The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development is accepting applications for grants to establish broadband infrastructure in unserved rural communities. The Community Connect Program helps rural communities extend access where broadband service is least likely to be commercially available, but where it can make a tremendous difference in the quality of life for people and businesses. State and local governments, federally-recognized tribes, nonprofits, and for-profit corporations are eligible to apply. Grants awarded through this program must be used to provide broadband service at a minimum rate-of-data transmission of 25 megabits downstream and 3 megabits upstream, which is the speed benchmark for broadband connectivity adopted by the Federal Communications Commission. Awardees must also use their USDA funding to offer free broadband service to all critical community facilities and a community center in their proposed service area for two years. The minimum grant amount is $100,000; the maximum amount is $3 million. Applicants must be able to provide a 15 percent match on the desired grant amount. The deadline to apply is April 15, 2019. For additional information about the current application window, see the  Funding Opportunity Announcement. Applicants are also encouraged to review the Community Connect Grant Program Application Guide for Fiscal Year 2019 for details on how to complete a successful application.