Broadband Technical Assistance

The Rural Utilities Service (RUS), an agency of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), is seeking applications for the Broadband Technical Assistance (BTA) cooperative agreement program in Fiscal Year 2024. This funding opportunity will provide competitive grants to eligible entities, including small businesses, tribal organizations, nonprofits, and government entities, to receive or deliver broadband technical assistance and training. Eligible activities include feasibility studies, network designs, and development of broadband financial assistance applications, with the goal of promoting the expansion of broadband into rural areas. Applications will be evaluated based on criteria such as the project work plan, organizational capacity, rurality, economic need, and performance measures. The deadline for submitting applications is August 20, 2024.

Approximately $25 million in BTA funding is available, with a minimum award of $50,000 and a maximum of $1 million depending on the funding category. The BTA program is part of the USDA's broader Rural eConnectivity Pilot Program, which provides loans, grants, and loan/grant combinations to support broadband infrastructure and service deployment in rural, underserved areas across the United States.