Rural eConnectivity Program

Document Headings Document headings vary by document type but may contain the following: the agency or agencies that issued and signed a document the number of the CFR title and the number of each part the document amends, proposes to amend, or is directly related to the agency docket number / agency internal file number the RIN which identifies each regulatory action listed in the Unified Agenda of Federal Regulatory and Deregulatory Actions See the Document Drafting Handbook for more details. Department of Agriculture Rural Utilities Service 7 CFR 1740 [RUS-20-Telecom-0023] RIN 0572-AC51 AGENCY: Rural Utilities Service, USDA. ACTION: Final rule; request for comments. SUMMARY: The Rural Utilities Service (RUS), a Rural Development agency of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), hereinafter referred to as “RUS” or “the Agency”, is issuing a final rule to establish the Rural eConnectivity Program. The Rural eConnectivity Program provides loans, grants, and loan/grant combinations to facilitate broadband deployment in rural areas. This rule describes the eligibility requirements, the application process, the criteria that will be used by RUS to assess applicants' creditworthiness and outlines the application process. In addition, the Agency is seeking comments on the final rule. DATES: Effective date: This final rule is effective April 27, 2021. Comment date: Comments due on or before April 27, 2021. ADDRESSES: You may submit comments, identified by docket number RUS-20-Telecom-0023 and Regulatory Information Number (RIN) number 0572-AC51 through https://www.regulations.gov . Instructions: All submissions received must include the Agency name and docket number or RIN for this rulemaking. All comments received will be posted without change to https://www.regulations.gov , including any personal information provided. Docket: For access to the docket to read background documents or comments received, go to https://www.regulations.gov…