The Community-Oriented Connectivity Broadband

Grant (“Community Connect”) Program provides grants

to eligible applicants to establish broadband service in

rural communities that are not currently served. The

grants are provided on a "community-oriented connectivity" basis, meaning that broadband transmission service funded through the program must foster economic

growth and deliver enhanced educational, health care,

and public safety services.

Grant Program Features

Grant applications are accepted annually through a

competitive process. The open season for applications

is announced each year, usually in January, through a

notice in the Federal Register. Applicants are required

to provide a minimum of 15 percent in matching funds.

Grant awards can range from a minimum of $50,000 up

to a maximum of $1 million.

Eligibility Information

Who Is Eligible for Assistance?

Entities that are legally organized as:

An incorporated organization;

An Indian Tribe or tribal organization;

A State or local unit of government;

A cooperative, private corporation, or limited liability

company organized on a for- or non-profit basis. 

Who Is Ineligible?

Individuals and partnerships are not eligible.

What Are the Basic Eligibility Requirements?

Applicants must:

Provide matching funds equal to 15 percent of the

requested grant amount;

Serve a rural area where broadband transmission

service does not exist;

Serve one and only one community recognized by

the U.S. Census Bureau or Rand McNally;

Deploy basic broadband transmission service free of

charge for 2 years to all critical community facilities;

Offer basic broadband transmission service to residential and business customers within the proposed

service area;

Provide a community center with at least 10

computer access points free of charge for 2 years.

What Are the Eligible Purposes for the Grant

Funds?

Construction, acquisition, or lease of facilities to

deploy broadband to all critical community facilities,

as well as residences and businesses in the proposed service area;

Improvement, expansion, construction, or acquisition

of a community center;

End-user equipment to carry out the project;

Operating expenses of up to $250,000 for the critical

community facility for the first 2 years;

Purchase of land, buildings, or building construction;

The open-season announcement may outline other

specific criteria and/or limitations on funding.

Elements of Scoring:

Rurality of the community: Up to 40 points

Median Household Income: Up to 30 points

Benefits derived: Up to 30 points

For More Information

For more information or to obtain an application packet,

visit the Community Connect Web site at

http://www.usda.gov/rus/telecom/commconnect.htm.

Or write to your local or State USDA Rural

Development office (see the U.S. Government listing in

your phone directory under U.S. Department of

Agriculture), or the National Office at: 

Community-Oriented Connectivity 

Broadband Grant Program

Rural Utilities Programs
USDA Rural Development

Broadband Division

U. S. Department of Agriculture

1400 Independence Ave., S.W., Room 2868,

So. Building

Mail STOP 1599

Washington, D.C. 20250-1599

Phone: (202) 690-4673 

Fax: (202) 690-4389 

PA 2013

May 2009

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination in all its programs and activities

on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability, and where applicable, sex, marital status,

familial status, parental status, religion, sexual orientation, genetic information, political beliefs,

reprisal, or because all or a part of an individual's

income is derived from any public assistance program. (Not all prohibited bases apply to all programs.) Persons with disabilities who require alternative means for communication of program information (braille, large print, audiotape, etc.) should

contact USDA's TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600

(voice and TDD).

To file a complaint of discrimination write to USDA,

Director, Office of Civil Rights, 1400 Independence

Avenue, S.W., Washington, D.C. 20250-9410 or

call (800) 795-3272 (voice) or (202) 720-6382

(TDD). USDA is an equal opportunity provider and

employer.