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| 10.886 RURAL BROADBAND ACCESS LOANS AND LOAN GUARANTEES |
| (Rural Broadband Access Loans and Loan Guarantees) |
| FEDERAL AGENCY |
| RURAL UTILITIES SERVICE, DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE |
| AUTHORIZATION |
| Rural Electrification Act of 1936, as amended, Title VI; 7 U.S.C. 950bb. |
| OBJECTIVES |
| To assure that people in eligible rural communities have access to broadband service comparable in reliability and quality to the rest of the Nation. |
| TYPES OF ASSISTANCE |
| Direct Loans; Guaranteed/Insured Loans. |
| USES AND USE RESTRICTIONS |
| RUS makes long term direct and guaranteed loans to eligible entities for the purpose of financing the construction, improvement, and acquisition of telecommunications facilities and equipment to provide broadband service in eligible rural communities. Eligible rural communities are defined as any area of the United States (which includes its territories and insular possessions, including the Federated States of Micronesia, the Republic of the Marshall Islands, and the Republic of Palau); that is not contained in an incorporated city or town with a population in excess of 20,000 inhabitants, based on the most recent available information of the Bureau of the Census. Broadband Service means any technology having the capacity to transmit at a minimum transmission speed of 200 kbps both from and to a residential subscriber. The rate of data transmission is subject to annual review and will be published in the Notice of Funds Availability at the beginning of each fiscal year. Loans maturities are equal to the composite economic life of the facilities financed. The interest rate for the Cost-of-Money program is equal to the cost of borrowing to the Department of Treasury for a comparable maturity. The 4-Percent program interest rate is 4 percent and the maximum loan amount for the 4-Percent program is $7.5 million. The interest rate for the Guarantee program is set by the lender. |
| Applicant Eligibility |
| Cooperative, nonprofit, limited dividend or mutual associations, limited liability companies, commercial organizations, Indian tribes, tribal organizations, state government, local government, including those located in the U.S. territories and countries included in the Compact of Free Association Act of 1985, providing or proposing to provide broadband services in eligible rural communities. The following are not eligible: individuals, partnerships, limited liability partnerships, and any entity serving more than 2 percent of the telephone subscriber lines installed in the United States. Applicants must meet a credit support requirement; see7 CFR 1738.20. |
| Beneficiary Eligibility |
| Residents of eligible rural communities and others who may receive service as a result of service provided to a rural area. |
| Credentials/Documentation |
| None. |
| Preapplication Coordination |
| Applicants must supply environmental impact information to determine whether an environmental impact assessment or an environmental impact statement will be required. This program is excluded from coverage under Executive Order 12372. |
| Application Procedure |
| The completed loan application consists of twenty-one schedules. Form 532, Rural Broadband Access Loan and Loan Guarantee Application, serves as the official application document and as a checklist to assure all relevant information is included. The major sections of an application include: business plan, market research, historical and 5 year pro forma financial statements, system design and project costs. The instructions for completing an application are outlined in RUS Bulletin 1738-1: Rural Broadband Access Loan and Loan Guarantee Program Application Guide. The bulletin and application are available from RUS on request and on our website: www.usda.gov/rus/telecom/broadband.htm. |
| Award Procedure |
| Depending on the amount of the application, and loan committee(s) recommendation, the RUS Administrator or Assistant Administrator Telecommunications, makes the final decision on approval of the loan or loan guarantee. There must be a finding that the project is economically feasible, capable of delivering Broadband Service, and services the purposes of the program. Borrowers and member of Congress are notified directly of the approval of a loan or loan guarantee. |
| Deadlines |
| The program is an ongoing program with applications evaluated on a first come, first served basis. There is no deadline for applications. |
| Range of Approval/Disapproval Time |
| Normal processing time is four to five months. |
| Appeals |
| Not applicable. |
| Renewals |
| Not applicable. |
| Formula and Matching Requirements |
| This program has no statutory formula. |
| Length and Time Phasing of Assistance |
| Loan funds must be used within a five year period from the date of loan closing. A one time extension is permitted. |
| Reports |
| The borrower must submitted quarterly financial statements within 30 days of the end of each calendar quarter. The statements must consist of a balance sheet, income statement, and statement of cash flows. |
| Audits |
| All borrowers must have their books audited annually by a Certified Public Accountant. Information on audits is contained in 7 CFR Part 1773. |
| Records |
| Not applicable. |
| Account Identification |
| 12-1232-0-1-452. |
| Obligations |
| (Cost of Money Loans) FY 07 $923,186,000; FY 08 est $300,000,000; and FY 09 est not reported. (4 Percent Loans) FY 07 $0; FY 08 est $0; and FY 09 est not reported. (Loan Guarantees) FY 07 $0; FY 08 est $0; and FY 09 est not reported. |
| Range and Average of Financial Assistance |
| The minimum loan amount for the program is $100,000. There is no maximum loan amount except for 4 Percent loans (that amount is published by RUS in the Federal Register at the beginning of each fiscal year). The smallest loan approved to date is $362,000; the largest, $168,406,000. |
| PROGRAM ACCOMPLISHMENTS |
| In Fiscal Year 2006, RUS approved 15 Cost of Money loans totaling $329,000,000. |
| REGULATIONS, GUIDELINES, AND LITERATURE |
| 7 CFR 1738 - Rural Broadband Access Loans and Loan Guarantees Notice of funds availability, Federal Register, March 4, 2005 (Volume 70, Number 42) RUS Bulletin 1738-1: Rural Broadband Access Loan and Loan Guarantee Program Application Guide. |
| Regional or Local Office |
| None. |
| Headquarters Office |
| Assistant Administrator, Telecommunications Program, Rural Utilities Service, Department of Agriculture, 1400 Independence Avenue, S.W., STOP 1590, Room 5151, Washington, DC 20250 1590. Telephone number (202) 720 9554, Facsimile (202) 720 0810. |
| Web Site Address |
| http://www.usda.gov/rus/telecom/broadband.htm |
| RELATED PROGRAMS |
| 10.851, Rural Telephone Loans and Loan Guarantees. |
| EXAMPLES OF FUNDED PROJECTS |
| Loans have been approved to construct wireless, DSL, cable modem, and fiber to the premises (FTTP) broadband systems. |
| CRITERIA FOR SELECTING PROPOSALS |
| See 7 CFR 1738. |
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General Services Administration Office of Chief Acquisition Officer Regulatory and Federal Assistance Division (VIR) |
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