98-1659. Distance Learning and Telemedicine Loan and Grant Program

[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 16 (Monday, January 26, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Page 3700]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-1659]


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Notices
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Federal Register / Vol. 63, No. 16 / Monday, January 26, 1998 / 
Notices

[[Page 3700]]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Rural Utilities Service


Distance Learning and Telemedicine Loan and Grant Program

AGENCY: Rural Utilities Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice of application filing deadline.

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SUMMARY: The Rural Utilities Service (RUS) announces the deadline for 
submitting applications for the Distance Learning and Telemedicine Loan 
and Grant program for fiscal year (FY) 1998 funding.

DATES: Applications for loans to be considered for FY 1998 funding must 
be postmarked no later than August 14, 1998, and applications for 
grants and combination loans and grants to be considered for FY 1998 
funding must be postmarked no later than June 1, 1998.

ADDRESSES: Applications are to be submitted to the Rural Utilities 
Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW., 
STOP 1590, Washington, DC 20250-1590. Applications should be marked 
``Attention: Assistant Administrator, Telecommunications Program''.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Ken B. Chandler, Acting Assistant Administrator-Telecommunications 
Program, Rural Utilities Service, STOP 1590, Room 4056, South Building, 
1400 Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20250-1590. Telephone 
[phone], Facsimile [phone].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: For FY 1998, $12.5 million in grants and 
$150 million in loans will be made available for distance learning and 
telemedicine projects. Notice is hereby given that under 7 CFR 
1703.108, RUS has determined the maximum amount of an application for a 
grant that will be considered for funding in FY 1998 as $350,000, and 
the maximum amount for a loan that will be considered for funding in FY 
1998 as $6,000,000.
    Further, in accordance with 7 CFR 1703.113, RUS has determined that 
for FY 1998 the minimum number of points required for a loan 
application to be immediately processed is 94 points. Only completed 
loan applications meeting the minimum points requirement and determined 
by RUS to be feasible will be immediately processed.
    Applications for financial assistance must be submitted in 
accordance with 7 CFR 1703, Subpart D, which establishes the policies 
and procedures for submitting an application for financial assistance. 
This document is available on the Internet at the following address: 
http://www.usda.gov/rus/dlt/dlml.htm.
    In addition, a new Application Guide to assist applicants in the 
preparation of applications for financing will be available shortly, at 
the same Internet address as above. Application guides may also be 
requested from RUS by contacting one of the following Area Offices:

Northeast Area, USDA-RUS, Phone: [phone]
Southeast Area, USDA-RUS, Phone: [phone]
Northwest Area, USDA-RUS, Phone: [phone]
Southwest Area, USDA-RUS, Phone: [phone]

    Applications for loans to be considered for FY 1998 funding must be 
postmarked no later than August 14, 1998, and applications for grants 
and combination loans and grants to be considered for FY 1998 funding 
must be postmarked no later than June 1, 1998. RUS will review each 
application for completeness in accordance with 7 CFR 1703.109, and 
notify the applicant, within 15 working days of the results of this 
review, citing any information which is incomplete. It is suggested 
that applications be submitted prior to the above deadline to ensure 
they can be reviewed and considered complete by the deadline.

    Authority: 7 U.S.C. et seq. and 950aaa et seq.; Pub. L. 103-354, 
108 Stat. 3178 (7 U.S.C. 6941 et seq.).
Wally Beyer,
Administrator, Rural Utilities Service.
[FR Doc. 98-1659 Filed 1-23-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-15-M