---
kind: "section"
citation: "7 U.S.C. § 950bb–3"
title: "7"
title_heading: "Agriculture"
number: "950bb–3"
heading: "Community Connect Grant Program"
release: "119-102"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/7/950bb-3"
units:
  - "Chapter 31 — Rural Electrification and Telephone Service"
  - "Subchapter VI — Rural Broadband Access"
---

# §950bb–3. Community Connect Grant Program

- (a) **Definitions—** In this section:
  - (1) **Eligible broadband service—** The term “eligible broadband service” means broadband service that has the capability to transmit data at a speed specified by the [Secretary](/usc/7/913.md?p=5), which may not be less than the applicable minimum download and upload speeds established by the Federal Communications [Commission](/usc/7/1a.md?p=8) in defining the term “advanced telecommunications capability” for purposes of [section 1302 of title 47](/usc/47/1302.md).
  - (2) **Eligible service area—** The term “eligible service area” means an [area](/usc/7/1471.md?p=5) in which broadband service capacity is less than—
    - (A) a 10-Mbps downstream transmission capacity; and
    - (B) a 1-Mbps upstream transmission capacity.
  - (3) **Eligible entity—**
    - (A) **In general—** The term “eligible entity” means a legally organized entity that—
      - (i) is—
        - (I) an incorporated organization;
        - (II) an [Indian Tribe](/usc/7/913.md?p=2) or Tribal organization;
        - (III) a [State](/usc/7/1359aa.md?p=5);
        - (IV) a unit of local government; or
        - (V) any other legal entity, including a cooperative, a private [corporation](/usc/7/1502.md?p=b-5), or a limited liability company, that is organized on a for-profit or a not-for-profit basis; and
      - (ii) has the legal capacity and [authority](/usc/7/2009aa.md?p=1) to enter into a [contract](/usc/7/518.md?p=4), to comply with applicable Federal laws, and to own and operate broadband facilities, as proposed in the application submitted by the entity for a grant under the Program.
    - (B) **Exclusions—** The term “[eligible entity](#a-3-A)” does not include—
      - (i) an individual; or
      - (ii) a partnership.
  - (4) **Rural area—** The term “[rural area](/usc/7/913.md?p=3)” has the meaning given the term in [section 950bb(b)(3)(A) of this title](/usc/7/950bb.md?p=b-3-A).
- (b) **Establishment—** The [Secretary](/usc/7/913.md?p=5) shall establish a program, to be known as the “Community Connect Grant Program”, to provide grants to [eligible entities](#a-3-A) to finance broadband transmission in [rural areas](/usc/7/913.md?p=3).
- (c) **Eligible projects—** An [eligible entity](#a-3-A) that receives a grant under the Program shall use the grant to carry out a project that—
  - (1) provides [eligible broadband service](#a-1) to, within the proposed [eligible service area](#a-2) described in the application submitted by the [eligible entity](#a-3-A)—
    - (A) each essential community facility as defined pursuant to [section 1926(a) of this title](/usc/7/1926.md?p=a); and
    - (B) any required facilities necessary to offer that [eligible broadband service](#a-1) to each residential and business customer within such proposed [eligible service area](#a-2); and
  - (2) for not less than 2 years—
    - (A) furnishes free [eligible broadband service](#a-1) to a community center described in [subsection (d)(1)(B)](#d-1-B);
    - (B) provides not fewer than 2 computer access points for that free [eligible broadband service](#a-1); and
    - (C) covers the cost of bandwidth to provide free [eligible broadband service](#a-1) to each essential community facility that requests broadband services within the proposed [eligible service area](#a-2) described in the application submitted by the [eligible entity](#a-3-A).
- (d) **Uses of grant funds—**
  - (1) **In general—** An [eligible entity](#a-3-A) that receives a grant under the Program may use the grant for—
    - (A) the construction, acquisition, or leasing of facilities (including spectrum), land, or buildings to deploy [eligible broadband service](#a-1); and
    - (B) the improvement, expansion, construction, or acquisition of a community center within the proposed [eligible service area](#a-2) described in the application submitted by the [eligible entity](#a-3-A).
  - (2) **Ineligible uses—** An [eligible entity](#a-3-A) that receives a grant under the Program shall not use the grant for—
    - (A) the duplication of any existing [eligible broadband service](#a-1) provided by another entity in the [eligible service area](#a-2); or
    - (B) operating expenses, except as provided in—
      - (i) [subsection (c)(2)(C)](#c-2-C) with respect to free [eligible broadband service](#a-1); and
      - (ii) [paragraph (1)(A)](#d-1-A) with respect to spectrum.
  - (3) **Free access for community centers—** Of the amounts provided to an [eligible entity](#a-3-A) under a grant under the Program, the [eligible entity](#a-3-A) shall use to carry out [paragraph (1)(B)](#d-1-B) not greater than the lesser of—
    - (A) 10 percent; and
    - (B) $150,000.
- (e) **Matching funds—**
  - (1) **In general—** An [eligible entity](#a-3-A) that receives a grant under the Program shall provide a cash contribution in an amount that is not less than 15 percent of the amount of the grant.
  - (2) **Requirements—** A cash contribution described in [paragraph (1)](#e-1)—
    - (A) shall be used solely for the project for which the [eligible entity](#a-3-A) receives a grant under the Program; and
    - (B) shall not include any Federal [funds](/usc/7/4531.md?p=5), unless a Federal statute specifically provides that those Federal [funds](/usc/7/4531.md?p=5) may be considered to be from a non-Federal source.
- (f) **Applications—**
  - (1) **In general—** To be eligible to receive a grant under the Program, an [eligible entity](#a-3-A) shall submit to the [Secretary](/usc/7/913.md?p=5) an application at such time, in such manner, and containing such information as the [Secretary](/usc/7/913.md?p=5) may require.
  - (2) **Requirement—** An application submitted by an [eligible entity](#a-3-A) under [paragraph (1)](#f-1) shall include documentation sufficient to demonstrate the availability of [funds](/usc/7/4531.md?p=5) to satisfy the requirement of [subsection (e)](#e).
- (g) **Authorization of appropriations—** There is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section $50,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2019 through 2023.

## Source credit

(May 20, 1936, ch. 432, title VI, § 604, as added Pub. L. 115–334, title VI, § 6204, Dec. 20, 2018, 132 Stat. 4737.)