USDA Changes Community Connect Broadband Grant Program Rules

The Rural Utilities Service (RUS), a Rural Development agency of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), amends its regulations for the Community-Oriented Connectivity Broadband Grant Program. The purpose of this regulatory change is to provide the Agency the ability to target limited resources to geographical as well as technological areas of need. The new regulations seek to simplify the grant application process, will let the USDA prioritize rural and poor areas and will increase flexibility for using matching funds that grant applicants have to provide. This rule is not applicable to Community Connect grant applications filed for funding prior to the publication of a Notice of Funds Availability (NOFA) under this regulation. This rule is effective June 3, 2013.