RUS Now Accepting Applications for Satellite, Rural Library Broadband and Technical Assistance Projects
Posted on May 12, 2010The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Rural Utilities Service (RUS) has announced it is now accepting applications for Satellite, Rural Library Broadband, and Technical Assistance projects under its Broadband Initiatives Program (BIP). RUS created the three separate funding categories under its second Notice of Funds Availability (NOFA) in January of this year.
RUS created the Satellite Project category as an effort to reach premises left unserved by other technologies. Applicants must propose to serve only unserved rural premises in one or more of eight satellite regions or they can file a national application covering at least six regions.
The Rural Library Broadband category will award grants to provide broadband to unconnected rural libraries that were constructed with funding from USDA’s Community Facilities program of the Rural Housing Service. Funding is only open to awardees under the first round NOFA or second round NOFA, or applicants under the Second Round NOFA
Under the Technical Assistance category, RUS will award grants for funding regional broadband development planning activities associated with regions or USDA Regions in rural areas. Applicants must specifically address how the use of broadband and other critical infrastructure can be utilized as part of a strategy to facilitate local entrepreneurship and expansion of market opportunities for small businesses. The category is limited to awardees under the first round NOFA or second round NOFA, applicants under the Second round NOFA, and Indian Tribes.
Applications for Satellite, Rural Library Broadband, and Technical Assistance Projects are being accepted from May 7, 2010, until June 7, 2010.
For additional information, please contact Tony Veach.