Rural eConnectivity Program; Correction
| Citation | 87 FR 9567 |
| Record Number | 2022-03716 |
| Published date | 22 February 2022 |
| Section | Notices |
| Court | Rural Utilities Service |
Federal Register, Volume 87 Issue 35 (Tuesday, February 22, 2022)
[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 35 (Tuesday, February 22, 2022)]
[Notices]
[Page 9567]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2022-03716]
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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Rural Utilities Service
[Docket No. RUS-22-TELECOM-0009]
Rural eConnectivity Program; Correction
AGENCY: Rural Utilities Service, Department of Agriculture.
ACTION: Notice; correction and amendment to Funding Opportunity
Announcement (FOA).
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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 October 25, 2021, entitled Rural eConnectivity
Program (ReConnect Program), announcing its general policy and
application procedures for funding under the ReConnect Program
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 changes
made to the ReConnect program and to correct the October notice. The
two changes are extending the application window until 11:59 a.m..
Eastern on March 9, 2022 and potentially increasing total level of
funding.
DATES: Actions described in this notice take effect February 22, 2022.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For general inquiries regarding the
ReConnect Program, contact Laurel Leverier, 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 October 25, 2021, RUS published a Funding Opportunity
Announcement (FOA) and solicitation of applications in the Federal
Register at 86 FR 58860. 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.
Since the publication of the FOA, the Agency's application system
has been experiencing some issues that have hampered applicants from
being able to complete applications. To allow the Agency sufficient
time to address all the system issues and to give the applicants
adequate time to complete their applications, the Agency has determined
that an extension of the current period for submitting applications
warranted. The actions taken in this notice will extend the application
window until 11:59 a.m. Eastern on March 9, 2022. These actions are
being taken by the Agency to ensure a successful third round of funding
under the ReConnect Program.
There has also been a variety of new funding sources that meet the
goals and purposes of this program. Therefore, to minimize the notices
required, RUS may, at its discretion, increase the total level of
funding available in this funding round or in any category in this
funding round from any available source provided the awards meet the
requirements of the statute which made the funding available to the
agency.
Summary of Changes
The FOA published in the Federal Register on October 25, 2021, FOA
must be corrected in regard to the application window being expanded
from 11:59 a.m. Eastern on February 22, 2022 to 11:59 a.m. Eastern on
March 9, 2022. The FOA must also be corrected to allow RUS at its
discretion to increase the total level of funding available.
Corrections
In FR Doc. 2021-23128 appearing on page 58860 in the Federal
Register of Monday, October 25, 2021, the following corrections are
made:
1. On page 58860, second column, under DATES, correct ``11:59 a.m.
Eastern on February 22, 2022'' to read ``11:59 a.m. Eastern on March 9,
2022''.
2. On page 85560, third column, under Overview, in the Dates
section:
i. Correct ``11:59 a.m. Eastern on February 22, 2022'' to read
``11:59 a.m. Eastern on March 9, 2022''; and
ii. Correct the sentence ``Applications will not be accepted after
February 22, 2022 until a new application opportunity has been opened
with the publication of an additional FOA in the Federal Register'' to
read ``Applications will not be accepted after March 9, 2022 until a
new application opportunity has been opened with the publication of an
additional FOA in the Federal Register''.
3. On page 58861, first column, at the end of the first full
paragraph, add the sentence ``RUS may at its discretion, increase the
total level of funding available in this funding round or in any
category in this funding round from any available source provided the
awards meet the requirements of the statute which made the funding
available to the agency.''
Christopher A. McLean,
Acting Administrator, Rural Utilities Service.
[FR Doc. 2022-03716 Filed 2-17-22; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-15-P
