[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 215 (Monday, November 6, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Page 66523]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-28388]


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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) 2001. For FY 2001, $25 million in grants and $300 
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) $15 million will be available for 
grants; (2) $200 million will be available for loans; and (3) $110 
million will be available for combination grants and loans ($10 million 
in grants paired with $100 million in loans).

DATES: All applications for grants must be postmarked no later than 
Friday, March 2, 2001, to be eligible for FY 2001 grant funding. 
Applications for FY 2001 loans or combination loans and grants may be 
submitted at anytime up to September 30, 2001, 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, Room 2845, 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 2001, $15 million in grants, a 
combination of $10 million in grants paired with $100 million in loans, 
and $200 million in loans will be made available for distance learning 
and telemedicine projects.
    RUS encourages early submission of grant applications to determine 
whether all required items specified in 1703.125 are clearly in form, 
identifiable, and complete. RUS will examine, provide comment, and 
return applications that include items that would disqualify them from 
further consideration for modification if they are submitted by Friday, 
February 2, 2001. All applications for grants must be postmarked no 
later than Friday, March 2, 2001, to be eligible for FY 2001 grant 
funding. Each application will be reviewed for completeness in 
accordance with 7 CFR part 1703, subparts D, E, F, and G. Ineligible 
applications will be returned within 15 working days of receipt.
    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 2001 as $500,000. The 
maximum amount for a loan, generally, that will be considered for 
funding in FY 2001 is $10 million. However, RUS may fund a project 
greater than $10 million 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/telecom/dlt/
dltpublications.htm''. Application 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, USD-RUS, Phone: (202) 720-0800.

Christopher A. McLean,
Administrator, Rural Utilities Service.
[FR Doc. 00-28388 Filed 11-3-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-15-P