Distance Learning & Telemedicine Grant | RUS 17 01 DLT

Opportunity Information: Apply for RUS 17 01 DLT

The Distance Learning and Telemedicine (DLT) Grant is a competitive grant program run by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) through its Utilities Programs. Its purpose is to expand and improve access to education, training, and health care for people living in rural America by supporting technology that makes it possible to deliver services remotely. In practical terms, the program helps rural communities connect students, educators, patients, and medical providers to resources that may be located far away, using telecommunications systems, computer networks, and other advanced digital tools.

The program is authorized under 7 U.S.C. 950aaa, and the main regulations governing it are found at 7 CFR part 1703, Subparts D through E. Funding is intended for projects that deploy telecommunications-enabled equipment and related technologies, including information, audio, and video solutions that allow instruction or clinical services to be delivered across distance. A key idea behind the program is that the rural end users who benefit from the project are often not in the same physical location as the school, teacher, hospital, specialist, or other service provider. In other words, the grant supports the infrastructure and equipment that make remote learning and telemedicine workable in real-world rural settings.

Eligible applicants include a wide range of organizations that can build and operate these kinds of community-serving systems. Specifically listed eligible applicants include county governments; city or township governments; public and state-controlled institutions of higher education; federally recognized Native American tribal governments; nonprofits with 501(c)(3) status (other than institutions of higher education); and for-profit organizations other than small businesses. The opportunity is classified as a discretionary grant, and it falls under the agriculture and health funding activity categories (CFDA 10.855), reflecting USDA Rural Development involvement and the program's strong health and education focus.

For this specific funding opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number RUS 17 01 DLT), the award ceiling is $500,000 per award, and the expected number of awards is about 250. The notice also highlights a priority set-aside: $1,600,000 of the available funds is prioritized for communication upgrades that improve connectivity between ambulances or emergency transportation vehicles and medical facilities. That emphasis signals an intent to strengthen emergency medical communications in rural areas, where distance and limited infrastructure can create serious delays or gaps in care coordination.

Key dates associated with the notice include a creation date of May 19, 2017, and an original closing date of July 17, 2017. Overall, the DLT Grant is designed to help rural communities adopt and expand distance learning and telemedicine capabilities by funding the equipment and advanced technologies needed to deliver education and health services beyond the walls of traditional classrooms and clinics.

• The Department of Agriculture, Utilities Programs in the agriculture, health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Distance Learning & Telemedicine Grant" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 10.855.
• This funding opportunity was created on May 19, 2017.
• Applicants must submit their applications by Jul 17, 2017. (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 $500,000.00 in funding.
• The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 250 candidate(s).
• Eligible applicants include: County governments, City or township governments, Public and State controlled institutions of higher education, Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized), Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, For profit organizations other than small businesses.

Apply for RUS 17 01 DLT

[Watch] Creating a grant proposal using the step-by-step wizard inside the applicant portal: