Broadband Pilot (ReConnect) Program

• Published date: 30 March 2020
• Citation: 85 FR 17530
• Record Number: 2020-06561
• Section: Notices
• Court: Rural Utilities Service

Federal Register, Volume 85 Issue 61 (Monday, March 30, 2020)

[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 61 (Monday, March 30, 2020)]
                [Notices]
                [Pages 17530-17531]
                From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
                [FR Doc No: 2020-06561]
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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) 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, (84 FR 67913)
                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 April 15, 2020.
                DATES: Actions described in this notice take effect March 30, 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],
                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.
                [[Page 17531]]
                 The action taken in this notice will extend the application window
                until midnight, based on the time zone the applicant is located in, on
                April 15, 2020. This is an extension from the March 12, 2020 Federal
                Notice (75 FR 14458) that set the application window at midnight, based
                on the time zone the applicant is located in, on March 31 30, 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. 2020-06561 Filed 3-27-20; 8:45 am]
                 BILLING CODE 3410-15-P