ReConnect Program – Tribal Fact Sheet

What does this program do?

The ReConnect Program provides

loans, grants, and loan-grant

combinations to bring high-speed

internet to rural areas that lack

sufficient access to broadband.

ReConnect Program funds can be

used to fund the costs of construction,

improvement, or acquisition of

facilities and equipment needed to

provide broadband service.

The ReConnect Program fosters

private-sector investments in

broadband infrastructure to deploy

high-speed internet service to rural

homes, businesses, and essential

community facilities that support

public safety, health care, schools,

libraries, business and industry, and

agricultural operations, among other

sites.

Who may apply for this program?

Applicants eligible to apply for

ReConnect Program funds include:

• Cooperatives or mutual associations

• For-profit corporations, limited

liability companies, or limited liability

partnerships

• States, local governments, or any

agency, subdivision, instrumentality,

or political subdivision thereof

• A territory or possession of the U.S.

• Federally recognized tribes (as

listed pursuant to the Federally 

Recognized Indian Tribe List Act of 

1994, 25 U.S.C. 479a) 

Eligible applicants must be able to

supply broadband service to all

customers in their proposed funded

service area (PFSA) at the same time.

What is an eligible area?

For a geographic area to be eligible

to receive federal funds from this

program it must meet two criteria:

(1) the area must be rural and (2)

50 percent of households in the

area must lack sufficient access to

broadband service.

• WHAT IS CONSIDERED “RURAL”?

- Service areas cannot be located

in a city, town, or incorporated

area with a population greater

than 20,000, or an urbanized area

adjacent to a city or town with a 

population greater than 50,000

people.

- Eligible areas must be completely

contained within a rural area or

composed of multiple rural areas.

Visit the mapping tool at https://

www.usda.gov/reconnect for

additional eligibility information.

• WHAT IS “SUFFICIENT ACCESS”?

- Currently, sufficient access to

broadband is defined as 100

megabits per second (Mbps) 

downstream and 20 Mbps 

upstream.

How may funds be used?

This program provides funding for:

• The construction or improvement of 

facilities capable of delivering 100

Mbps symmetrical service to every

premises in the PFSA at the same

time.

• The acquisition of an existing system 

not currently providing sufficient

access to broadband service, under 

certain circumstances, and with

restrictions.

• Up to 5 percent of the requested

amount can be used for preapplication expenses and up to 3 

percent of this amount can be used

to cover the costs of the

environmental review.

How do we apply?

Applications must be submitted

through the Agency’s online

application system located on the

ReConnect webpage, https://www.

usda.gov/reconnect. All materials

required for completing an application

are included in the online system. The 

ReConnect webpage also includes

basic program information and

detailed application guidance.

Funding to facilitate

broadband deployment in

unserved tribal communities
ReConnect Program – Tribal Fact Sheet

Where can we find technical

assistance?

The Agency will host several technical

assistance webinars and workshops

throughout the application window.

Webinar and workshop dates and

times, along with additional technical

assistance resources, can be found at

https:// www.usda.gov/reconnect.

You may also contact your state’s 

Telecommunications General Field

Representative (GFR) for assistance. A

map and list of GFRs can be found at:

https://www.rd.usda.gov/contact-us/

telecom-gfr.

When are applications due?

The current application deadline is

November 2, 2022.

Is SUTA applicable to the 

ReConnect Program?

Yes, tribal applicants may request 

the following Substantially 

Underserved Trust Area (SUTA) 

considerations under the 

ReConnect Program:

• Interest rates as low as 2 

percent

• Extended repayment terms 

Can we request a waiver of the 

matching requirement?

The Rural Utilities Service (RUS) 

recognizes the importance of 

adjusting collateral requirements to 

ensure ReConnect Program funds 

reach unserved communities with 

the greatest need.

The ReConnect Program may offer 

100 percent grants without a 

matching requirement. This offer is 

announced via the FOA. The FOA

published on August 4, 2022 does 

offer 100 percent grants without a 

matching requirement..

What are key steps when 

preparing to apply?

Prior to the release of the 

ReConnect Program FOA, RUS 

recommends that applicants:

• Register with SAM.gov or 

ensure your registration is 

current

• Prepare your resolution for 

the Authorized 

Representative Request 

(ARR) Process

• Begin compiling required 

documents outlined in the 

program regulation (7 CFR 

1740)

• Establish partnerships for 

successful project 

completion

• Meet with your GFR

• Ensure all users working on the 

application have a level 2 

eAuthentication (eAuth) ID

Can an entity receive funding to serve 

Tribal Lands without the consent of the 

Tribe?

No, a Tribal Government Resolution of 

Consent must be provided if a nontribal applicant is proposing service 

over or on tribal lands. Any applicant 

that fails to provide the Tribal 

Government Resolution of Consent will 

not be considered for funding.

Can Tribes self-certify whether

broadband service exists on their 

lands?

Yes, Tribal Governments are the 

official authority on whether tribal lands 

are served, unserved, or underserved 

by providers. RUS will work with Tribal 

Governments to determine whether 

tribal land is adequately served.

Can ReConnect funds be used for 

monitoring expenses associated 

with the National Historic 

Preservation Act (Section 106) 

review?

Yes, monitoring expenses are 

considered professional costs and are 

eligible to be funded using up to 3 

percent of the total award amount.
ReConnect Program – Tribal Fact Sheet

Type of Funding Available Total Funding and

Maximum Award Available

Key Funding Requirements

100 Percent Grant for Alaska Native 

Corporations, Tribal Governments, Colonias, 

Persistent Poverty Areas, and Socially 

Vulnerable Communities

• $421 million total funds available

• $25 million maximum award amount

• $35 million maximum, per project, if the

PFSA meets certain guidelines. Refer to

the FOA for details.

• Only available to entities and areas

defined in the FOA published on August

4, 2022.

• Competitive review based on scoring

criteria

• No Match Requirement

100 Percent Grant for Projects Serving Areas 

Where 90 percent of Households Lack 

Sufficient Access to Broadband

• $200 million total funds available

• $25 million maximum, per project

• Competitive review based on scoring

criteria

• No match Requirement

100 Percent Grant • $150 million total funds available

• $25 million maximum award amount

• $35 million maximum, per project, if the PFSA

meets certain guidelines. Refer to the FOA for

details.

• Competitive review based on scoring

criteria

• 25 percent Cash Match Requirement

Loan-Grant Combination (50-50) • $150 million total funds available

• $25 million maximum award amount for

the grant

• $25 million maximum award amount for the

loan

• Loan and grant amounts will always be equal

• Competitive review based on scoring

criteria.

• Interest Rate is set at U.S. Treasury Rate at

the time of each advance of funds

F

100 Percent Loan • $150 million total funds available

• $50 million maximum award amount

• Funds are awarded until exhausted on a

first- come, first-served basis

• Interest rate is fixed at 2 percent

NOTE: Because citations and other information may be subject to change, please always consult the program instructions 

listed in the Federal Register. You may also contact your General Field Representative for assistance.You will find

additional forms, resources, and program information at https://www.usda.gov/reconnect. USDA is anequal opportunity 

provider, employer, and lender.

Last Updated: August 2022