Community Connect Grant Program
Active
- Assistance listing
- 10.863
- Agency
-
Rural Utilities Service
Department of Agriculture
- Grant awards
- 238 $308,427,177 in federal obligations
Program facts
- Also known as
- Community Connect
- Assistance type
-
- Project Grant
- Treasury account
-
- 12-1232-0-1-452
- More information
Program details come from SAM.gov Assistance Listings. Updated . Grant award figures come from USAspending.gov.
About this program
The Department of Agriculture Rural Utilities Service is awarding grants to deploy broadband transmission service at speeds of 100 Mbps downstream and 20 Mbps upstream to rural communities lacking existing broadband service, under Assistance Listing 10.863, with the most recent award disbursed May 6, 2026.
The program funds the deployment of broadband infrastructure to connect critical community facilities, rural residents, and rural businesses in economically challenged areas, as well as the construction, acquisition, or expansion of community centers providing free broadband access for at least two years. All 238 grants in the portfolio are Project Grants. Combined federal dollars obligated total $308.4 million. Recent awards range from approximately $1 million to $5 million, with notable recent grants including $5 million awarded September 16, 2025, and $4.8 million awarded September 16, 2025.
Award activity has been cyclical. The program issued 28 awards in 2021, one in 2022, 19 in 2024, six in 2025, and one in 2026 so far. The portfolio spans from September 2007 to the present. Rural Utilities Service is the sole funding agency and has obligated all $308.4 million in federal dollars.
Eligible applicants include incorporated organizations, Indian tribes and tribal organizations, state or local governments, and other legal entities organized on for-profit or not-for-profit bases, including cooperatives and private corporations. Recipients typically have three years to obligate funds, with extensions available. Grants are awarded competitively, and funds may be advanced monthly or as needed to reimburse approved disbursements.
A grant opportunity (RDRUS-CC-2026) posted May 13, 2026, with a due date of June 29, 2026, solicited applications for broadband deployment in rural, economically-challenged areas lacking service. The same solicitation cycle was active for FY 2025 (posted January 13, 2025, due April 21, 2025) and FY 2023 (posted March 20, 2023, due February 20, 2024, with an extended deadline after a December 2023 correction notice addressing eligible service-area definitions under the 2018 Farm Bill).
Objective and description
- Objective
To encourage community-oriented connectivity by providing grants to eligible applicants who will deploy broadband transmission service in rural communities where such service does not currently exist; who will connect all critical community facilitie
Eligibility
- Applicant eligibility
To be eligible for a grant, the applicant must: (a) be legally organized as an incorporated organization, an Indian tribe or tribal organization, a state or local unit of government, or other legal entity, including cooperatives or private corporations or limited liability companies organized on a for profit or not-for profit basis, and (b) have the legal capacity and authority to own and operate the broadband facilities as proposed in its application, to enter into contracts and to otherwise comply with applicable federal statutes and regulations.
- Beneficiary eligibility
The people living in rural areas and to improve rural opportunities through the availability of access to high speed broadband networks.
- Credentials and documentation
See 7 CFR part 1739 for details.
- Uses of assistance
Grants will be made available, on a competitive basis, for the deployment of broadband services to critical community facilities, rural residents, and rural businesses and for the operation of a community center which would provide free access to broadband services to community residents for at least two years. See 7 CFR Part 1739 for details.
- Length and time phasing of assistance
Applicants generally have three years to spend funds. Extensions may be granted. See the following for information on how assistance is awarded/released: Funds may be advanced monthly or as needed to reimburse disbursements for approved grant purposes.
How to apply
- Preapplication coordination
To be eligible for a grant, the applicant must: (a) be legally organized as an incorporated organization, an Indian tribe or tribal organization, a state or local unit of government, or other legal entity, including cooperatives or private corporations or limited liability companies organized on a for profit or not-for profit basis, and (b) have the legal capacity and authority to own and operate the broadband facilities as proposed in its application, to enter into contracts and to otherwise comply with applicable federal statutes and regulations.
- Application procedure
Submit an application in accordance with 7 CFR 1739 and its accompanying application guide.
- Award procedure
Grants are awarded on a competitive basis to applicants receiving the highest number of points.
- Time to approval or disapproval
Applications are approved each fiscal year for which funding is made available.
Grant opportunities
| Opportunity | Status | Posted | Applications due |
|---|---|---|---|
| Community Connect Grant Program | Closed | ||
| Community Connect Grant Program | Closed | ||
| Community Connect Grant Program | Closed | ||
| Community Connect Grant Program | Closed | ||
| Community Connect Grant Program | Closed | ||
| Community Connect Grant Program | Closed | ||
| Community Connect Grant Program | Closed | ||
| Community Connect Grant Program | Closed | ||
| Community Connect Grant Program | Closed |
Grant awards
| Award | Recipient | Federal obligations | Awarded |
|---|---|---|---|
| Community connect grant | Fibercloud, Inc. | $2,272,640 | |
| Community connect grant | Choctaw Nation Of Oklahoma | $4,758,558 | |
| Community connect grant | Citizens Telephone Coop | $1,779,033 | |
| Community connect grant | West Kentucky Rural Telephone Cooperative Corp Inc. | $1,301,696 | |
| Community connect grant | Lovelock Highspeed | $1,811,076 | |
| Community connect grant | Wabash Telephone Cooperative Inc. | $5,000,000 | |
| Community connect grant | Custer Telephone Cooperative Inc. | $4,239,130 | |
| Community connect grant | Inter Mountain Cable, Inc. | $3,671,442 | |
| Community connect grant | Chibardun Telephone Cooperative, Inc. | $4,346,908 | |
| Community connect grant | Fibercloud, Inc. | $0 |
Latest 10 of 238 listed here. See the rest on GovTribe.
Top recipients by federal obligations
| Rank | Recipient | Federal obligations | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Scott County Telephone Cooperative | $20,386,279 | 7% |
| 2 | Pine Telephone Co Inc. | $14,314,386 | 5% |
| 3 | IGO Technology, Inc. | $9,390,549 | 3% |
| 4 | BEK Communications Cooperative | $8,103,084 | 3% |
| 5 | Public Utility District 1 Of Lewis County | $7,881,150 | 3% |
| 6 | Nexus Systems Inc. | $7,827,914 | 3% |
| 7 | Choctaw Nation Of Oklahoma | $7,746,408 | 3% |
| 8 | Fond DU Lac Reservation | $7,672,567 | 2% |
| 9 | Wabash Telephone Cooperative Inc. | $7,558,158 | 2% |
| 10 | West Kentucky Rural Telephone Cooperative Corp Inc. | $7,346,307 | 2% |
10 of 132 recipients listed here. See the rest on GovTribe.
Federal obligations by fiscal year
| Fiscal year | Federal obligations |
|---|---|
| FY2026 | $2,272,640 |
| FY2025 | $18,889,493 |
| FY2024 | $64,405,478 |
| FY2023 | $1,141,822 |
| FY2022 | $9,999,604 |
| FY2021 | $41,799,676 |
| FY2020 | $10,599,679 |
| FY2019 | $13,466,506 |
| FY2018 | $35,510,613 |
| FY2017 | $17,924,947 |
| FY2016 | $11,407,006 |
| FY2015 | $2,841,857 |
| FY2014 | $13,079,772 |
| FY2013 | $16,555,600 |
| FY2012 | $1,354,098 |
| FY2011 | $9,942,951 |
| FY2009 | $11,680,768 |
| FY2008 | $15,374,422 |
| FY2007 | $10,180,245 |
Show all 19
Quick answers
What is Assistance Listing 10.863?
Assistance Listing 10.863 is Community Connect Grant Program, a federal grant program run by Rural Utilities Service (Department of Agriculture).
What is the CFDA number for Community Connect Grant Program?
Its CFDA number is 10.863: Assistance Listing numbers were called CFDA numbers before 2018.
How much funding has Assistance Listing 10.863 awarded?
238 grant awards under 10.863 have obligated $308,427,177 in federal funds to 132 recipients.
Who receives the most funding from 10.863?
The recipients obligated the most under Community Connect Grant Program are Scott County Telephone Cooperative ($20,386,279), Pine Telephone Co Inc. ($14,314,386) and IGO Technology, Inc. ($9,390,549).
How much did 10.863 obligate in fiscal year 2025?
Grants under 10.863 obligated $18,889,493 in federal funds in fiscal year 2025.
Are there open grant opportunities under 10.863?
No opportunity listed under 10.863 is open now. The latest, Community Connect Grant Program, was posted on May 13, 2026.
On GovTribe
See this program's full record
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