[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 107 (Monday, June 6, 2005)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 32711]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-11137]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Rural Utilities Service

7 CFR Part 1738

RIN 0572-AB81


Rural Broadband Access Loans and Loan Guarantees

AGENCY: Rural Utilities Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice of confirmation of direct final rule.

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SUMMARY: The Rural Utilities Service (RUS), an agency delivering the 
United States Department of Agriculture's Rural Development Utilities 
Programs, gives notice that no adverse comments were received regarding 
the direct final rule amending its regulations to revise the definition 
for ``eligible rural community'' as it relates to the rural access 
broadband loans and loan guarantees program, and confirms the effective 
date of the direct final rule.

DATES: The direct final rule published in the Federal Register on April 
4, 2005, (70 FR 16930) was effective on May 19, 2005.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jonathan Claffey, Acting Assistant 
Administrator, Telecommunications Program, Rural Utilities Service, 
U.S. Department of Agriculture, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW., STOP 
1590, Room 4056, Washington, DC 20250-1590. Telephone number (202) 720-
9554, Facsimile (202) 720-0810.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    The Rural Utilities Service (RUS) published in the Federal Register 
on January 30, 2003, at 68 FR 4684, a final rule amending its 
regulations in order to establish the Rural Broadband Access Loan and 
Loan Guarantee Program as authorized by the Farm Security and Rural 
Investment Act of 2002 (Pub. L. 101-171) (2002 Act). Section 6103 of 
the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 amended the Rural 
Electrification Act of 1936, as amended (RE Act), to add Title VI, 
Rural Broadband Access, to provide loans and loan guarantees to fund 
the cost of construction, improvement, or acquisition of facilities and 
equipment for the provision of broadband service in eligible rural 
communities.
    The direct final rule amended Sec.  1738.2, Definitions, to conform 
the rule to substantive changes in authority. The definition for 
``eligible rural community'' in section 601(b)(2) of the Rural 
Electrification Act of 1936 (7 U.S.C. 950bb(b)(2)) was amended on 
January 23, 2004, by section 772 of Pub. L. 108-199, of the 
Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2004 to eliminate the requirement that 
a community exist outside a standard metropolitan statistical area. The 
rule incorporated language of the revised statute and explained RUS'' 
interpretation of the language.

Confirmation of Effective Date

    This is to confirm the effective date of May 19, 2005, for the 
direct final rule, 7 CFR 1738, Rural Broadband Access Loans and Loan 
Guarantees, published in the Federal Register on April 4, 2005.

    Dated: May 26, 2005.
Curtis M. Anderson,
Acting Administrator, Rural Utilities Service.
[FR Doc. 05-11137 Filed 6-3-05; 8:45 am]
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