Broadband Pilot (ReConnect) Program

• Citation: 85 FR 14458
• Record Number: 2020-05199
• Published date: 12 March 2020
• Section: Notices
• Court: Rural Utilities Service

Federal Register, Volume 85 Issue 49 (Thursday, March 12, 2020)

[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 49 (Thursday, March 12, 2020)]
                [Notices]
                [Pages 14458-14459]
                From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
                [FR Doc No: 2020-05199]
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                DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
                Rural Utilities Service
                Broadband Pilot (ReConnect) Program
                AGENCY: Rural Utilities Service, Department of Agriculture.
                ACTION: Notice; amendment to Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) and
                solicitation of applications for the second round of the ReConnect
                Program.
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                SUMMARY: The Rural Utilities Service (RUS) published a Funding
                Opportunity Announcement (FOA) and solicitation of applications in the
                Federal Register on Thursday, December 12, 2019, announcing its general
                policy and application procedures for funding under the broadband pilot
                program (ReConnect) established pursuant to the Consolidated
                Appropriations Act, 2018 (which became law on February 15, 2019) which
                provides loans, grants, and loan/grant combinations to facilitate
                broadband deployment in rural areas. The purpose of this notice is to
                inform the public of an extension of the application window until
                midnight, based on the time zone the applicant is located in, on March
                31, 2020.
                DATES: Actions described in this notice take effect March 12, 2020.
                FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For general inquiries regarding the
                ReConnect Program, contact Laurel Leverrier, Acting Assistant
                Administrator Telecommunications Program, Rural Utilities Service, U.S.
                Department of Agriculture (USDA), email: [email protected],
                [[Page 14459]]
                telephone (202) 720-9554. For inquiries regarding eligible service
                areas, please contact ReConnect Program Staff at https://www.usda.gov/reconnect/contact-us.
                SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
                Background
                 On December 12, 2019, RUS published a Funding Opportunity
                Announcement (FOA) and solicitation of applications in the Federal
                Register at 84 FR 67913. The FOA provided the policy and application
                procedures for the ReConnect Program. In support of the ReConnect
                Program, the agency identified the application closing date and funding
                amount for each category.
                 The action taken in this notice will extend the application window
                until midnight, based on the time zone the applicant is located in, on
                March 31, 2020. This action is being taken by the Agency to ensure a
                successful round of funding under the ReConnect Program.
                Chad Rupe,
                Administrator, Rural Utilities Service.
                [FR Doc. 2020-05199 Filed 3-10-20; 4:15 pm]
                BILLING CODE 3410-15-P