USDA ReConnect Loan and Grant Program
USDA Rural Utilities Service (RUS)
Varies by round
Build rural broadband, win federal grants
ReConnect provides loans, grants, and loan-grant combinations to fund the construction, improvement, and acquisition of broadband infrastructure in rural areas currently lacking sufficient access. For-profit corporations, LLCs, cooperatives, and mutual organizations are eligible to apply. Minimum 100 Mbps symmetrical service requirement in all service areas. No active round open as of mid-2026 — Round 5 closed May 2024; Round 6 not yet announced.
- Funding type
- Grant
- Level
- Federal
- Amount
- Award amounts vary significantly by round: loans up to $25M (100% federal loan), 50/50 loan-grant combinations, or grants only (75% or 100% grant). Total ReConnect program funded at approximately $50M for FY2026. Prior rounds (IRA-funded) awarded $100M+ to individual projects.
- Realistic amount
- Most Round 5 awards ranged from $2M to $100M+ per project depending on service area size and infrastructure costs. Avera…
- Deadline
- No active round — Round 5 closed May 2024; Round 6 not yet announced as of May 2026
- Status
- between-intakes
- States
- Nationwide
- Payment model
- advance
Who qualifies
- For-profit corporations, LLCs, limited liability partnerships, cooperatives, mutual organizations, Indian tribes, state and local governments
- Must serve a proposed service area where at least 90% of households currently lack access to sufficient broadband (25 Mbps/3 Mbps for some grant tiers; 100 Mbps symmetrical for full grant eligibility)
- Must propose to deploy broadband providing a minimum 100 Mbps symmetrical speed throughout the entire proposed service area
- Proposed service area must be in a rural area (defined by USDA as a place with fewer than 20,000 inhabitants not in an urbanized area)
- Individuals and general partnerships formed with individuals are NOT eligible
- Must demonstrate financial and technical capacity to construct and operate the proposed broadband network
Hard requirements
- Must be incorporated
- Rural location required
What it covers
Eligible expenses
- Construction, improvement, or acquisition of broadband infrastructure (fiber, fixed wireless, satellite — subject to eligibility rules)
- Equipment: routers, switches, towers, headend equipment, customer premises equipment
- Engineering and design costs for the broadband network
- Land acquisition directly related to tower or facility placement
- Working capital for the first 3 years of network operations (for grant recipients)
- Pre-application and application preparation costs (limited)
Ineligible expenses
- Areas that already have adequate broadband service
- Consumer devices (personal computers, tablets, smartphones)
- Activities outside the proposed service area
- Lobbying
How to apply
-
1
Monitor for next round announcement
No active round open as of mid-2026. Subscribe to USDA Rural Development email lists and check rd.usda.gov. When a new round is announced, a Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) will specify award types (loan, 50/50, grant), total funding, and service area requirements.
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2
Identify eligible service area and map existing broadband
Use the USDA ReConnect mapping tool and FCC broadband data to identify rural areas within your footprint that qualify. The service area must have at least 90% of locations unserved or underserved. Prepare a detailed service area map as part of your application package.
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3
Register in SAM.gov and prepare financial/technical documentation
Ensure SAM.gov registration is active. Prepare: audited financial statements, network engineering plans, cost projections, speed/capacity commitments, and evidence of organizational capacity to build and operate the network. Applications require extensive technical documentation.
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4
Submit via ReConnect Application Portal
Submit via reconnect.usda.gov within the round's application window. Applications are scored and ranked. Award announcements typically come 6–12 months after round close. Projects awarded must begin construction within specified timeframes.
Industry & certifications
NAICS codes: 517311, 517312, 517919
ReConnect applications require months of preparation — network engineering plans, service area mapping, and financial audits. Start preparing 6+ months before a new round opens. Smaller rural cooperatives have historically won more rounds than large telcos.
Deadline & timing
ReConnect opens in competitive rounds with 60–90 day application windows. Round 5 (the most recent) closed May 2024. Round 6 has not been announced. FY2026 appropriation is approximately $50M (compared to billions in prior IRA-funded rounds). Monitor rd.usda.gov for new round announcements. Subscribe to USDA RUS email updates.
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Last reviewed 2026. GrantCompass is an independent funding-discovery tool and is not affiliated with any government agency. Always confirm details on the official program page.