Announcement of Grant Application Deadlines and Funding Levels, 12017-12022 [2011-4751]

Download as PDF Federal Register / Vol. 76, No. 43 / Friday, March 4, 2011 / Notices Relay Service (FIRS) at 1–800–877–8339 between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m., Eastern Standard Time, Monday through Friday. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The meeting is open to the public. The following business will be conducted: Review of the status of approved projects; discussion of travel reimbursement, review and discussion of new project proposal and public forum discussion. Persons who wish to bring related matters to the attention of the Committee may file written statements with the Committee staff before or after the meeting. Public input sessions will be provided and individuals who made written requests by March 17, 2011 will have the opportunity to address the Committee at those sessions. Dated: February 25, 2011. Phil Cruz, Forest Supervisor. [FR Doc. 2011–4830 Filed 3–3–11; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3410–11–P DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE Forest Service Manti-La Sal National Forest Resource Advisory Committee Forest Service, USDA. ACTION: Notice of meeting. AGENCY: 636–3525 to facilitate entry into the building. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Rosann Fillmore, RAC coordinator, USDA, Manti-La Sal National Forest, 599 West Price River Drive, Price, UT 84501; 435–636–3525; E-mail rdfillmore@fs.fed.us. Individuals who use telecommunication devices for the deaf (TDD) may call the Federal Information Relay Service (FIRS) at 1–800–877–8339 between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m., Eastern Standard Time, Monday through Friday. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The meeting is open to the public. The following business will be conducted: (1) Consideration of Project Funding Proposals. (2) Oral presentations from proponents. (3) Other business. (4) Public comment. Persons who wish to bring related matters to the attention of the Committee may file written statements with the Committee staff before or after the meeting. Public input sessions will be provided and individuals who made written requests by March 25, 2011 will have the opportunity to address the Committee at those sessions. Dated: February 28, 2011. Ann King, Acting Forest Supervisor. [FR Doc. 2011–4961 Filed 3–3–11; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3410–11–P The Manti-La Sal National Forest Resource Advisory Committee will meet in Price, Utah. The committee is meeting as authorized under the Secure Rural Schools and Community Self-Determination Act (Pub. L. 110– 343) and in compliance with the Federal Advisory Committee Act. The purpose of the meeting is to consider Secure Rural Schools Act Title II project proposals and hear oral presentations. DATES: The meeting will be held March 30, 2011, and will begin at 9 a.m. ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held in the conference room of the Manti-La Sal National Forest, 599 West Price River Drive, Price, Utah. Written comments should be sent to Rosann Fillmore, Manti-La Sal National Forest, 599 West Price River Drive, Price, UT 84501. Comments may also be sent via e-mail to rdfillmore@fs.fed.us or via facsimile to 435–637–4940. All comments, including names and addresses when provided, are placed in the record and are available for public inspection and copying. The public may inspect comments received at the MantiLa Sal National Forest, 599 West Price River Drive, Price, UT 84501. Visitors are encouraged to call ahead to 435– jlentini on DSKJ8SOYB1PROD with NOTICES 19:16 Mar 03, 2011 Jkt 223001 mesters@fs.fed.us, or via facsimile to 601 469–2513. All comments, including names and addresses when provided, are placed in the record and are available for public inspection and copying. The public may inspect comments received at Bienville Ranger District Office, 3473 Hwy 35 South, Forest, Mississippi 39074. Visitors are encouraged to call ahead to 601 469–3811 to facilitate entry into the building. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Nefisia Kittrell, RAC coordinator, USDA, Bienville Ranger District Office, 3473 Hwy 35 South, Forest, Mississippi; (601) 469–3811; E-mail nkittrell@fs.fed.us. Individuals who use telecommunication devices for the deaf (TDD) may call the Federal Information Relay Service (FIRS) at 1–800–877–8339 between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m., Eastern Standard Time, Monday through Friday. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The meeting is open to the public. The following business will be conducted: (1) Review project proposals and recommendations. Persons who wish to bring related matters to the attention of the Committee may file written statements with the Committee staff before or after the meeting. Dated: February 28, 2011. Michael T. Esters, Designated Federal Officer. [FR Doc. 2011–4949 Filed 3–3–11; 8:45 am] SUMMARY: VerDate Mar<15>2010 12017 DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE Forest Service DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE Delta-Bienville Resource Advisory Committee Forest Service, USDA. Notice of meeting. AGENCY: ACTION: The Delta-Bienville Resource Advisory Committee will meet in Forest, Mississippi. The committee is meeting as authorized under the Secure Rural Schools and Community SelfDetermination Act (Pub. L. 110–343) and in compliance with the Federal Advisory Committee Act. The purpose is to hold the first meeting of the newly formed committee. DATES: The meeting will be held on March 14, 2011, and will begin at 6 p.m. ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held at the Bienville Ranger District Work Center, Hwy 501 South, 935A South Raleigh St, Forest, Mississippi 39074. Written comments should be sent to Michael T. Esters, Bienville Ranger District Office, 3473 Hwy 35 South, Forest, Mississippi 39074. Comments may also be sent via e-mail to SUMMARY: PO 00000 Frm 00005 Fmt 4703 BILLING CODE 3410–11–P Sfmt 4703 Rural Utilities Service Announcement of Grant Application Deadlines and Funding Levels Rural Utilities Service, USDA. Notice of solicitation of applications. AGENCY: ACTION: The United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Rural Utilities Service (RUS) announces the availability of $25 million in funding for Fiscal Year (FY) 2011 for the Community Connect Grant Program. This funding represents carry over balances from prior Appropriations Acts. This notice is being issued prior to passage of a final Appropriations Act for FY 2011, to allow potential applicants time to submit proposals and give the Agency time to process applications within the current fiscal year. RUS will publish a subsequent notice identifying the amount received in the final Appropriations Act, if any. Expenses incurred in developing SUMMARY: E:\FR\FM\04MRN1.SGM 04MRN1 12018 Federal Register / Vol. 76, No. 43 / Friday, March 4, 2011 / Notices applications will be at the applicant’s risk. For FY 2010, Congress appropriated approximately $17.9 million. In addition, RUS 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 May 3, 2011 to be eligible for FY 2011 grant funding. Late applications are not eligible for FY 2011 grant funding. • Electronic copies must be received by May 3, 2011 to be eligible for FY 2011 grant funding. Late applications are not eligible for FY 2011 grant funding. You may obtain application guides and materials for the Community Connect Grant Program via the Internet at the following Web site: https:// www.rurdev.usda.gov/ utp_commconnect.html. You may also request application guides and materials from RUS 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 Utilities Service, 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 Utilities Service.’’ 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 Utilities Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, telephone: (202) 690–4673, fax: (202) 690–4389. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: jlentini on DSKJ8SOYB1PROD with NOTICES ADDRESSES: 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 May 3, 2011, to VerDate Mar<15>2010 19:16 Mar 03, 2011 Jkt 223001 be eligible for FY 2011 grant funding. Late applications are not eligible for FY 2011 grant funding. • Electronic copies must be received by May 3, 2011, to be eligible for FY 2011 grant funding. Late applications are not eligible for FY 2011 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 Utilities Service 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. PO 00000 Frm 00006 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 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 2011 under 7 CFR 1739.2(a). 2. Grants a. $25 million is available for grants from prior year appropriations. Under 7 CFR 1739.2, the Administrator has established a minimum grant amount of $50,000 and a maximum grant amount of $1,500,000 for FY 2011. 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 E:\FR\FM\04MRN1.SGM 04MRN1 Federal Register / Vol. 76, No. 43 / Friday, March 4, 2011 / Notices 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 most recent edition of the Rand McNally Atlas containing population data; 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. jlentini on DSKJ8SOYB1PROD with NOTICES IV. Application and Submission Information A. Clarifications to Requirements for FY 2011 1. Although 7 CFR 1739.3 defines Broadband Transmission Service as 200 kilobits/second both in the downstream and upstream directions, the Agency recognizes that these speeds are not adequate to deliver much needed benefits such as distance learning and telemedicine to communities that are not currently receiving broadband service. Therefore, when the applications are scored for the ‘‘community-oriented connectivity benefits derived from the proposed services’’ emphasis will be placed on the amount of bandwidth that is being delivered to the customer. Although the amount of bandwidth is not the only item that will be evaluated for this criteria, the bandwidth being provided to enhance rural economic development will have a direct impact on the score that is assigned. All applicants are encouraged to construct systems that are capable of delivering the broadband VerDate Mar<15>2010 19:16 Mar 03, 2011 Jkt 223001 speeds that are identified in the Federal Communications Commission’s National Broadband Plan. 2. When determining the points that will be awarded for the ‘‘communityoriented connectivity’’ benefits derived from the proposed service, systems that are proposing to deliver more than the minimum bandwidth requirements have a greater potential of receiving the maximum number of points for this category. 3. When determining if a community has no existing broadband service, applicants are encouraged to refer to the Federal Communication Commission’s National Broadband Map. 4. Rural Development clarifies that the definition of ‘‘Critical Community Facilities’’ includes the mandatory Community Center. 5. 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. Include the amount of the commitment; and c. State the purpose of commitment. 6. 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 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. The period for expenses to be considered eligible for grant funding or to be used as an in-kind match is three PO 00000 Frm 00007 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 12019 years from the date the Administrator signs the award documents. 7. Community means any incorporated or unincorporated town, village, or borough located in a Rural Area, that is 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 containing population data. 8. 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. 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.rurdev.usda.gov/ utp_commconnect.html. 2. The Rural Development Broadband Division, for paper copies of these materials: (202) 690–4673. C. 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 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 E:\FR\FM\04MRN1.SGM 04MRN1 jlentini on DSKJ8SOYB1PROD with NOTICES 12020 Federal Register / Vol. 76, No. 43 / Friday, March 4, 2011 / Notices 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 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. DUNS Number. As required by the OMB, all applicants for grants must supply a Dun and Bradstreet Data Universal Numbering System (DUNS) number when applying. The Standard Form 424 VerDate Mar<15>2010 19:16 Mar 03, 2011 Jkt 223001 (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 https://www.grants.gov/applicants/ request_duns_number.jsp for more information on how to obtain a DUNS number or how to verify your organization’s number. l. Central Contractor Registration (CCR). (a) In accordance with 2 CFR part 25, applicants, whether applying electronically or by paper, must be registered in the CCR prior to submitting an application. Applicants may register for the CCR at https:// www.uscontractorregistration.com/ or by calling 1–877–252–2700. Completing the CCR registration process takes up to five business days, and applicants are strongly encouraged to begin the process well in advance of the deadline specified in this notice. (b) The CCR registration must remain active, with current information, at all times during which an entity has an application under consideration by an agency or has an active Federal Award. To remain registered in the CCR database after the initial registration, the applicant is required to review and update, on an annual basis from the date of initial registration or subsequent updates, its information in the CCR database to ensure it is current, accurate and complete. m. 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 1794. (ix) Certification that grant funds will not be used to duplicate lines, facilities, PO 00000 Frm 00008 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 or systems providing Broadband Transmission Service. (x) Federal Obligation Certification on Delinquent Debt. D. 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. E. 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 Utilities Service, 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 Utilities Service.’’ 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) Applicant may file an electronic application at https://www.grants.gov. Applications will not be accepted via facsimile machine transmission or electronic mail. Grants.gov contains full instructions on all required passwords, credentialing, and software. Follow the instructions at Grants.gov for registering and submitting an electronic application. If a system problem or technical difficulty occurs with an electronic application, please use the customer support resources available at the Grants.gov Web site. (b) First time Grants.gov users should go to the ‘‘Get Started’’ tab on the Grants.gov site and carefully read and follow the steps listed. These steps need to be initiated early in the application process to avoid delays in submitting your application online. E:\FR\FM\04MRN1.SGM 04MRN1 Federal Register / Vol. 76, No. 43 / Friday, March 4, 2011 / Notices (c) Registering with the Central Contractor Registry (CCR), will take some time to complete, so keep that in mind when beginning the application process. In order to register with the CCR, your organization will need a Data Universal Numbering System (DUNS) Number. jlentini on DSKJ8SOYB1PROD with NOTICES F. Deadlines 1. Paper applications must be postmarked and mailed, shipped, or sent overnight no later than May 3, 2011 to be eligible for FY 2011 grant funding. Late applications are not eligible for FY 2011 grant funding. 2. Electronic grant applications must be received by May 3, 2011 to be eligible for FY 2011 funding. Late applications are not eligible for FY 2011 grant funding. G. 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 VerDate Mar<15>2010 19:16 Mar 03, 2011 Jkt 223001 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 Utilities Service at the address and by the date specified in this notice (see also 7 CFR 1739.2) to be eligible for funding. Rural Utilities Service will review each application for conformance with the provisions of this part. Rural Utilities Service 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 Utilities Service employees selected by the Administrator of Rural Utilities Service, 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 Utilities Service recognizes that each funded project is unique, and PO 00000 Frm 00009 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 12021 therefore may attach conditions to different projects’ award documents. Rural Utilities Service generally notifies applicants whose projects are selected for awards by faxing an award letter. Rural Utilities Service 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. 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. 3. Recipient and Subrecipient Reporting. The applicant must have the necessary processes and systems in place to comply with the reporting requirements for first-tier sub-awards and executive compensation under the Federal Funding Accountability and Transparency Act of 2006 in the event the applicant receives funding unless such applicant is exempt from such reporting requirements pursuant to 2 CFR part 170, § 170.110(b). The reporting requirements under the Transparency Act pursuant to 2 CFR part 170 are as follows: a. First Tier Sub-Awards of $25,000 or more in non-Recovery Act funds (unless they are exempt under 2 CFR Part 170) must be reported by the Recipient to https://www.fsrs.gov no later than the end of the month following the month the obligation was made. b. The Total Compensation of the Recipient’s Executives (5 most highly E:\FR\FM\04MRN1.SGM 04MRN1 12022 Federal Register / Vol. 76, No. 43 / Friday, March 4, 2011 / Notices compensated executives) must be reported by the Recipient (if the Recipient meets the criteria under 2 CFR Part 170) to https://www.ccr.gov by the end of the month following the month in which the award was made. c. The Total Compensation of the Subrecipient’s Executives (5 most highly compensated executives) must be reported by the Subrecipient (if the Subrecipient meets the criteria under 2 CFR part 170) to the Recipient by the end of the month following the month in which the subaward was made. Persons with a disability requiring special services, such as an interpreter for the hearing impaired, should contact Pamela Dunston at least seven days prior to the meeting at 202–376–8105. TDD: (202) 376–8116. Dated: March 1, 2011. Kimberly Tolhurst, Senior Attorney-Advisor. [FR Doc. 2011–4910 Filed 3–2–11; 11:15 am] BILLING CODE 6335–01–P VII. Agency Contacts DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE 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 Utilities Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture. Foreign-Trade Zones Board Dated: February 18, 2011. Jonathan Adelstein, Administrator, Rural Utilities Service. [FR Doc. 2011–4751 Filed 3–3–11; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE P COMMISSION ON CIVIL RIGHTS Sunshine Act Notice United States Commission on Civil Rights. ACTION: Notice of briefing cancellation. AGENCY: On December 8, 2010 (75 FR 76396), the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights announced a briefing to be held on Friday, March 11, 2011 at the Commission’s headquarters. On March 1, 2011, the Commission cancelled the briefing. The details of the cancelled meeting are: DATE AND TIME: Friday, March 11, 2011; 9:30 a.m. EST. PLACE: 624 Ninth Street, NW., Room 540, Washington, DC 20425. SUMMARY: jlentini on DSKJ8SOYB1PROD with NOTICES Briefing Agenda This briefing is open to the public. Topic: The Civil Rights Implications of Eminent Domain Abuse. I. Introductory Remarks by Chairman; II. Speakers’ Presentations; III. Questions by Commissioners and Staff Director; IV. Adjourn Briefing. CONTACT PERSON FOR FURTHER INFORMATION: Lenore Ostrowsky, Acting Chief, Public Affairs Unit (202) 376– 8591. TDD: (202) 376–8116. VerDate Mar<15>2010 19:16 Mar 03, 2011 Jkt 223001 [Docket 15–2011] Foreign-Trade Zone 230–Greensboro, NC; Application for Subzone; VF Jeanswear (Apparel Distribution); Mocksville, NC An application has been submitted to the Foreign-Trade Zones Board (the Board) by the Piedmont Triad Partnership, grantee of FTZ 230, requesting special-purpose subzone status for the warehousing and distribution facility of VF Jeanswear, located in Mocksville, North Carolina. The application was submitted pursuant to the provisions of the Foreign-Trade Zones Act, as amended (19 U.S.C. 81a– 81u), and the regulations of the Board (15 CFR part 400). It was formally filed on March 1, 2011. The VF Jeanswear facility (430 employees, 71.67acres/494,000 square feet of enclosed space) is located at 1401 U.S. Highway 601 South, Mocksville, North Carolina. The facility is used for warehousing and distribution of foreignorigin apparel (duty rates 16.6%–28.6%) for the U.S. market and export. The applicant is not seeking manufacturing or processing authority with this request. FTZ procedures could exempt VF Jeanswear from customs duty payments on foreign apparel that is exported (about 1% of shipments). On domestic sales, duty payments would be deferred until the foreign merchandise is shipped from the facility and entered for U.S. consumption. FTZ designation would further allow VF Jeanswear to realize logistical benefits through the use of certain customs procedures. The request indicates that the savings from FTZ procedures would help improve the facility’s international competitiveness. In accordance with the Board’s regulations, Diane Finver of the FTZ Staff is designated examiner to evaluate and analyze the facts and information presented in the application and case PO 00000 Frm 00010 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 record and to report findings and recommendations to the Board. Public comment is invited from interested parties. Submissions (original and 3 copies) shall be addressed to the Board’s Executive Secretary at the address below. The closing period for their receipt is May 3, 2011. Rebuttal comments in response to material submitted during the foregoing period may be submitted during the subsequent 15-day period to May 18, 2011. A copy of the application will be available for public inspection at the Office of the Executive Secretary, Foreign-Trade Zones Board, Room 2111, U.S. Department of Commerce, 1401 Constitution Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20230–0002, and in the ‘‘Reading Room’’ section of the Board’s Web site, which is accessible via https:// www.trade.gov/ftz. For further information, contact Diane Finver at Diane.Finver@trade.gov (202) 482–1367. Dated: March 1, 2011. Elizabeth Whiteman, Acting Executive Secretary. [FR Doc. 2011–4960 Filed 3–3–11; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510–DS–P DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE Foreign-Trade Zones Board Foreign-Trade Zone 147—Berks County, PA; Site Renumbering Notice; Correction The Federal Register notice (76 FR 1134, 1/7/11) describing the renumbering of sites within ForeignTrade Zone 147 in Berks County, Pennsylvania, should be as follows: FTZ 147 currently consists of 19 ‘‘sites’’ totaling 5,038 acres in the Reading area. The current update does not alter the physical boundaries that have previously been approved, but instead involves an administrative renumbering that separates certain noncontiguous sites for record-keeping purposes. Under this revision, the site list for FTZ 147 will be as follows: Site 1 (865 acres)—Reading Municipal Airport complex; Site 2 (6.64 acres)—Second Street and Grand Street, Hamburg; Site 3 (160.71 acres)—Excelsior Industrial Park, Maiden Creek Township; Site 4 (272.33 acres total)—within the International Trade District of York located at East Berlin and Zarfoss Roads (26.64 acres), at 500 Lincoln Street and 160 & 222 N. Hartley Street (16.69 acres), at the Industrial Plaza of York, Roosevelt Avenue and West Philadelphia Street (1 acre), and at 260 E:\FR\FM\04MRN1.SGM 04MRN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 43 (Friday, March 4, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Pages 12017-12022]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-4751]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Rural Utilities Service


Announcement of Grant Application Deadlines and Funding Levels

AGENCY: Rural Utilities Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice of solicitation of applications.

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SUMMARY: The United States Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Rural 
Utilities Service (RUS) announces the availability of $25 million in 
funding for Fiscal Year (FY) 2011 for the Community Connect Grant 
Program. This funding represents carry over balances from prior 
Appropriations Acts. This notice is being issued prior to passage of a 
final Appropriations Act for FY 2011, to allow potential applicants 
time to submit proposals and give the Agency time to process 
applications within the current fiscal year. RUS will publish a 
subsequent notice identifying the amount received in the final 
Appropriations Act, if any. Expenses incurred in developing

[[Page 12018]]

applications will be at the applicant's risk. For FY 2010, Congress 
appropriated approximately $17.9 million. In addition, RUS 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 
May 3, 2011 to be eligible for FY 2011 grant funding. Late applications 
are not eligible for FY 2011 grant funding.
     Electronic copies must be received by May 3, 2011 to be 
eligible for FY 2011 grant funding. Late applications are not eligible 
for FY 2011 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.rurdev.usda.gov/utp_commconnect.html. You may also 
request application guides and materials from RUS 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 
Utilities Service, 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 Utilities Service.''
    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 Utilities Service, 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 
May 3, 2011, to be eligible for FY 2011 grant funding. Late 
applications are not eligible for FY 2011 grant funding.
     Electronic copies must be received by May 3, 2011, to be 
eligible for FY 2011 grant funding. Late applications are not eligible 
for FY 2011 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 Utilities Service 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 2011 under 7 CFR 1739.2(a).
    2. Grants
    a. $25 million is available for grants from prior year 
appropriations. Under 7 CFR 1739.2, the Administrator has established a 
minimum grant amount of $50,000 and a maximum grant amount of 
$1,500,000 for FY 2011.
    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

[[Page 12019]]

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 
most recent edition of the Rand McNally Atlas containing population 
data;
    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 2011

    1. Although 7 CFR 1739.3 defines Broadband Transmission Service as 
200 kilobits/second both in the downstream and upstream directions, the 
Agency recognizes that these speeds are not adequate to deliver much 
needed benefits such as distance learning and telemedicine to 
communities that are not currently receiving broadband service. 
Therefore, when the applications are scored for the ``community-
oriented connectivity benefits derived from the proposed services'' 
emphasis will be placed on the amount of bandwidth that is being 
delivered to the customer. Although the amount of bandwidth is not the 
only item that will be evaluated for this criteria, the bandwidth being 
provided to enhance rural economic development will have a direct 
impact on the score that is assigned. All applicants are encouraged to 
construct systems that are capable of delivering the broadband speeds 
that are identified in the Federal Communications Commission's National 
Broadband Plan.
    2. When determining the points that will be awarded for the 
``community-oriented connectivity'' benefits derived from the proposed 
service, systems that are proposing to deliver more than the minimum 
bandwidth requirements have a greater potential of receiving the 
maximum number of points for this category.
    3. When determining if a community has no existing broadband 
service, applicants are encouraged to refer to the Federal 
Communication Commission's National Broadband Map.
    4. Rural Development clarifies that the definition of ``Critical 
Community Facilities'' includes the mandatory Community Center.
    5. 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. Include the amount of the commitment; and
    c. State the purpose of commitment.
    6. 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 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. The period for expenses to be considered eligible 
for grant funding or to be used as an in-kind match is three years from 
the date the Administrator signs the award documents.
    7. Community means any incorporated or unincorporated town, 
village, or borough located in a Rural Area, that is 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 containing population 
data.
    8. 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.

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.rurdev.usda.gov/utp_commconnect.html.
    2. The Rural Development Broadband Division, for paper copies of 
these materials: (202) 690-4673.

C. 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 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

[[Page 12020]]

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. DUNS Number.
    As required by the OMB, all applicants for 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 https://www.grants.gov/applicants/request_duns_number.jsp 
for more information on how to obtain a DUNS number or how to verify 
your organization's number.
    l. Central Contractor Registration (CCR).
    (a) In accordance with 2 CFR part 25, applicants, whether applying 
electronically or by paper, must be registered in the CCR prior to 
submitting an application. Applicants may register for the CCR at 
https://www.uscontractorregistration.com/ or by calling 1-877-252-2700. 
Completing the CCR registration process takes up to five business days, 
and applicants are strongly encouraged to begin the process well in 
advance of the deadline specified in this notice.
    (b) The CCR registration must remain active, with current 
information, at all times during which an entity has an application 
under consideration by an agency or has an active Federal Award. To 
remain registered in the CCR database after the initial registration, 
the applicant is required to review and update, on an annual basis from 
the date of initial registration or subsequent updates, its information 
in the CCR database to ensure it is current, accurate and complete.
    m. 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 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.

D. 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.

E. 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 Utilities 
Service, 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 Utilities 
Service.''
    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) Applicant may file an electronic application at https://www.grants.gov. Applications will not be accepted via facsimile machine 
transmission or electronic mail. Grants.gov contains full instructions 
on all required passwords, credentialing, and software. Follow the 
instructions at Grants.gov for registering and submitting an electronic 
application. If a system problem or technical difficulty occurs with an 
electronic application, please use the customer support resources 
available at the Grants.gov Web site.
    (b) First time Grants.gov users should go to the ``Get Started'' 
tab on the Grants.gov site and carefully read and follow the steps 
listed. These steps need to be initiated early in the application 
process to avoid delays in submitting your application online.

[[Page 12021]]

    (c) Registering with the Central Contractor Registry (CCR), will 
take some time to complete, so keep that in mind when beginning the 
application process. In order to register with the CCR, your 
organization will need a Data Universal Numbering System (DUNS) Number.

F. Deadlines

    1. Paper applications must be postmarked and mailed, shipped, or 
sent overnight no later than May 3, 2011 to be eligible for FY 2011 
grant funding. Late applications are not eligible for FY 2011 grant 
funding.
    2. Electronic grant applications must be received by May 3, 2011 to 
be eligible for FY 2011 funding. Late applications are not eligible for 
FY 2011 grant funding.

G. 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 Utilities 
Service at the address and by the date specified in this notice (see 
also 7 CFR 1739.2) to be eligible for funding. Rural Utilities Service 
will review each application for conformance with the provisions of 
this part. Rural Utilities Service 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 Utilities Service employees selected 
by the Administrator of Rural Utilities Service, 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 Utilities Service recognizes that each funded project is 
unique, and therefore may attach conditions to different projects' 
award documents. Rural Utilities Service generally notifies applicants 
whose projects are selected for awards by faxing an award letter. Rural 
Utilities Service 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.

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.
    3. Recipient and Subrecipient Reporting. The applicant must have 
the necessary processes and systems in place to comply with the 
reporting requirements for first-tier sub-awards and executive 
compensation under the Federal Funding Accountability and Transparency 
Act of 2006 in the event the applicant receives funding unless such 
applicant is exempt from such reporting requirements pursuant to 2 CFR 
part 170, Sec.  170.110(b). The reporting requirements under the 
Transparency Act pursuant to 2 CFR part 170 are as follows:
    a. First Tier Sub-Awards of $25,000 or more in non-Recovery Act 
funds (unless they are exempt under 2 CFR Part 170) must be reported by 
the Recipient to https://www.fsrs.gov no later than the end of the month 
following the month the obligation was made.
    b. The Total Compensation of the Recipient's Executives (5 most 
highly

[[Page 12022]]

compensated executives) must be reported by the Recipient (if the 
Recipient meets the criteria under 2 CFR Part 170) to https://www.ccr.gov by the end of the month following the month in which the 
award was made.
    c. The Total Compensation of the Subrecipient's Executives (5 most 
highly compensated executives) must be reported by the Subrecipient (if 
the Subrecipient meets the criteria under 2 CFR part 170) to the 
Recipient by the end of the month following the month in which the 
subaward was made.

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 Utilities Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture.

    Dated: February 18, 2011.
Jonathan Adelstein,
Administrator, Rural Utilities Service.
[FR Doc. 2011-4751 Filed 3-3-11; 8:45 am]
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