[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 35 (Tuesday, February 22, 2022)]
[Notices]
[Page 9567]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2022-03716]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Rural Utilities Service

[Docket No. RUS-22-TELECOM-0009]


Rural eConnectivity Program; Correction

AGENCY: Rural Utilities Service, Department of Agriculture.

ACTION: Notice; correction and amendment to Funding Opportunity 
Announcement (FOA).

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SUMMARY: The Rural Utilities Service (RUS) published a Funding 
Opportunity Announcement (FOA) and solicitation of applications in the 
Federal Register on October 25, 2021, entitled Rural eConnectivity 
Program (ReConnect Program), announcing its general policy and 
application procedures for funding under the ReConnect Program 
established pursuant to the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2018 
(which became law on February 15, 2019) which provides loans, grants, 
and loan/grant combinations to facilitate broadband deployment in rural 
areas. The purpose of this notice is to inform the public of changes 
made to the ReConnect program and to correct the October notice. The 
two changes are extending the application window until 11:59 a.m.. 
Eastern on March 9, 2022 and potentially increasing total level of 
funding.

DATES: Actions described in this notice take effect February 22, 2022.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For general inquiries regarding the 
ReConnect Program, contact Laurel Leverier, Assistant Administrator 
Telecommunications Program, Rural Utilities Service, U.S. Department of 
Agriculture (USDA), email: [email protected], telephone (202) 
720-9554. For inquiries regarding eligible service areas, please 
contact ReConnect Program Staff at https://www.usda.gov/reconnect/contact-us.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    On October 25, 2021, RUS published a Funding Opportunity 
Announcement (FOA) and solicitation of applications in the Federal 
Register at 86 FR 58860. The FOA provided the policy and application 
procedures for the ReConnect Program. In support of the ReConnect 
Program, the agency identified the application closing date and funding 
amount for each category.
    Since the publication of the FOA, the Agency's application system 
has been experiencing some issues that have hampered applicants from 
being able to complete applications. To allow the Agency sufficient 
time to address all the system issues and to give the applicants 
adequate time to complete their applications, the Agency has determined 
that an extension of the current period for submitting applications 
warranted. The actions taken in this notice will extend the application 
window until 11:59 a.m. Eastern on March 9, 2022. These actions are 
being taken by the Agency to ensure a successful third round of funding 
under the ReConnect Program.
    There has also been a variety of new funding sources that meet the 
goals and purposes of this program. Therefore, to minimize the notices 
required, RUS may, at its discretion, increase the total level of 
funding available in this funding round or in any category in this 
funding round from any available source provided the awards meet the 
requirements of the statute which made the funding available to the 
agency.

Summary of Changes

    The FOA published in the Federal Register on October 25, 2021, FOA 
must be corrected in regard to the application window being expanded 
from 11:59 a.m. Eastern on February 22, 2022 to 11:59 a.m. Eastern on 
March 9, 2022. The FOA must also be corrected to allow RUS at its 
discretion to increase the total level of funding available.

Corrections

    In FR Doc. 2021-23128 appearing on page 58860 in the Federal 
Register of Monday, October 25, 2021, the following corrections are 
made:
    1. On page 58860, second column, under DATES, correct ``11:59 a.m. 
Eastern on February 22, 2022'' to read ``11:59 a.m. Eastern on March 9, 
2022''.
    2. On page 85560, third column, under Overview, in the Dates 
section:
    i. Correct ``11:59 a.m. Eastern on February 22, 2022'' to read 
``11:59 a.m. Eastern on March 9, 2022''; and
    ii. Correct the sentence ``Applications will not be accepted after 
February 22, 2022 until a new application opportunity has been opened 
with the publication of an additional FOA in the Federal Register'' to 
read ``Applications will not be accepted after March 9, 2022 until a 
new application opportunity has been opened with the publication of an 
additional FOA in the Federal Register''.
    3. On page 58861, first column, at the end of the first full 
paragraph, add the sentence ``RUS may at its discretion, increase the 
total level of funding available in this funding round or in any 
category in this funding round from any available source provided the 
awards meet the requirements of the statute which made the funding 
available to the agency.''

Christopher A. McLean,
Acting Administrator, Rural Utilities Service.
[FR Doc. 2022-03716 Filed 2-17-22; 8:45 am]
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