USDA Rural Development, Rural Utility Service

Distance Learning and Telemedicine Grant Program

Application Guide FY2026

Together, America Prospers

DISTANCE LEARNING & TELEMEDICINE PROGRAM

GRANT APPLICATION GUIDE

FISCAL YEAR 2026

RURAL UTILITIES SERVICE

RURAL DEVELOPMENT

UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

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The time required to complete this information collection is estimated to average 48 hours per response, including the time for reviewing instructions, searching existing data sources, gathering, and maintaining the data needed, and completing and reviewing the collection of information.

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(202) 720-2600 (TDD).

USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer, and lender.

Table of Contents

General Information

Additional Registration Requirements for all Applicants

Eligibility Requirements

Eligible Grant Purposes

Ineligible Grant Purposes

Grant Limits

Grant Review Process

Completing the Grant Application

A. Standard Form 424

B. Description of Project Sites

C. Executive Summary of the Project

D. Scoring Criteria Documentation

E. Matching Requirements

F. Scope of Work

G. Financial Information and Sustainability

I. Telecommunications System Plan

J. Compliance with other Federal Statutes – Single Signer Applications

J. Compliance with other Federal Statutes – Multiple Signer Applications

L. Environmental Impact and Historic Preservation

M. Consultation with USDA State Director(s)

N. Supplemental Information

Appendix A: Additional Information

Appendix B: Determining Rurality using the Census Website and DLT Map

Introduction and General Information

Distance Learning and Telemedicine Grant Program

General Information

Distance learning means an interactive telecommunications link to an end-user using eligible equipment to provide educational programs, instruction, or information originating in one area, whether rural or not, to students and teachers located in rural areas.

Telemedicine means an interactive, telecommunications link to an end-user using eligible equipment that electronically links medical professionals at separate sites to exchange health care information in audio, video, graphic, or other format for the purpose of providing improved health care services, primarily to residents of rural areas.

To review additional definitions related to this program, review the Distance Learning and Telemedicine Regulation, 7 CFR 1734, at www.ecfr.gov/current/title-7/subtitle-B/chapter-XVII/part-1734.

The Distance Learning and Telemedicine (DLT) Grant Program is specifically designed to assist rural communities in acquiring distance learning and telemedical technologies so that local teachers and medical service providers who serve rural residents can link to other teachers, medical professionals, and experts located at distances too far to access otherwise. Since 1994, the DLT Grant Program has helped to establish hundreds of distance learning and telemedicine systems improving quality of life for thousands of residents in rural communities across the United States.

IMPORTANT: BEFORE GETTING STARTED

All applicants must read:

7 CFR 1734, Subpart A and B

Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) published on the DLT Program Website.

DLT Program Website:

www.rd.usda.gov/programs-services/distance-learning-telemedicine-grants

The regulation MUST be used in conjunction with this Application Guide. Should any differences result in the interpretation of this Application Guide and the regulation, the regulation takes precedence.

http://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-7/subtitle-B/chapter-XVII/part-1734

For additional information concerning this grant program, please use the Contact Us form located at www.usda.gov/reconnect/contact-us and select “Distance Learning & Telemedicine” as the subject.

When and Where to Submit Application:

GRANT applications must be submitted through Grants.gov by 11:59 pm ET on

June 30, 2026

Applications must be submitted electronically on www.grants.gov. Applications will not be accepted on paper or by email.

Applicants may request technical assistance or other application guidance from the Agency if such requests are made prior to official submission of the application and at least 15 days prior to the due date listed in the NOFO. Technical assistance is not meant to be an analysis or assessment of the quality of the materials submitted, a substitute for agency review of completed applications, nor a determination of eligibility. The Agency will not solicit or consider scoring or eligibility information submitted after the application deadline; however, the Agency reserves the right to contact applicants to seek clarification on materials contained in the submitted application.

The Rural Utilities Service (RUS) strongly encourages applicants to obtain all necessary sign-ups, credentials, and authorizations well in advance of the deadline, including the required System for Award Management (SAM.gov) registration and Financial Assistance Representations and Certifications. Grants.gov requires one-time credentialing and online authentication procedures. These procedures may take several business days to complete.

Additionally, several requirements on Grants.gov and SAM.gov call for an annual update;

applicants should ensure that their credentials and authorizations are up to date.

The Grants.gov website, like all web facilities, has finite capacity. If several federal grant programs have the same application deadline date, users may experience periods of site overloading. Please plan accordingly.

Please follow the instructions on Grants.gov. If applicants experience a technical problem retrieving or submitting an electronic application, they should contact the Grants.gov customer support resources. While Rural Utilities Service staff are available to answer questions about the DLT program and the contents of an application; they are unable to assist with the Grants.gov system.

Grants.gov applications must be submitted by 11:59 pm Eastern Time on the closing date.

https://www.usda.gov/reconnect/contact-us https://www.grants.gov/ http://www.sam.gov/

Additional Registration Requirements for all Applicants

Unique Entity Identifier – As of April 2022, applicants must obtain a Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) to apply for federal contracts or financial assistance. Obtain your organization’s UEI when you create or update your SAM.gov entry. You can obtain your UEI at SAM.gov even if you have no updates to your SAM.gov record. If your organization is currently registered in SAM.gov with either an active or inactive registration, you have already been assigned a UEI.

Your UEI is viewable on your entity's registration record in SAM.gov. Note: The UEI must belong to the Applicant, not an affiliate, subsidiary, or parent company. Additionally, the name on the active registration in SAM.gov should be the entity’s legal name. If the name is different, please provide an explanation and have the name corrected in SAM.

SAM and Grants.gov Registration – Applicants must register in the System for Award Management (SAM) prior to registering in Grants.gov. Applicants must also make the certifications and representations required of entities that are applying for or have received funding under any federal financial assistance project or program (aka the “Financial Assistance Representations and Certifications”) to be eligible for a DLT grant. Please refer to SAM’s Quick Start Guide for Grant Registrations (tinyurl.com/SAMQuickGuideGrants) for more details.

Pages 30 and 31 of the guide discusses how to make the Financial Assistance Representations and Certifications. A SAM registration that lacks the Financial Assistance Representations and Certifications may cause an application to be deemed ineligible.

Registration in SAM is free of charge at www.sam.gov. Please keep in mind that it can take up to 15 business days to register as a new potential grantee with SAM, then an additional 24 hours for Grants.gov to recognize the SAM information. Applicants should plan accordingly and begin the process well in advance of the application deadline.

Throughout the RUS application review and the active Federal grant funding period, the SAM registration with Financial Assistance Representations and Certifications must be active with current data at all times. To maintain an active SAM registration, review and update the information in SAM annually from the date of initial registration or from the date of the last update. You must ensure that the information in the database is current, accurate, and complete.

If you have a current SAM registration but did not make the Financial Assistance Representations and Certifications at the time of initial registration or renewal, you should log into SAM and add the required representations and certifications before submitting a grant application. Note that it can take an additional 10 business days for SAM to recognize the update to the registration. Please check your SAM registration for accuracy prior to applying.

https://tinyurl.com/SAMQuickGuideGrants http://www.sam.gov/

Eligibility Requirements

Applicant Eligibility. To be eligible for a grant, an organization must:

1. Be legally organized as an incorporated organization, an Indian tribe or tribal organization, as defined in 25 U.S.C. 450b(b) and (c), a state or local unit of government, a consortium, or other legal entity, including a private corporation organized on a for-profit or not-for-profit basis. Each applicant must provide evidence of its legal capacity to contract with the Rural Utilities Service to obtain the grant and comply with all applicable requirements, in accordance with 7 CFR part 1734.4(a).

Consortium: A consortium is a combination or group of entities formed to undertake the purposes for which the distance learning and telemedicine financial assistance is being requested.

• Formal Consortium: If the applicant is a legally established consortium with the capacity to contract with the Federal Government, that organization can apply in the name of the formal consortium and be responsible for the project in its entirety.

• Informal Consortium: For purposes of the DLT program, Informal Consortium refers to multiple entities choosing to share grant responsibilities and asset ownership. One entity must serve as the fiscal agent and applicant, however, each entity must contract with RUS on its own behalf.

For DLT program purposes, informal consortium is not to be used to describe a group of entities having a single entity apply, bear all responsibility and own all equipment.

Unless the applicant explicitly requests multiple signers and provides all required eligibility information for additional entities, the application will be evaluated as if only one signer is intended, and the grant agreement will be prepared accordingly.

For additional assistance, please reach out to your RUS DLT General Field Representative (GFR). GFR names and contact information are shown by state on the map at www.rd.usda.gov/contact-us/telecom-gfr.

2. Either operate a rural community facility or deliver distance learning or telemedicine services to entities that operate a rural community facility or to residents of rural areas at rates calculated to ensure that the benefit of the financial assistance is passed through to such entities or to residents of rural areas.

Additional Notes:

Equipment vendors, manufacturers, system integrators, and other businesses whose purpose in the proposal is to sell equipment or technological services to support applicants cannot be the applicant or an affiliate of the applicant. If the grant writer http://www.rd.usda.gov/contact-us/telecom-gfr for the application is paid by an entity listed above the entity cannot participate in the project.

Similarly, if any of the entities listed above write the grant, they are prohibited from bidding on or participating in the grant project by the competition rules in 2 CFR 200.319.

Applicants must fully understand the procurement requirements of 2 CFR part 200 Subpart D (www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/subtitle-A/chapter-II/part-200/subpart-D) and the DLT regulations when compiling an application for submission. The use of predetermined equipment or equipment vendors violates the Program’s bidding requirements, unless it is adequately demonstrated in the application that no other equipment is available for the intended purpose.

Corporations that have been convicted of a federal felony within the past 24 months are not eligible. Any corporation that has been assessed to have any unpaid federal tax liability, for which all judicial and administrative remedies have been exhausted or have lapsed and is not being paid in a timely manner pursuant to an agreement with the authority responsible for collecting the tax liability, is not eligible for financial assistance.

Applicants are required to provide evidence of their ability to contract with RUS to obtain the grant and comply with all applicable requirements, in accordance with 7 CFR 1734.4(a). It is incumbent on applicants to determine the appropriate entity to apply for the grant. Entities created by educational or medical institutions for the purpose of applying for and managing grants, such as university or hospital foundations, should not be applicants unless they can own and manage grant-funded equipment as required by the Grant Agreement and applicable regulations, including 2 CFR Part 200. Accordingly, RUS will not transfer awards to another entity because the applicant later determined that it cannot close the award, execute the standard Grant Agreement, which is publicly available, or hold the grant assets in its name.

Matching Contribution: The grant applicant’s matching contribution must total at least 15 percent of the grant amount requested and be used for eligible grant purposes. See instructions under Section E for more information on the Matching Contribution.

Selection Process: Applications will be selected for approval based on the scoring of the application, availability of funds, and the provisions of § 1734.27. If an applicant submits an application for the same project more than once, the Agency will review only the last copy submitted. If an applicant submits more than one application for distinct projects, the application with the higher score will be reviewed for funding.

Regardless of the number of points an application receives, the Administrator may take any of the following actions:

http://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/subtitle-A/chapter-II/part-200/subpart-D

1. Limit the number of applications selected for projects located in any one State during a fiscal year

2. Limit the number of selected applications for a particular type of project

3. Select an application receiving fewer points than another higher scoring application if there are insufficient funds during a particular funding period to select the higher scoring application. In this case, however, the Administrator will provide the applicant of the higher scoring application the opportunity to reduce the amount of the grant request to the amount of funds available. If the applicant agrees to lower its grant request, it must certify that the purposes of the project can be met, and the Administrator must determine the project is financially feasible at the lower amount in accordance with § 1734.25(e). An applicant or multiple applicants affected under this paragraph will have the opportunity to be considered for loan financing in accordance with subparts C and D of this part.

Other Considerations:

Rural Areas: The intent of the DLT Program is to benefit rural areas (populations of 20,000 or less and not contiguous to urban areas > 50,000). Note that the definition of rural area does not include certain populations pursuant to 7 U.S.C. 1991(a)(13)(H) and (I) (www.govinfo.gov/link/uscode/7/1991).

Online Educational or Medical Services: Because this program is intended to fund end-user equipment at specifically identified sites, applications that propose to provide only web-based services which are universally available are ineligible. This type of project does not have a defined service area, and the beneficiaries can be located anywhere, including urban areas.

Eligible Grant Purposes

There are five categories of eligible purposes (7 CFR 1734.21, (a) - (e)):

1. Acquiring and installing, by lease or purchase, eligible equipment. If leased, the cost of the lease during the three-year life of the grant is eligible.

The following are examples of eligible equipment. This list is not exhaustive. Neither does it convey blanket eligibility. For example, a computer is not automatically eligible.

It must be used for an eligible purpose. The purpose of the DLT Grant program is to deliver education or medical care to end users at remote sites via telecommunications, not simply to furnish educational or medical technology.

• Computer hardware and software

• Interactive audio and video equipment

• Computer networking components

• Telecommunications terminal equipment

• Data terminal equipment http://www.govinfo.gov/link/uscode/7/1991

• Inside wiring

• Cyber security software directly related to the funded project

• Patient monitoring equipment with interactive capabilities

• Headsets, including virtual reality headsets, when they are essential for delivering medical care or education (quantity limited to the number of end-user devices purchased)

• Protective items that will be for end-user equipment including tablet covers, secure storage, equipment cases for portable equipment, etc., are also eligible.

• Devices that will transmit images to a hub for reading or diagnosis

• Training simulators, including smart manikins

• Video conferencing platform licenses directly related to the funded project

Note: The cost of the license must not exceed ten percent of the requested grant amount, and the duration of the license is limited to three years from the date funds are made available. Video conferencing platform licenses must also be new, and the number of video conferencing platform licenses requested may not exceed the number of end-user devices requested in the application

2. Purchases of extended warranties, site licenses, and maintenance contracts, for a period not to exceed 3 years from installation date, provided that such purchases are in support of eligible equipment included in the project and made concurrently.

3. Acquiring or developing instructional programming that is a capital asset, including the purchase or lease of instructional programming already on the market. Instructional programming and course material for teaching (including teaching components such as robots, drones, etc.) are eligible. Note: Renewals of instructional programming are not eligible nor is classroom equipment (such as laboratory equipment). Also, expenses such as those for tuition, fees for coursework on a per course basis, or fees for cultural events or virtual field trips are not capital assets and therefore, are not eligible. Additionally, salaries, benefits, and overhead of medical, educational, or any personnel employed by the applicant shall not be included. The funded development and acquisition of instructional programming must be done through an independent third party and may not be performed using the applicant's employees.

4. Providing technical assistance and instruction for using eligible equipment, including any related software, developing instructional programming for equipment use, and providing engineering or environmental studies relating to the establishment or expansion of the phase of the project to be financed with the grant. The costs for this category cannot exceed 10% of the grant amount requested.

5. Purchasing and installing broadband facilities. This purpose is limited to a maximum of 20% of the requested grant amount. All broadband facilities must be owned by the applicant and must be used for providing distance learning or telemedicine services.

Ineligible Grant Purposes

The following purposes are considered ineligible grant purposes (see 7 CFR 1734.23):

• To pay for medical or educational equipment not having telemedicine or distance learning as its essential function, including telephone systems

• To pay for Electronic Medical Records (EMR) systems

• To pay salaries, wages, or employee benefits to medical or educational personnel

• To pay for the salaries or administrative expenses of the applicant or the project

• To purchase equipment that will be owned by the local exchange carrier or another telecommunications service provider unless that service provider is the applicant

• To duplicate facilities providing distance learning or telemedicine services in place or to reimburse the applicant or others for costs incurred prior to RUS' receipt of the completed application

• To pay costs of preparing the application package for financial assistance under this program

• For projects whose sole objective is to provide links between teachers and students or between medical professionals who are located at the same facility or campus environment

• For site development and the destruction or alteration of buildings

• For the purchase of land, buildings, or building construction

• For projects located in areas covered by the Coastal Barrier Resources Act (16

U.S.C. 3501 et seq.)

• For any purpose that the Administrator has not specifically approved

• Except for leases provided for in §1734.21, to pay the cost of recurring or operating expenses for the project, including but not limited to broadband connection fees

• For any other purposes not specifically contained in §1734.21, including:

o To pay for computer software for general use including operating systems, scheduling software, records retention software, etc.

o To pay for disposable items including electrode strips, diabetic test strips, alcohol pads, lancets, masks, gloves, etc., unless these items are included with the purchase of eligible equipment o To pay for furniture including desks, lecterns, or specialty furniture even if they are to be used with eligible grant equipment o To pay for general office equipment including printers, telephone systems, etc.

o To pay for miscellaneous items including black-out curtains, specialty lighting, and tripods o To pay for service agreements that are considered administrative expenses including educational services, medical services, network monitoring, project monitoring/management, scheduling, etc. Note: Service agreements for equipment installation remain eligible.

o To pay for vehicles

Grant Limits

The minimum Grant amount which can be requested is $50,000.

The maximum Grant amount which can be requested is $750,000.

Grant Review Process

1. Grant Receipt: Completed applications must be submitted through www.grants.gov by the specified submission date to be considered for review and funding.

2. Incomplete Applications: Incomplete applications will not be considered for funding review.

3. Scoring: All complete applications will be scored in accordance with the criteria set forth in the Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO), this guide, on the program website, and on the Grants.gov website.

4. Ineligible Applications: Applications deemed ineligible will not be reviewed; however, the applicant will be notified in writing regarding application deficiencies.

5. Appeals: Only RUS Telecommunications and Electric Borrowers may appeal the decision of a rejected application. Any such appeal must be made, in writing, within 10 days after the applicant is notified of the determination to deny the application.

6. Legal Documents: All grantees will be required to execute a standard DLT Grant

Agreement. A standard form of this agreement can be found on the DLT website under the “To Apply” tab at:

www.rd.usda.gov/programs-services/distance-learning-telemedicine-grants

Completing the Grant Application This section addresses all the information that must be submitted for an application to be deemed complete and to be considered for funding. Please ensure all necessary information is included in the appropriate section. All forms and certifications are included on the DLT website, shown in Appendix A of this Guide, or are available through Grants.gov or SAM.gov.

A. Standard Form 424 B. Description of Project Sites C. Executive Summary of the Project http://www.grants.gov/ http://www.rd.usda.gov/programs-services/distance-learning-telemedicine-grants

D. Scoring Criteria Documentation (Rurality, Economic Need, and Service Needs and Benefits)

E. Matching Requirements F. Scope of Work G. Financial Information and Sustainability H. Statement of Experience I. Telecommunications System Plan J. Compliance with other Federal Statutes K. Evidence of Legal Existence and Authority to Contract with the Federal Government L. Environmental Impact and Historic Preservation M. Consultation with USDA State Director N. Supplemental Information

A. Standard Form 424

The SF-424, also referred to as the Application for Federal Assistance Form, is provided by Grants.gov as a required form. It is crucial that you use the legal name of the entity applying for the grant on the SF-424. All other application components must be uploaded with the SF-424 Block 15 “Add Attachments” Button in Grants.gov. See Appendix A for additional guidance on completing the SF-424 and Attachments.

B. Description of Project Sites

Pursuant to the DLT regulation, 7 CFR 1734.25 (b)(7) and (9), applicants are required to include in the application a description of the participating hubs, end-users, and hub/end user sites, the number of rural residents that will be served by the project at each end-user and hub/end-user site, and a listing of the location of each end-user and hub/end user site (city, town, village, borough, or rural areas), as well as the State. A Sample Description of Project Sites is available on the DLT website to guide applicants through what information should be provided as part of a complete application. Be sure to list all locations to receive grant-funded equipment or function as a critical part of the proposed project. Please use the following definitions when distinguishing a site as a hub, end-user, or hub/end-user site. These designations should be used consistently throughout the application.

Hub Sites: A hub site is a facility that is part of a network or telecommunications system that provides educational or medical services to end-user or hub/end-user sites. A pure hub receives no end-user benefits. The site is usually a connection management point or is exclusively an educational or medical source of distance learning or telemedicine.

End-User Site: An end-user site is a facility that is part of a network or telecommunications system that is utilized by end-users. For a site to be included as an end-user site for scoring purposes, the applicant must demonstrate equipment purchased will be installed or placed at the site and the site will only receive benefits or services from other networked sites.

Hub/End-User Site: A hub/end-user site performs both functions; a hub which also accommodates end-users.

Hub (proxy) serving End-user: This site is the hub site that provides service or content to a non-fixed end-user or mobile facility. This site should only be selected if the project is a Non-fixed or Hybrid project.

Non-Fixed End-User Sites: If equipment funded by the grant will be used in rural residents' homes or in mobile facilities, the project will be deemed a non-fixed end-user site application, since the end-user sites will change constantly. The location of the hub site that serves the non-fixed end-user sites will serve as a proxy for the addresses of the end-users. It is important to note that if all hubs for all non-fixed end-user sites are located in non-rural areas, the project will be ineligible. If the project includes both non-fixed and fixed end-user sites, it will be described as a Hybrid application. Note: the addresses of individual homes of prospective students or patients for non-fixed project should not be provided on the Description of Project Sites. These addresses will not be used for scoring purposes, and such personally identifiable information should not be included in the application.

Congressional district information to be included in the Description of Project Sites can be found on the DLT mapping tool located here: tinyurl.com/4nuttju3. Further guidance on navigating the US Census website and DLT map is available in Appendix B.

C. Executive Summary of the Project

The Executive Summary gives reviewers their first overall view of the project, the problems residents face (e.g., substance use disorder, workforce shortage, lack of educational opportunities, etc.), and how the proposed project will address those problems (e.g., adult education, STEM initiatives, telehealth, etc.). This is the applicant's opportunity to discuss the core aspects of the project. It may contain a concise description of the project, including:

1. A description of why the project is needed.

2. An explanation of how the applicant will address the need(s) cited, why the applicant requires financial assistance, the types of education or medical services to be offered by the projects, and the benefits to rural residents.

3. A description of the applicant, documenting eligibility.

4. An explanation of the total project cost including a breakdown of the grant required and the source of matching contribution and other financial assistance for the remainder of the project.

5. A statement specifying whether the project is either a distance learning OR telemedicine facility, as defined in § 1734.3. If the project provides both distance learning and telemedicine services, the applicant must identify the predominant use of the system.

6. A general overview of the telecommunications system to be developed, including the types of equipment, technologies, and facilities used.

7. A description of the participating hub, end/user, and hub/end-user site(s) with detail explaining where site(s) content or services will originate and to where it will be delivered, and how sites labeled as hub/end-users will fulfill both roles. Describe the number of rural residents that will be served by the project at each end-user and hub/end-user site and the source used to obtain the number of residents served.

8. A certification by the applicant that facilities to be constructed with the grant do not duplicate adequate established telemedicine or distance learning services. To complete https://tinyurl.com/4nuttju3 the Non-duplication of Services Certificate, select the appropriate box on item J-4 of the DLT Application Checklist. This form is provided in Appendix A.

9. A listing of the location of each end-user site and hub/end-user site (city, town, village, borough, or rural areas), as well as the State.

At the end of the Executive Summary, please provide a section titled “Publicly Releasable Project Description” that contains the following information:

1. Title of the Project

2. Description of the proposed end-user and hub/end-user site(s)

3. A brief description of project

4. Total estimated number of rural residents to benefit from the proposed project and how you arrived at this number (the number included here should be consistent with associated column on project site worksheet.)

The description does not need to be lengthy but should be informative.

Example 1: Distance Learning

This USDA Rural Development investment will provide distance learning to [number of rural residents benefitting] located throughout [County name(s)] in [State]. [Title of individual(s) providing DL (example: instructors)] located at [hub site name] will provide [type of content (example: STEAM, advance prep)] to [number of end user sites] utilizing [detail of the type of equipment being requested]. This project will [outline one benefit of project]

Example 2: Telemedicine

This USDA Rural Development investment will provide Telemedicine to [number of rural residents benefiting] located throughout [County name(s)] in [State]. [Title of individual(s) providing TM (example: medical professionals)] located at [hub site name] will provide [type of medical care (example: mental health care, tele-dentistry, nephrology, dermatology)] to [number of end user sites] utilizing [detail of the type of equipment being requested]. This project will [outline one benefit of project]

Publicly releasable descriptions of past awards can be found on the DLT website.

D. Scoring Criteria Documentation

The DLT Grant Program is a competitive program. Applications are scored in objective and subjective categories. The table below lists each DLT category, and the maximum points available.

Objective Criteria

D-1 Rurality: This category is based on the latest Census population data.

(up to 40 points)

D-2 Economic Need: This category is based on poverty data from the U.S.

(up to 30 points) Census Bureau’s Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates

(SAIPE) Program.

Subjective Criteria

D-3 Need for Services and This category evaluates the specific needs for the

Project Benefits: technology in the proposed service territory, how the (up to 30 points) proposed project will address those needs and benefit the residents of the area affected, and the community involvement in the planning and implementation of the project. The applicant must explain how the project proposes to address these needs and why the project cannot be completed without a grant.

D-1 Rurality – Up to 40 Points

The Rurality score is based on the population size of each community where an end-user site is located and the proximity of urban areas to the site. For non-fixed end-user site projects and projects which contain non-fixed components, the Rurality score will be based on the population and the proximity of urban areas to the Hub site. Applicants should use Census population data from the Census Website (Appendix B) that cites the 2020 Decennial Census as its source for population statistics. The determination of the proximity of urban areas should be made using the DLT mapping tool (tinyurl.com/4nuttju3) (Appendix B), which is also based on the 2020 Decennial Census.

To guide applicants in calculating the Rurality score, the Agency is providing a sample Rurality Calculation Worksheet. The FY2026 DLT Sample Worksheet is included on the DLT website under the “To Apply” tab at:

www.rd.usda.gov/programs-services/distance-learning-telemedicine-grants.

Include the population statistics and rurality calculations for all sites, including those designated as (pure) hubs. Use the definitions in Completing the Grant Application, B. Description of Project Sites, for assistance in designating the type of site:

The following classifications define the various population levels determining the Rurality score.

EXCEPTIONALLY RURAL AREA – 5,000 and under: 40 Points. Any area of the U.S.

not included within the boundaries of any incorporated or unincorporated city, village, or borough having a population more than 5,000 inhabitants and not contiguous to a city or town having a population more than 50,000 inhabitants.

RURAL AREA – 5,001-10,000: 30 Points. Any area of the U.S. included within the boundaries of any incorporated or unincorporated city, village, or borough having a population over 5,000 and not more than 10,000 inhabitants and not contiguous to a city or town having a population more than 50,000 inhabitants.

MID-RURAL AREA – 10,001-20,000: 20 Points. Any area of the U.S. included within the boundaries of any incorporated or unincorporated city, village, or borough having a population over 10,000 and not more than 20,000 inhabitants and not contiguous to a city or town having a population more than 50,000 inhabitants.

URBAN AREA - Over 20,000: 0 Points. Any area of the U.S. included within the boundaries of any incorporated or unincorporated city, village, or borough having a population more than 20,000 inhabitants and not contiguous to a city or town having a population more than 50,000 inhabitants.

Applicants may use the Sample Rurality Calculation Worksheet to enter: 1) the name given to the site; 2) the town, city, or Census Designated Place where the site is located; 3) the 2020 Census population of the town, city or Census Designated Place; 4) whether or not the site is contiguous to a city or town with population > 50,000; 5) the name and population of the adjacent urban city or town (if any); and 6) the Rurality score (as derived from the Scoring Table).

Although pure hubs are not included in the calculation, except in the case of non-fixed end-user applications and hybrid applications, information on pure hubs should be included. The Agency will need this data to recalculate the score if there appears to be end-user beneficiaries at the site.

Place the sites in the same order and use the same naming convention as used in Completing the Grant Application B. Description of Project Sites. The numbering and naming convention of sites should be consistent throughout the application.

If an end-user site is not within the boundaries of a known place identified in the 2020 Census, there is a possibility that the community is so rural that it is not associated with any Census-recognized community. If this is the case, the location would be considered by the RUS DLT Program as ‘Census Rural’ and be reported as an “Exceptionally Rural Area" (unless it is contiguous to a city or town with population > 50,000).

To determine if a site lies in an incorporated or unincorporated city, village, or borough having a population more than 20,000 inhabitants or contiguous to a city or town having a population more than 50,000 inhabitants, applicants should check the site address, using the DLT mapping tool (tinyurl.com/4nuttju3).

Combining Individual Scores for an Overall Rurality Score

After all the sites and corresponding populations have been entered on a Rurality Calculation Worksheet, calculate the estimated score by taking the average of the scores for sites designated as end-users or hub/end-users. Do not include pure hubs in the calculation. Exception: Non-fixed end-user applications should use the hub sites in the calculation. Hybrid Projects also use hub sites for the non-fixed portion of the service area.

Rounding: Scores should be shown with their decimals rounded to 2 decimal places (i.e., 20.321 rounds to 20.32 and 20.326 rounds to 20.33).

D-2 Economic Need – Up to 30 Points

The Economic Need score will be used to evaluate the relative financial need of the applicant, community, and project, and is based on the county poverty percentage of the end-user sites proposed in the application. The percentages must be determined by utilizing the U.S. Census Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates (SAIPE) Program. Applicants can use the spreadsheet with current SAIPE county-level data, which has been posted to the DLT website under the “To Apply” tab at www.rd.usda.gov/programs-services/distance-learning-telemedicine-grants, to look up SAIPE data (released December 2024). In the provided SAIPE data file, the relevant U.S. Census Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates data is provided in column H of the spreadsheet. End-user sites located in geographic areas for which no SAIPE data exist will be determined to have an average SAIPE poverty percentage of 30 percent. Such geographic areas may include territories of the United States or other locations eligible for funding through the DLT Grant Program.

All applicants are required to provide the applicable SAIPE poverty percentage based on the counties where the hub, end-user, and hub/end-user sites (as defined in §1734.3) are located.

To guide applicants in determining the Economic Need score of their project, the Agency is providing a sample Economic Need Calculation Worksheet. The FY2026 DLT Sample Worksheet is included on the DLT website under the “To Apply” tab at:

www.rd.usda.gov/programs-services/distance-learning-telemedicine-grants.

The Economic Need score is based on SAIPE data for the county where the end-user and hub/ end-user sites are located. Exception: Non-fixed end-user applications should use the hub sites in the calculation. Hybrid Projects also use hub sites for the non-fixed portion of the service area.

The SAIPE data used is from the column “poverty percentage, all ages.”

Determining the Economic Need Score:

The project Economic Need Score percentage will be determined by the average of the scores for all end-user and hub/end-user sites. The sites will receive points as follows:

County poverty percentage > 30 percent - 30 points County poverty percentage > 20 percent but < 30 percent - 20 points County poverty percentage > 10 percent but < 20 percent - 10 points County poverty percentage < 10 percent - 0 points

Combining Individual Scores for an Overall Economic Need Score

After all the sites and corresponding populations have been obtained, calculate the estimated score by taking the average of the scores for sites designated as end-users and hub/end-users. Do not include pure hubs in the calculation. Exception: Non-fixed end-user applications should use the hub sites in the calculation. Hybrid Projects also use hub sites for the non-fixed portion of the service area.

Rounding: Scores should be shown with their decimals rounded to 2 decimal places (i.e., 12.487 rounds to 12.49).

D-3 Service Needs and Benefits – Up to 30 Points

The Service Needs and Benefits criteria measure the extent to which the proposed project meets the need for distance learning or telemedicine services in rural areas. The criteria also evaluate benefits derived from the services proposed by the project, as well as local community involvement in planning, implementing, and providing financial assistance to the project.

Additionally, the extent to which the application documents these local economic, education, or health care challenges will be evaluated.

Need for Services

To receive these points, applicants must clearly state the economic, geographic, educational, or health care challenges facing the project’s respective communities and provide any documentation that demonstrates the challenge. Applicants must use verifiable data and statistics to substantiate and quantify these challenges. Additionally, the application should address why the applicant cannot afford the project without a grant.

Applicants should include documentation of support for the project from professionals in the educational or health care fields. The professional opinion(s) should be as specific as possible regarding the situation and the proposed project. Applicants must also substantiate the underserved educational or health care nature of the project’s proposed service area, as well as demonstrate demand by rural residents and other beneficiaries for the educational or medical services that the project would provide. Applicants must show that the project is designed to meet local community needs.

Please note, any economic data used in this section should not be duplicative of the data used for the D-2 Economic Need scoring criterion. Applicants should only submit economic data in this section if the economic data for the county used in D-2 Economic Need does not truly capture the economic condition of the end-user site locations.

Benefits Derived from Services

In addition to documenting the need for services, applicants should describe how the project would assist the community in solving these challenges. Applicants must document the specific benefits of the project and quantify them in terms of expected outcomes. Applicants must tie the benefits of the project DIRECTLY to the stated needs the project is intended to address and provide measurable targets or goals such as estimates of the number of people that will benefit from the project.

Local community involvement in planning, implementing, and financial assistance of the project.

Applicants should address the participation by local residents and organizations in planning and developing the project and include evidence of this participation in the application. Examples of evidence of community involvement include community meetings, public forums, and surveys.

Willingness of local end-users or community-based organizations to contribute to the costs of completing, operating, or maintaining the project is a strong indication of community support.

Documentation of support includes, but is not limited to, letters of financial and non-financial commitment towards the project from local organizations.

Examples

For a distance learning project that serves secondary schools, provide the number of schools and students that will benefit. Document all other benefits provided by the project with quantifiable goals, such as:

• four-year foreign language availability up from 300 to 1,200 students

• AP chemistry offered for first time to entire district

• expanded educational facility use, such as evening vocational training

• a reduction in the rate of high school dropouts from 17% to 12%

For a telemedicine project that serves a group of hospitals, provide the number of health care facilities and the number of patients expected to benefit. The applicant should also document all other benefits provided by the project, such as:

• Time and monetary savings to the community from telemedicine diagnoses

• Four doctors retained in the community or medical staff trained

• Lives saved due to prompt medical diagnoses Document any ancillary benefits or multiple uses that would create added value in the rural communities that the project will serve. Examples include training, information resources, library assets, adult education, lifetime learning, and job creation. If applicable, address particular community problems such as out-migration and the extent to which the project would reduce or prevent population loss.

E. Matching Requirements

The grant applicant’s minimum matching contribution must equal 15% of the grant amount requested. Matching contributions generally must be in the form of cash, however, in-kind contributions solely for the purposes listed in §1734.21 may be substituted for cash and appropriately identified in the in-kind section of the line-item budget.

• To guide applicants in calculating the match, the Agency is providing a sample Match

Calculation Worksheet. The FY2026 DLT Sample Worksheet is included on the DLT website under the “To Apply” tab at:

www.rd.usda.gov/programs-services/distance-learning-telemedicine-grants.

Additionally, documentation submitted in support of the application should reflect all financial support for the project as required by §1734.22. The applicant must provide evidence, from authorized representatives of the sources, of a commitment that the funds are available and will be used for the project. Each match entry on the Match Calculation Documentation must be supported by a signed letter from the entity proposing the match, unless the match is being provided by the applicant.

Special Matching Provisions for American Samoa, Guam, the Virgin Islands, and the Northern Mariana Islands. Under Federal law, applications from these areas are exempt from matching requirements up to $200,000. The maximum DLT Grant in FY 2026 is $750,000 and the required minimum match is 15%, or $112,500. This means that for the FY 2026 DLT Grant Program, these areas are not required to provide a minimum match.

Eligible purposes for in-kind matching funds are identical to eligible purposes for a DLT grant.

For a line item identified as in-kind to be eligible for match funding, the application must demonstrate all of the following:

1. The match is used for eligible purposes.

2. None of the use is to benefit sites not shown in the scoring.

3. The predominant purpose (over 50% of use) of that line item is for purposes which meet the DLT grant definition of distance learning or telemedicine.

If any part of an in-kind line item is for ineligible purposes, the line item cannot be budgeted for match. To be eligible, items proposed as match must be integral to the project in the same way as items the applicant proposes to obtain with the grant. The technology purchased with DLT grant monies or credited as in-kind match items are intended to build distance learning or telemedicine systems that would not otherwise be financially possible if not for the grant.

Federal funds are not eligible as matching funds, unless specifically authorized otherwise by Federal statute providing such funds. The application must include documentation of the statutory authority to use the federal funds for matching. NOTE:

E-rate funds are federal funds and cannot be applied as matching funds to a DLT project.

Additionally, funds sourced from future revenue are not eligible as matching funds.

Special Matching Provisions for projects located in eligible counties in Appalachia. If counties in the proposed project are any of the counties eligible under this provision, Appalachian Regional Commission ("ARC") funds may be used as a matching contribution.

Please see www.arc.gov for a list of eligible counties. Applying ARC funds as a match requires coordination with ARC State Program Managers and States in the Region. See the ARC Members, Partners, and Staff link also at www.arc.gov for ARC State Program Managers contact information. DLT applicants considering an ARC match are strongly encouraged to contact their ARC State Program Managers early in the process to explore the feasibility of an ARC grant.

Use of non-Federal Grants as Matching Funds: To document the match, include a copy of the announcement letter from the grantor.