Rural Broadband Access Loans and Loan Guarantees Program, 10595-10596 [05-4241]

Download as PDF Federal Register / Vol. 70, No. 42 / Friday, March 4, 2005 / Notices Abstract: The Business and Industry (B&I) Guaranteed and Direct Loan Programs are authorized under Section 310B of the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act, as amended. The purpose of the (B&I) Guaranteed and Direct Loan Programs is to improve, develop, or finance businesses, industry and employment and improve the economic and environmental climate in rural communities, including pollution control abatement and control. This purpose is achieved through bolstering the existing private credit structure, either through the guaranteeing of quality loans made by lending institutions, or making direct loans, thereby providing lasting community benefits. B&I program authority is composed of direct loan authority and loan guarantee authority. The program is administered by the Agency through a State Director serving the State. All reporting and recordkeeping burden estimates for making and servicing B&I Guaranteed Loans have been moved to the new B&I Guaranteed Loan Program regulations which are at 7 CFR Parts 4279 and 4287. The only burden associated with 7 CFR Part 1980 is a small portion of B&I Direct loan servicing. 7 CFR Part 1951 is also used for servicing B&I Direct and Community Facility Loans. Estimate of Burden: Public reporting for this collection of information is estimated to average 3 hours per response. Respondents: Individuals, rural businesses, for profit businesses, nonprofit businesses, Indian tribes, public bodies, and cooperatives. Estimated Number of Respondents: 152. Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: 2. Estimated Number of Responses: 352. Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 835 hours. Copies of this information collection can be obtained from Renita Bolden, Regulations and Paperwork Management Branch, Support Services Division at (202) 692–0035. Comments: Comments are invited on: (a) Whether the proposed collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of RBS, including whether the information will have practical utility; (b) the accuracy of RBS estimate of the burden of the proposed collection of information including the validity of the methodology and assumptions used; (c) ways to enhance the quality, utility and clarity of the information to be collected; and (d) ways to minimize the burden of the collection of information on those who are to respond, including VerDate jul<14>2003 19:07 Mar 03, 2005 Jkt 205001 through the use of appropriate automated, electronic, mechanical, or other technological collection techniques or other forms of information technology. Comments may be sent to Renita Bolden, Regulations and Paperwork Management Branch, Support Services Division, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Rural Development, STOP 0742, 1400 Independence Ave. SW., Washington, DC 20250. All responses to this notice will be summarized and included in the request for OMB approval. All comments will also become a matter of public record. Dated: February 23, 2005. Peter J. Thomas, Administrator, Rural Business-Cooperative Service. [FR Doc. 05–4269 Filed 3–3–05; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3410–XY–P DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE Rural Utilities Service Rural Broadband Access Loans and Loan Guarantees Program Rural Utilities Service, USDA. Notice of funds availability. AGENCY: ACTION: SUMMARY: The Rural Utilities Service (RUS), an agency delivering the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Rural Development Utilities Programs, announces funding available for the Rural Broadband Access Loan and Loan Guarantee program. For FY 2005, no less than $2.157 billion in loans is available, $2.032 billion for direct costof-money loans, $46 million for direct 4percent loans, and $79 million for loan guarantees. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jonathan P. Claffey, Acting Assistant Administrator, Telecommunications Program, Rural Utilities Service, STOP 1590, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20250–1590, telephone (202) 720–9554, Facsimile (202) 720– 0810. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: General Information During FY 2005, no less than $2.157 billion will be made available for loans and loan guarantees for the construction, improvement, and acquisition of facilities and equipment for broadband service in eligible rural communities. Of the total loan funds available, $2.032 billion will be available for direct cost-of-money loans, $46 million for 4-percent direct loans, and $79 million for loan guarantees. The Rural Broadband Access Loan and Loan PO 00000 Frm 00005 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 10595 Guarantee Program is authorized by the Rural Electrification Act (7 U.S.C. 601) (the Act), as added by the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002, Public Law 101–171. Applications must be submitted in accordance with 7 CFR part 1738. This part and an application guide to assist in the preparation of applications are available in the Internet at: https:// www.usda.gov/rus/telecom/ broadband.htm. Application guides may also be requested from RUS by contacting the agency contact. Agency Contacts For application information, contact the following individual: Kenneth Kuchno, Director, Broadband Division, Telecommunications Program, RUS/USDA, Room 2846, Stop 1599, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20250–1599. (202) 690– 4673. Minimum and Maximum Loan Amounts Loans and loan guarantees under this authority will not be made for less than $100,000. Maximum loan amounts apply only to the direct 4-percent loan program. The maximum amount available for any one applicant for a direct 4-percent loan is $7,500,000. Minimum Rate of Data Transmission Criteria The Secretary of Agriculture determines what qualifies as broadband service for the purpose of determining eligibility for financial assistance under the Rural Broadband Access Loan and Loan Guarantee Program. During fiscal year 2005, to qualify as broadband service, the minimum rate-of-data transmission shall be 200 kilobits/ second in the customer’s connection to the network, both from the provider to the customer (downstream) and from the customer to the provider (upstream). State Allocations The annual state allocation will not be made for Fiscal Year 2005. To ensure the obligations of funds by April, as required by the Farm Bill, an annual application submission deadline of January 31 for funding from the state allocation reserves was adopted and published in the enacting regulations. As this deadline has expired for Fiscal Year 2005, there will be no state allocation. 4-Percent Direct Loans An applicant will be eligible for a direct 4-percent loan if (1) the community being served has a population of less than 2,500, and is not E:\FR\FM\04MRN1.SGM 04MRN1 10596 Federal Register / Vol. 70, No. 42 / Friday, March 4, 2005 / Notices currently receiving broadband service as defined at § 1738.11(b)(1), (2) the per capita income in the county being served as a percent of national per capita income, is not more than 65 percent of the national per capita income, as determined by the Bureau of Economic Analysis, U.S. Department of Commerce, at https://www.bea.doc.gov/ bea/regional/reis, and using the data for the most recent year published as of the date of application, and (3) the population density, calculated as the total number of persons in the service area divided by the square miles of the service area is not more than 20 persons per square mile. Dated: February 28, 2005. Raymond P. Marchiori, Acting Administrator, Rural Utilities Service. [FR Doc. 05–4241 Filed 3–3–05; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3410–15–P COMMITTEE FOR PURCHASE FROM PEOPLE WHO ARE BLIND OR SEVERELY DISABLED Procurement List; Proposed Addition and Deletions Committee for Purchase from People Who Are Blind or Severely Disabled. ACTION: Proposed addition to and deletions from Procurement List. AGENCY: The Committee is proposing to add to the Procurement List a product to be furnished by nonprofit agencies employing persons who are blind or have other severe disabilities, and to delete products previously furnished by such agencies. Comments Must Be Received on or Before: April 3, 2005. ADDRESSES: Committee for Purchase From People Who Are Blind or Severely Disabled, Jefferson Plaza 2, Suite 10800, 1421 Jefferson Davis Highway, Arlington, Virginia 22202–3259. SUMMARY: FOR FURTHER INFORMATION OR TO SUBMIT COMMENTS CONTACT: Sheryl D. Kennerly, Telephone: (703) 603–7740, Fax: (703) 603–0655, or e-mail SKennerly@jwod.gov. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This notice is published pursuant to 41 U.S.C 47(a)(2) and 41 CFR 51–2.3. Its purpose is to provide interested persons an opportunity to submit comments on the proposed actions. Addition If the Committee approves the proposed additions, the entities of the Federal Government identified in this notice for each product will be required VerDate jul<14>2003 19:07 Mar 03, 2005 Jkt 205001 to procure the product listed below from nonprofit agencies employing persons who are blind or have other severe disabilities. Regulatory Flexibility Act Certification I certify that the following action will not have a significant impact on a substantial number of small entities. The major factors considered for this certification were: 1. If approved, the action will not result in any additional reporting, recordkeeping or other compliance requirements for small entities other than the small organizations that will furnish the product to the Government. 2. If approved, the action will result in authorizing small entities to furnish the product to the Government. 3. There are no known regulatory alternatives which would accomplish the objectives of the Javits-WagnerO’Day Act (41 U.S.C. 46–48c) in connection with the product proposed for addition to the Procurement List. Comments on this certification are invited. Commenters should identify the statement(s) underlying the certification on which they are providing additional information. End of Certification The following product is proposed for addition to Procurement List for production by the nonprofit agency listed: Product Product/NSN: 120cc High Density Polyethylene Pharmacy Bottle, 6530–00– NIB–0120. NPA: Alphapointe Association for the Blind, Kansas City, Missouri. Contracting Activity: Veterans Affairs National Acquisition Center, Hines, Illinois. Deletions Regulatory Flexibility Act Certification I certify that the following action will not have a significant impact on a substantial number of small entities. The major factors considered for this certification were: 1. If approved, the action may result in additional reporting, recordkeeping or other compliance requirements for small entities. 2. If approved, the action may result in authorizing small entities to furnish the products to the Government. 3. There are no known regulatory alternatives which would accomplish the objectives of the Javits-WagnerO’Day Act (41 U.S.C. 46–48c) in connection with the products proposed for deletion from the Procurement List. PO 00000 Frm 00006 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 End of Certification The following products are proposed for deletion from the Procurement List: Products Product/NSN: Kit, Backpack, 1375–01–204– 1930. NPA: Blind Industries & Services of Maryland, Baltimore, Maryland. Contracting Activity: Naval Ships Parts Control Center, Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania. Product/NSN: Parts Kit, Spare, 1375–01– 217–8725. NPA: Blind Industries & Services of Maryland, Baltimore, Maryland. Contracting Activity: Naval Ships Parts Control Center, Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania. Product/NSN: Trailer, Backpack, 1375–01– 254–7721. NPA: Blind Industries & Services of Maryland, Baltimore, Maryland. Contracting Activity: Naval Ships Parts Control Center, Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania. Sheryl D. Kennerly, Director, Information Management. [FR Doc. 05–4255 Filed 3–3–05; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 6353–01–P COMMITTEE FOR PURCHASE FROM PEOPLE WHO ARE BLIND OR SEVERELY DISABLED Procurement List; Additions Committee for Purchase from People Who Are Blind or Severely Disabled. ACTION: Additions to Procurement List. AGENCY: SUMMARY: This action adds to the Procurement List products and services to be furnished by nonprofit agencies employing persons who are blind or have other severe disabilities. DATES: Effective Date: April 3, 2005. ADDRESSES: Committee for Purchase From People Who Are Blind or Severely Disabled, Jefferson Plaza 2, Suite 10800, 1421 Jefferson Davis Highway, Arlington, Virginia 22202–3259. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION OR TO SUBMIT COMMENTS CONTACT: Sheryl D. Kennerly, Telephone: (703) 603–7740, Fax: (703) 603–0655, or e-mail SKennerly@jwod.gov. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On October 1, 2004 and January 7, 2005, the Committee for Purchase From People Who Are Blind or Severely Disabled published notice (69 FR 58882 and 70 FR 1413) of proposed additions to the Procurement List. After consideration of the material presented to it concerning capability of qualified nonprofit agencies to provide the products and services and impact of E:\FR\FM\04MRN1.SGM 04MRN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 42 (Friday, March 4, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Pages 10595-10596]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-4241]


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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 funds availability.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The Rural Utilities Service (RUS), an agency delivering the 
U.S. Department of Agriculture's Rural Development Utilities Programs, 
announces funding available for the Rural Broadband Access Loan and 
Loan Guarantee program. For FY 2005, no less than $2.157 billion in 
loans is available, $2.032 billion for direct cost-of-money loans, $46 
million for direct 4-percent loans, and $79 million for loan 
guarantees.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jonathan P. Claffey, Acting Assistant 
Administrator, Telecommunications Program, Rural Utilities Service, 
STOP 1590, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20250-1590, 
telephone (202) 720-9554, Facsimile (202) 720-0810.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

General Information

    During FY 2005, no less than $2.157 billion will be made available 
for loans and loan guarantees for the construction, improvement, and 
acquisition of facilities and equipment for broadband service in 
eligible rural communities. Of the total loan funds available, $2.032 
billion will be available for direct cost-of-money loans, $46 million 
for 4-percent direct loans, and $79 million for loan guarantees. The 
Rural Broadband Access Loan and Loan Guarantee Program is authorized by 
the Rural Electrification Act (7 U.S.C. 601) (the Act), as added by the 
Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002, Public Law 101-171.
    Applications must be submitted in accordance with 7 CFR part 1738. 
This part and an application guide to assist in the preparation of 
applications are available in the Internet at: https://www.usda.gov/rus/
telecom/broadband.htm. Application guides may also be requested from 
RUS by contacting the agency contact.

Agency Contacts

    For application information, contact the following individual:
    Kenneth Kuchno, Director, Broadband Division, Telecommunications 
Program, RUS/USDA, Room 2846, Stop 1599, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW., 
Washington, DC 20250-1599. (202) 690-4673.

Minimum and Maximum Loan Amounts

    Loans and loan guarantees under this authority will not be made for 
less than $100,000. Maximum loan amounts apply only to the direct 4-
percent loan program. The maximum amount available for any one 
applicant for a direct 4-percent loan is $7,500,000.

Minimum Rate of Data Transmission Criteria

    The Secretary of Agriculture determines what qualifies as broadband 
service for the purpose of determining eligibility for financial 
assistance under the Rural Broadband Access Loan and Loan Guarantee 
Program. During fiscal year 2005, to qualify as broadband service, the 
minimum rate-of-data transmission shall be 200 kilobits/second in the 
customer's connection to the network, both from the provider to the 
customer (downstream) and from the customer to the provider (upstream).

State Allocations

    The annual state allocation will not be made for Fiscal Year 2005. 
To ensure the obligations of funds by April, as required by the Farm 
Bill, an annual application submission deadline of January 31 for 
funding from the state allocation reserves was adopted and published in 
the enacting regulations. As this deadline has expired for Fiscal Year 
2005, there will be no state allocation.

4-Percent Direct Loans

    An applicant will be eligible for a direct 4-percent loan if (1) 
the community being served has a population of less than 2,500, and is 
not

[[Page 10596]]

currently receiving broadband service as defined at Sec.  
1738.11(b)(1), (2) the per capita income in the county being served as 
a percent of national per capita income, is not more than 65 percent of 
the national per capita income, as determined by the Bureau of Economic 
Analysis, U.S. Department of Commerce, at https://www.bea.doc.gov/bea/
regional/reis, and using the data for the most recent year published as 
of the date of application, and (3) the population density, calculated 
as the total number of persons in the service area divided by the 
square miles of the service area is not more than 20 persons per square 
mile.

    Dated: February 28, 2005.
Raymond P. Marchiori,
Acting Administrator, Rural Utilities Service.
[FR Doc. 05-4241 Filed 3-3-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-15-P

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