[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 68 (Friday, April 8, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 20614-20615]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-08040]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Rural Utilities Service


Rural Broadband Access Loans and Loan Guarantees Program

AGENCY: Rural Utilities Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice of Solicitation of Applications (NOSA).

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SUMMARY: The Rural Utilities Service (RUS), an agency of the United 
States Department of Agriculture (USDA), announces that it is accepting 
applications for fiscal year (FY) 2016 for the Rural Broadband Access 
Loan and Loan Guarantee program (the Broadband Program).
    In addition to announcing the application window, RUS announces the 
minimum and maximum amounts for broadband loans for FY 2016.

DATES: Applications under this NOSA will be accepted immediately and 
must be submitted through the Agency's online application system no 
later than July 7, 2016 to be eligible for FY 2016 broadband loan 
funding. Applications are subject to the requirements of the interim 
final regulation published in the Federal Register at Vol. 80, No. 146 
on Thursday, July 30, 2015.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For further information contact Shawn 
Arner, Deputy Assistant Administrator, Loan Originations and Approval 
Division, Rural Utilities Service, STOP 1597, 1400 Independence Avenue 
SW., Washington, DC 20250-1597, Telephone: (202) 720-0800, or email: 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

General Information

    The Rural Broadband Access Loan and Loan Guarantee Program (the 
Broadband Program) is authorized by the Rural Electrification Act (7 
U.S.C. 901 et seq.), as amended by the Agricultural Act of 2014 (Pub. 
L. 113-79) also referred to as the 2014 Farm Bill.
    During FY 2016, loans will be made available for the construction, 
improvement, and acquisition of facilities and equipment to provide 
service at the broadband lending speed for eligible rural areas. 
Applications must be submitted in accordance with the interim final 
rule published July 30, 2015.
    For questions about the requirements of completing an application 
please use the RUS contact listed in the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION 
CONTACT section of this notice.
    Application requirements: All requirements for submission of an 
application under the Broadband Program have been set forth in the 
interim regulation published July 30, 2015.
    Application Materials: Application materials for the Broadband 
Program are available at http://www.rd.usda.gov/programs-services/farm-bill-broadband-loans-loan-guarantees.
    Application Submission: All applications must be submitted through 
the Agency's online application system located at http://www.rd.usda.gov/programs-services/rd-apply. Paper applications will not 
be accepted.

Minimum and Maximum Loan Amounts

    Loans under this authority will not be made for less than $100,000. 
The maximum loan amount that will be considered for FY 2016 is 
$10,000,000.

Required Definitions for Broadband Program Regulation

    The interim regulation for the Broadband Program requires that 
certain definitions affecting eligibility be revised and published from 
time to time by the agency in the Federal Register. For the purposes of 
this NOSA, the agency will be revising the definition of Broadband 
Service established therein, such that for applications under this 
window, existing Broadband Service shall mean the minimum rate-of-data 
transmission of ten megabits downstream and one megabit upstream for 
both fixed and mobile broadband service. On the other hand, the rate at 
which applicants must propose to offer new broadband service, the 
Broadband Lending Speed, will be a minimum bandwidth of ten megabits 
downstream and one megabit upstream for both fixed and mobile service 
to the customer.

Priority for Approving Loan Applications

    Applications for FY 2016 will be accepted from April 8, 2016 
through July 7, 2016. Although review of applications will start when 
they are submitted, all applications submitted by July 7, 2016, will be 
evaluated and ranked together on the basis of the number of unserved 
households in the proposed funded service area. Subject to available 
funding, eligible applications that propose to serve the most unserved 
households will receive funding offers before other eligible 
applications that have been submitted.
    Applications will not be accepted after July 7, 2016, until a new 
funding window has been opened with the publication of an additional 
NOSA in the Federal Register.

Paperwork Reduction Act

    In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the 
information collection requirements associated with Broadband loans, as 
covered in this NOSA, have been approved by the Office of Management 
and Budget (OMB) under OMB Control Number 0572-0130.

USDA Non-Discrimination Statement

    In accordance with Federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of 
Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, the USDA, its 
Agencies, offices, and employees, and institutions participating in or 
administering USDA programs are prohibited from discriminating based on 
race, color, national origin, religion, sex, gender identity (including 
gender expression), sexual orientation, disability, age, marital 
status, family/

[[Page 20615]]

parental status, income derived from a public assistance program, 
political beliefs, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights 
activity, in any program or activity conducted or funded by USDA (not 
all bases apply to all programs). Remedies and complaint filing 
deadlines vary by program or incident.
    Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of 
communication for program information (e.g., Braille, large print, 
audiotape, American Sign Language, etc.) should contact the responsible 
Agency or USDA's TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TTY) or 
contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339. 
Additionally, program information may be made available in languages 
other than English.
    To file a program discrimination complaint, complete the USDA 
Program Discrimination Complaint Form, AD-3027, found online at http://www.ascr.usda.gov/complaint_filing_cust.html and at any USDA office or 
write a letter addressed to USDA and provide in the letter all of the 
information requested in the form. To request a copy of the complaint 
form, call (866) 632-9992. Submit your completed form or letter to USDA 
by:
    (1) Mail: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Office of the Assistant 
Secretary for Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue SW., Washington, 
DC 20250-9410;
    (2) Fax: (202) 690-7442; or
    (3) Email: [email protected].
    USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer, and lender.

    Dated: March 30, 2016.
Brandon McBride,
Administrator, Rural Utilities Service.
[FR Doc. 2016-08040 Filed 4-7-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3410-15-P