Funding
USDA's ReConnect Program Accepting Applications
The fifth round of funding makes $700 million available for rural broadband.
What's New
Planting Crops, and Weeding Regulations, with AI and Agriculture
It's a time of changing seasons in Washington, and in Rural America.
Funding
What's In the FY 2025 Budget for Broadband and Technology
The fiscal year 2025 budget has funds for broadband expansion, tech innovation and digital equity.
Funding
More Changes Unveiled for Round 5 of the ReConnect Program
Key revisions to this new round of ReConnect include awarding priority points to applications from states with the highest concentrations of unserved locations.
Funding
USDA Extends ReConnect Round 5 Application Deadline
If fully utilized, the fifth round ReConnect funding will amount to $700 million.
Funding
USDA Announces Over $770 Million for Rural Infrastructure
USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack also announced the launch of the fifth round of the ReConnect Program.
BEAD
States and ISPs Strategize to Meet BEAD-Driven Workforce Gaps
The experts expressed doubts about addressing workforce shortages that could potentially stall BEAD build-outs.
broadband roundup
ReConnect Funding, More Emergency Connectivity Fund Money, 5G Training Grant in South Africa
The Agriculture Department announced $502M will go to service providers in 20 states.
podcasts
Broadband Breakfast for Lunch on June 8, 2022 — Preparing for Federal Broadband Funding with the Rural Utilities Service’s Christopher McLean
Join Acting Rural Utilities Service Administrator Chris McLean on June 8 at Broadband Breakfast for Lunch
Expert Opinion
Christopher Ali: How the U.S. Department of Agriculture is Quietly Reshaping Broadband Policy
In the 2022 Consolidated Appropriations Act, Congress reversed USDA’s ReConnect criteria in three crucial ways.
bblot
Broadband Breakfast for Lunch on March 9, 2022 — Preparing for the IIJA’s Broadband Equity, Access and Deployment Program
We will explore what the government, states and infrastructure builders – public and private – should be doing to prepare.
Funding
ReConnect Rep Warns of ISPs Asking for More Subsidies Than Needed for Builds
Shekinah Pepper said Wednesday tribal communities should be on alert for service providers asking for chunks of subsidies upfront.
broadband roundup
Agriculture Plowing $167M in Broadband, Ziply Deploys More Fiber, TikTok Takes Over
USDA putting money to expand broadband in 12 states, Ziply expands in 14 markets, TikTok most downloaded app in 2020.
Expert Opinion
Dan Nordberg: Small Business Administration is Delivering Support to Telephone Co-ops
The devastating impact of the coronavirus pandemic has tested the will of millions of businesses and cooperatives throughout our nation, but help is on the way. Congress recently passed an extension of the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) which includes over $310 billion in new funding to help smal
Rural
Precision Agriculture is About Harvesting Data as Well as Harvesting Fields, Say Experts at FCC Task Force Meeting
WASHINGTON, March 25, 2020— “We won’t be calling it precision farming anymore, we’ll just be calling it farming,” announced Ken Sudduth, an agricultural engineer at the USDA’s Agricultural Research Service. Sudduth spoke Wednesday at a monthly electronic meeting of the Federal Communication Commissi
broadband roundup
FCC Spends $524 Million for Rural Area as House Subcommittee Highlights Problem, New Public Knowledge CEO
The Federal Communications Commission on Monday announced more than $524 million in funding over the next decade to expand broadband access to 205,520 unserved rural homes and businesses in 23 states. Providers will begin receiving funding this month. “High-speed Internet provides access to opportun
