[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 162 (Monday, August 24, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Pages 42644-42646]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-20372]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Rural Utilities Service

RIN 0572-ZA01

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Telecommunications and Information Administration

RIN 0660-ZA28


Broadband Initiatives Program; Broadband Technology Opportunities 
Program

AGENCIES: Rural Utilities Service (RUS), Department of Agriculture, and 
National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA), 
Department of Commerce.

ACTION: Notice of funds availability; method of acceptance of 
supplemental attachments.

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SUMMARY: RUS and NTIA announce additional measures to ensure that any 
pending electronic applications experiencing difficulties uploading 
attachments into the Easygrants[reg] System for the Broadband 
Initiatives Program (BIP) and the Broadband Technology Opportunities 
Program (BTOP) can be submitted by the extended application deadline of 
August 20, 2009. The Easygrants[reg] System will not accept 
applications after 5 p.m. Eastern Time (ET) on August 20, 2009. In 
order to ensure that all pending electronic applications experiencing 
difficulties uploading attachments can be completed, the core 
application must be electronically submitted using the Easygrants[reg] 
System by 5 p.m. ET on August 20, 2009. The extension described herein 
pertains only to the attachments listed in the ``Uploads Checklist'' of 
the ``Uploads'' page of the Easygrants[reg] System, including documents 
submitted as

[[Page 42645]]

Supplemental Information. The core application is defined as all fields 
and questions in the application, not including the attachments listed 
in the ``Uploads Checklist'' of the ``Uploads'' page. Any attachments 
that the applicant is unable to upload to the Easygrants[reg] System 
must be submitted by August 24, 2009, using one of the following 
methods of delivery: hand-delivery, overnight express, or regular mail.

DATES: For both hand and mail deliveries, the attachments for both BIP 
and BTOP applications must be submitted on an appropriate electronic 
medium, such as a DVD, CD-ROM, or flash drive, and in the same document 
format and type as used for that respective attachment in the 
Easygrants[reg] System (e.g., .doc, .xls, .pdf) and postmarked no later 
than August 24, 2009, or hand-delivered no later than 5 p.m. ET on 
August 24, 2009, to the address listed below. Electronic mail and 
facsimile machine submissions will not be accepted.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For general inquiries regarding BIP, 
contact David J. Villano, Assistant Administrator Telecommunications 
Program, Rural Utilities Service, e-mail: [email protected], telephone: 
(202) 690-0525. For general inquiries regarding BTOP, contact Anthony 
Wilhelm, Deputy Associate Administrator, Infrastructure Division, 
Office of Telecommunications and Information Applications, National 
Telecommunications and Information Administration, e-mail: 
[email protected], telephone: (202) 482-2048.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On July 9, 2009, RUS and NTIA published a 
Notice of Funds Availability (NOFA) and Solicitation of Applications in 
the Federal Register announcing general policy and application 
procedures for the BIP and BTOP programs. 74 FR 33104 (2009). In the 
NOFA, RUS and NTIA encouraged all applicants to submit their 
applications electronically and required that certain applications be 
filed electronically through an online application system at http://www.broadbandusa.gov. 74 FR at 33118. RUS and NTIA established an 
application window for these grant programs from July 14, 2009, at 8 
a.m. ET through August 14, 2009, at 5 p.m. ET (application closing 
deadline).
    On August 13, 2009, the agencies extended the application deadline 
for BIP and BTOP until 5 p.m. ET on August 20, 2009, for those 
applicants that had an application pending in the Easygrants[reg] 
System as of the original application closing deadline, August 14, 
2009. The temporary extension allowed the agencies to review the 
electronic intake system and make improvements wherever possible to 
address the large volume of activity from potential applicants. In 
particular, the agencies added servers, increased the efficiency of the 
servers, and made software changes. While these efforts have greatly 
improved the filing experience for the applicants, the agencies believe 
it is prudent and reasonable to provide additional flexibility for 
meeting the application deadline. The agencies are committed to making 
the application process fair and user-friendly for the public. The 
agencies are therefore taking additional action, out of an abundance of 
caution, to ensure that all pending electronic applications can be 
submitted in a timely manner.
    By this Notice, RUS and NTIA remind applicants that applications 
are due by 5 p.m. ET on August 20, 2009. After 5 p.m. ET on August 20, 
2009, applicants will no longer be able to submit applications through 
the Easygrants[reg] System. Any information provided through the 
system, including attachments that have been uploaded, will be final by 
that time and not subject to revision or amendment by the 
applicants.\1\
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    \1\ Note that applicants may still view this information by 
logging into Easygrants[reg] and clicking the application link on 
their homepage. This links to the application's Main page, which 
will display a listing of all submitted attachments and links to the 
original and PDF-converted documents so that they can be viewed, 
downloaded, or printed. Applicants may also view, download, and 
print a PDF copy of their core application and any submitted 
attachments from this page.
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    To the extent that any applicant has been unable to upload any of 
the attachments to its application by the August 20th, 5 p.m. deadline, 
the applicant may submit the application without those attachments it 
is having difficulty uploading, effective as of the posting of this 
Notice. The agencies will permit the applicant a limited extension to 
submit the attachments it was unable to upload by hand-delivery, 
overnight express, or by regular mail, as outlined below, provided that 
the applicant has already submitted its core application in a timely 
fashion. All applicants still must submit the required portions of the 
core application electronically using the Easygrants[reg] System by 5 
p.m. ET on August 20, 2009. The extension described herein pertains 
only to the attachments listed in the ``Uploads Checklist'' of the 
``Uploads'' page of the Easygrants[reg] System, including documents 
submitted as Supplemental Information. The core application, which must 
be filed no later than 5 p.m. ET on August 20, 2009, is defined as all 
fields and questions in the application, not including the attachments 
listed in the ``Uploads Checklist'' of the ``Uploads'' page.
    As currently configured, the Easygrants[reg] System does not permit 
the submission of applications that are missing required attachments. 
In order to accommodate alternative methods for the submission of 
attachments, the Easygrants[reg] System will be reconfigured, effective 
9 a.m. ET on August 20th, to allow the submission of an application 
without required attachments. Thus, applicants will have the ability to 
submit their core application through the Easygrants[reg] System by 5 
p.m. ET on August 20, 2009 and subsequently submit any attachments that 
were not successfully uploaded by August 24, 2009, as described herein. 
It is emphasized, however, that every applicant should make every 
effort to submit its complete application, including attachments, 
through the Easygrants[reg] System if it can prior to availing itself 
of this option.
    RUS and NTIA strongly encourage the applicants to send an e-mail by 
midnight ET on August 20th to [email protected] indicating 
their intent to submit their attachments via alternate means. This 
notice will enable the agencies to better track and prepare for the 
submissions. The e-mail should contain the following information: (1) 
The Easygrants[reg] ID number; \2\ (2) a contact name and telephone 
number; (3) the agency to receive the application (BIP, BTOP, or BIP/
BTOP) (4) the type of project (Infrastructure, Public Computer Center, 
or Sustainable Broadband Adoption), (5) the list of attachment(s) that 
could not be uploaded into the Easygrants[reg] System. Applicants 
should not send any attachments with this e-mail.
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    \2\ The Easygrants[reg] ID number is generated once the 
application is started and is visible as a header in the pdf 
document.
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    Submission: The applicant must submit for each application:
    1. A letter containing the following information: (1) The 
Easygrants[reg] ID number; (2) a contact name and telephone number; (3) 
e-mail address; (4) the agency to receive the application (BIP, BTOP, 
or BIP/BTOP) (5) the type of project (Infrastructure, Public Computer 
Center, or Sustainable Broadband Adoption), (6) the list of 
attachment(s) that could not be uploaded into the Easygrants[reg] 
System.
    2. The attachments the applicant was unable to upload on the 
Easygrants[reg] System on an appropriate electronic

[[Page 42646]]

medium, such as a DVD, CD-ROM or flash drive, and in the same document 
format and type as used for that respective attachment in the 
Easygrants[reg] System (e.g., .doc, .xls, .pdf). Each file on the DVD, 
CD-ROM, or flash drive must be labeled in the following format: 
[Easygrants ID]--[Upload Number]--[Attachment Name] (e.g., 424--13--
Q40-- Attachment F-- Legal Opinion); \3\
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    \3\ The Upload Number can be found in the ``Uploads Checklist'' 
of the ``Uploads'' page. It is the first number that appears on the 
left in the first column. The Attachment Name appears after the 
Upload Number.
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    3. A letter signed by an authorized representative of the applicant 
certifying that he or she is authorized to submit the attachments on 
behalf of the applicant and that all attachments are true and correct 
to the best of his or her knowledge, information and belief; and
    4. A printout of the Easygrants[reg] application Main page, which 
will list all of the documents that were submitted with the application 
by 5 p.m. ET on August 20, 2009.
    One of the following methods of delivery must be used: hand-
delivery, overnight express or regular mail. Applicants are encouraged, 
but not required, to use overnight express services. Applicants 
choosing to submit their attachments via an electronic medium may only 
submit the attachments that were not already loaded successfully. 
Mailed submissions must be postmarked no later August 24, 2009. Hand-
delivered submissions must be delivered by 5 p.m. ET on August 24, 
2009. The NOFA sets forth the proof of mailing requirements. Electronic 
mail and facsimile machine submissions will not be accepted. Note that 
RUS and NTIA may require the applicant to resubmit attachments if they 
have any technical or other issues accessing or identifying the data 
contained in the applicant's electronic medium and such resubmission 
will not be considered a material revision to the application.
    All Attachments must be sent to: Broadband USA, 5301 Shawnee Road, 
Alexandria, VA 22312.
    All media received will not be returned to the applicant.

    Dated: August 19, 2009.
Jonathan Adelstein,
Administrator, Rural Utilities Service.
Lawrence E. Strickling,
Assistant Secretary for Communications and Information, National 
Telecommunications and Information Administration.
[FR Doc. E9-20372 Filed 8-20-09; 11:15 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-60-P