USDA/RUS: Distance Learning and Telemedicine Grant Program (US)

The Distance Learning and Telemedicine (DLT) Grant Program is specifically designed to assist rural communities in acquiring distance learning and telemedical technologies so that local teachers and medical service providers who serve rural residents can link to other teachers, medical professionals, and experts located at distances too far to access otherwise. Since 1994, the DLT Grant Program has helped to establish hundreds of distance learning and telemedicine systems improving quality of life for thousands of residents in rural communities across the United States.

Categories

• There are five categories of eligible purposes:
  • Acquiring and installing, by lease or purchase, eligible equipment: If leased, the cost of the lease during the three-year life of the grant is eligible.
  • Purchases of extended warranties, site licenses, and maintenance contracts, for a period not to exceed 3 years from installation date, provided that such purchases are in support of eligible equipment included in the project and made concurrently.
  • Acquiring or developing instructional programming that is a capital asset, including the purchase or lease of instructional programming already on the market. Instructional programming and course material for teaching (including teaching components such as robots, drones, etc.) are eligible. Note: Renewals of instructional programming are not eligible nor is classroom equipment (such as laboratory equipment). Also, expenses such as those for tuition, fees for coursework on a per course basis, or fees for cultural events or virtual field trips are not capital assets and therefore, are not eligible. Additionally, salaries, benefits, and overhead of medical, educational, or any personnel employed by he applicant shall not be included. The funded development and acquisition of instructional programming must be done through an independent third party and may not be performed using the applicant’s employees.
  • Providing technical assistance and instruction for using eligible equipment, including any related software, developing instructional programming for equipment use, and providing engineering or environmental studies relating to the establishment or expansion of the phase of the project to be financed with the grant. The costs for this category cannot exceed 10% of the grant amount requested.
  • Purchasing and installing broadband facilities: This purpose is limited to a maximum of 20% of the requested grant amount. All broadband facilities must be owned by the applicant and must be used for providing distance learning or telemedicine services.

Funding Information

• The minimum Grant amount which can be requested is $50,000. The maximum Grant amount which can be requested is $1,000,000.

Eligibility Criteria

• To be eligible for a grant, an organization must:
  • Be legally organized as an incorporated organization, an Indian tribe or tribal organization, as defined in 25 U.S.C. 450b(b) and (c), a state or local unit of government, a consortium, or other legal entity, including a private corporation organized on a for profit or not-for-profit basis. Each applicant must provide evidence of its legal capacity to contract with the Rural Utilities Service to obtain the grant and comply with all applicable requirements, in accordance with 7 CFR part 1734.4(a).
    • Consortium: A consortium is a combination or group of entities formed to undertake the purposes for which the distance learning and telemedicine financial assistance is being requested.
      • Formal Consortium: If the applicant is a legally established consortium with the capacity to contract with the Federal Government, that organization can apply in the name of the formal consortium and be responsible for the project in its entirety.
      • Informal Consortium: For purposes of the DLT program, Informal Consortium refers to multiple entities choosing to share grant responsibilities and asset ownership. One entity must serve as the fiscal agent and applicant. However, each entity must contract with RUS in its own behalf.
  • Either operate a rural community facility or deliver distance learning or telemedicine services to entities that operate a rural community facility or to residents of rural areas at rates calculated to ensure that the benefit of the financial assistance is passed through to such entities or to residents of rural areas.

For more information, visit Grants.gov.