications to locate or modify communications facilities on lands they manage.

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