Denied ReConnect Grant Applicants Get a Second Chance at $100 Million Broadband Fund

The CARES Act, which addresses the economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, has allocated an additional $100 million towards the US Department of Agriculture ReConnect rural broadband funding program. USDA has announced that denied ReConnect grant applicants can now reapply for this new funding with priority access. The additional funding has been allocated as grants to rural broadband providers to “…prevent, prepare for, and respond to the coronavirus.” USDA is setting this $100 million aside, making it available until September 30, 2021. According to USDA, the agency will prioritize processing for ReConnect grant applicants that submitted 100% grant applications during the first round of the ReConnect program but were unsuccessful in winning the grant. The new application must be for the same territory identified in the original unsuccessful application. For the application to be eligible for priority processing, the round one application must have been unsuccessful due to there being limited access to broadband in the proposed service area.