[PL-Directors] USDA Announces $600 million Rural Broadband Program, ReConnect

[Darci Hanning]

Greetings (and please pardon the duplicate post)  - this may of interest to libraries in rural areas who are looking to bring in and/or improve their broadband connection.

Please see below regarding an announcement about the USDA's new program, ReConnect, via the NTIA's BroadbandUSA organization. There is also an information flyer attached for more details.

Cheers,
Darci Hanning, MLIS
Public Library Consultant / CE Coordinator
darci.hanning at state.or.us<mailto:darci.hanning at state.or.us> | 503-378-2527| www.oregon.gov/library<https://www.oregon.gov/library>
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From: BroadbandUSA [mailto:BroadbandUSA at ntia.doc.gov]
Subject: NTIA Congratulates USDA for Announcing its $600 million Broadband Program, ReConnect


Good Afternoon,

Today, Assistant Secretary for Communications and Information and NTIA Administrator David Redl issued the following statement on the U.S. Department of Agriculture's<https://na01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.usda.gov%2Fbroadband&data=02%7C01%7CBroadbandUSA%40ntia.doc.gov%7C42b2d1f826594dafccb808d661331d25%7Cd6cff1bd67dd4ce8945dd07dc775672f%7C0%7C0%7C636803269543459876&sdata=%2BZKMdprSoOO5ntbPseThu5Qk4JxIBWFvM%2BcwdKla1TM%3D&reserved=0> announcement of a $600 million loan and grant program<https://na01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.usda.gov%2Fmedia%2Fpress-releases%2F2018%2F12%2F13%2Fusda-launches-new-program-create-high-speed-internet-e-connectivity&data=02%7C01%7CBroadbandUSA%40ntia.doc.gov%7C42b2d1f826594dafccb808d661331d25%7Cd6cff1bd67dd4ce8945dd07dc775672f%7C0%7C0%7C636803269543469881&sdata=Zw%2Fklcd3syiDclOCEPs1FGP5AcNPJK8CpAZ9ry%2BSzII%3D&reserved=0> to assist with building rural broadband infrastructure:

"The Administration is taking an important step to help close the broadband coverage gap for the millions of rural Americans who lack access to broadband connectivity with the launch of the U.S. Department of Agriculture's $600 million grant and loan program<https://na01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Freconnect.usda.gov%2Fs%2F&data=02%7C01%7CBroadbandUSA%40ntia.doc.gov%7C42b2d1f826594dafccb808d661331d25%7Cd6cff1bd67dd4ce8945dd07dc775672f%7C0%7C0%7C636803269543479890&sdata=bMwzEkWQehuAKevoW93%2Fd0cSxy81xZ7j7P4W3WwJ%2F6U%3D&reserved=0>. NTIA looks forward to providing technical assistance to potential applicants through its partnership with USDA's Rural Utilities Service (RUS). NTIA's BroadbandUSA<https://na01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fbroadbandusa.ntia.doc.gov%2F&data=02%7C01%7CBroadbandUSA%40ntia.doc.gov%7C42b2d1f826594dafccb808d661331d25%7Cd6cff1bd67dd4ce8945dd07dc775672f%7C0%7C0%7C636803269543479890&sdata=xer3t50diJ%2F6nFK794r%2FBN%2BVAnyNknf716O%2By%2BYgK80%3D&reserved=0> team has extensive experience working in the telecommunications industry, building broadband networks and consulting with service providers and local governments. Using this expertise, our team will be supporting educational materials and workshops to help applicants with the grant and loan process."
The statement is available here: https://www.ntia.doc.gov/speechtestimony/2018/statement-assistant-secretary-redl-usda-loan-and-grant-program<https://na01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.ntia.doc.gov%2Fspeechtestimony%2F2018%2Fstatement-assistant-secretary-redl-usda-loan-and-grant-program&data=02%7C01%7CAMeacham%40ntia.doc.gov%7C1488ba74dbbb41f0b55308d661332dbf%7Cd6cff1bd67dd4ce8945dd07dc775672f%7C0%7C0%7C636803269774281292&sdata=bp8ywglEldxGsQ5NvLMXPQt1AJPehiAj8vxYBMMVluE%3D&reserved=0>

We have also attached USDA's Fact Sheet about the program.

Best regards,
BroadbandUSA Team
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