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USDA/RUS RIN: 0572-AC06 Publication ID: Spring 2008 
Title: Rural Broadband Access Loans and Loan Guarantees 
Abstract: There has been more than $1.1 billion in loans for broadband deployment with more than 1,000 rural communities that will receive broadband services. Even with this level of success, the program needs to be adjusted to better serve unserved or underserved communities. In response, the Rural Utilities Service, an agency delivering the United States Department of Agriculture's Rural Development Utilities Programs, hereinafter referred to as Rural Development and/or the Agency, is revising the broadband rule to address this and other critical issues, and further facilitate the deployment of broadband service in rural America as directed by Congress by: (1) Clearly defining served, underserved markets based on service availability and existing competitors and target unserved an underserved areas; (2) providing potential applicants with a clear definition of which communities are eligible for funding; (3) establishing a minimum data transmission rate that the facilities financed must be able to deliver to the consumer; (4) establishing equity requirements that mitigate risks; (5) modifying market survey requirements based on service territories and existing availability of service; and (6) imposing new time limits for build-out and deployment to ensure prudent use of loan funds and timely delivery services to rural customers. 
Agency: Department of Agriculture(USDA)  Priority: Other Significant 
RIN Status: Previously published in the Unified Agenda Agenda Stage of Rulemaking: Final Rule Stage 
Major: No  Unfunded Mandates: No 
CFR Citation: 7 CFR 1738   
Legal Authority: PL 107-171    7 USC 901 et seq   
Legal Deadline:  None
Timetable:
Action Date FR Cite
NPRM  05/11/2007  72 FR 26742   
NPRM Comment Period End  07/10/2007    
Final Action  12/00/2008    
Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: No  Government Levels Affected: None 
Small Entities Affected: No  Federalism: No 
Included in the Regulatory Plan: Yes 
RIN Data Printed in the FR: No 
Agency Contact:
Michele L. Brooks
Director, Regulations Management Team, RD Innovation Center
Department of Agriculture
Rural Utilities Service
Room 5159 South Building, STOP 1522, 1400 Independence Avenue SW,
Washington, DC 20250
Phone:202 690-1078
Email: michele.brooks@wdc.usda.gov