Reconnect 100% grant infrastructure investments and jobs act

The Department of Agriculture Rural Utilities Service awarded South Central Utah Telephone Association, Inc. a Project Grant of $3,485,976 on May 6, 2026, under the Rural eConnectivity Pilot Program (CFDA 10.752) to expand broadband service to rural areas.

The award funds broadband infrastructure deployment in Escalante, Utah, with a period of performance through May 6, 2028. The ReConnect Program provides loans, grants, and loan/grant combinations to facilitate broadband access in rural areas lacking sufficient service, defined as a minimum of 25 Mbps downstream and 3 Mbps upstream. Grant and loan/grant combination applications are scored competitively based on rurality of the service area, the number of farms, businesses, healthcare, educational, and critical community facilities served, performance of the offered service, state broadband activities, and presence of tribal lands.

South Central Utah Telephone Association, Inc., doing business as SC Broadband, is the recipient organization and the ultimate recipient of the funds. Fund advances are requested by the awardee and made subject to agency requirements, with provision normally made for advances to be completed within five years.