The Community Connect provides financial assistance to eligible applicants that will provide broadband service in rural, economically-challenged communities where service does not exist.
Key Documents
Eligible Uses
Rural areas that lack any existing broadband speed of at least 10 Mbps downstream and 1 Mbps upstream are eligible.
- The construction, acquisition, or leasing of facilities, spectrum, land or buildings used to deploy broadband service for:
- All residential and business customers located within the Proposed Funded Service Area (PFSA)
- All participating critical community facilities (such as public schools, fire stations, and public libraries)
- The cost of providing broadband service free of charge to the critical community facilities for 2 years.
- Less than 10% of the grant amount or up to $150,000 may be used for the improvement, expansion, construction or acquisition of a community center that provides online access to the public.
Match
Matching funds of at least 15% from non-federal sources are required and can be used for operating costs.
How to Apply
Applicants wishing to apply for a Community Connect broadband grant online can do so at https://rus-apply.rd.usda.gov. Your organization must have a DUNS number and complete the SAM registration process before submitting an application online.
Electronic applications will only be accepted when submitted through the Community Connect Grant Portal. Applications will not be accepted via facsimile machine transmission or electronic mail, and will no longer be accepted through Grants.gov.
Contact
General Field Representative for Georgia:
Andrew E. Hayes
andrew.hayes@usda.gov
Cell Phone: (770) 312-7073
States Covered: FL, GA, PR, SC, VI
Prior to official submission of applications, applicants may request technical assistance or other application guidance from the Agency. It is recommended requests be made prior to May 30, 2023. Requests made after this date will be handled as best RUS is able, but applicants should be aware RUS has finite capacity to assist and may not be able to fully address requests submitted after May 30, 2023