# Broadband Technical Assistance

Source: https://welltoldgrants.com/grants/rus-bta-2023-broadband-technical-assistance/  
Official notice: https://www.grants.gov/search-results-detail/347579

> Rural Utilities Service offered grants of up to $1.0 million (at least $50,000) to nonprofits, colleges and universities, state and local governments, tribes, small businesses and businesses. It expected to make about 25 awards. Applications closed on June 20, 2023.

| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Opportunity number | RUS-BTA-2023 |
| Agency | Rural Utilities Service |
| Status | Forecast |
| Deadline | June 20, 2023 |
| Award ceiling | $1.0 million |
| Award floor | $50,000 |
| Expected awards | 25 |
| Total funding | not stated |
| Cost sharing | not required |
| Assistance Listings | 10.752 |

## Who can apply

- State governments
- County governments
- City or township governments
- Special district governments
- Independent school districts
- Public and State controlled institutions of higher education
- Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized)
- Public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities
- Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments)
- Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education
- Private institutions of higher education
- For profit organizations other than small businesses
- Small businesses

Cooperatives

## What the grant funds

The Rural Utilities Service (RUS or the Agency), a Rural Development (RD) agency of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), announces the acceptance of applications for Broadband Technical Assistance (BTA) for Fiscal Year (FY) 2023. Broadband Technical Assistance provides competitive cooperative agreement funding to eligible entities to receive or deliver broadband technical assistance and training that promotes the expansion of broadband into rural areas. Examples of broadband technical assistance projects may include conducting feasibility studies, completing network designs, and developing broadband financial assistance applications. The Agency encourages applicants to consider projects that will advance the following key priorities. Assisting rural communities recover economically through more and better market opportunities and through improved infrastructure; Ensuring all rural residents have equitable access to RD programs and benefits from RD funded projects; and Reducing climate pollution and increasing resilience to the impacts of climate change through economic support to rural communities. In addition, the Agency encourages applicants to work with the Rural Partners Network. The Rural Partners Network is an all-of-government program that demonstrates to rural America that the federal government can work differently to serve their unique needs in a way this is community-centered and locally-driven. RPN is a recognition by the Biden Administration that it is time to do more for rural communities. Applicants to this funding opportunity are encouraged to include RPN Community Networks in their proposals by identifying Community Networks as collaborative partners or recipients of service. Please visit Community Networks | Rural.gov for more information on locations of the 36 RPN Community Networks spanning ten states and Puerto Rico. To access specific contact information for prospective network participants to determine fit, please contact RuralPartnersNetwork@usda.gov All applicants should carefully review and prepare their applications according to instructions in the BTA Application Guide and program resources. This Application Guide and program resources can be found on the BTA website at: https://www.rd.usda.gov/programs-services/telecommunications-programs/broadband-technical-assistance-program.

## Questions people ask

### Is RUS-BTA-2023 still open?

No. It closed on June 20, 2023.

### Who can apply for Broadband Technical Assistance?

Rural Utilities Service accepted applications from nonprofits, colleges and universities, state and local governments, tribes, small businesses and businesses. The notice adds further conditions, so read its eligibility section.

### What is the deadline for Broadband Technical Assistance?

Closed June 20, 2023. Applications are no longer accepted; the program's newer notices are on this page when there are any.

### How much funding is available?

Awards of up to $1.0 million each.

### Who has won Rural eConnectivity Pilot Program grants before?

The largest recipients over five fiscal years were Western New Mexico Telephone Company, Inc., Pioneer Telephone Cooperative, WNM Communications Corporation. The program made 86 awards worth $1.4 billion in that time.