Rural areas need broadband access, but service providers can often find that it’s not possible to make a financial go of it in some of these communities. The USDA’s Community Connect program has invested $160 million in more than 240 projects to bring broadband to unserved rural communities since 2002.
The USDA announced yesterday it is soliciting applications for grants to establish broadband in unserved rural communities through its Community Connect program. It is administered by USDA’s Rural Utilities Service and helps to fund broadband deployment into rural communities where it is not economically viable for private sector providers to provide service.
“Through Community Connect and our other telecommunications programs, USDA helps to ensure that rural residents have access to broadband to run businesses, get the most from their education and benefit from the infinite services that fast, reliable broadband provides,” Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack says.
USDA plans to award up to $11.7 million in grants through the program. The grants fund broadband infrastructure to help foster economic growth by delivering connectivity to the global marketplace. The grants also fund broadband for community centers and public institutions.