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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