RUS Signals Launch of Next ReConnect Funding Round
Elmshaeuser says program remains central as federal broadband funding expands
WASHINGTON, April 27, 2026 – The Rural Utilities Service plans to launch a sixth round of its ReConnect broadband program “sooner than later,” Administrator Karl Elmshaeuser said Monday.
The ReConnect program provides federal loans and grants to expand broadband in rural areas. Elmshaeuser said it has remained “extremely successful,” citing stable rules and engagement with providers.
Elmshaeuser said the future of the Agriculture Department's rural broadband programs may depend on broader legislative developments, including the Farm Bill, which the House is expected to take up on Thursday. “I’m at the mercy of whatever happens,” he said.
