Announcement of Grant Application Deadlines and Funding Levels, 4802-4806 [E8-1375]
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4802
Federal Register / Vol. 73, No. 18 / Monday, January 28, 2008 / Notices
review the accuracy of our finding that
the decision cannot be appealed. The
appeal must be in writing and filed at
the appropriate Regional Office, which
can be found at https://
www.nad.usda.gov/offices.htm or by
calling (703) 305–1166.
D. Applicants selected for funding
will complete a grant agreement, which
outlines the terms and conditions of the
grant award.
E. Grantees will be reimbursed as
follows:
1. SF–270, ‘‘Request for Advance or
Reimbursement,’’ will be completed by
the grantee and submitted to either the
State or National Office not more
frequently than monthly.
2. Upon receipt of a properly
completed SF–270, the funds will be
requested through the field office
terminal system. Ordinarily, payment
will be made within 30 days after
receipt of a proper request for
reimbursement.
3. Grantees are encouraged to use
women- and minority-owned banks (a
bank which is owned at least 50 percent
by women or minority group members)
for the deposit and disbursement of
funds.
F. Any change in the scope of the
project, budget adjustments of more
than 10 percent of the total budget, or
any other significant change in the
project must be reported to and
approved by the approval official by
written amendment to the grant
agreement. Any change not approved
may be cause for termination of the
grant.
G. Grantees shall constantly monitor
performance to ensure that time
schedules are being met, projected work
by time periods is being accomplished,
and other performance objectives are
being achieved. The Grantee will
provide project reports as follows:
1. SF–269, ‘‘Financial Status Report
(short form),’’ and a project performance
activity report will be required of all
grantees on a quarterly basis, due 30
days after the end of each quarter.
2. A final project performance report
will be required with the last SF–269
due 90 days after the end of the last
quarter in which the project is
completed. The final report may serve
as the last quarterly report.
3. All multi-State grantees are to
submit an original of each report to the
National Office. Grantees serving only
one State are to submit an original of
each report to the State Office. The
project performance reports should
detail, preferably in a narrative format,
activities that have transpired for the
specific time period.
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H. The grantee will provide an audit
report or financial statements as follows:
1. Grantees expending $500,000 or
more Federal funds per fiscal year will
submit an audit conducted in
accordance with OMB Circular A–133.
The audit will be submitted within 9
months after the grantee’s fiscal year.
Additional audits may be required if the
project period covers more than one
fiscal year.
2. Grantees expending less than
$500,000 will provide annual financial
statements covering the grant period,
consisting of the organization’s
statement of income and expense and
balance sheet signed by an appropriate
official of the organization. Financial
statements will be submitted within 90
days after the grantee’s fiscal year.
You may submit completed
applications for grants on paper or
electronically according to the following
deadlines:
• Paper copies must carry proof of
shipping no later than March 28, 2008
to be eligible for FY 2008 grant funding.
Late applications are not eligible for FY
2008 grant funding.
• Electronic copies must be received
by March 28, 2008 to be eligible for FY
2008 grant funding. Late applications
are not eligible for FY 2008 grant
funding.
DATES:
You may obtain application
guides and materials for the Community
Connect Grant Program via the Internet
at the following Web site: https://
www.usda.gov/rus/telecom/
commconnect.htm. You may also
request application guides and materials
VII. Agency Contacts
from Rural Development by contacting
A. Web site: https://www.usda.gov/rus/
the appropriate individual listed in
water. The Rural Development Utilities
section VII of the SUPPLEMENTARY
Programs Web site maintains up-to-date
INFORMATION section of this notice.
resources and contact information for
Submit completed paper applications
the RFP.
for grants to the Rural Development
B. Phone: 202–690–3789.
Utilities Program, U.S. Department of
C. Fax: 202–690–0649.
D. E-mail: anita.obrien@wdc.usda.gov. Agriculture, 1400 Independence Ave.,
SW., Room 2870, STOP 1599,
E. Main point of contact: Anita
Washington, DC 20250–1599.
O’Brien, Loan Specialist, Water and
Applications should be marked
Environmental Programs, Water
‘‘Attention: Director, Broadband
Programs Division, Rural Development
Division, Rural Development Utilities
Utilities Programs, U.S. Department of
Program.’’
Agriculture.
Submit electronic grant applications
Dated: January 11, 2008.
at https://www.grants.gov (Grants.gov),
James M. Andrew,
following the instructions you find on
Administrator, Rural Utilities Service.
that Web site.
[FR Doc. E8–1376 Filed 1–25–08; 8:45 am]
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
BILLING CODE 3410–15–P
Kenneth Kuchno, Director, Broadband
Division, Rural Development Utilities
Program, U.S. Department of
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Agriculture, telephone: (202) 690–4673,
fax: (202) 690–4389.
Rural Utilities Service
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Announcement of Grant Application
Overview
Deadlines and Funding Levels
Federal Agency: Rural Utilities
AGENCY: Rural Utilities Service, USDA.
Service (RUS).
Funding Opportunity Title:
ACTION: Notice of funds availability and
Community Connect Grant Program.
solicitation of applications.
Announcement Type: Initial
SUMMARY: The Rural Utilities Service
announcement.
(RUS), an agency delivering the United
Catalog of Federal Domestic
States Department of Agriculture’s
Assistance (CFDA) Number: 10.863.
(USDA) Rural Development Utilities
Dates: You may submit completed
Programs, hereinafter referred to as
applications for grants on paper or
Rural Development, announces its
electronically according to the following
Community Connect Grant Program
deadlines:
application window for Fiscal Year (FY)
• Paper copies must carry proof of
2008. In addition, Rural Development
shipping no later than March 28, 2008
announces the minimum and maximum to be eligible for FY 2008 grant funding.
amounts for Community Connect grants Late applications are not eligible for FY
applicable for the fiscal year. The
2008 grant funding.
Community Connect Grant Program
• Electronic copies must be received
regulations can be found at 7 CFR part
by March 28, 2008 to be eligible for FY
1739, subpart A.
2008 grant funding. Late applications
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ADDRESSES:
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Federal Register / Vol. 73, No. 18 / Monday, January 28, 2008 / Notices
are not eligible for FY 2008 grant
funding.
Items in Supplementary Information
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I. Funding Opportunity: Brief introduction
to the Community Connect Grant Program.
II. Award Information: Available funds and
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
The provision of broadband
transmission service is vital to the
economic development, education,
health, and safety of rural Americans.
The purpose of the Community Connect
Grant Program is to provide financial
assistance in the form of grants to
eligible applicants that will provide
currently unserved areas, on a
‘‘community-oriented connectivity’’
basis, with broadband transmission
service that fosters economic growth
and delivers enhanced educational,
health care, and public safety services.
Rural Development will give priority to
rural areas that it believes have the
greatest need for broadband
transmission services, based on the
criteria contained herein.
Grant authority will be used for the
deployment of broadband transmission
service to extremely rural, lower-income
communities on a ‘‘community-oriented
connectivity’’ basis. The ‘‘communityoriented connectivity’’ concept will
stimulate practical, everyday uses and
applications of broadband facilities by
cultivating the deployment of new
broadband transmission services that
improve economic development and
provide enhanced educational and
health care opportunities in rural areas.
Such an approach will also give rural
communities the opportunity to benefit
from the advanced technologies that are
necessary to achieve these goals. Please
see 7 CFR part 1739, subpart A for
specifics.
This notice has been formatted to
conform to a policy directive issued by
the Office of Federal Financial
Management (OFFM) of the Office of
Management and Budget (OMB),
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III. Eligibility Information
Community Connect grant assistance
(see 7 CFR 1739.12).
2. To be eligible for a grant, the
Project must (see 7 CFR 1739.11):
a. Serve a Rural Area where
Broadband Transmission Service does
not currently exist, to be verified by
Rural Development prior to the award of
the grant;
b. Serve one Community recognized
in the latest U.S. Census or the latest
version of the Rand McNally Atlas;
c. Deploy Basic Broadband
Transmission Service, free of all charges
for at least 2 years, to all Critical
Community Facilities located within the
proposed Service Area;
d. Offer Basic Broadband
Transmission Service to residential and
business customers within the proposed
Service Area; and
e. Provide a Community Center with
at least ten (10) Computer Access Points
within the proposed Service Area, and
make Broadband Transmission Service
available therein, free of all charges to
users for at least 2 years.
C. 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 1739.15 for
completed grant application items.
A. Who is eligible for grants? (See 7 CFR
1739.10.)
IV. Application and Submission
Information
1. Only entities legally organized as
one of the following are eligible for
Community Connect Grant Program
financial assistance:
a. An incorporated organization,
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 cooperative, private corporation
or limited liability company organized
on a for-profit or not-for-profit basis.
2. Individuals are not eligible for
Community Connect Grant Program
financial assistance directly.
3. Applicants must have the legal
capacity and authority to own and
operate the broadband facilities as
proposed in its application, to enter into
contracts and to otherwise comply with
applicable federal statutes and
regulations.
A. Clarifications to Requirements for FY
2008
published in the Federal Register on
June 23, 2003. This Notice does not
change the Community Connect Grant
Program regulation (7 CFR 1739, subpart
A).
II. Award Information
A. Available Funds
1. General. The Administrator has
determined that the following amounts
are available for grants in FY 2008
under 7 CFR 1739.2(a).
2. Grants.
a. $13,405,500 is available for grants.
Under 7 CFR 1739.2, the Administrator
has established a minimum grant
amount of $50,000 and a maximum
grant amount of $1,000,000 for FY 2008.
b. Assistance instrument: Rural
Development will execute grant
documents appropriate to the project
prior to any advance of funds with
successful applicants.
B. Community Connect grants 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.
B. What are the basic eligibility
requirements for a project?
1. Required matching contributions.
Please see 7 CFR 1739.14 for the
requirement. Grant applicants must
demonstrate a matching contribution, in
cash or in kind (new, non-depreciated
items), of at least fifteen (15) percent of
the total amount of financial assistance
requested. Matching contributions must
be used for eligible purposes of
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1. Rural Development clarifies that
the definition of ‘‘Critical Community
Facilities’’ includes the mandatory
Community Center.
2. For all funding commitments,
including all matching fund
commitments and commitments made
by the applicant, that are required to
complete the Project in addition to the
Rural Development grant, evidence
must be submitted demonstrating that
funding arrangements have been
obtained. If the appropriate funding
commitments are not included in the
application, the application will be
deemed ineligible for consideration.
This evidence must:
a. Clearly state the name of the entity
that is making the commitment;
b. The amount of the commitment;
and
c. The purpose of commitment.
3. Rural Development clarifies that in
order to qualify as eligible costs for
grant coverage or matching fund
contributions, operating expenses
incurred in providing Broadband
Transmission Service to Critical
Community Facilities for the first 2
years of operation and in providing
training and instruction must be for the
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following purposes subject to the
specified maximum amounts:
a. Salary for operations manager, not
to exceed $30,000 per year.
b. Salary for technical support staff,
not to exceed $30,000 per year.
c. Salary for community center staff,
not to exceed $25,000 per year.
d. Bandwidth expenses, not to exceed
$25,000 per year.
e. Training courses on the use of the
Internet, not to exceed $15,000 per year.
The operating costs to be funded by
the grant or used as matching
contributions cannot exceed in the
aggregate $250,000. No other operating
expenses are eligible for grant funding
or to be considered as matching funds.
4. Community means any
incorporated or unincorporated town,
village, or borough recognized in the
latest decennial census as published by
the Bureau of the Census or in the most
recent edition of a Rand McNally Atlas
that is located in a Rural Area.
5. Rural Development clarifies that
the economic need of the applicant’s
service territory will be based on the
median household income (MHI) for the
Community serviced and the state in
which the Community is located, as
determined by the U.S. Bureau of the
Census at https://factfinder.census.gov. If
the community was qualified using the
Rand McNally Atlas, the applicant must
use the MHI, contained in the latest
decennial census, of the county in
which the Community resides as the
Community MHI. The economic need
will no longer be based on the Per
Capita Personal Income of the
community.
B. Where to get application
information. The application guide,
copies of necessary forms and samples,
and the Community Connect Grant
Program regulation are available from
these sources:
1. The Internet: https://www.usda.gov/
rus/telecom/commconnect.htm, or
https://www.grants.gov.
2. The Rural Development Broadband
Division, for paper copies of these
materials: (202) 690–4673.
B. What constitutes a completed
application?
1. Detailed information on each item
required can be found in the
Community Connect Grant Program
regulation and the Community Connect
Grant Program application guide.
Applicants are strongly encouraged to
read and apply both the regulation and
the application guide. This Notice does
not change the requirements for a
completed application for any form of
Community Connect Grant Program
financial assistance specified in the
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Community Connect Grant Program
regulation. The Community Connect
Grant Program regulation and the
application guide provide specific
guidance on each of the items listed and
the Community Connect Grant Program
application guide provides all necessary
forms and sample worksheets.
2. Applications should be prepared in
conformance with the provisions in 7
CFR part 1739, subpart A, and
applicable USDA regulations including
7 CFR parts 3015, 3016, and 3019.
Applicants must use the Rural
Development Application Guide for this
program containing instructions and all
necessary forms, as well as other
important information, in preparing
their application. Completed
applications must include the following:
a. An Application for Federal
Assistance. A completed Standard Form
(SF) 424.
b. An executive summary of the
Project. The applicant must provide
Rural Development with a general
project overview.
c. Scoring criteria documentation.
Each grant applicant must address and
provide documentation on how it meets
each of the scoring criteria detailed 7
CFR 1739.17.
d. System design. The applicant must
submit a system design, including,
narrative specifics of the proposal,
associated costs, maps, engineering
design studies, technical specifications
and system capabilities, etc.
e. Scope of work. The scope of work
must include specific activities and
services to be performed under the
proposal, who will carry out the
activities and services, specific timeframes for completion, and a budget for
all capital and administrative
expenditures reflecting the line item
costs for all grant purposes, the
matching contribution, and other
sources of funds necessary to complete
the project.
f. Community-Oriented Connectivity
Plan. The applicant must provide a
detailed Community-Oriented
Connectivity Plan.
g. Financial information and
sustainability. The applicant must
provide financial statements and
information and a narrative description
demonstrating the sustainability of the
Project.
h. A statement of experience. The
applicant must provide a written
narrative describing its demonstrated
capability and experience, if any, in
operating a broadband
telecommunications system.
i. Evidence of legal authority and
existence. The applicant must provide
evidence of its legal existence and
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authority to enter into a grant agreement
with RUS and to perform the activities
proposed under the grant application.
j. Funding commitment from other
sources. If the Project requires
additional funding from other sources in
addition to the Rural Development
grant, the applicant must provide
evidence that funding agreements have
been obtained to ensure completion of
the Project.
k. Compliance with other federal
statutes. The applicant must provide
evidence of compliance with other
federal statutes and regulations,
including, but not limited to the
following:
(i) 7 CFR part 15, subpart A—
Nondiscrimination in Federally
Assisted Programs of the Department of
Agriculture—Effectuation of Title VI of
the Civil Rights Act of 1964.
(ii) 7 CFR part 3015—Uniform Federal
Assistance Regulations.
(iii) 7 CFR part 3017—
Governmentwide Debarment and
Suspension (Non-procurement).
(iv) 7 CFR part 3018—New
Restrictions on Lobbying.
(v) 7 CFR part 3021—
Governmentwide Requirements for
Drug-Free Workplace (Financial
Assistance).
(vi) Certification regarding
Architectural Barriers.
(vii) Certification regarding Flood
Hazard Precautions.
(viii) An environmental report, in
accordance with 7 CFR part 1794.
(ix) Certification that grant funds will
not be used to duplicate lines, facilities,
or systems providing Broadband
Transmission Service.
(x) Federal Obligation Certification on
Delinquent Debt.
3. DUNS Number. As required by the
OMB, all applicants for grants must now
supply a Dun and Bradstreet Data
Universal Numbering System (DUNS)
number when applying. The 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 Community Connect Web site or
Grants.gov for more information on how
to obtain a DUNS number or how to
verify your organization’s number.
C. How many copies of an application
are required?
1. Applications submitted on paper:
Submit the original application and two
(2) copies to Rural Development.
2. Electronically submitted
applications: The additional paper
copies are not necessary if you submit
the application electronically through
Grants.gov.
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D. How and Where to Submit an
Application
Grant applications may be submitted
on paper or electronically.
1. Submitting applications on paper.
a. Address paper applications for
grants to the Rural Development,
Utilities Program, U.S. Department of
Agriculture, 1400 Independence Ave.,
SW., Room 2868, STOP 1599,
Washington, DC 20250–1599.
Applications should be marked
‘‘Attention: Director, Broadband
Division, Rural Development Utilities
Program.’’
b. Paper applications must show proof
of mailing or shipping consisting of one
of the following:
(i) A legibly dated U.S. Postal Service
(USPS) postmark;
(ii) A legible mail receipt with the
date of mailing stamped by the USPS; or
(iii) A dated shipping label, invoice,
or receipt from a commercial carrier.
c. Due to screening procedures at the
Department of Agriculture, packages
arriving via the USPS are irradiated,
which can damage the contents. Rural
Development encourages applicants to
consider the impact of this procedure in
selecting their application delivery
method.
2. Electronically submitted
applications.
a. Applications will not be accepted
via facsimile machine transmission or
electronic mail.
b. Electronic applications for 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.
(ii) Follow the instructions on that
Web site to find grant information.
(iii) Download a copy of the
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. Rural Development encourages
applicants who wish to apply through
Grants.gov to submit their applications
in advance of the deadline.
f. 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.
E. Deadlines
1. Paper applications must be
postmarked and mailed, shipped, or
sent overnight no later than March 28,
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2008 to be eligible for FY 2008 grant
funding. Late applications are not
eligible for FY 2008 grant funding.
2. Electronic grant applications must
be received by March 28, 2008 to be
eligible for FY 2008 funding. Late
applications are not eligible for FY 2008
grant funding.
a. The rurality of the Project (up to 40
points);
b. The economic need of the Project’s
Service Area (up to 30 points); and
c. The ‘‘community-oriented
connectivity’’ benefits derived from the
proposed service (up to 30 points).
F. Funding Restrictions
1. Eligible grant purposes. Grant funds
may be used to finance:
a. The construction, acquisition, or
leasing of facilities, including spectrum,
to deploy Broadband Transmission
Service to all participating Critical
Community Facilities and all required
facilities needed to offer such service to
residential and business customers
located within the proposed Service
Area;
b. The improvement, expansion,
construction, or acquisition of a
Community Center that furnishes free
access to broadband Internet service,
provided that the Community Center is
open and accessible to area residents
before, during, and after normal working
hours and on Saturday or Sunday. Grant
funds provided for such costs shall not
exceed the greater of five percent (5%)
of the grant amount requested or
$100,000;
c. End-User Equipment needed to
carry out the Project;
d. Operating expenses incurred in
providing Broadband Transmission
Service to Critical Community Facilities
for the first 2 years of operation and in
providing training and instruction; and
e. The purchase of land, buildings, or
building construction needed to carry
out the Project.
2. Ineligible grant purposes.
a. Grant funds may not be used to
finance the duplication of any existing
Broadband Transmission Service
provided by another entity.
b. Facilities financed with grant funds
cannot be utilized, in any way, to
provide local exchange
telecommunications service to any
person or entity already receiving such
service.
3. Please see 7 CFR 1739.3 for
definitions, 7 CFR 1739.12 for eligible
grant purposes, and 7 CFR 1739.13 for
ineligible grant purposes.
1. All applications for grants must be
delivered to Rural Development at the
address and by the date specified in this
notice (see also 7 CFR 1739.2) to be
eligible for funding. Rural Development
will review each application for
conformance with the provisions of this
part. Rural Development may contact
the applicant for additional information
or clarification.
2. Incomplete applications as of the
deadline for submission will not be
considered. If an application is
determined to be incomplete, the
applicant will be notified in writing and
the application will be returned with no
further action.
3. Applications conforming with this
part will then be evaluated
competitively by a panel of Rural
Development employees selected by the
Administrator of Rural Development
Utilities Program, and will be awarded
points as described in the scoring
criteria in 7 CFR 1739.17. Applications
will be ranked and grants awarded in
rank order until all grant funds are
expended.
4. Regardless of the score an
application receives, if Rural
Development determines that the
Project is technically or financially
infeasible, Rural Development will
notify the applicant, in writing, and the
application will be returned with no
further action.
V. Application Review Information
A. Criteria
1. Grant applications are scored
competitively and subject to the criteria
listed below.
2. Grant application scoring criteria
(total possible points: 100) See 7 CFR
1739.17 for the items that will be
reviewed during scoring and for scoring
criteria.
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B. Review Standards
C. Selection Process
Grant applications are ranked by final
score. Rural Development selects
applications based on those rankings,
subject to the availability of funds.
VI. Award Administration Information
A. Award Notices
Rural Development recognizes that
each funded project is unique, and
therefore may attach conditions to
different projects’ award documents.
Rural Development generally notifies
applicants whose projects are selected
for awards by faxing an award letter.
Rural Development follows the award
letter with a grant agreement that
contains all the terms and conditions for
the grant. An applicant must execute
and return the grant agreement,
accompanied by any additional items
required by the grant agreement.
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B. Administrative and National Policy
Requirements
The items listed in paragraph IV.B.2.k
of this notice, and the Community
Connect Grant Program regulation,
application guide and accompanying
materials implement the appropriate
administrative and national policy
requirements.
C. Reporting
1. Performance reporting. All
recipients of Community Connect Grant
Program financial assistance must
provide annual performance activity
reports to Rural Development 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. See 7 CFR
1739.19.
2. Financial reporting. All recipients
of Community Connect Grant Program
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
1739.20.
VII. Agency Contacts
A. Web site: https://www.usda.gov/rus/
commconnect.htm. This Web site
maintains up-to-date resources and
contact information for the Community
Connect Grant Program.
B. Phone: 202–690–4673.
C. Fax: 202–690–4389.
D. Main point of contact: Kenneth
Kuchno, Director, Broadband Division,
Rural Development Utilities Program,
U.S. Department of Agriculture.
Dated: January 11, 2008.
James M. Andrew,
Administrator, Rural Utilities Service.
[FR Doc. E8–1375 Filed 1–25–08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410–15–P
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Rural Utilities Service
Announcement of Grant Application
Deadlines and Funding Levels
Rural Utilities Service, USDA.
Notice of funding availability.
AGENCY:
mstockstill on PROD1PC66 with NOTICES
ACTION:
SUMMARY: The Rural Utilities Service, an
agency delivering the United States
Department of Agriculture’s (USDA)
Rural Development Utilities Programs,
hereinafter referred to as Rural
Development and/or Agency, announces
its Public Television Digital Transition
VerDate Aug<31>2005
17:56 Jan 25, 2008
Jkt 214001
Grant Program application window for
Fiscal Year (FY) 2008. In addition to
announcing the application window,
Rural Development announces the
available funding and maximum
amounts for the Public Television
Station Digital Transition Grant Program
competitive grants for the fiscal year.
The Public Television Digital
Transition Grant Program is authorized
through the Distance Learning and
Telemedicine Grant Program. Funds
from the Public Television Digital
Transition Grant Program are awarded
to public television stations which are a
noncommercial educational television
broadcast station that qualify for
Community Service Grants by the
Corporation for Public Broadcasting
under section 396(k) of the
Communications Act of 1934. These
grants enable public television stations
in rural areas to replace current analog
television broadcasting equipment with
digital television broadcasting
equipment as part of the national
transition to digital television service.
DATES: You may submit completed
applications for grants on paper or
electronically according to the following
deadlines:
• Paper copies must carry proof of
shipping no later than March 28, 2008
to be eligible for FY 2008 grant funding.
Late applications are not eligible for FY
2008 grant funding.
• Electronic copies must be received
by March 28, 2008 to be eligible for FY
2008 grant funding. Late applications
are not eligible for FY 2008 grant
funding.
ADDRESSES: You may obtain the
application guide and materials for the
Public Television Station Digital
Transition Grant Program via the
Internet at the following Web site:
https://www.usda.gov/rus/telecom/. You
may also request the application guide
and materials from the Agency by
contacting the appropriate individual
listed in section VII of the
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section of
this notice.
• Submit completed paper
applications for grants to the United
States Department of Agriculture, Rural
Development Utilities Programs,
Telecommunications Program, 1400
Independence Ave., SW., Room 2844,
STOP 1550, Washington, DC 20250–
1550. Applications should be marked
‘‘Attention: Gary B. Allan, Chief,
Universal Services Branch, Advanced
Services Division.’’
• Submit electronic grant
applications to Grants.gov at the
following Web address: https://
www.grants.gov/ (Grants.gov), and
PO 00000
Frm 00040
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
follow the instructions you find on that
Web site.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Gary
B. Allan, Chief, Universal Services
Branch, Advanced Services Division,
United States Department of Agriculture
Rural Development Utilities Programs,
Telecommunications Program,
telephone: (202) 690–4493, fax: (202)
720–1051.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Overview
Federal Agency: Rural Utilities
Service (RUS).
Funding Opportunity Title: Public
Television Station Digital Transition
Grant Program.
Announcement Type: Initial
announcement.
Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance
(CFDA) Number: 10.861.
Dates: You may submit completed
applications for grants on paper or
electronically according to the following
deadlines:
• Paper copies must carry proof of
shipping no later than March 28, 2008,
to be eligible for FY 2008 grant funding.
Late applications are not eligible for FY
2008 grant funding.
• Electronic copies must be received
by March 28, 2008, to be eligible for FY
2008 grant funding. Late applications
are not eligible for FY 2008 grant
funding.
Items in Supplementary Information:
I. Funding Opportunity: Brief
introduction to the Public Television
Station Digital Transition Grant
Program.
II. Award Information: Available
funds 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, e-mail, contact name.
I. Funding Opportunity
As part of the nation’s transition to
digital television, the Federal
Communications Commission (FCC)
requires all television broadcasters to
E:\FR\FM\28JAN1.SGM
28JAN1
]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 18 (Monday, January 28, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 4802-4806]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-1375]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Rural Utilities Service
Announcement of Grant Application Deadlines and Funding Levels
AGENCY: Rural Utilities Service, USDA.
ACTION: Notice of funds availability and solicitation of applications.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: The Rural Utilities Service (RUS), an agency delivering the
United States Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Rural Development
Utilities Programs, hereinafter referred to as Rural Development,
announces its Community Connect Grant Program application window for
Fiscal Year (FY) 2008. In addition, Rural Development announces the
minimum and maximum amounts for Community Connect grants applicable for
the fiscal year. The Community Connect Grant Program regulations can be
found at 7 CFR part 1739, subpart A.
DATES: You may submit completed applications for grants on paper or
electronically according to the following deadlines:
Paper copies must carry proof of shipping no later than
March 28, 2008 to be eligible for FY 2008 grant funding. Late
applications are not eligible for FY 2008 grant funding.
Electronic copies must be received by March 28, 2008 to be
eligible for FY 2008 grant funding. Late applications are not eligible
for FY 2008 grant funding.
ADDRESSES: You may obtain application guides and materials for the
Community Connect Grant Program via the Internet at the following Web
site: https://www.usda.gov/rus/telecom/commconnect.htm. You may also
request application guides and materials from Rural Development by
contacting the appropriate individual listed in section VII of the
Supplementary Information section of this notice.
Submit completed paper applications for grants to the Rural
Development Utilities Program, U.S. Department of Agriculture, 1400
Independence Ave., SW., Room 2870, STOP 1599, Washington, DC 20250-
1599. Applications should be marked ``Attention: Director, Broadband
Division, Rural Development Utilities Program.''
Submit electronic grant applications at https://www.grants.gov
(Grants.gov), following the instructions you find on that Web site.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kenneth Kuchno, Director, Broadband
Division, Rural Development Utilities Program, U.S. Department of
Agriculture, telephone: (202) 690-4673, fax: (202) 690-4389.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Overview
Federal Agency: Rural Utilities Service (RUS).
Funding Opportunity Title: Community Connect Grant Program.
Announcement Type: Initial announcement.
Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) Number: 10.863.
Dates: You may submit completed applications for grants on paper or
electronically according to the following deadlines:
Paper copies must carry proof of shipping no later than
March 28, 2008 to be eligible for FY 2008 grant funding. Late
applications are not eligible for FY 2008 grant funding.
Electronic copies must be received by March 28, 2008 to be
eligible for FY 2008 grant funding. Late applications
[[Page 4803]]
are not eligible for FY 2008 grant funding.
Items in Supplementary Information
I. Funding Opportunity: Brief introduction to the Community
Connect Grant Program.
II. Award Information: Available funds and 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, e-mail, contact name.
I. Funding Opportunity
The provision of broadband transmission service is vital to the
economic development, education, health, and safety of rural Americans.
The purpose of the Community Connect Grant Program is to provide
financial assistance in the form of grants to eligible applicants that
will provide currently unserved areas, on a ``community-oriented
connectivity'' basis, with broadband transmission service that fosters
economic growth and delivers enhanced educational, health care, and
public safety services. Rural Development will give priority to rural
areas that it believes have the greatest need for broadband
transmission services, based on the criteria contained herein.
Grant authority will be used for the deployment of broadband
transmission service to extremely rural, lower-income communities on a
``community-oriented connectivity'' basis. The ``community-oriented
connectivity'' concept will stimulate practical, everyday uses and
applications of broadband facilities by cultivating the deployment of
new broadband transmission services that improve economic development
and provide enhanced educational and health care opportunities in rural
areas. Such an approach will also give rural communities the
opportunity to benefit from the advanced technologies that are
necessary to achieve these goals. Please see 7 CFR part 1739, subpart A
for specifics.
This notice has been formatted to conform to a policy directive
issued by the Office of Federal Financial Management (OFFM) of the
Office of Management and Budget (OMB), published in the Federal
Register on June 23, 2003. This Notice does not change the Community
Connect Grant Program regulation (7 CFR 1739, subpart A).
II. Award Information
A. Available Funds
1. General. The Administrator has determined that the following
amounts are available for grants in FY 2008 under 7 CFR 1739.2(a).
2. Grants.
a. $13,405,500 is available for grants. Under 7 CFR 1739.2, the
Administrator has established a minimum grant amount of $50,000 and a
maximum grant amount of $1,000,000 for FY 2008.
b. Assistance instrument: Rural Development will execute grant
documents appropriate to the project prior to any advance of funds with
successful applicants.
B. Community Connect grants 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 grants? (See 7 CFR 1739.10.)
1. Only entities legally organized as one of the following are
eligible for Community Connect Grant Program financial assistance:
a. An incorporated organization,
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 cooperative, private corporation or limited liability company
organized on a for-profit or not-for-profit basis.
2. Individuals are not eligible for Community Connect Grant Program
financial assistance directly.
3. Applicants must have the legal capacity and authority to own and
operate the broadband facilities as proposed in its application, to
enter into contracts and to otherwise comply with applicable federal
statutes and regulations.
B. What are the basic eligibility requirements for a project?
1. Required matching contributions. Please see 7 CFR 1739.14 for
the requirement. Grant applicants must demonstrate a matching
contribution, in cash or in kind (new, non-depreciated items), of at
least fifteen (15) percent of the total amount of financial assistance
requested. Matching contributions must be used for eligible purposes of
Community Connect grant assistance (see 7 CFR 1739.12).
2. To be eligible for a grant, the Project must (see 7 CFR
1739.11):
a. Serve a Rural Area where Broadband Transmission Service does not
currently exist, to be verified by Rural Development prior to the award
of the grant;
b. Serve one Community recognized in the latest U.S. Census or the
latest version of the Rand McNally Atlas;
c. Deploy Basic Broadband Transmission Service, free of all charges
for at least 2 years, to all Critical Community Facilities located
within the proposed Service Area;
d. Offer Basic Broadband Transmission Service to residential and
business customers within the proposed Service Area; and
e. Provide a Community Center with at least ten (10) Computer
Access Points within the proposed Service Area, and make Broadband
Transmission Service available therein, free of all charges to users
for at least 2 years.
C. 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
1739.15 for completed grant application items.
IV. Application and Submission Information
A. Clarifications to Requirements for FY 2008
1. Rural Development clarifies that the definition of ``Critical
Community Facilities'' includes the mandatory Community Center.
2. For all funding commitments, including all matching fund
commitments and commitments made by the applicant, that are required to
complete the Project in addition to the Rural Development grant,
evidence must be submitted demonstrating that funding arrangements have
been obtained. If the appropriate funding commitments are not included
in the application, the application will be deemed ineligible for
consideration. This evidence must:
a. Clearly state the name of the entity that is making the
commitment;
b. The amount of the commitment; and
c. The purpose of commitment.
3. Rural Development clarifies that in order to qualify as eligible
costs for grant coverage or matching fund contributions, operating
expenses incurred in providing Broadband Transmission Service to
Critical Community Facilities for the first 2 years of operation and in
providing training and instruction must be for the
[[Page 4804]]
following purposes subject to the specified maximum amounts:
a. Salary for operations manager, not to exceed $30,000 per year.
b. Salary for technical support staff, not to exceed $30,000 per
year.
c. Salary for community center staff, not to exceed $25,000 per
year.
d. Bandwidth expenses, not to exceed $25,000 per year.
e. Training courses on the use of the Internet, not to exceed
$15,000 per year.
The operating costs to be funded by the grant or used as matching
contributions cannot exceed in the aggregate $250,000. No other
operating expenses are eligible for grant funding or to be considered
as matching funds.
4. Community means any incorporated or unincorporated town,
village, or borough recognized in the latest decennial census as
published by the Bureau of the Census or in the most recent edition of
a Rand McNally Atlas that is located in a Rural Area.
5. Rural Development clarifies that the economic need of the
applicant's service territory will be based on the median household
income (MHI) for the Community serviced and the state in which the
Community is located, as determined by the U.S. Bureau of the Census at
https://factfinder.census.gov. If the community was qualified using the
Rand McNally Atlas, the applicant must use the MHI, contained in the
latest decennial census, of the county in which the Community resides
as the Community MHI. The economic need will no longer be based on the
Per Capita Personal Income of the community.
B. Where to get application information. The application guide,
copies of necessary forms and samples, and the Community Connect Grant
Program regulation are available from these sources:
1. The Internet: https://www.usda.gov/rus/telecom/commconnect.htm,
or https://www.grants.gov.
2. The Rural Development Broadband Division, for paper copies of
these materials: (202) 690-4673.
B. What constitutes a completed application?
1. Detailed information on each item required can be found in the
Community Connect Grant Program regulation and the Community Connect
Grant Program application guide. Applicants are strongly encouraged to
read and apply both the regulation and the application guide. This
Notice does not change the requirements for a completed application for
any form of Community Connect Grant Program financial assistance
specified in the Community Connect Grant Program regulation. The
Community Connect Grant Program regulation and the application guide
provide specific guidance on each of the items listed and the Community
Connect Grant Program application guide provides all necessary forms
and sample worksheets.
2. Applications should be prepared in conformance with the
provisions in 7 CFR part 1739, subpart A, and applicable USDA
regulations including 7 CFR parts 3015, 3016, and 3019. Applicants must
use the Rural Development Application Guide for this program containing
instructions and all necessary forms, as well as other important
information, in preparing their application. Completed applications
must include the following:
a. An Application for Federal Assistance. A completed Standard Form
(SF) 424.
b. An executive summary of the Project. The applicant must provide
Rural Development with a general project overview.
c. Scoring criteria documentation. Each grant applicant must
address and provide documentation on how it meets each of the scoring
criteria detailed 7 CFR 1739.17.
d. System design. The applicant must submit a system design,
including, narrative specifics of the proposal, associated costs, maps,
engineering design studies, technical specifications and system
capabilities, etc.
e. Scope of work. The scope of work must include specific
activities and services to be performed under the proposal, who will
carry out the activities and services, specific time-frames for
completion, and a budget for all capital and administrative
expenditures reflecting the line item costs for all grant purposes, the
matching contribution, and other sources of funds necessary to complete
the project.
f. Community-Oriented Connectivity Plan. The applicant must provide
a detailed Community-Oriented Connectivity Plan.
g. Financial information and sustainability. The applicant must
provide financial statements and information and a narrative
description demonstrating the sustainability of the Project.
h. A statement of experience. The applicant must provide a written
narrative describing its demonstrated capability and experience, if
any, in operating a broadband telecommunications system.
i. Evidence of legal authority and existence. The applicant must
provide evidence of its legal existence and authority to enter into a
grant agreement with RUS and to perform the activities proposed under
the grant application.
j. Funding commitment from other sources. If the Project requires
additional funding from other sources in addition to the Rural
Development grant, the applicant must provide evidence that funding
agreements have been obtained to ensure completion of the Project.
k. Compliance with other federal statutes. The applicant must
provide evidence of compliance with other federal statutes and
regulations, including, but not limited to the following:
(i) 7 CFR part 15, subpart A--Nondiscrimination in Federally
Assisted Programs of the Department of Agriculture--Effectuation of
Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.
(ii) 7 CFR part 3015--Uniform Federal Assistance Regulations.
(iii) 7 CFR part 3017--Governmentwide Debarment and Suspension
(Non-procurement).
(iv) 7 CFR part 3018--New Restrictions on Lobbying.
(v) 7 CFR part 3021--Governmentwide Requirements for Drug-Free
Workplace (Financial Assistance).
(vi) Certification regarding Architectural Barriers.
(vii) Certification regarding Flood Hazard Precautions.
(viii) An environmental report, in accordance with 7 CFR part 1794.
(ix) Certification that grant funds will not be used to duplicate
lines, facilities, or systems providing Broadband Transmission Service.
(x) Federal Obligation Certification on Delinquent Debt.
3. DUNS Number. As required by the OMB, all applicants for grants
must now supply a Dun and Bradstreet Data Universal Numbering System
(DUNS) number when applying. The 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 Community Connect Web site or Grants.gov for more information on
how to obtain a DUNS number or how to verify your organization's
number.
C. How many copies of an application are required?
1. Applications submitted on paper: Submit the original application
and two (2) copies to Rural Development.
2. Electronically submitted applications: The additional paper
copies are not necessary if you submit the application electronically
through Grants.gov.
[[Page 4805]]
D. How and Where to Submit an Application
Grant applications may be submitted on paper or electronically.
1. Submitting applications on paper.
a. Address paper applications for grants to the Rural Development,
Utilities Program, U.S. Department of Agriculture, 1400 Independence
Ave., SW., Room 2868, STOP 1599, Washington, DC 20250-1599.
Applications should be marked ``Attention: Director, Broadband
Division, Rural Development Utilities Program.''
b. Paper applications must show proof of mailing or shipping
consisting of one of the following:
(i) A legibly dated U.S. Postal Service (USPS) postmark;
(ii) A legible mail receipt with the date of mailing stamped by the
USPS; or
(iii) A dated shipping label, invoice, or receipt from a commercial
carrier.
c. Due to screening procedures at the Department of Agriculture,
packages arriving via the USPS are irradiated, which can damage the
contents. Rural Development encourages applicants to consider the
impact of this procedure in selecting their application delivery
method.
2. Electronically submitted applications.
a. Applications will not be accepted via facsimile machine
transmission or electronic mail.
b. Electronic applications for 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.
(ii) Follow the instructions on that Web site to find grant
information.
(iii) Download a copy of the 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. Rural Development encourages applicants who wish to apply
through Grants.gov to submit their applications in advance of the
deadline.
f. 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.
E. Deadlines
1. Paper applications must be postmarked and mailed, shipped, or
sent overnight no later than March 28, 2008 to be eligible for FY 2008
grant funding. Late applications are not eligible for FY 2008 grant
funding.
2. Electronic grant applications must be received by March 28, 2008
to be eligible for FY 2008 funding. Late applications are not eligible
for FY 2008 grant funding.
F. Funding Restrictions
1. Eligible grant purposes. Grant funds may be used to finance:
a. The construction, acquisition, or leasing of facilities,
including spectrum, to deploy Broadband Transmission Service to all
participating Critical Community Facilities and all required facilities
needed to offer such service to residential and business customers
located within the proposed Service Area;
b. The improvement, expansion, construction, or acquisition of a
Community Center that furnishes free access to broadband Internet
service, provided that the Community Center is open and accessible to
area residents before, during, and after normal working hours and on
Saturday or Sunday. Grant funds provided for such costs shall not
exceed the greater of five percent (5%) of the grant amount requested
or $100,000;
c. End-User Equipment needed to carry out the Project;
d. Operating expenses incurred in providing Broadband Transmission
Service to Critical Community Facilities for the first 2 years of
operation and in providing training and instruction; and
e. The purchase of land, buildings, or building construction needed
to carry out the Project.
2. Ineligible grant purposes.
a. Grant funds may not be used to finance the duplication of any
existing Broadband Transmission Service provided by another entity.
b. Facilities financed with grant funds cannot be utilized, in any
way, to provide local exchange telecommunications service to any person
or entity already receiving such service.
3. Please see 7 CFR 1739.3 for definitions, 7 CFR 1739.12 for
eligible grant purposes, and 7 CFR 1739.13 for ineligible grant
purposes.
V. Application Review Information
A. Criteria
1. Grant applications are scored competitively and subject to the
criteria listed below.
2. Grant application scoring criteria (total possible points: 100)
See 7 CFR 1739.17 for the items that will be reviewed during scoring
and for scoring criteria.
a. The rurality of the Project (up to 40 points);
b. The economic need of the Project's Service Area (up to 30
points); and
c. The ``community-oriented connectivity'' benefits derived from
the proposed service (up to 30 points).
B. Review Standards
1. All applications for grants must be delivered to Rural
Development at the address and by the date specified in this notice
(see also 7 CFR 1739.2) to be eligible for funding. Rural Development
will review each application for conformance with the provisions of
this part. Rural Development may contact the applicant for additional
information or clarification.
2. Incomplete applications as of the deadline for submission will
not be considered. If an application is determined to be incomplete,
the applicant will be notified in writing and the application will be
returned with no further action.
3. Applications conforming with this part will then be evaluated
competitively by a panel of Rural Development employees selected by the
Administrator of Rural Development Utilities Program, and will be
awarded points as described in the scoring criteria in 7 CFR 1739.17.
Applications will be ranked and grants awarded in rank order until all
grant funds are expended.
4. Regardless of the score an application receives, if Rural
Development determines that the Project is technically or financially
infeasible, Rural Development will notify the applicant, in writing,
and the application will be returned with no further action.
C. Selection Process
Grant applications are ranked by final score. Rural Development
selects applications based on those rankings, subject to the
availability of funds.
VI. Award Administration Information
A. Award Notices
Rural Development recognizes that each funded project is unique,
and therefore may attach conditions to different projects' award
documents. Rural Development generally notifies applicants whose
projects are selected for awards by faxing an award letter. Rural
Development follows the award letter with a grant agreement that
contains all the terms and conditions for the grant. An applicant must
execute and return the grant agreement, accompanied by any additional
items required by the grant agreement.
[[Page 4806]]
B. Administrative and National Policy Requirements
The items listed in paragraph IV.B.2.k of this notice, and the
Community Connect Grant Program regulation, application guide and
accompanying materials implement the appropriate administrative and
national policy requirements.
C. Reporting
1. Performance reporting. All recipients of Community Connect Grant
Program financial assistance must provide annual performance activity
reports to Rural Development 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. See 7 CFR 1739.19.
2. Financial reporting. All recipients of Community Connect Grant
Program 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 1739.20.
VII. Agency Contacts
A. Web site: https://www.usda.gov/rus/commconnect.htm. This Web site
maintains up-to-date resources and contact information for the
Community Connect Grant Program.
B. Phone: 202-690-4673.
C. Fax: 202-690-4389.
D. Main point of contact: Kenneth Kuchno, Director, Broadband
Division, Rural Development Utilities Program, U.S. Department of
Agriculture.
Dated: January 11, 2008.
James M. Andrew,
Administrator, Rural Utilities Service.
[FR Doc. E8-1375 Filed 1-25-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-15-P
