[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 215 (Monday, November 8, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Page 60765]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-29117]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Rural Utilities Service


Distance Learning and Telemedicine Loan and Grant Program

AGENCY: Rural Utilities Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice of application filing deadline.

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SUMMARY: The Rural Utilities Service (RUS) announces its Distance 
Learning and Telemedicine Program application window for funding during 
fiscal year (FY) 2000. For FY 2000, $20 million in grants and $200 
million in loans will be made available for distance learning and 
telemedicine projects serving rural America. The funding will be 
provided in three categories: (1) $13 million will be available for 
grants; (2) $130 million will be available for loans; and (3) $77 
million will be available for combination grants and loans ($7 million 
in grants paired with $70 million in loans).

DATES: Applications for grants must be postmarked no later than Friday, 
March 17, 2000. Applications for FY 2000 loans or combination loans and 
grants may be submitted at anytime up to September 30, 2000, and will 
be processed on a first-come, first-serve basis.

ADDRESSES: Applications are to be submitted to the Rural Utilities 
Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW, 
STOP 1550, Washington, DC 20250-1550. Applications should be marked 
``Attention: Director, Advanced Services Division, Telecommunications 
Program.''

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Orren E. Cameron, Director, Advanced 
Services Division, Telecommunications Program, Rural Utilities Service, 
STOP 1550, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20250-1590, 
Telephone (202) 690-4493, Facsimile (202) 720-1051.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: For FY 2000, $13 million in grants, a 
combination of $7 million in grants paired with $70 million in loans, 
and $130 million in loans will be made available for distance learning 
and telemedicine projects.
    Notice is hereby given that under 7 CFR 1703.124, 1703.133, and 
1703.143, RUS has determined the maximum amount of an application for a 
grant that will be considered for funding in FY 2000 as $350,000. The 
maximum amount for a loan, generally, that will be considered for 
funding in FY 2000 is $10,000,000. However, RUS may fund a project 
greater than $10,000,000 subject to the project?s feasibility and the 
availability of loan funds.
    Applications for financial assistance must be submitted in 
accordance with 7 CFR part 1703, subparts D, E, F, and G, which 
establish the policies and procedures for submitting an application for 
financial assistance. These subparts and an application guide to assist 
in the preparation of applications are available on the Internet at the 
following address: ``http://www.usda.gov/rus/dlt/dlml.htm''. 
Applications guides may also be requested from RUS by contacting one of 
the following Area Offices: Eastern Area, USDA--RUS, Phone: (202) 690-
4673; Northwest Area, USDA--RUS, Phone: (202) 720-1025; Southwest Area, 
USDA--RUS, Phone: (202) 720-0800.
    Each application will be reviewed for completeness in accordance 
with 7 CFR part 1703, subparts D, E, F, and G. The applicant will be 
notified within 15 working days of receipt of the results of this 
review, citing any information needed to complete the application. It 
is suggested that grant applications be submitted prior to the deadline 
to ensure they can be reviewed and considered complete by the deadline.

    Dated: November 3, 1999.
Christopher A. McLean,
Acting Administrator, Rural Utilities Service.
[FR Doc. 99-29117 Filed 11-5-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-15-P