The Rural eConnectivity Program

The Rural eConnectivity Program is a federal grant opportunity issued by the United States Department of Agriculture Rural Housing Service and Rural Utilities Services. It seeks applications from various entity types to facilitate broadband deployment in rural areas lacking sufficient access. Applicants must submit through the RUS online application system between March 22nd and the deadline of May 21st, 2024. Key priorities for funding include assisting rural economic recovery, ensuring equitable rural resident access to programs and benefits, and increasing climate change resilience and reducing pollution.

Awards will be in the form of loans, grants or loan/grant combinations to support broadband infrastructure projects through the Rural eConnectivity Pilot Program. Expected places of performance will be rural localities across the United States within the scope of expanding broadband services and connectivity to unserved and underserved agricultural and community development regions.