Broadband Pilot Program-ReConnect Program, 16839-16840 [2019-08176]
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jbell on DSK3GLQ082PROD with NOTICES
Federal Register / Vol. 84, No. 78 / Tuesday, April 23, 2019 / Notices
Washington, DC 20250, Telephone:
202–690–4492, email: thomas.dickson@
usda.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Office
of Management and Budget’s (OMB)
regulation (5 CFR 1320) implementing
provisions of the Paperwork Reduction
Act of 1995 (Pub. L. 104–13) requires
that interested members of the public
and affected agencies have an
opportunity to comment on information
collection and recordkeeping activities
(see 5 CFR 1320.8(d)). This notice
identifies an information collection that
Rural Development is submitting to
OMB for extension.
Comments are invited on: (a) Whether
the collection of information is
necessary for the proper performance of
the functions of the agency, including
whether the information will have
practical utility; (b) the accuracy of the
agency’s estimate of the burden of the
collection of information including the
validity of the methodology and
assumptions used; (c) ways to enhance
the quality, utility and clarity of the
information to be collected; and (d)
ways to minimize the burden of the
collection of information on
respondents, including through the use
of appropriate automated, electronic,
mechanical, or other technological
collection techniques or other forms of
information technology.
Comments may be sent to: Thomas P.
Dickson, Rural Development Innovation
Center—Regulatory, USDA, 1400
Independence Avenue SW, STOP 1522,
South Building, Washington, DC 20250–
1522. Telephone: (202) 690–4492. Email
Thomas.dickson@usda.gov.
Title: Debt Settlement-Community
and Business Programs.
OMB Number: 0575–0124.
Type of Request: Extension of a
currently approved information
collection.
Abstract: The following Community
and Direct Business Programs loans and
grants are debt settled by this currently
approved docket (0575–0124). The
Community Facilities loan and grant
program is authorized by Section 306 of
the Consolidated Farm and Rural
Development Act to make loans to
public entities, nonprofit corporations,
and Indian tribes through the
Community Facilities program for the
development of essential community
facilities primarily serving rural
residents.
The Economic Opportunity Act of
1964, Title 3, authorizes Economic
Opportunity Cooperative loans to assist
incorporated and unincorporated
associations to provide low-income
rural families essential processing,
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17:49 Apr 22, 2019
Jkt 247001
purchasing, or marketing services,
supplies, or facilities.
The Food Security Act of 1985,
Section 1323, authorizes loan
guarantees and grants to Nonprofit
National Corporations to provide
technical and financial assistance to forprofit or nonprofit local businesses in
rural areas.
The Business and Industry program is
authorized by Section 310 B of the
Consolidated Farm and Rural
Development Act to improve, develop,
or finance business, industry, and
employment and improve the economic
and environmental climate in rural
communities, including pollution
abatement control.
The Consolidated Farm and Rural
Development Act, Section 310 B(c),
authorizes Rural Business Enterprise
Grants to public bodies and nonprofit
corporations to facilitate the
development of private businesses in
rural areas.
The Consolidated Farm and Rural
Development Act, Section 310 B(f)(i),
authorized Rural Cooperative
Development Grants to nonprofit
institutions for the purpose of enabling
such institutions to establish and
operate centers for rural cooperative
development.
The purpose of the debt settlement
function for the above programs is to
provide the delinquent client with an
equitable tool for the compromise,
adjustment, cancellation, or charge-off
of a debt owed to the Agency.
The information collected is similar to
that required by a commercial lender in
similar circumstances.
Information will be collected by the
field offices from applicants, borrowers,
consultants, lenders, and attorneys.
Failure to collect information could
result in improper servicing of these
loans.
Estimate of Burden: Public reporting
burden for this collection of information
is estimated to average 6.2 hours per
response.
Respondents: Public bodies and
nonprofit organizations.
Estimated Number of Respondents:
23.
Estimated Number of Responses per
Respondent: 7.1.
Estimated Number of Responses: 163.
Estimated Total Annual Burden on
Respondents: 1,005 hours.
Copies of this information collections
can be obtained from Diane M. Berger,
Rural Development Innovation Center—
PO 00000
Frm 00004
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Sfmt 4703
16839
Regulatory Team; phone—(715) 619–
3124; or email diane.berger@usda.gov.
Richard A. Davis,
Acting Administrator, Rural Housing Service.
[FR Doc. 2019–08142 Filed 4–22–19; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE P
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Rural Utilities Service
Broadband Pilot Program—ReConnect
Program
Rural Utilities Service,
Department of Agriculture.
ACTION: Notice; announcement of
opening date for Rural e-Connectivity
Pilot Program application windows.
AGENCY:
The Rural Utilities Service
(RUS) announced its general policy and
application procedures for funding
under the eConnectivity Pilot Program
(ReConnect Program) in a Funding
Opportunity Announcement (FOA) and
solicitation of applications on December
14, 2018 in the Federal Register and
amended the application window
closing dates in a notice published on
February 25, 2019 in the Federal
Register. The Reconnect Program will
provide loans, grants, and loan/grant
combinations to facilitate broadband
deployment in rural areas. This Notice
announces the opening date for the
ReConnect Program application
windows.
DATES: The Agency will begin accepting
applications through https://
reconnect.usda.gov for all three
ReConnect Program funding categories
on April 23, 2019. Please note that each
funding category has a different
application deadline (as referenced in
Section II of Supplementary
Information). Please refer to the specific
funding category for the appropriate
application dates.
ADDRESSES: Application Submission:
The application system for electronic
submissions is available at https://
reconnect.usda.gov.
Electronic submissions: Electronic
submissions of applications will allow
for the expeditious review of an
Applicant’s proposal. As a result, all
Applicants must file their application
electronically.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For
general inquiries regarding the
ReConnect Program, contact Chad
Parker, Assistant Administrator
Telecommunications Program, Rural
Utilities Service, U.S. Department of
Agriculture (USDA), email:
chad.parker@wdc.usda.gov, telephone
SUMMARY:
E:\FR\FM\23APN1.SGM
23APN1
16840
Federal Register / Vol. 84, No. 78 / Tuesday, April 23, 2019 / Notices
(202) 720–9554. You may obtain
additional information regarding
applications or submit requests for
technical assistance at https://
www.usda.gov/reconnect/contact-us.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Authority: This solicitation is issued
pursuant to the Consolidated Appropriations
Act, 2018, Public Law 115–141, and the
Rural Electrification Act of 1936, 7 U.S.C.
901 et seq.
jbell on DSK3GLQ082PROD with NOTICES
Overview
Federal Agency: Rural Utilities
Service, USDA.
Funding Opportunity Title: Rural
eConnectivity Pilot Program (ReConnect
Program).
Announcement Type: Announcement
of Opening Date for Rural eConnectivity Pilot Program Application
Windows (FOA published in the
Federal Register on December 14, 2018.)
Catalog of Federal Domestic
Assistance (CFDA) Number: Rural
eConnectivity Pilot Program (ReConnect
Program)—10.752.
I. Background
On March 23, 2018, Congress passed
the Consolidated Appropriations Act
2018, which established a broadband
loan and grant pilot program, the
ReConnect Program. One of the essential
goals of the ReConnect Program is to
expand broadband service to rural areas
without sufficient access to broadband,
defined as 10 megabits per second
(Mbps) downstream and 1 Mbps
upstream. For this purpose, Congress
provided RUS with $600 million and
expanded its existing authority to make
loans and grants.
On December 14, 2018, RUS
published a Funding Opportunity
Announcement (FOA) and solicitation
of applications in the Federal Register
at 83 FR 64315. The FOA provided the
policy and application procedures for
the ReConnect Program. On February
25, 2019, RUS published a notice
announcing the application deadlines in
the Federal Register at 84 FR 5981. The
agency is publishing this notice to
provide the date that the application
windows will open.
Since the publication of the December
14, 2018 FOA, the 2019 Appropriations
Act became law on February 15, 2019.
The 2019 Appropriations Act requires
that the Agency shall, in determining
whether an entity may overbuild, or
duplicate broadband expansion efforts
made by any entity that has received a
broadband loan from RUS, not consider
loans that were rescinded or defaulted
on, or whose loan terms and conditions
were not met, if the new entity under
consideration has not previously
VerDate Sep<11>2014
17:49 Apr 22, 2019
Jkt 247001
defaulted on, or failed to meet the terms
and conditions of, an RUS loan or had
an RUS loan rescinded. To address
these issues, the actions taken in the
Notice published in the Federal
Register (84 FR 14911) on April 12,
2019: (1) Revises the definition of
Broadband loan in the FOA, as
published in the Federal Register on
December 14, 2018, as required by the
2019 Appropriations Act; (2) describes
any changes to the data used in the
protected broadband service areas
mapping layer and, (3) announces the
criteria by which applicants may
challenge the determination of service
area eligibility. These actions were
taken by the Agency to ensure that all
eligible service areas receive fair
consideration for funding under the
ReConnect Program.
Telecommunications companies, rural
electric cooperatives and utilities,
internet service providers and
municipalities may apply for funding
through the ReConnect Program to
connect rural areas that do not have
sufficient broadband service. Funds will
be awarded to projects that have
financially sustainable business models
that will bring high-speed broadband to
rural homes, businesses, farms, ranches
and community facilities, such as first
responders, health care sites, and
schools. The ReConnect Program
enables USDA to create and implement
innovative solutions to rural
connectivity by providing various
financial options to our partners and
customers.
II. Funding Categories and Application
Submission Dates
A. Funding Categories
Applications will be accepted on a
rolling basis from April 23, 2019
through July 12, 2019. If two loan
applications are received for the same
proposed funded service area, the
application that arrives first will be
considered first.
2. 50 Percent Loan/50 Percent Grant
Combination
Applications will be accepted from
April 23, 2019 through June 21, 2019.
Notwithstanding overlapping
applications, generally all eligible
applications will be scored and the
applications with the highest score will
receive an award offer until all funds are
expended for this category. Scoring
criteria was established in the Federal
Register FOA on December 14, 2018 and
can also be found on the website https://
reconnect.usda.gov.
Frm 00005
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
Applications will be accepted from
April 23, 2019 through May 31, 2019.
Notwithstanding overlapping
applications, generally all eligible
applications will be scored and the
applications with the highest score will
receive an award offer until all funds are
expended for this category. Scoring
criteria was established in the FOA,
published in Federal Register on
December 14, 2018, and can also be
found on the website https://
reconnect.usda.gov.
B. Available Funds
USDA is making available up to $200
million in in program level for grants,
$200 million in program level for loan
and grant combinations, and $200
million in program level for low-interest
loans. RUS retains the discretion to
divert funds from one funding category
to another.
III. Program Requirements
To be eligible for an award,
applications must meet all the
requirements contained in the FOA
published in the Federal Register on
December 14, 2018 at 83 FR 64315.
Information can also be found at https://
reconnect.usda.gov.
Chad Rupe,
Acting Administrator, Rural Utilities Service.
[FR Doc. 2019–08176 Filed 4–22–19; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410–15–P
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
International Trade Administration
[A–570–097 and C–570–098]
1. 100 Percent Loan
PO 00000
3. 100 Percent Grant
Polyester Textured Yarn From the
People’s Republic of China:
Preliminary Affirmative Determinations
of Critical Circumstances in the
Antidumping and Countervailing Duty
Investigations
Enforcement and Compliance,
International Trade Administration,
Department of Commerce.
SUMMARY: The Department of Commerce
(Commerce) preliminarily determines
that critical circumstances exist with
respect to all imports of polyester
textured yarn (yarn) from the People’s
Republic of China (China).
DATES: Applicable April 23, 2019.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
George Ayache, AD/CVD Operations,
Office VIII, Enforcement and
Compliance, International Trade
Administration, U.S. Department of
Commerce, 1401 Constitution Avenue
AGENCY:
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]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 78 (Tuesday, April 23, 2019)]
[Notices]
[Pages 16839-16840]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-08176]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Rural Utilities Service
Broadband Pilot Program--ReConnect Program
AGENCY: Rural Utilities Service, Department of Agriculture.
ACTION: Notice; announcement of opening date for Rural e-Connectivity
Pilot Program application windows.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: The Rural Utilities Service (RUS) announced its general policy
and application procedures for funding under the eConnectivity Pilot
Program (ReConnect Program) in a Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA)
and solicitation of applications on December 14, 2018 in the Federal
Register and amended the application window closing dates in a notice
published on February 25, 2019 in the Federal Register. The Reconnect
Program will provide loans, grants, and loan/grant combinations to
facilitate broadband deployment in rural areas. This Notice announces
the opening date for the ReConnect Program application windows.
DATES: The Agency will begin accepting applications through https://reconnect.usda.gov for all three ReConnect Program funding categories
on April 23, 2019. Please note that each funding category has a
different application deadline (as referenced in Section II of
Supplementary Information). Please refer to the specific funding
category for the appropriate application dates.
ADDRESSES: Application Submission: The application system for
electronic submissions is available at https://reconnect.usda.gov.
Electronic submissions: Electronic submissions of applications will
allow for the expeditious review of an Applicant's proposal. As a
result, all Applicants must file their application electronically.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For general inquiries regarding the
ReConnect Program, contact Chad Parker, Assistant Administrator
Telecommunications Program, Rural Utilities Service, U.S. Department of
Agriculture (USDA), email: [email protected], telephone
[[Page 16840]]
(202) 720-9554. You may obtain additional information regarding
applications or submit requests for technical assistance at https://www.usda.gov/reconnect/contact-us.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Authority: This solicitation is issued pursuant to the
Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2018, Public Law 115-141, and the
Rural Electrification Act of 1936, 7 U.S.C. 901 et seq.
Overview
Federal Agency: Rural Utilities Service, USDA.
Funding Opportunity Title: Rural eConnectivity Pilot Program
(ReConnect Program).
Announcement Type: Announcement of Opening Date for Rural e-
Connectivity Pilot Program Application Windows (FOA published in the
Federal Register on December 14, 2018.)
Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) Number: Rural
eConnectivity Pilot Program (ReConnect Program)--10.752.
I. Background
On March 23, 2018, Congress passed the Consolidated Appropriations
Act 2018, which established a broadband loan and grant pilot program,
the ReConnect Program. One of the essential goals of the ReConnect
Program is to expand broadband service to rural areas without
sufficient access to broadband, defined as 10 megabits per second
(Mbps) downstream and 1 Mbps upstream. For this purpose, Congress
provided RUS with $600 million and expanded its existing authority to
make loans and grants.
On December 14, 2018, RUS published a Funding Opportunity
Announcement (FOA) and solicitation of applications in the Federal
Register at 83 FR 64315. The FOA provided the policy and application
procedures for the ReConnect Program. On February 25, 2019, RUS
published a notice announcing the application deadlines in the Federal
Register at 84 FR 5981. The agency is publishing this notice to provide
the date that the application windows will open.
Since the publication of the December 14, 2018 FOA, the 2019
Appropriations Act became law on February 15, 2019. The 2019
Appropriations Act requires that the Agency shall, in determining
whether an entity may overbuild, or duplicate broadband expansion
efforts made by any entity that has received a broadband loan from RUS,
not consider loans that were rescinded or defaulted on, or whose loan
terms and conditions were not met, if the new entity under
consideration has not previously defaulted on, or failed to meet the
terms and conditions of, an RUS loan or had an RUS loan rescinded. To
address these issues, the actions taken in the Notice published in the
Federal Register (84 FR 14911) on April 12, 2019: (1) Revises the
definition of Broadband loan in the FOA, as published in the Federal
Register on December 14, 2018, as required by the 2019 Appropriations
Act; (2) describes any changes to the data used in the protected
broadband service areas mapping layer and, (3) announces the criteria
by which applicants may challenge the determination of service area
eligibility. These actions were taken by the Agency to ensure that all
eligible service areas receive fair consideration for funding under the
ReConnect Program.
Telecommunications companies, rural electric cooperatives and
utilities, internet service providers and municipalities may apply for
funding through the ReConnect Program to connect rural areas that do
not have sufficient broadband service. Funds will be awarded to
projects that have financially sustainable business models that will
bring high-speed broadband to rural homes, businesses, farms, ranches
and community facilities, such as first responders, health care sites,
and schools. The ReConnect Program enables USDA to create and implement
innovative solutions to rural connectivity by providing various
financial options to our partners and customers.
II. Funding Categories and Application Submission Dates
A. Funding Categories
1. 100 Percent Loan
Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis from April 23,
2019 through July 12, 2019. If two loan applications are received for
the same proposed funded service area, the application that arrives
first will be considered first.
2. 50 Percent Loan/50 Percent Grant Combination
Applications will be accepted from April 23, 2019 through June 21,
2019. Notwithstanding overlapping applications, generally all eligible
applications will be scored and the applications with the highest score
will receive an award offer until all funds are expended for this
category. Scoring criteria was established in the Federal Register FOA
on December 14, 2018 and can also be found on the website https://reconnect.usda.gov.
3. 100 Percent Grant
Applications will be accepted from April 23, 2019 through May 31,
2019. Notwithstanding overlapping applications, generally all eligible
applications will be scored and the applications with the highest score
will receive an award offer until all funds are expended for this
category. Scoring criteria was established in the FOA, published in
Federal Register on December 14, 2018, and can also be found on the
website https://reconnect.usda.gov.
B. Available Funds
USDA is making available up to $200 million in in program level for
grants, $200 million in program level for loan and grant combinations,
and $200 million in program level for low-interest loans. RUS retains
the discretion to divert funds from one funding category to another.
III. Program Requirements
To be eligible for an award, applications must meet all the
requirements contained in the FOA published in the Federal Register on
December 14, 2018 at 83 FR 64315. Information can also be found at
https://reconnect.usda.gov.
Chad Rupe,
Acting Administrator, Rural Utilities Service.
[FR Doc. 2019-08176 Filed 4-22-19; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-15-P
