Last verified 2026-05-17. FLAG: Round 6 NOFO not yet published — see status below.
Quick status (May 2026)
- Round 5 is closed. Applications ran March 22 – May 21, 2024. USDA is still announcing awards from that round in 2026. [Source: usda.gov/reconnect/announcements (accessed 2026-05-17)]
- Round 6 is signaled but not open. RUS Administrator Karl Elmshaeuser said on April 27, 2026 that a sixth round will launch "sooner than later." No Notice of Funding Opportunity has been posted. [Source: broadbandbreakfast.com/rus-signals-launch-of-next-reconnect-funding-round (accessed 2026-05-17)]
- FY2027 funding $40M proposed. The House Appropriations Committee added $40M for ReConnect in the FY2027 ag bill after USDA's budget request zeroed it out. The bill is still moving through Congress. [Source: broadbandbreakfast.com/reconnect-funding-restored-in-fy2027-usda-bill (accessed 2026-05-17)]
If you are getting ready to apply, prepare your service-area map, broadband data, and financial documents now so you are ready when Round 6 opens.
What ReConnect does
ReConnect provides loans and grants to build, improve, or buy broadband infrastructure in rural areas that do not have fast internet. Money goes to the entity building the network — not directly to households.
Who can apply
You can apply if you are a:
- Small rural internet provider (ISP)
- Telephone or electric co-op
- Tribal government or Alaska Native Corporation
- Nonprofit
- Municipal/local government utility
Your proposed service area must be rural and currently lack 100/20 Mbps service. Extra points are available for projects serving Tribal lands, Colonias, Persistent Poverty Areas, and Socially Vulnerable Communities.
Round 5 terms (for reference until Round 6 opens)
Round 6 terms may change. These were the Round 5 rules:
- 100% Grant — special-priority areas: Up to $25M per award, no match required. For Tribal, Colonias, Persistent Poverty, and Socially Vulnerable Communities.
- 100% Grant — open: Up to $25M per award, 25% match required.
- 100% Loan: Up to $50M per award, fixed 2% interest, rolling (not competitive) review.
- Loan/Grant Combo: Up to $25M loan + $25M grant, interest at US Treasury Rate.
All projects had to deliver at least 100 Mbps symmetrical service in the funded area.
[Source: federalregister.gov/d/2024-03484 (accessed 2026-05-17)]
How to apply when Round 6 opens
- Watch for the NOFO at usda.gov/reconnect/announcements or subscribe to email updates: public.govdelivery.com/accounts/USDARD.
- Register early for SAM.gov, Login.gov, and the ReConnect Application System at reconnect-apply.rd.usda.gov. These registrations take weeks.
- Map your service area. USDA uses the FCC National Broadband Map to confirm rural and unserved status. Challenge bad map data before you apply.
- Line up matching funds if you are applying for the 25%-match grant track.
- Attend USDA technical assistance webinars when the round opens: usda.gov/reconnect/events.
Common pitfalls
- Service-area overlap. If another provider already offers 100/20 Mbps in your proposed area (per the FCC map), your application can be rejected. Verify and, if needed, challenge the map before applying.
- Environmental review. Federal projects need NEPA / historic preservation review. Start this conversation with USDA early — it is the most common cause of post-award delays.
- Build-out timeline. You commit to a construction schedule. Missing milestones can trigger clawbacks.
- Affordability requirement. Awardees must participate in a low-cost broadband program for qualifying households.
Where to get help
- USDA ReConnect technical assistance: usda.gov/reconnect/contact-us
- USDA California state office: rd.usda.gov/ca — talk to a state Rural Development specialist before you apply
- Application workshop materials: usda.gov/reconnect/application-workshop-webinar-materials
- Project map (see who already has funded projects near you): ruraldevelopment.maps.arcgis.com
Program history
ReConnect has run five rounds since 2019 and has invested more than $5 billion across rural America. [Source: usda.gov/reconnect/program-overview (accessed 2026-05-17)]
- Round 1 (FY 2019): $695M across 35 states/territories
- Round 2 (FY 2020): $950M across 37 states/territories
- Round 3 (FY 2022): $1.66B across 31 states/territories
- Round 4 (FY 2023): $1.76B announced
- Round 5 (FY 2024): awards still being announced in 2026
Sources
- USDA ReConnect program page: usda.gov/sustainability/infrastructure/broadband/reconnect-loan-and-grant-program
- Round 5 NOFO (Federal Register, Feb 2024): federalregister.gov/d/2024-03484
- Round 6 signal (Broadband Breakfast, April 2026): broadbandbreakfast.com/rus-signals-launch-of-next-reconnect-funding-round
- FY2027 appropriations (Broadband Breakfast, April 2026): broadbandbreakfast.com/reconnect-funding-restored-in-fy2027-usda-bill
Freshness update (2026-05-30): ReConnect status is unchanged from the May 2026 note above — Round 5 closed, Round 6 still not open, no new NOFO posted. But two related USDA rural-broadband programs are open right now for FY2026 and may be a better near-term fit while you wait for Round 6:
- Community Connect Grant Program — $17M available, for the least-connected rural communities; applications due June 29, 2026.
- Distance Learning & Telemedicine (DLT) Grant Program — $27M available, connects rural residents (communities of 20,000 or fewer) to education and healthcare; applications due June 30, 2026 via grants.gov.
The Round 6 FLAG above still stands — re-verify the ReConnect NOFO status when USDA posts it.