[Federal Register: May 12, 1999 (Volume 64, Number 91)]
[Notices]               
[Page 25475-25476]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr12my99-38]

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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Rural Utilities Service

 
Distance Learning and Telemedicine Loan and Grant Program

AGENCY: Rural Utilities Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice of Application filing deadline.

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SUMMARY: The Rural Utilities Service (RUS) announces its Distance 
Learning and Telemedicine Program application window for funding during 
fiscal year (FY) 1999. For FY 1999, $12.5 million in grants and $150 
million in loans will be made available for distance learning and 
telemedicine projects serving rural America. The funding will be 
provided in three categories: (1) $7.5 million will be available for 
grants; (2) $100 million will be available for loans; and (3) $55 
million will be available for combination grants and loans ($5 million 
in grants paired with $50 million in loans).

DATES: Applications for grants must be postmarked by RUS no later than 
Friday, July 9, 1999. Applications for FY 1999 loans or combination 
loans and grants may be submitted at anytime up to September 30, 1999, 
and will be processed on a first-come, first-serve basis.

ADDRESSES: Applications are to be submitted to the Rural Utilities 
Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW, 
STOP 1550, Washington, DC 20250-1550. Applications should be marked 
``Attention: Director, Advanced Services Division, Telecommunications 
Program''.

FOR FURTHER INFROMATION CONTACT: Roberta D. Purcell, Assistant 
Administrator, Telecommunications Program, Rural Utilities Service, 
STOP 1590, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20250-1590, 
Telephone (202)720-9554, Facsimile (202) 720-0810.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: For FY 1999, $7.5 million in grants, a 
combination of $5 million in grants paired with $50 million in loans, 
and $100 million in loans will be made available for distance learning 
and telemedicine projects. On May 10, 1999, regulations published in 
the Federal Register, March 25, 1999, at 64 FR 14401, governing this 
program became final. These new regulations clarify the requirements 
for the different types of financial assistance offered; streamline 
policies and procedures for obtaining loans and expand the purposes for 
which loan funds can be used; and award grants on a competitive basis.
    Notice is hereby given that under Secs. 1703.124, 1703.133, and 
1703.143, RUS has determined the maximum amount of an application for a 
grant that will be considered for funding in FY 1999 as $350,000. The 
maximum amount for a loan, generally, that will be considered for 
funding in FY 1999 is $10,000,000. However, RUS may fund a project 
greater than $10,000,000 subject to the project's feasibility and the 
availability of loan funds.
    Applications for financial assistance must be submitted in 
accordance with 7 CFR part 1703, which establishes the policies and 
procedures for submitting an application for financial assistance. This 
document and an application guide to assist in the preparation of 
applications are available on the

[[Page 25476]]

Internet at the following address: ``http://www.usda.gov/rus/dlt/
dlml.htm''. Applications guides may also be requested from RUS by 
contacting one of the following Area Offices:

Eastern Area, USDA-RUS, Phone: (202) 690-4673
Northwest Area, USDA-RUS, Phone: (202) 720-1025
Southwest Area, USDA `` RUS, Phone: (202) 720-0800

    Each application will be reviewed for completeness in accordance 
with 7 CFR part 1703. The applicant will be notified within 15 working 
days of receipt of the results of this review, citing any information 
needed to complete the application. It is suggested that grant 
applications be submitted prior to the deadline to ensure they can be 
reviewed and considered complete by the deadline.

    Dated: May 6, 1999.
Wally Beyer,
Administrator, Rural Utilities Service.
[FR Doc. 99-11856 Filed 5-11-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-15-P