TITLE VI. Rural Development:

News and Updates
New Programs
Section-By-Section Summary
General Information
Rural Development 2002 Farm
    Bill Home Page

USDA 2002 Farm Bill Site

Section 6103 of the Farm Bill authorized creation of the Rural Broadband Loan and Loan Guarantee Program. In January 2003, Agriculture Secretary Veneman announced this new program, which is administered by the Utilities Programs.

For Fiscal Year 2005, no less than $2.157 billion in loans is available, $2.032 billion for direct cost-of-money loans, $46 million for direct 4-percent loans, and $79 million for loan guarantees. These loans will facilitate deployment of new and innovative technologies to provide two-way data transmission of 200 kbps or more, in communities with populations up to 20,000.

• USDA Holds Broadband Awareness Workshop in Washington, DC (PDF)
  
• USDA Encourages Private Investment in Expansion of Access to High-Speed Internet Technology in Rural America
  
• USDA Holds Broadband Awareness Workshop in Harrisonburg, Va.
  
• USDA Announces $95.2 Million in Loans to Increase Rural Access to Hi-Speed Internet Technology
  
• USDA Announces $9.506 Million Broadband Loan to North-State Telephone Company, located in Mt. Vernon, Oregon
  
• USDA Announces $6.375 Million Broadband Loan to Progressive Telephone Cooperative, Inc. in Rentz, Georgia
  
• USDA Announces $106 Million Broadband Loan to Cinergy, Indiana
  
• USDA Announces $1.198 Million in Broadband Loan to Radcliffe Telephone Company in Iowa
  
• USDA Awards $18 Million in Broadband Loans to Bring High-Speed Service to Rural Areas
  
• Remarks by President Bush on Innovation: High Tech Improving Economy, Health Care, Education
  
• USDA Holds Workshops on How To Apply For Broadband Loans / Workshops Brochure (PDF)
  
• USDA Announces $47 Million in Loans to Support Rural Access to High-Speed Internet Technology
  
• USDA Announces $190 Million In Loans To Support Rural Access To High-Speed Internet Technology / Recipients List
  
• Notice of Funds Availability for the Rural Broadband Access Loans and Loan Guarantees Program:  PDF / TXT
  
• Dorr Presents Technology Infrastructure Funding at Rural Utah Business Technology Conference
  
• Utilities Programs Rural Broadband Access Program Website (Application and Procedures Guides)
  
• Rural Broadband Access Loans and Loan Guarantees Final Rule:  PDF* / TXT
  
• Rural Broadband Access Loans and Loan Guarantees Application Deadline Notice:  PDF / TXT
  
• Rural Broadband Access Program Announcement:  Webcast** / Webcast Transcript
  
• Veneman Launches $1.4 Billion Program to Expand Telecommunication and Broadband Technology in Rural America
  
• Comments on Rural Broadband Access submitted at the Public Meeting
  
• Notice of Public Meeting on Rural Broadband Access:  PDF / TXT

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