Funding Provided for Rural Gigabit Network Pilot Program

WASHINGTON DC - President Obama signed into law the Agriculture Act of 2014 also known as the Farm Bill, which includes provisions to create the Rural Gigabit Network Pilot Program. The pilot program will provide grants, loans, or loan guarantees to eligible entities, meaning those that can furnish or extend ultra-high broadband to rural communities. Project buildouts must be in rural areas that do not currently have access to ultra high speed service and must be completed within complete three years of initial funding. Ultra-high speed service is defined as broadband service operating at a 1 Gbps downstream transmission capacity.

The bill provides $10 million for each of fiscal years 2014 through 2018 for a total of $50 million.