Announcement of Grant and Loan Application Deadlines and Funding Levels, 2844-2849 [05-934]

Agencies

• DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
• Rural Utilities Service

[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 11 (Tuesday, January 18, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Pages 2844-2849]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-934]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Rural Utilities Service


Announcement of Grant and Loan Application Deadlines and Funding 
Levels

AGENCY: Rural Utilities Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice of funding availability and solicitation of 
applications.

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SUMMARY: The Rural Utilities Service (RUS) announces the Fiscal Year 
(FY) 2005 funding levels available for its Distance Learning and 
Telemedicine (DLT) grant, combination loan-grant and loan programs. In 
addition, RUS announces the minimum and maximum amounts for DLT 
combination loan-grants and loans applicable for the fiscal year and 
the solicitation of combination loan-grant and loan applications.

[[Page 2845]]


DATES: You may submit completed applications for combination loan-
grants and loans at any time.
    Reminder of competitive grant application deadline: applications 
must be mailed, shipped or submitted electronically through Grants.gov 
no later than February 1, 2005, to be eligible for FY 2005 grant 
funding. The Notice of Solicitation of Applications published in the 
Federal Register (69 FR 70217, December 3, 2004), provides information 
on resources and requirements for the competitive grant program.

ADDRESSES: You may obtain application guides and materials for all DLT 
programs via the Internet at the DLT Web site: https://www.usda.gov/rus/
telecom/dlt/dlt.htm. You may also request application guides and 
materials from RUS by contacting the DLT Program at (202) 720-0413.
    Submit completed paper applications for grants, combination loan-
grants or loans to the Rural Utilities Service, U.S. Department of 
Agriculture, 1400 Independence Ave., SW., Room 2845, STOP 1550, 
Washington, DC 20250-1550. Applications should be marked ``Attention: 
Director, Advanced Services Division, Telecommunications Program.''
    Submit electronic grant or combination loan-grant applications at 
https://www.grants.gov (Grants.gov), following the instructions you find 
on that Web site.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Orren E. Cameron, III, Director, 
Advanced Services Division, Rural Utilities Service, U.S. Department of 
Agriculture, telephone: (202) 720-0413, fax: (202) 720-1051.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Overview

    Federal Agency: Rural Utilities Service (RUS).
    Funding Opportunity Title: Distance Learning and Telemedicine Loans 
and Grants.
    Announcement Type: Funding Level Announcement, and Solicitation of 
Applications.
    Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) Number: 10.855.
    Dates: You may submit completed applications for combination loan-
grants and loans at any time.
    Reminder of competitive grant application deadline: applications 
must be mailed, shipped or submitted electronically through Grants.gov 
no later than February 1, 2005, to be eligible for FY 2005 grant 
funding. The Notice of Solicitation of Applications published in the 
Federal Register (69 FR 70217, December 3, 2004), provides information 
on resources and requirements for the competitive grant program.

Items in Supplementary Information

I. Funding Opportunity: Brief introduction to the DLT program
II. Award Information: Available funds, minimum and maximum amounts
III. Eligibility Information: Who is eligible, what kinds of 
projects are eligible, what criteria determine basic eligibility
IV. Application and Submission Information: Where to get application 
materials, what constitutes a completed application, how and where 
to submit applications, deadlines, items that are eligible
V. Application Review Information: Considerations and preferences, 
scoring criteria, review standards, selection information
VI. Award Administration Information: Award notice information, 
award recipient reporting requirements
VII. Agency Contacts: Web, phone, fax, email, contact name

I. Funding Opportunity

    Distance learning and telemedicine loans and grants are 
specifically designed to provide access to education, training and 
health care resources for people in rural America. The Distance 
Learning and Telemedicine (DLT) Program (administered by the DLT Branch 
of the Rural Utilities Service (RUS)) funds the use of advanced 
telecommunications technologies to help communities meet those needs.
    The grants, which are awarded through competitive process, may be 
used to fund telecommunications, computer networks and related advanced 
technologies.
    Applications for loans and combination loan-grants are not 
competitively scored. In addition to the items listed for grants, loans 
and combination loan-grants may be used to fund construction of 
necessary transmission facilities on a technology-neutral basis. 
Examples of such facilities include satellite uplinks, microwave towers 
and associated structures, T-1 lines, DS-3 lines, and other similar 
facilities. Loan funds may also be used to obtain mobile units and for 
some building construction. Please see 7 CFR 1703, Subparts D, E, F and 
G for specifics.

II. Award Information

    A. Available funds.
    1. General. The Administrator has determined that the following 
amounts are available for grants, combination loan-grants and loans in 
FY 2005 under 7 CFR 1703.101(g).
    2. Grants. $20.8 million is available for grants. Under 7 CFR 
1703.124, the Administrator has determined the maximum amount of an 
application for a grant in FY 2005 is $500,000 and the minimum amount 
of a grant is $50,000. The Notice of Solicitation of Applications 
published in the Federal Register (69 FR 70217, December 3, 2004), 
provides information on resources and requirements for the competitive 
grant program.
    3. Combination Loan-Grants.
    a. $44 million is available for combination loan-grants ($40 
million in loans paired with $4 million in grants, i.e., $100 loan : 
$10 grant ratio). Under 7 CFR 1703.133, the Administrator has 
determined the maximum amount of an application for a combination loan-
grant in FY 2005 is $10 million and the minimum amount of a combination 
loan-grant is $50,000.
    b. RUS will execute grant and loan documents appropriate to the 
project prior to any advance of funds with successful applicants.
    4. Loans.
    a. $9.6 million is available for loans. Under 7 CFR 1703.143, the 
Administrator has determined the maximum amount of an application for a 
loan in FY 2005 is $9.6 million and the minimum amount of a loan is 
$50,000.
    b. Financial assistance documents. RUS will execute loan documents 
appropriate to the project prior to any advance of funds with 
successful applicants.
    B. Renewal of financial assistance. DLT grants, combination loan-
grants and loans cannot be renewed. Award documents specify the term of 
each award. Applications to extend existing projects are welcomed 
(grant applications must be submitted during the application window) 
and will be evaluated as new applications.

III. Eligibility Information

    A. Who is eligible for combination loan-grants and loans? (See 7 
CFR 1703.103.)
    1. Only entities legally organized as one of the following are 
eligible for DLT financial assistance:
    a. An incorporated organization or partnership,
    b. An Indian tribe or tribal organization, as defined in 25 U.S.C. 
450b (b) and (c),
    c. A State or local unit of government,
    d. A consortium, as defined in 7 CFR 1703.102, or
    e. Other legal entity, including a private corporation organized on 
a for-profit or not-for profit basis.
    2. Individuals are not eligible for DLT financial assistance 
directly.
    3. Electric and telecommunications borrowers under the Rural

[[Page 2846]]

Electrification Act of 1936 (7 U.S.C. 950aaa et seq.) are not eligible 
for combination loan-grants. They are, however, eligible for loans (see 
7 CFR 1703.101(f)).
    B. What are the basic eligibility requirements for a project?
    1. The DLT Program is designed to flow the benefits of distance 
learning and telemedicine to residents of rural America (see 7 CFR 
1703.103(a)(2)). Therefore, in order to be eligible, applicants must 
propose to use the financial assistance to:
    a. Operate a rural community facility; or
    b. Deliver distance learning or telemedicine services to entities 
that operate a rural community facility or to residents of rural areas, 
at rates calculated to ensure that the benefit of the financial 
assistance is passed through to such entities or to residents of rural 
areas.
    2. If a loan applicant is a telecommunications or electric borrower 
under the Rural Electrification Act of 1936 (7 U.S.C. 901-950aa, et 
seq.), they may either pass the loan along to an entity that will 
fulfill paragraph III.B.1 of this notice; or acquire, install, extend 
or improve a distance learning or telemedicine facility. Please see 7 
CFR 1703.101(f).
    3. All projects that applicants propose to fund with RUS financial 
assistance must meet a minimum rurality threshold, to ensure that 
benefits from the projects flow to rural residents. The minimum 
eligibility score is 20 points. Please see 7 CFR 1703.126(a)(2) for an 
explanation of the rurality scoring and eligibility criterion.
    a. Each application must apply the following criteria to each of 
its end-user sites, and hubs that are also proposed as end-user sites, 
in order to determine a rurality score.
    b. The rurality score is the average of all end-user sites' 
rurality scores.

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                Criterion                           Character                    Population           DLT points
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Exceptionally Rural Area.................  Area not within a city,      <=5000.....................           45
                                            village or borough.
Rural Area...............................  Incorporated or              >5000 and <=10,000.........           30
                                            unincorporated area.
Mid-Rural Area...........................  Incorporated or              >10,000 and <=20,000.......           15
                                            unincorporated area.
Urban Area...............................  Incorporated or              >20,000....................            0
                                            unincorporated area.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    4. Projects located in areas covered by the Coastal Barrier 
Resources Act (16 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.) are not eligible for any 
financial assistance from the DLT Program. Please see 7 CFR 
1703.132(a)(5) for combination loan-grants and 7 CFR 1703.142(b)(3) for 
loans.
    C. What are the items are required in an application? See paragraph 
IV.B of this notice for a discussion of the items that make up a 
completed application. You may also refer to 7 CFR 1703.134 for 
completed combination loan-grant application items, and 7 CFR 1703.144 
for completed loan application items.

IV. Application and Submission Information

    A. Where to get application information. The loan and combination 
loan-grant application guide, copies of necessary forms and samples, 
and the DLT Program regulation are available from these sources:
    1. The Internet: https://www.usda.gov/rus/telecom/dlt/dlt.htm, or 
https://www.grants.gov.
    2. The DLT Program of RUS for paper copies of these materials: 
(202) 720-0413.
    B. What constitutes a completed application?
    1. Detailed information on each item in the table in paragraph 
IV.B.6 of this notice can be found in the sections of the DLT Program 
regulation listed in the table, and the DLT application guide. 
Applicants are strongly encouraged to read and apply both the 
regulation and the application guide.
    a. When the table refers to a narrative, it means a written 
statement, description or other written material prepared by the 
applicant, for which no form exists. RUS recognizes that each project 
is unique and requests narratives of varying complexity to allow 
applicants to fully explain their request for financial assistance.
    b. When documentation is requested, it means letters, 
certifications, legal documents or other third party documentation that 
provide evidence that the applicant meets the listed requirement. For 
example, evidence of legal existence is sometimes proven by applicants 
who submit articles of incorporation. This example is not intended to 
limit the types of documentation that may be submitted to fulfill a 
requirement. DLT program regulations and the application guide provide 
specific guidance on each of the items in the table.
    2. The DLT application guide and ancillary materials provide all 
necessary forms and sample worksheets.
    3. While the table in paragraph IV.B.6 of this notice includes all 
items of a completed application for each program, RUS may ask for 
additional or clarifying information if the submitted item(s) do not 
fully address a criterion or other provision. RUS will communicate with 
applicants if the need for additional information arises.
    4. Submit the required application items in the listed order.
    5. DUNS Number. As required by the OMB, all applicants for 
combination loan-grants must supply a Dun and Bradstreet Data Universal 
Numbering System (DUNS) number when applying. The Standard Form 424 
(SF-424) contains a field for you to use when supplying your DUNS 
number. Obtaining a DUNS number costs nothing and requires a short 
telephone call to Dun and Bradstreet. Please see the DLT Web site or 
Grants.gov for more information on how to obtain a DUNS number or how 
to verify your organization's number.

                      6. Table of Required Elements of a Completed Application, by Program
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                             Required items by application type
                                          ----------------------------------------------------------------------
             Application item               Combination loan-grants (7
                                              CFR 1703.134 and  7 CFR       Loans  (7 CFR 1703.144 and  7 CFR
                                                     1703.135)                          1703.145)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SF-424, completely filled out              Yes.........................  Yes.
 (Application for Federal Assistance
 form).
Executive Summary (narrative)............  Yes.........................  Yes.
Rural Calculation Table..................  Yes.........................  Yes.

[[Page 2847]]

 
Budget (table or other appropriate         Yes.........................  Yes.
 format).
Financial Information/Sustainability       Yes.........................  Yes.
 (narrative).
Pro Forma Financial Data (documentation).  Yes.........................  Yes.
Ability to execute a note with maturity >  Yes.........................  Yes.
 1 year (documentation).
Revenue/expense reports and balance sheet  Yes \1\.....................  Yes.\1\
 (documentation: table or other
 appropriate format).
Income statement and balance sheet         Yes \2\.....................  Yes.\2\
 (documentation: table or other
 appropriate format).
Balance sheet (table or other appropriate  Yes.........................  Yes.
 format) for a partnership, corporation,
 company, other entity; or consortia of
 such entities (documentation).
Property list (collateral)/adequate        Yes.........................  Yes.
 security (documentation).
Depreciation schedule....................  Yes.........................  Yes.
Revenue Source(s) for each hub and end-    Yes.........................  Yes.
 user site (documentation).
Economic analysis of rates--if applicant   Yes.........................  Yes.
 proposes to provide services to another
 entity (documentation).
Telecommunications System Plan (narrative  Yes.........................  Yes.
 & documentation; maps or diagrams, if
 appropriate).
Scope of Work (narrative or other          Yes.........................  Yes.
 appropriate format).
Statement of Experience (narrative 3-      Yes.........................  Yes.
 page, single-spaced limit).
Certifications:
    Equal Opportunity and                  Yes.........................  Yes.
     Nondiscrimination.
    Architectural Barriers...............  Yes.........................  Yes.
    Flood Hazard Area Precautions........  Yes.........................  Yes.
    Uniform Relocation Assistance and      Yes.........................  Yes.
     Real Property Acquisition Policies
     Act of 1970.
    Drug-Free Workplace..................  Yes.........................  Yes.
    Debarment, Suspension, and Other       Yes.........................  Yes.
     Responsibility Matters--Primary
     Covered Transactions.
    Lobbying for Contracts, Grants,        Yes.........................  Yes.
     Loans, and Cooperative Agreements.
    Non Duplication of Services..........  Yes.........................  Yes.
    Environmental Impact/Historic          Yes.........................  Yes.
     Preservation Certification.
    Environmental Impact/Historic          Yes \3\.....................  Yes.\3\
     Preservation Questionnaire.
    Federal Obligations on Delinquent      Yes.........................  Yes.
     Debt.
Evidence of Legal Authority to Contract    Yes.........................  Yes.
 with the Government (documentation).
Evidence of Legal Existence                Yes.........................  Yes.
 (documentation).
Supplemental Information (if               Optional....................  Optional.
 any)(narrative, documentation or other
 appropriate format).
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ For educational institutions/consortia.
\2\ For medical institutions/consortia.
\3\ If project involves construction.

    C. How many copies of an application are required?
    1. Applications submitted on paper:
    a. Submit the original application and two (2) copies to RUS.
    b. Submit one (1) additional copy to the State government point of 
contact (if one has been designated) at the same time as you submit the 
application to RUS. See https://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/grants/spoc.html 
for an updated listing of State government points of contact or contact 
the DLT Program.
    2. Electronically submitted applications (combination loan-grants):
    a. The additional paper copies for RUS specified in 7 CFR 
1703.136(b) are not necessary if you submit the application 
electronically through Grants.gov.
    b. Submit one (1) copy to the State government point of contact (if 
one has been designated) at the same time as you submit the application 
to RUS. See https://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/grants/spoc.html for an 
updated listing of State government points of contact.
    D. How and where to submit an application. Combination loan-grant 
applications may be submitted on paper or electronically. RUS cannot 
accept electronic loan applications at this time; please submit loan 
applications on paper.
    1. Submitting applications on paper.
    a. Address paper applications for combination loan-grants or loans 
to the Rural Utilities Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, 1400 
Independence Ave., SW., Room 2845, STOP 1550, Washington, DC 20250-
1550. Applications should be marked ``Attention: Director, Advanced 
Services Division, Telecommunications Program.''
    b. Packages arriving at the Department of Agriculture via the USPS 
are irradiated, which can damage the contents. RUS encourages 
applicants to consider the impact of this procedure in selecting their 
application delivery method.
    2. Electronically submitted applications (applies only to 
combination loan-grants).
    a. Applications will not be accepted via facsimile machine 
transmission or electronic mail.
    b. Electronic applications for combination loan-grants will be 
accepted if submitted through the Federal government's Grants.gov 
initiative at https://www.grants.gov.
    c. How to use Grants.gov:
    (i) Navigate your Web browser to https://www.grants.gov.

[[Page 2848]]

    (ii) Follow the instructions on that Web site to find grant or 
combination loan-grant information.
    (iii) Download a copy of an application package.
    (iv) Complete the package off-line.
    (v) Upload and submit the application via the Grants.gov Web site.
    d. Grants.gov contains full instructions on all required passwords, 
credentialing and software.
    e. If a system problem occurs or you have technical difficulties 
with an electronic application, please use the customer support 
resources available at the Grants.gov Web site.
    f. Central Contractor Registry. In addition to the DUNS number now 
required of all grant applicants, submitting an application through 
Grants.gov requires that you list your organization in the Central 
Contractor Registry (CCR). Setting up a CCR listing (a one-time 
procedure with annual updates) takes up to five business days, so RUS 
strongly recommends that you obtain your organization's DUNS number and 
CCR listing well in advance of the deadline specified in this notice.
    g. Credentialing and authorization of applicants. Grants.gov will 
also require some one-time credentialing and online authentication 
procedures. These procedures may take several business days to 
complete, further emphasizing the need for early action to complete the 
sign-up, credentialing and authorization procedures at Grants.gov 
before you submit an application at that Web site.
    E. Deadlines.
    1. Reminder of competitive grant application deadline: applications 
must be mailed, shipped or submitted electronically through Grants.gov 
no later than February 1, 2005, to be eligible for FY 2005 grant 
funding. The Notice of Solicitation of Applications published in the 
Federal Register (69 FR 70217, December 3, 2004), provides information 
on resources and requirements for the competitive grant program.
    2. Applications for FY 2005 combination loan-grants (paper or 
electronic) and loans (paper only) may be submitted at any time.
    F. Intergovernmental review. All DLT programs are subject to 
Executive Order 12372, ``Intergovernmental Review of Federal 
Programs.'' As stated in paragraph IV.C of this notice, a copy of a DLT 
combination loan-grant application or a loan application must be 
submitted to the State single point of contact if one has been 
designated. Please see https://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/grants/spoc.html 
to determine whether your State has a single point of contact.
    G. Funding restrictions.
    1. Eligible purposes.
    a. End-user sites may receive financial assistance; hub sites 
(rural or non-rural) may also receive financial assistance if they are 
necessary to provide DLT services to end-user sites. Please see 7 CFR 
1703.101(h).
    b. To fulfill the policy goals laid out for the DLT Program in 7 
CFR 1703.101, the following table lists purposes for financial 
assistance and whether each purpose is eligible for the assistance. 
Please consult the application guide and the regulations (7 CFR 
1703.102 for definitions, in combination with the portions of the 
regulation cited in the table for each type of financial assistance) 
for detailed requirements for the items in the table.

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                                   Combination loan-
                                    grants  (7 CFR       Loans  (7 CFR
                                  1703.131 and 7 CFR  1703.141 and 7 CFR
                                       1703.132)           1703.142)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Lease or purchase of eligible     Yes...............  Yes.
 DLT equipment and facilities.
Acquire instructional             Yes...............  Yes.
 programming.
Technical assistance, develop     Yes, not to exceed  Yes, not to exceed
 instructional programming,        10% of the          10% of the
 engineering or environmental      financial           financial
 studies.                          assistance.         assistance.
Medical or education equipment    Yes...............  Yes.
 or facilities necessary to the
 project.
Vehicles using distance learning  Yes...............  Yes.
 or telemedicine technology to
 deliver services.
Teacher-student links located at  Yes, if linking is  Yes, if linking is
 the same facility.                part of a broader   part of a broader
                                   DLT network that    DLT network that
                                   meets other         meets other loan
                                   combination loan-   purposes.
                                   grant purposes.
Links between medical             Yes, if linking is  Yes, if linking is
 professionals located at the      part of a broader   part of a broader
 same facility.                    DLT network that    DLT network that
                                   meets other         meets other loan
                                   combination loan-   purposes.
                                   grant purposes.
Site development or building      Yes, if the         Yes, if the
 alteration.                       activity meets      activity meets
                                   other combination   other loan
                                   loan-grant          purposes.
                                   purposes.
Land or building purchase.......  Yes, if the         Yes, if necessary
                                   activity meets      to the overall
                                   other combination   project and
                                   loan-grant          incidental to the
                                   purposes.           loan amount.
Building construction...........  Yes, if the         Yes, if necessary
                                   activity meets      to the overall
                                   other combination   project and
                                   loan-grant          incidental to the
                                   purposes.           loan amount.
Acquiring telecommunications      Yes, if other       Yes, if other
 transmission facilities.          telecommunication   telecommunication
                                   s carriers will     s carriers will
                                   not install in a    not install in a
                                   reasonable time     reasonable time
                                   period & at an      period & at an
                                   economically        economically
                                   viable cost to      viable cost to
                                   the project.        the project.
Salaries, wages, benefits for     No................  No.
 medical or educational
 personnel.
Salaries/administrative expenses  No................  No.
 of applicant or project.
Recurring project costs or        No (equipment &     Yes, for the first
 operating expense.                facility leases     two years after
                                   are eligible).      approval (leases
                                                       are not recurring
                                                       project costs).
Equipment to be owned by the LEC  Yes...............  Yes.
 or other telecommunications
 service provider, if the
 provider is the applicant.
Duplicate distance learning or    No................  No.
 telemedicine services.

[[Page 2849]]

 
Any project that, for its         No................  No.
 success, depends on additional
 DLT financial assistance or
 other financial assistance that
 is not assured.
Application preparation costs...  No................  No.
Other project costs not covered   No................  Yes, for the first
 in regulation.                                        two years of the
                                                       operation.
Costs & facilities providing      No................  Yes; financial
 distance learning broadcating.                        assistance amount
                                                       directly
                                                       proportional to
                                                       the distance
                                                       learning portion
                                                       of use.
Reimburse applicant or others     No................  No.
 for costs incurred prior to
 RUS' receipt of completed
 application.
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    2. Eligible Equipment & Facilities. Please see 7 CFR 1703.102 for 
definitions of eligible equipment, eligible facilities and 
telecommunications transmission facilities as used in the table above.

V. Application Review Information

    A. Special considerations or preferences. 7 CFR 1703.112 directs 
that an RUS telecommunications borrower will receive expedited 
consideration and determination of a loan application or advance under 
the Rural Electrification Act of 1936 (7 U.S.C. 901-950aa, et seq.) if 
the loan funds in question are to be used in conjunction with a DLT 
grant, loan or combination loan-grant (See 7 CFR 1737 for loans and 7 
CFR 1744 for advances).
    B. Criteria. Combination loan-grant applications and loan 
applications are evaluated on the basis of technical, financial, 
economic and other criteria. Please see paragraph IV.B.6 of this notice 
for the items that will be evaluated for a combination loan-grant or 
loan application, and paragraph V.C of this notice for a brief listing 
of evaluation standards.
    C. Combination loan-grants and loans review standards.
    1. RUS evaluates applications' financial feasibility using the 
following information. Please see paragraph IV.B.6 of this of this 
notice for the items that constitute a completed combination loan-grant 
or loan application. Also, see 7 CFR part 1703 subpart F for 
combination loan-grants and 7 CFR part 1703 subpart G for loans:
    a. Applicant's financial ability to compete the project;
    b. Project feasibility;
    c. Applicant's financial information;
    d. Project sustainability;
    e. Ability to repay the loan portion of a combination loan-grant, 
including revenue sources;
    f. Collateral for which the applicant has perfected a security 
interest; and
    g. Adequate security for a loan or the loan portion of a 
combination loan-grant.
    2. RUS also evaluates the following project and application 
characteristics:
    a. Services to be provided by the project.
    b. Project cost.
    c. Project design.
    d. Rurality of the proposed service area. Please see paragraph 
III.B.3 of this Notice for information on determining rurality.
    e. Other characteristics.
    D. Combination loan-grants and loans selection process. Based on 
the review standards listed above and in the DLT Program regulation, 
RUS will process successful loan applications on a first-in, first-out 
basis, dependent upon the availability of funds. Please see 7 CFR 
1703.135 for combination loan-grant application processing and 
selection; and 7 CFR 1703.145 for loan application processing and 
selection.

VI. Award Administration Information

    A. Combination loan-grants and loans award notices.
    RUS recognizes that each funded project is unique, and therefore 
may attach conditions to different projects' award documents.
    1. RUS generally sends a letter defining the characteristics of a 
loan (or the loan portion of a combination loan-grant) such as the 
term, interest rate and any conditions on the loan. An applicant must 
communicate agreement with the characteristics of the loan to RUS 
before a loan or combination loan-grant moves into the approval 
process.
    2. After receiving the applicant's agreement on the loan 
characteristics, RUS supplies an approval letter to the applicant. Loan 
documents (and a grant agreement, if applicable) are then sent by RUS. 
The applicant has 120 days to sign and return the documents, along with 
any additional material required by the loan or grant documents.
    B. Administrative and national policy requirements. The items 
listed in paragraph IV.B.6 of this Notice, and the DLT Program 
regulation, application guides and accompanying materials implement the 
appropriate administrative and national policy requirements.
    C. Reporting.
    1. Performance reporting. All recipients of DLT financial 
assistance must provide annual performance activity reports to RUS 
until the project is complete and the funds are expended. A final 
performance report is also required; the final report may serve as the 
last annual report. The final report must include an evaluation of the 
success of the project in meeting DLT Program objectives. See 7 CFR 
1703.107.
    2. Financial reporting. All recipients of DLT financial assistance 
must provide an annual audit, beginning with the first year a portion 
of the financial assistance is expended. Audits are governed by United 
States Department of Agriculture audit regulations. Please see 7 CFR 
1703.108.

VII. Agency Contacts

    A. Web site: https://www.usda.gov/rus/telecom/dlt/dlt.htm. The RUS' 
DLT Web site maintains up-to-date resources and contact information for 
DLT programs.
    B. Phone: 202-720-0413.
    C. Fax: 202-720-1051.
    D. E-mail: dltinfo@usda.gov.
    E. Main point of contact: Orren E. Cameron, III, Director, Advanced 
Services Division, Rural Utilities Service, U.S. Department of 
Agriculture.

    Dated: January 12, 2005.
Curtis M. Anderson,
Acting Administrator, Rural Utilities Service.
[FR Doc. 05-934 Filed 1-14-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-15-P