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Loans
Broadband Loans
Rural Broadband Access, to provide loans and loan guarantees to fund the
cost of construction, improvement, or acquisition of facilities and
equipment for the provision of broadband service
in eligible rural communities. This final rule prescribes the types of loans
available, facilities financed, and eligible applicants, as well as minimum
credit support requirements to be considered for a loan.
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Expedited Telecommunications Loan and Loan
Guarantee Program
The Rural Utilities Service (RUS) Telecommunications Program assists the
private sector in developing, planning and financing the construction of
telecommunications infrastructure in rural America. The RUS program is
dedicated to lend to the limits of the RE Act definition of “telephone
service”. Where prudent, we are changing our regulations to provide the
greatest amount of flexibility necessary to meet the challenges of ensuring
that highquality, affordable, advanced services are deployed in rural
America.
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Distance Learning and Telemedicine Loan and
Combination Loan-Grant Programs
Distance Learning and Telemedicine Loan and Combination Loan-Grant
Programs
The Distance Learning and Telemedicine (DLT) Program offers three funding
opportunities for applicants to consider. DLT grants are made annually on a
competitive basis, are highly focused into the neediest and most rural
areas, and limit eligible purposes to the most cost-effective elements in a
distance-learning and telemedicine network - the application interface
devices. Complementing the grant program, the DLT Loan and Combination
Loan-Grant Programs offer applicants larger possible dollar amounts, more
comprehensive eligible purposes, and more certain application results. These
programs are non-competitive, making awards on a first come, first served
basis. They can fund everything a DLT grant can fund, plus
telecommunications infrastructure, buildings, vehicles, and certain
operating expenses.
Infrastructure Loans
USDA Rural Development continues to provide many programs for financing
rural America's telecommunications infrastructure. The traditional
"telephone" loan program, consisting of hardship, cost of money, and
guaranteed loans, finances voice telephone service, and since 1995, every
telephone line this program has constructed has been capable of providing
broadband service using digital subscriber line (DSL) technology.
Grants
Community Connect Grant Program
The Community-Oriented Connectivity Broadband Grant Program is designed
to provide financial assistance in the form of grants to eligible applicants
that will provide currently un-served areas, on a "community-oriented
connectivity" basis, with broadband transmission service that fosters
economic growth and delivers enhanced education, health care, and public
safety services.
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Distance Learning and Telemedicine Loan and
Grant Program
The Distance Learning and Telemedicine (DLT) Program is specifically
designed to meet the educational and health care needs of rural America
through the use of advanced telecommunications technologies. With DLT
grants, loans, and loan-grant combinations, we help rural communities enjoy
enhanced educational opportunities, improved health care services and
greater economic development. In the Grant Program, the focus is primarily
on funding user equipment that operates via telecommunications to connect
students and teachers or medical providers and patients at separate
locations. The Loan and Combination Loan/Grant Program fund additional
resources that help improve education and medical care in rural America.
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Public Television Digital Transition Grant
Program
These grants assist Public Television Stations serving substantial rural
populations in transitioning to digital broadcast television transmission,
as mandated by the Federal Communications Commission. Grant funds may be
used to acquire and install facilities and software necessary for the
transition. Grant funds may also be used for associated engineering and
environmental studies.
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Weather Radio Grant Program
Rural Development Weather Radio Transmitter Grant Program provides grant
funds to finance the installation of new transmitters to extend the coverage
of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Weather Radio
system (NOAA Weather Radio) in rural America. The President of the United
States and the United States Congress made $5 million (later reduced to
$4,989,000) in grant funds available to facilitate the expansion of NOAA
Weather Radio system coverage into rural areas that are not covered or are
poorly covered at this time. This program provides grant funds for use in
rural areas and communities of 50,000 or less inhabitants. Limited grant
funds are still available; applications will be processed on a first-come,
first-served basis until the appropriation is used in its entirety.
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