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USDA tweaks rules for rural broadband grants

 US Ag secretary Tom Vilsack says his agency has come up with new rules to fund broadband services in “unserved” rural areas through its Rural Development Community Connect Grant program.  He says they’ve simplified the application process, are allowing grant applicants to use better tools to define their proposed service areas, and are giving grant applicants “more flexibility” on the types of contributions that can be used to meet their required 15-percent in matching funds.

The USDA can now consider giving funding priority to projects in the most poverty-stricken counties, areas having population declines and the most rural areas in the country.  USDA rural development loans and loan guarantees are also available to “help finance the construction of rural broadband networks.”  To date, the agency says grant program has funded more than 200 broadband projects with more than 122-Million dollars.