Utah Broadband wins $23 million USDA ReConnect funding for rural fiber build

By AI, Created 10:25 AM UTC, May 20, 2026, /AGP/ – Utah Broadband has secured nearly $23 million from the USDA ReConnect program to extend fiber internet across rural northern Utah, including Cache, Summit, Utah and Wasatch counties. The project will add 315 miles of new fiber and connect more than 3,000 homes, businesses, farms and community sites with symmetrical 10/10 Gbps service.

Why it matters: - The funding will bring high-speed broadband to underserved rural areas that still lack reliable internet access. - The buildout targets homes, farms, businesses and community anchor institutions that depend on faster connections for work, school, healthcare and agriculture. - Utah Broadband’s expansion into Cache County gives the company a larger foothold in northern Utah’s rural market.

What happened: - Utah Broadband was awarded nearly $23 million from Round 5 of the USDA Rural Utilities Service ReConnect Loan and Grant Program. - The announcement was made May 6, 2026. - The project, RUS Project UT 1707-A59, covers Cache, Summit, Utah and Wasatch counties in Northern Utah. - The funding is structured as a 50% grant and 50% loan, or about $11.5 million each.

The details: - The money will support a Fiber-to-the-Premises network. - Utah Broadband plans to build 315 miles of new fiber-optic infrastructure. - The network is designed to deliver symmetrical 10/10 Gbps broadband speeds. - The expansion is expected to reach more than 3,000 homes, businesses, farms and essential community anchor institutions. - Utah Broadband said the project marks its official entry into Cache County. - Ben Elkins, Utah Broadband CEO, said the award is intended to help bridge the digital divide for rural residents. - Elkins said the project will give rural students, small business owners and families access to multi-gigabit speeds comparable to more connected urban areas. - Mike Simmons, Utah Broadband vice president of Fiber and Wireless Development, said the company’s reliability and community focus helped make it the chosen partner. - Simmons said rural Utah needs a provider that understands the region’s geography and local needs.

Between the lines: - The ReConnect program, launched in 2018, has become a major federal tool for funding rural broadband expansion. - The program is now in its fifth round and has directed billions of dollars toward broadband infrastructure for agriculture, education and healthcare. - Utah Broadband is using the award to reinforce its position as a regional provider for federal and state broadband initiatives. - The company’s messaging frames the project as both a network build and a growth milestone.

What’s next: - Utah Broadband will move toward construction of the new fiber network in the four-county project area. - The company will use the expansion to continue its growth across Utah’s rural broadband market. - More information on the USDA ReConnect Program is available at USDA ReConnect.

The bottom line: - The USDA award gives Utah Broadband a major financing boost to extend multi-gigabit fiber service deeper into rural northern Utah and close access gaps in communities that have been left behind.