Opportunity Information: Apply for RUS BTA 2023
The Broadband Technical Assistance (BTA) opportunity is a competitive federal funding program run by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) through its Rural Utilities Service (RUS), which sits within USDA Rural Development. For Fiscal Year 2023, RUS opened this program to support efforts that help expand broadband in rural areas, not by directly building networks, but by funding the planning, expertise, training, and support work that communities and providers often need before construction or major deployment can happen. Awards are made as cooperative agreements, meaning the federal agency may remain more actively involved than it would under a typical grant, and the work is expected to align closely with program goals and requirements.
The core purpose of BTA is to fund technical assistance and training that either helps an eligible entity receive broadband-related support or deliver that support to others. In practical terms, the program is aimed at the front-end and capacity-building steps that can determine whether a rural broadband project is viable and fundable. Examples specifically mentioned include feasibility studies to evaluate options and costs, network design work to plan the technical build, and the development of broadband financial assistance applications (in other words, preparing strong applications for construction or deployment funding that might come from other state or federal programs). The focus is on clearing common barriers in rural broadband projects, such as limited engineering capacity, lack of planning dollars, weak grant-writing resources, or insufficient organizational readiness.
USDA highlights several priorities it wants applicants to advance through their projects. One is supporting economic recovery in rural communities by improving infrastructure and creating more and better market opportunities, reflecting the idea that broadband is tied to jobs, small business growth, education, and access to services. Another priority is equity and access, emphasizing that all rural residents should be able to benefit from Rural Development programs and the projects those programs fund. A third priority is climate-related: reducing climate pollution and increasing resilience to climate change impacts, framed through economic support for rural communities. Applicants are encouraged to shape their technical assistance efforts so they clearly connect to these outcomes, such as by designing projects that expand access for underserved populations, strengthen local institutions, or support more resilient infrastructure planning.
A notable feature of the announcement is the encouragement to coordinate with the Rural Partners Network (RPN). RPN is described as an all-of-government initiative intended to make federal support more community-centered and locally driven in rural places. Applicants are encouraged to include RPN Community Networks in their proposals, either as collaborators or as recipients of technical assistance services. The notice points to 36 RPN Community Networks across ten states and Puerto Rico and directs interested applicants to Rural.gov for locations, with an email contact (RuralPartnersNetwork@usda.gov) to request connection details and explore potential fit for collaboration.
In terms of who can apply, eligibility is broad and includes many types of public, nonprofit, academic, and private organizations. Eligible applicants include state, county, and local governments; special districts; independent school districts; public housing authorities and Indian housing authorities; public and state-controlled institutions of higher education and private institutions of higher education; federally recognized tribal governments and other tribal organizations; 501(c)(3) nonprofits (excluding higher education institutions); and both for-profit organizations (including small businesses and for-profits other than small businesses). This range suggests the program is designed to support both community-led planning efforts and technical assistance providers that may serve multiple rural communities.
Key administrative details include that this is a discretionary funding opportunity under Assistance Listing (CFDA) number 10.752, with activity areas that include business and commerce, community development, and regional development, and it is associated with Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) themes. The opportunity number is RUS BTA 2023. The announcement was created on April 19, 2023, with an original application deadline of June 20, 2023. USDA anticipated making about 25 awards, with an award ceiling of up to $1,000,000 per award.
Applicants are directed to follow the Broadband Technical Assistance Application Guide and related program resources hosted on the USDA Rural Development BTA program webpage, and to consult the formal Funding Opportunity Announcement published in the Federal Register (document 2023-08233) for the full set of requirements, submission instructions, and compliance expectations. This emphasis signals that application format, required attachments, and program-specific rules matter, and applicants are expected to build proposals that closely track the guide and the FOA language.Apply for RUS BTA 2023
- The Department of Agriculture, Rural Utilities Service in the business and commerce, community development, infrastructure investment and jobs act (iija), regional development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Broadband Technical Assistance" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 10.752.
- This funding opportunity was created on Apr 19, 2023.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Jun 20, 2023. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $1,000,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 25 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: 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.
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Broadband Technical Assistance (BTA) - FAQs
What is the Broadband Technical Assistance (BTA) opportunity?
The Broadband Technical Assistance (BTA) opportunity is a competitive federal funding program run by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) through the Rural Utilities Service (RUS), within USDA Rural Development. For Fiscal Year 2023, the program is designed to support rural broadband expansion by funding the planning, expertise, training, and support work needed before major construction or deployment happens.
Is BTA meant to pay for building broadband networks?
No. The BTA program is focused on technical assistance and training rather than paying for direct network construction. It supports the up-front and capacity-building work that helps communities and providers prepare for broadband deployment or for applying to other construction-focused funding programs.
What types of activities does BTA fund?
BTA funds technical assistance and training that helps an eligible entity either receive broadband-related support or provide that support to others. Examples specifically referenced include:
- Feasibility studies to evaluate broadband options and costs
- Network design work to plan a technical build
- Development of broadband financial assistance applications (preparing strong applications for construction or deployment funding from other state or federal programs)
What problem is BTA trying to solve in rural broadband projects?
BTA is aimed at reducing common barriers that prevent rural broadband projects from moving forward, such as limited engineering capacity, lack of planning dollars, weak grant-writing resources, and insufficient organizational readiness.
What kind of award is this (grant vs. cooperative agreement)?
Awards are made as cooperative agreements. That means the federal agency may be more actively involved than it would be under a typical grant, and the work is expected to align closely with program goals and requirements.
Who runs the BTA program?
The program is administered by USDA, through the Rural Utilities Service (RUS), which is part of USDA Rural Development.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is broad and includes many public, nonprofit, academic, tribal, and private organizations. Eligible applicants include:
- State, county, and local governments
- Special districts
- Independent school districts
- Public housing authorities and Indian housing authorities
- Public and state-controlled institutions of higher education
- Private institutions of higher education
- Federally recognized tribal governments and other tribal organizations
- 501(c)(3) nonprofits (excluding higher education institutions)
- For-profit organizations (including small businesses and for-profits other than small businesses)
Does BTA only support applicants working in rural areas?
Yes. The program is described as supporting efforts that help expand broadband in rural areas, with a focus on the pre-construction planning and technical support steps that rural communities and providers often need.
How does USDA describe the main purpose of BTA?
USDA describes the core purpose as funding technical assistance and training that helps eligible entities receive broadband-related support or deliver that support to others. The intent is to strengthen early-stage project development and readiness so rural broadband projects become viable and fundable.
What priorities does USDA want BTA projects to advance?
The opportunity highlights several priorities USDA wants applicants to advance through their projects:
- Economic recovery in rural communities, by improving infrastructure and creating more and better market opportunities
- Equity and access, emphasizing that all rural residents should be able to benefit from Rural Development programs and funded projects
- Climate-related outcomes, including reducing climate pollution and increasing resilience to climate change impacts, framed through economic support for rural communities
How should applicants reflect USDA priorities in a BTA proposal?
Applicants are encouraged to shape technical assistance efforts so they clearly connect to the outcomes USDA emphasizes, such as designing projects that expand access for underserved populations, strengthen local institutions, or support more resilient infrastructure planning.
What is the Rural Partners Network (RPN), and why does it matter for BTA?
The notice encourages applicants to coordinate with the Rural Partners Network (RPN), described as an all-of-government initiative intended to make federal support more community-centered and locally driven in rural places. Applicants are encouraged to include RPN Community Networks in proposals, either as collaborators or as recipients of technical assistance services.
How many RPN Community Networks are referenced, and where are they located?
The notice references 36 RPN Community Networks across ten states and Puerto Rico. It directs interested applicants to Rural.gov for locations.
How can an applicant connect with RPN for collaboration?
The opportunity provides an email contact for RPN: RuralPartnersNetwork@usda.gov. Applicants can use it to request connection details and explore whether collaboration is a good fit.
What is the Assistance Listing (CFDA) number for this opportunity?
The Assistance Listing (CFDA) number is 10.752.
What are the main activity areas associated with this funding?
The opportunity lists activity areas including business and commerce, community development, and regional development. It is also associated with Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) themes.
What is the opportunity number for this BTA funding round?
The opportunity number is RUS BTA 2023.
When was this funding opportunity created and what was the deadline listed?
The announcement was created on April 19, 2023, with an original application deadline of June 20, 2023.
How many awards did USDA anticipate making under this opportunity?
USDA anticipated making about 25 awards.
What is the maximum award amount?
The award ceiling is up to $1,000,000 per award.
Where are the official application instructions and required materials described?
Applicants are directed to follow the Broadband Technical Assistance Application Guide and related program resources on the USDA Rural Development BTA program webpage. Applicants are also directed to consult the formal Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) published in the Federal Register (document 2023-08233) for full requirements, submission instructions, and compliance expectations.
Why does USDA emphasize using the Application Guide and the Federal Register FOA?
The notice signals that application format, required attachments, and program-specific rules matter. Applicants are expected to build proposals that closely track the Application Guide and the FOA language, including compliance expectations and submission instructions.
Does BTA support preparing applications for other broadband funding programs?
Yes. One of the examples specifically mentioned is the development of broadband financial assistance applications, meaning support to prepare strong applications for construction or deployment funding that may come from other state or federal programs.
Can a project focus on training and technical assistance delivered to other organizations?
Yes. The core purpose includes funding technical assistance and training that helps an eligible entity either receive broadband-related support or deliver that support to others.
What does it mean that this is a discretionary funding opportunity?
The notice describes this as a discretionary funding opportunity, meaning it is competitive and awards are made based on the program’s review and selection process rather than by formula.
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