Reconnect treas rate 50-50 loan-grant infrastructure invest and jobs act grant

The Department of Agriculture Rural Utilities Service awarded Oregon Telephone Corp $15.369 million on May 6, 2026, under the Rural eConnectivity Pilot Program (CFDA 10.752) to deploy fiber optic and ethernet infrastructure, procure networking equipment, and deliver retail broadband service to Mt. Vernon, Oregon residences, businesses, schools, libraries, and healthcare facilities. The award is structured as a 50-50 loan-grant combination under the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. Performance runs through May 6, 2028, at the Mt. Vernon, Oregon location. The Rural eConnectivity Pilot Program funds broadband deployment in rural areas lacking sufficient service access, defined at minimum as 25 megabits per second downstream and 3 megabits per second upstream. Grant and loan-grant combination applications are scored competitively based on rurality, number of farms and businesses served, healthcare and educational facility coverage, service performance, state broadband activity coordination, and tribal land presence. Awardees must maintain financial records under 7 CFR part 1770 and comply with 2 CFR 200.334 grant administration requirements. Fund advances are requested by the recipient and typically completed within five years subject to pre-award conditions and obtain-first requirements for other funding sources.