[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 158 (Wednesday, August 15, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Pages 42836-42838]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-20560]
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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Rural Utilities Service
Local Dial-Up Internet Grants
AGENCY: Rural Utilities Service, USDA.
ACTION: Notice of funds availability.
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SUMMARY: The Rural Utilities Service (RUS) announces a new grant
program and the availability of grant funds under this program to
finance the acquisition, construction and installation of equipment,
facilities and systems to provide dial-up Internet access services in
rural America. The President of the United States and the United States
Congress have made $2 million in grant funds available, through a Pilot
Program, to encourage eligible entities to provide Internet service to
rural consumers where such service does not currently exist. This
program will provide grant funds, on a competitive basis, to entities
serving communities up to 20,000 inhabitants to ensure rural consumers
enjoy the same quality and range of telecommunications services that
are available in urban and suburban communities. Applications for grant
funds will be accepted through November 13, 2001.
DATES: Applications for grants will be accepted as of the date of this
notice through November 13, 2001. All applications must be delivered to
RUS or bear postmark no later than November 13, 2001. Comments
regarding the information collection requirements under the Paperwork
Reduction Act must be received on or before October 15, 2001, to be
assured of consideration.
ADDRESSES: Applications are to be submitted to the Rural Utilities
Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW.,
Stop 1590, Room 40 South Building, Washington, DC 20250-1590. Comments
regarding the information collection requirements may be sent to F.
Lamont Heppe, Jr., Program Development and Regulatory Analysis, Rural
Utilities Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, 1400
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Independence Ave., SW., Stop 1522, Room 4034 South Building,
Washington, DC 20250-1522.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Roberta D. Purcell, Assistant
Administrator, Telecommunications Program, Rural Utilities Service,
1400 Independence Avenue, SW., Stop 1590, Washington, DC 20250-1590,
Telephone (202) 720-9554, Facsimile (202) 720-0810.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Information Collection and Recordkeeping Requirements
In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C.
chapter 35), RUS invites comments on this information collection for
which RUS intends to request approval from the Office of Management and
Budget (OMB). These requirements have been approved by emergency
clearance under OMB Control Number 0572-0125.
Comments on this notice must be received by October 15, 2001.
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 burden including the validity of
the methodology and assumption 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 those who are
to respond, 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 F. Lamont Heppe, Jr., Director, Program
Development and Regulatory Analysis, Rural Utilities Service, U.S.
Department of Agriculture, 1400 Independence Ave., SW., Stop 1522, Room
4034 South Building, Washington, DC 20250-1522.
Title: Local Dial-Up Internet Grant Program.
Type of Request: New collection.
Estimate of Burden: Public reporting burden for this collection of
information is estimated to average 33.5 hours per response.
Respondents: Public bodies, commercial companies, cooperatives,
nonprofits, and limited dividend or mutual associations and must be
incorporated or a limited liability company.
Estimated Number of Respondents: 25.
Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: 20.
Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 1,005 hours.
Copies of this information collection can be obtained from Michele
Brooks, Program Development and Regulatory Analysis, at (202) 690-1078.
All responses to this information collection and recordkeeping
notice will be summarized and included in the request for OMB approval.
All comments will also become a matter of public record.
General Information
For FY 2001, $2 million in grants will be made available for the
construction and installation of facilities and for other costs as RUS
deems necessary to provide dial-up Internet services in rural areas.
This program is authorized by 7 U.S.C. 950aaa.
Applications
Applications will be accepted as discussed previously in the DATES
section of this notice. All interested parties are strongly encouraged
to contact the Rural Utilities Service official listed in the FOR
FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT section of this notice to discuss its
financial needs and eligibility, prior to sending an application to the
address listed in the ADDRESSES section of this notice. Applications
will be scored and processed on a competitive basis.
Use of Grant Funds
Grant funds may be used to finance the acquisition, construction,
and installation of equipment, facilities, and systems to provide dial-
up Internet service in rural areas. Grant funds may also be used to
fund lease costs for transmission equipment, facilities, and systems
for up to two years.
Size of Grants
The maximum amount of a grant award to an applicant under this
program is $400,000. The minimum amount to be considered is $10,000.
Definition of Internet
As used in this notice, the term Internet means a world wide
collection of interconnected computer networks and users that share a
compatible means of interacting with one another for the purpose of
exchanging electronic data.
Definition of Dial-Up Internet Services
As used in this notice, the term dial-up Internet services means
providing Internet access via local dial tone access with no toll or
long distance charges.
Definition of Rural Area
As used in this notice, rural area means any area of the United
States not included within the boundaries of any incorporated or
unincorporated city, village, or borough having a population in excess
of 20,000 inhabitants.
Grant Terms
For FY 2001, $2 million in grants will be made available to
eligible applicants. Grants will be awarded to eligible applicants
based on their score (starting with the highest scoring application) in
comparison to other applications until the $2 million appropriation is
utilized in its entirety. The grants will be awarded on a competitive
basis, based on the scoring criteria outlined below.
Eligible Applicants
Grants may be made to legally organized entities providing, or
proposing to provide, dial-up Internet services in rural areas.
Eligible entities may be public bodies, commercial companies including
limited liability companies, cooperatives, nonprofits, and limited
dividend or mutual associations.
Matching Funding
No match funding is required.
RUS Findings
Project Sustainability. An applicant shall provide RUS with
satisfactory evidence to enable the Administrator to determine that the
project utilizing grant funds will be sustainable for a minimum of five
years. Factors used in making this determination include, but are not
limited to:
(1) Evidence of sufficient revenues from the system in excess of
operating expenditures (including maintenance and replacement); and
(2) Reasonable assurance of achieving market penetration
projections upon which the grant is based.
Grant Application
Application should be prepared in conformance with the provisions
of this notice and applicable USDA regulations including 7 CFR parts
3015, 3016, and 3019. Applicants must submit a completed Standard Form
424, ``Application for Federal Assistance,'' a narrative grant
proposal, and all required supporting information and documents. An
application must include a project description that contains plant
designs, a subscriber forecast, and the basis for that forecast. The
narrative must also specifically and clearly address the scoring
criteria set out below. Other items include:
(1) Certified financial statements, if available;
(2) 5 years of pro-forma financial information, evidencing the
sustainability of the project;
[[Page 42838]]
(3) An environmental report, satisfactory to RUS;
(4) Depreciation rates, based on current industry standards, for
the equipment being financed (acceptance of such rates will be subject
to RUS approval);
(5) A sketch or map showing existing and proposed service areas;
(6) A description of the current level of service available;
(7) Information on the owners and principal employees' relevant
work experience that would ensure the success of the project; and
(8) All other required forms for Federal assistance and compliance
with other applicable Federal statutes.
Review of Grant Applications
All applications for grants must be delivered to RUS at the address
listed above or postmarked no later than November 13, 2001 to be
considered eligible for FY 2001 grant funding. RUS will review each
application for conformance with the provisions of this Notice. RUS may
contact the applicant for additional information or clarification.
Incomplete applications will not be considered. Applications conforming
with this Notice will then be evaluated competitively by a panel of RUS
employees selected by the Administrator and points awarded as described
in the Scoring Criteria section below. The applications will be ranked
and grants awarded in rank order until all grant funds are expended.
Scoring Criteria
Grant awards will be made based on the following scoring criteria
as determined by RUS:
(1) The need for services and benefits derived from services (up to
40 points). This criterion will be used by RUS to score applications
based on the documentation in support of the need for services,
benefits derived from the services proposed by the project, and local
community involvement in planning, implementing, and financial
assistance of the project. RUS will consider the extent of the
applicant's documentation explaining the challenges facing the
community; the applicant's proposed plan to address these challenges;
how the grant can help; and why the applicant cannot complete the
project without a grant.
(2) The economic need of the applicant's service area as determined
by per capita personal income by County, as determined by the Bureau of
Economic Analysis, U.S. Department of Commerce, at www.bea.doc.gov/bea/regional/reis/ (up to 40 points). Applicants will be awarded points as
outlined below for service provided in each county where the per capita
personal income (PCI) is less than 70 percent of the national average
per capita personal income (NAPCI):
(i) PCI is 70 percent or greater of NAPCI; 0 points;
(ii) PCI is less than 70 percent and greater than 60 percent of
NAPCI; 10 points;
(iii) PCI is less than 60 percent and greater than 50 percent of
NAPCI; 20 points;
(iv) PCI is less than 50 percent and greater than 40 percent of
NAPCI; 30 points;
(v) PCPI is less than 40 percent of NAPCPI; 40 points;
If an applicant proposes significant service in more than one county,
an average score will be calculated based on each counties' individual
scores.
(3) Project services USDA designated EZ/ECs (Empowerment Zone and
Enterprise Communities) (10 points) or USDA designated Champion
Communities (5 points).
Dated: August 9, 2001.
Blaine D. Stockton,
Acting Administrator, Rural Utilities Service.
[FR Doc. 01-20560 Filed 8-14-01; 8:45 am]
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