Over $32 million in federal grant funds will be available for counties to upgrade telecommunication and broadcast services in rural areas. As reported in NACo County News:

On May 22, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Rural Utility Service (RUS) announced that it is now accepting applications for grants to enhance telecommunications and broadcast services in rural areas. The USDA will fund three programs: the Community Connect Grant Program, the Distance Learning and Telemedicine Program, and the Public Television Station Digital Transition Grant Program.

Counties are eligible to apply for the Community Connect Grant Program and the Distance Learning and Telemedicine Program. Public television stations that serve rural areas are eligible for the Public Television Station Digital Transition Grant.  The application deadline for all three grants is July 7.

Visit the program websites for more information and grant applications:

The Community Connect Grant Program: www.rurdev.usda.gov/utp_commconnect.html

The Distance Learning and Telemedicine (DLT) Program: www.rurdev.usda.gov/utp_dltresources.html

The Public Television Station Digital Transition Grant Program:www.rurdev.usda.gov/utp_dtvresources.html