The American Jobs Plan

$65 billion for broadband

President Biden signed the $1 trillion infrastructure bill into law on Monday, November 15. The bill provides $65 billion for broadband expansion.

The biggest source of broadband funding is the Broadband Equity, Access and Deployment Program (BEAD). The program, which has a budget of $42.5 billion, will be administered by individual states under the direction of the Commerce Department. This includes the Affordable Connectivity Program (see this page). 

What we know about the broadband component:

• emphasis on "future-proof" broadband which points to heavy investment in fiber
• includes "underserved" areas which means areas that have some level of internet service, but not faster speeds
• emphasis on rural electric coops, municipal governments and non-profits providing service
• emphasis on price transparency and public disclosure of rates
• suggests ongoing subsidies to promote broadband adoption  

Who qualifies:

• the majority of the funding will go to states
• $14.2 billion of the funding will be used to make the Emergency Broaband Benefit program permanent under the new designation of the Affordable Connectivity Program
  • This help low-income households
  • Find details on this program here

Affordable Connectivity  Program

$14 billion available (included in the above listed Infrastructure Bill and American Jobs Act) 

UPDATE: Congress recently created the Affordable Connectivity Program, a new new long-term, $14 billion program which will replace the Emergency Broadband Benfit Program. Learn more about these changes here. This funding was included in the infrastructure bill and American Jobs Act noted on this page.

Who qualifies

This program is focused on providing discounts directly to individuals and families who meet the following criteria:

• Those who already meet the requirements of an internet service provider’s existing low-income program;
• Those who qualify for Lifeline benefits through participation in SNAP and other government assistance programs;
• Participants of Tribal assistance programs;
• Those who received a Pell Grant;
• Those who received benefits under free and reduced school lunch program;
• Households with incomes at or below 200% of the federal poverty guidelines

The broadband component. What you should know:

The program provides support for broadband services and certain devices to help low-income households stay connected during the COVID-19 pandemic. It provides the following:

• up to a $30 a month discount on service and associated equipment,
• up to $75 a month for households on Tribal lands,
• and a one-time discount on a laptop, tablet, or desk top computer of up to $100 for qualifying low-income households.

Listen to the podcast on the Emergency Broadband Benefit Program by clicking here. It feature FCC Press Secretary Paloma Perez

Learn how to apply and which internet service providers are taking part

ReConnect Loan and Grant Program

$700 million annually; $1.3 billion in 2021

The ReConnect program is overseen by USDA Rural Development which defines e-Connectivity as providing increased productivity, improved operations, enhanced healthcare (tele-health) options, education (remote learning) opportunities, and competitive entrepreneurship

UPDATE: On November 24, 2021, the USDA announced it had begun accepting applications for up to $1.15 billion in loans and grants. See below to apply. 

Who qualifies

The Rural e-Connectivity Program Regulation published on Feb. 26, 2021 provides and outline but the following qualify: 

• Corporations
• Limited liability companies and limited liability partnerships
• Cooperative or mutual organizations
• States or local governments, including any agency, subdivision, instrumentality, or political subdivision thereof
• A territory or possession of the United States
• An Indian tribe  

The broadband component. What you should know:

ReConnect loans and grants provide funds for the costs of construction, improvement, or acquisition of facilities and equipment needed to provide broadband service to rural areas without sufficient broadband access. 

• To be eligible an area must be rural and must lack sufficient access to broadband service
• A “rural area is defined as:
  
  • (1) A city, town, or incorporated area that has a population of greater than 20,000 inhabitants; or 
  • (2) an urbanized area contiguous and adjacent to a city or town that has a population of greater than 50,000 inhabitants.
  • See the ReConnect Program service area map by clicking here
• Applicants must propose to build a network capable of providing service to all premises in the proposed funded service area at the speed defined in the latest Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) 
• You can submit additional questions to USDA Rural Development here:
  https://www.usda.gov/reconnect/contact-us

Eligible applicants will be required to provide a plan describing how they intend to use allocated funds.

On November 24, 2021, the USDA announced it had begun accepting applications for up to $1.15 billion in loans and grants. 

Checklist and local contacts for applying for these funds here

Connected Nation recently talked with the Chief of Staff for the Undersecretary in USDA Rural Development about new funding opportunities, including what staff looks for in winning applications. 

Checkout the podcast here

Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds* (SLFRF)

A portion of $350 billion available. This is subject to state, county, and local leadership discretion

Who qualifies

State, territories, and tribal governments

Click here for funding allocation by state

Click here for funding allocation by county

Click here for funding allocation by metro area

The broadband component. What you should know:

This fund can be used for COVID-related economic recovery activities including broadband needs. 

Updated February 2, 2022: The final rule  was released in January 2022. You can find the complete document issed by the U.S. Department of Treasury by clicking here. The below bullet points include key components regarding broadband from that document.

• The final rule significantly broadens eligible broadband infrastructure investments to address challenges with broadband access, affordability, and reliability (page 5).

• Recipients may fund high-speed broadband infrastructure in areas of need that the recipient identifies, such as areas without access to adequate speeds, affordable options, or where connections are inconsistent or unreliable; completed projects must participate in a low-income subsidy program (page 7).
• In addition to SLFRF, the American Rescue Plan includes other sources of funding for state and local governments, including the Coronavirus Capital Projects Fund to fund critical capital investments including broadband infrastructure (page 8).
• KEY POINTS: Broadband infrastructure investment (pages. 39 and 40)
  • These funds may be used to make necessary investments in broadband infrastructure which has been show to be critical for work, education, healthcare, and civic participation during the pandemic.
  • Identify an eligible area for investment.
    • Recipients are encouraged to prioritize access to 100/20 Mbps.
    • Recipients have broad flexibility to define need in their community.
  • Design project to meet high-speed technical standards.
  • Any provider used for a project must be required to provide enrollment in a low-income subsidy program.
  • These funds can also be used to modernize cybersecurity for existing and new broadband infrastructure.

Frequently asked questions

Apply for funds

*Note: These funds were issued as part of the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021.

Coronavirus Capital Projects Fund (CCPF)*

$10 billion available

Who qualifies

State, territories, and tribal governments

The broadband component. What you should know:

These funds must be used to carry out critical capital projects that directly enable work, education, and health monitoring, including remote options, in response to the public health emergency.

• These projects must be critical in nature, providing connectivity for those who lack it.
• The Capital Projects Fund allows for investment in high-quality broadband as well as other connectivity infrastructure, devices, and equipment.
• In addition to supporting broadband, it also provides flexibility for each state, territory, and Tribal government to make other investments in critical community hubs or other capital assets that provide access jointly to work, education, and health monitoring.
• All projects must demonstrate that they meet the critical connectivity needs highlighted and amplified by the COVID-19 pandemic.

States, certain terroritories and freely associated states, and Tribal Governments, are identified as the entities eligible to apply.

Eligible applicants must complete the application to the U.S. Treasury by December 27, 2021. 

For more details please see treasury.gov/CPF.  Funding allocations per state are also available at by clicking here.

*Note: These funds were issued as part of the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021.

Build Back Better Regional Challenge 

$1 billion available

Who qualifies

Coalition members eligible to apply for investment assistance for their region include a(n):

• District Organization of an EDA-designated Economic Development District
• Indian Tribe or a consortium of Indian Tribes
• State, county, city, or other political subdivision of a State, including a special purpose unit of a State or local government engaged in economic or infrastructure development activities, or a consortium of political subdivisions
• Institution of higher education or a consortium of institutions of higher education
• Public or private non-profit organization or association acting in cooperation with officials of a political subdivision of a State

Individuals or for-profit entities are not eligible.

The broadband component. What you should know:

The $1 billion Build Back Better Regional Challenge will provide a transformational investment to 20-30 regions across the country that want to revitalize their economies.

These regions will have the opportunity to grow new regional industry clusters or scale existing ones through planning, infrastructure, innovation and entrepreneurship, workforce development, access to capital, and more.

• Phase 1: 50-60 regional coalitions of partnering entities will be awarded ~$500,000 in technical assistance funds to develop and support three to eight projects to grow a regional growth cluster.
• Phase 2: EDA will award 20-30 regional coalitions $25 million to $75 million, and up to $100 million, to implement those projects.

Phase 1 deadline is Tuesday, October 19, 2021

Phase 2 deadline is Tuesday, March 15, 2022

Apply now

Frequently asked questions