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PCCA Journal|3

rd

Quarter 2015

24

RUS NEWS

I

n July, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced the

availability of loans to build broadband in rural areas,

along with changes to the program required by the 2014

Farm Bill.

“USDA is committed to providing broadband to rural

areas,” Vilsack said. “Broadband is as vital as electricity was

80 years ago. Since 2009, USDA investments have delivered

broadband service to 1.5 million households, businesses,

schools, libraries and community facilities. But our work is

not done. With program improvements and available funding

made possible by the Farm Bill, we can continue our work to

make broadband more accessible to those who live and work

in rural areas.”

In a rule published in the July 30 Federal Register, USDA

is establishing two funding cycles to review and prioritize

applications for the Rural Broadband Access Loan and Loan

Guarantee program. USDA also is setting a minimum level of

acceptable broadband service at 4 megabits downstream and

1 megabit upstream. USDA urges applicants to design sys-

tems that allow for 25 megabits downstream and 3 megabits

upstream to meet future needs. USDA is accepting comments

on these changes through September 28.

To be eligible for funding, an applicant must serve an area

where at least 15 percent of the households are unserved.

Applications with the most unserved households will be

processed first.

The maximum loan amount under the announcement is

$20 million. Applications will be accepted through September

30, 2015.

USDA Announces $349 Million in

Funding for Rural Electric Infrastructure

A

griculture Secretary Tom Vil-

sack in July announced $349

million in funding for 15 rural

electric infrastructure projects to build

or improve more than 1,844 miles of

transmission and distribution lines for

rural electric cooperatives and utilities in

13 states.

The funding is being provided through

USDA Rural Development’s Electric

Program, which makes insured loans

and loan guarantees to non-profit and

cooperative associations, public bodies,

and other utilities. The loans primarily

finance the construction of electric distri-

bution facilities in rural areas.

Following are the loan recipients

included in the announcement.

Georgia

The Central Georgia Electric Membership

Corp.- $26,176,000

Idaho, Oregon, Washington

Clearwater Power Co.

$13,572,000

Iowa

Eastern Iowa Light & Power Cooperative

$44,000,000

Indiana

Harrison County Rural Electric Membership

Corporation

$14,500,000

Kentucky

Grayson Rural Electric Cooperative

Corporation

$20,000,000

Minnesota, Iowa

Tri-County Electric Cooperative

$28,895,000

Minnesota

Minnesota Valley Electric Cooperative

$25,535,000

Minnesota

Lake Country Power

$52,337,000

Missouri

Ozark Border Electric Cooperative

$51,000,000

Missouri

Macon Electric Cooperative

$15,200,000

North Carolina

North Carolina Electric Membership

Corporation

$29,106,000

Ohio

Mid-Ohio Energy Cooperative, Inc.

$6,000,000

South Carolina

Marlboro Electric Cooperative, Inc.

$14,804,000

South Dakota

Douglas Electric Cooperative, Inc.

$1,380,000

Washington

Benton Rural Electric Association

$6,516,000

Vilsack Announces Available Funding

for Farm Bill Broadband Loan Program