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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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Info
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.
Rapid Re-finance
IMPORTANT NOTICE:
As of August 25, 2006, the Rural Development Rapid
Refinance Program has been suspended until further
notice. We are not accepting new applications for
this program, but we will continue to process applications
already received and will continue to advance funds
on approved loans.
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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