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The Rural Utilities Service (RUS) has amended its regulations for the Rural Broadband Access Loan and Loan Guarantee program to implement section 6104 of the Agriculture Act of 2014 (2014 Farm Bill) which made changes the Agency needed to adopt prior to accepting applications for future loans. RUS published this regulation as an interim rule, which took effect upon publication in the Federal Register on July 30, 2015. The rulemaking allowed the Agency to begin accepting applications once again. A final rule confirming the interim rule entitled "Rural Broadband Access Loans and Loan Guarantees" was published in the Federal Register on June 9, 2016 at 81 FR 37121.  The final rule amends 7 CFR part 1738 which addresses the statutory changes from the 2014 Farm Bill and facilitates greater deployment of and access to broadband services in rural communities. Specifically, section 6104, Access to Broadband Telecommunications Services in Rural Areas, of the Agriculture Act of 2014 (2014 Farm Bill), amended title VI of the Rural Electrification Act of 1936, by adjusting certain service area eligibility criteria,establishing new priority considerations, and introducing new reporting sections which will require more detailed information gathering and publishing for both the Agency and awardees. Other modifications have been made to improve and otherwise clarify certain Agency operational procedures.