Utilities Loans

Broadband Loan and Loan Guarantee Program: 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. This final rule prescribes the types of loans available, facilities financed, and eligible applicants, as well as minimum credit support requirements to be considered for a loan.

Distance Learning and Telemedicine Loan and Combination: The Distance Learning and Telemedicine (DLT) Program offers three funding opportunities for applicants to consider. DLT grants are made annually on a competitive basis, are highly focused into the neediest and most rural areas, and limit eligible purposes to the most cost-effective elements in a distance-learning and telemedicine network - the application interface devices. Complementing the grant program, the DLT Loan and Combination Loan-Grant Programs offer applicants larger possible dollar amounts, more comprehensive eligible purposes, and more certain application results. These programs are non-competitive, making awards on a first come, first served basis. They can fund everything a DLT grant can fund, plus telecommunications infrastructure, buildings, vehicles, and certain operating expenses

Electric Loan and Loan Guarantee Program: The Rural Development Electric Programs (RDEP) make loans and loan guarantees to finance the construction of electric distribution, transmission and generation facilities -- including system improvements and replacements required to furnish and import electric service in rural areas -- and for demand-side management, energy conservation programs, and on- and off-grid renewable energy systems. RDEP makes loans to corporations, states, territories and subdivisions, and agencies such as municipalities, people's utility districts, and cooperative, nonprofit, limited-dividend, or mutual associations that provide retail electric service to rural areas or supply the power needs of distribution borrowers in rural areas. RDEP also provides financial assistance to rural communities with extremely high energy costs to acquire, construct, extend, upgrade, and otherwise improve energy generation, transmission, or distribution facilities. RDEP services approximately 700 active electric borrowers in 47 states.

Telecommunications Loan and Loan Guarantee Program: The Rural Utilities Service (RUS) Telecommunications Program assists the private sector in developing, planning and financing the construction of telecommunications infrastructure in rural America. The RUS program is dedicated to lend to the limits of the RE Act definition of elephone service Where prudent, we are changing our regulations to provide the greatest amount of flexibility necessary to meet the challenges of ensuring that high quality, affordable, advanced services are deployed in rural America.

Water and Waste Disposal Loans: To develop water and waste disposal (including solid waste disposal and storm drainage) systems in rural areas and towns with a population not in excess of 10,000. The funds are available to public entities such as municipalities, counties, special-purpose districts, Indian tribes, and corporations not operated for profit. R U S also guarantees water and waste disposal loans made by banks and other eligible lenders.