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Relay Service (FIRS) at 1–800–877–8339between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m., EasternStandard Time, Monday through Friday.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION
:
Themeeting is open to the public. Thefollowing business will be conducted:Review of the status of approvedprojects; discussion of travelreimbursement, review and discussionof new project proposal and publicforum discussion. Persons who wish tobring related matters to the attention of the Committee may file writtenstatements with the Committee staff before or after the meeting. Public inputsessions will be provided andindividuals who made written requestsby March 17, 2011 will have theopportunity to address the Committee atthose sessions.
Dated: February 25, 2011.
Phil Cruz,
Forest Supervisor.
[FR Doc. 2011–4830 Filed 3–3–11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410–11–P
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTUREForest ServiceManti-La Sal National Forest ResourceAdvisory Committee
AGENCY
:
Forest Service, USDA.
ACTION
:
Notice of meeting.
SUMMARY
:
The Manti-La Sal NationalForest Resource Advisory Committeewill meet in Price, Utah. The committeeis meeting as authorized under theSecure Rural Schools and CommunitySelf-Determination Act (Pub. L. 110–343) and in compliance with the FederalAdvisory Committee Act. The purposeof the meeting is to consider SecureRural Schools Act Title II projectproposals and hear oral presentations.
DATES
:
The meeting will be held March30, 2011, and will begin at 9 a.m.
ADDRESSES
:
The meeting will be held inthe conference room of the Manti-La SalNational Forest, 599 West Price RiverDrive, Price, Utah. Written commentsshould be sent to Rosann Fillmore,Manti-La Sal National Forest, 599 WestPrice River Drive, Price, UT 84501.Comments may also be sent via e-mailto
rdfillmore@fs.fed.us
or via facsimileto 435–637–4940.All comments, including names andaddresses when provided, are placed inthe record and are available for publicinspection and copying. The public mayinspect comments received at the Manti-La Sal National Forest, 599 West PriceRiver Drive, Price, UT 84501. Visitorsare encouraged to call ahead to 435–636–3525 to facilitate entry into thebuilding.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT
:
Rosann Fillmore, RAC coordinator,USDA, Manti-La Sal National Forest,599 West Price River Drive, Price, UT84501; 435–636–3525; E-mail
rdfillmore@fs.fed.us.
Individuals who usetelecommunication devices for the deaf (TDD) may call the Federal InformationRelay Service (FIRS) at 1–800–877–8339between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m., EasternStandard Time, Monday through Friday.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION
:
Themeeting is open to the public. Thefollowing business will be conducted:(1) Consideration of Project FundingProposals. (2) Oral presentations fromproponents. (3) Other business. (4)Public comment. Persons who wish tobring related matters to the attention of the Committee may file writtenstatements with the Committee staff before or after the meeting. Public inputsessions will be provided andindividuals who made written requestsby March 25, 2011 will have theopportunity to address the Committee atthose sessions.
Dated: February 28, 2011.
Ann King,
Acting Forest Supervisor.
[FR Doc. 2011–4961 Filed 3–3–11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410–11–P
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTUREForest ServiceDelta-Bienville Resource AdvisoryCommittee
AGENCY
:
Forest Service, USDA.
ACTION
:
Notice of meeting.
SUMMARY
:
The Delta-Bienville ResourceAdvisory Committee will meet inForest, Mississippi. The committee ismeeting as authorized under the SecureRural Schools and Community Self-Determination Act (Pub. L. 110–343)and in compliance with the FederalAdvisory Committee Act. The purposeis to hold the first meeting of the newlyformed committee.
DATES
:
The meeting will be held onMarch 14, 2011, and will begin at 6 p.m.
ADDRESSES
:
The meeting will be held atthe Bienville Ranger District WorkCenter, Hwy 501 South, 935A SouthRaleigh St, Forest, Mississippi 39074.Written comments should be sent toMichael T. Esters, Bienville RangerDistrict Office, 3473 Hwy 35 South,Forest, Mississippi 39074. Commentsmay also be sent via e-mail to
mesters@fs.fed.us,
or via facsimile to601 469–2513.All comments, including names andaddresses when provided, are placed inthe record and are available for publicinspection and copying. The public mayinspect comments received at BienvilleRanger District Office, 3473 Hwy 35South, Forest, Mississippi 39074.Visitors are encouraged to call ahead to601 469–3811 to facilitate entry into thebuilding.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT
:
Nefisia Kittrell, RAC coordinator,USDA, Bienville Ranger District Office,3473 Hwy 35 South, Forest, Mississippi;(601) 469–3811; E-mail
nkittrell@fs.fed.us.
Individuals who usetelecommunication devices for the deaf (TDD) may call the Federal InformationRelay Service (FIRS) at 1–800–877–8339between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m., EasternStandard Time, Monday through Friday.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION
:
Themeeting is open to the public. Thefollowing business will be conducted:(1) Review project proposals andrecommendations. Persons who wish tobring related matters to the attention of the Committee may file writtenstatements with the Committee staff before or after the meeting.
Dated: February 28, 2011.
Michael T. Esters,
Designated Federal Officer.
[FR Doc. 2011–4949 Filed 3–3–11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410–11–P
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURERural Utilities ServiceAnnouncement of Grant ApplicationDeadlines and Funding Levels
AGENCY
:
Rural Utilities Service, USDA.
ACTION
:
Notice of solicitation of applications.
SUMMARY
:
The United States Departmentof Agriculture’s (USDA) Rural UtilitiesService (RUS) announces theavailability of $25 million in funding forFiscal Year (FY) 2011 for theCommunity Connect Grant Program.This funding represents carry overbalances from prior AppropriationsActs. This notice is being issued priorto passage of a final Appropriations Actfor FY 2011, to allow potentialapplicants time to submit proposals andgive the Agency time to processapplications within the current fiscalyear. RUS will publish a subsequentnotice identifying the amount receivedin the final Appropriations Act, if any.Expenses incurred in developing
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applications will be at the applicant’srisk. For FY 2010, Congressappropriated approximately $17.9million. In addition, RUS announces theminimum and maximum amounts forCommunity Connect grants applicablefor the fiscal year. The CommunityConnect Grant Program regulations canbe found at 7 CFR part 1739, subpart A.
DATES
:
You may submit completedapplications for grants on paper orelectronically according to the followingdeadlines:
•
Paper copies must carry proof of shipping
no later
than May 3, 2011 tobe eligible for FY 2011 grant funding.Late applications are not eligible for FY2011 grant funding.
•
Electronic copies must be receivedby May 3, 2011 to be eligible for FY2011 grant funding. Late applicationsare not eligible for FY 2011 grantfunding.
ADDRESSES
:
You may obtain applicationguides and materials for the CommunityConnect Grant Program via the Internetat the following Web site:
http:// www.rurdev.usda.gov/ utp
_
commconnect.html
. You may alsorequest application guides and materialsfrom RUS by contacting the appropriateindividual listed in section VII of the
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION
section of this notice.Submit completed paper applicationsfor grants to the Rural Utilities Service,U.S. Department of Agriculture, 1400Independence Ave., SW., Room 2870,STOP 1599, Washington, DC 20250–1599. Applications should be marked
‘‘
Attention: Director, BroadbandDivision, Rural Utilities Service.
’’
Submit electronic grant applicationsat
http://www.grants.gov
(Grants.gov),following the instructions you find onthat Web site.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT
:
Kenneth Kuchno, Director, BroadbandDivision, Rural Utilities Service, U.S.Department of Agriculture, telephone:(202) 690–4673, fax: (202) 690–4389.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION
:
Overview
Federal Agency:
Rural UtilitiesService (RUS).
Funding Opportunity Title:
Community Connect Grant Program.
Announcement Type:
Initialannouncement.
Catalog of Federal DomesticAssistance (CFDA) Number:
10.863.
Dates:
You may submit completedapplications for grants on paper orelectronically according to the followingdeadlines:
•
Paper copies must carry proof of shipping no later than May 3, 2011, tobe eligible for FY 2011 grant funding.Late applications are not eligible for FY2011 grant funding.
•
Electronic copies must be receivedby May 3, 2011, to be eligible for FY2011 grant funding. Late applicationsare not eligible for FY 2011 grantfunding.
Items in Supplementary Information
I. Funding Opportunity: Brief introduction tothe Community Connect Grant ProgramII. Award Information: Available funds andminimum and maximum amountsIII. Eligibility Information: Who is eligible,what kinds of projects are eligible, whatcriteria determine basic eligibilityIV. Application and Submission Information:Where to get application materials, whatconstitutes a completed application, howand where to submit applications,deadlines, items that are eligibleV. Application Review Information:Considerations and preferences, scoringcriteria, review standards, selectioninformationVI. Award Administration Information:Award notice information, awardrecipient reporting requirementsVII. Agency Contacts: Web, phone, fax,e-mail, contact name.
I. Funding Opportunity
The provision of broadbandtransmission service is vital to theeconomic development, education,health, and safety of rural Americans.The purpose of the Community ConnectGrant Program is to provide financialassistance in the form of grants toeligible applicants that will providecurrently unserved areas, on a
‘‘
community-oriented connectivity
’’
basis, with broadband transmissionservice that fosters economic growthand delivers enhanced educational,health care, and public safety services.Rural Utilities Service will give priorityto rural areas that it believes have thegreatest need for broadbandtransmission services, based on thecriteria contained herein.Grant authority will be used for thedeployment of broadband transmissionservice to extremely rural, lower-incomecommunities on a
‘‘
community-orientedconnectivity
’’
basis. The
‘‘
community-oriented connectivity
’’
concept willstimulate practical, everyday uses andapplications of broadband facilities bycultivating the deployment of newbroadband transmission services thatimprove economic development andprovide enhanced educational andhealth care opportunities in rural areas.Such an approach will also give ruralcommunities the opportunity to benefitfrom the advanced technologies that arenecessary to achieve these goals. Pleasesee 7 CFR part 1739, subpart A forspecifics.This notice has been formatted toconform to a policy directive issued bythe Office of Federal FinancialManagement (OFFM) of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB),published in the
Federal Register
onJune 23, 2003. This Notice does notchange the Community Connect GrantProgram regulation (7 CFR 1739,subpart A).
II. Award Information
A. Available Funds
1.
General.
The Administrator hasdetermined that the following amountsare available for grants in FY 2011under 7 CFR 1739.2(a).2.
Grants
a. $25 million is available for grantsfrom prior year appropriations. Under 7CFR 1739.2, the Administrator hasestablished a minimum grant amount of $50,000 and a maximum grant amountof $1,500,000 for FY 2011.b. Assistance instrument: RuralDevelopment will execute grantdocuments appropriate to the projectprior to any advance of funds withsuccessful applicants. B. CommunityConnect grants cannot be renewed.Award documents specify the term of each award. Applications to extendexisting projects are welcomed (grantapplications must be submitted duringthe application window) and will beevaluated as new applications.
III. Eligibility Information
A.
Who is eligible for grants?
(See 7CFR 1739.10.)1. Only entities legally organized asone of the following are eligible forCommunity Connect Grant Programfinancial assistance:a. An incorporated organization,b. An Indian tribe or tribalorganization, as defined in 25 U.S.C.450b(b) and (c),c. A State or local unit of government,d. A cooperative, private corporationor limited liability company organizedon a for-profit or not-for-profit basis.2. Individuals are not eligible forCommunity Connect Grant Programfinancial assistance directly.3. Applicants must have the legalcapacity and authority to own andoperate the broadband facilities asproposed in its application, to enter intocontracts and to otherwise comply withapplicable federal statutes andregulations.
B. What are the basic eligibility requirements for a project?
1. Required matching contributions.Please see 7 CFR 1739.14 for therequirement. Grant applicants must
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demonstrate a matching contribution, incash or in kind (new, non-depreciateditems), of at least fifteen (15) percent of the total amount of financial assistancerequested. Matching contributions mustbe used for eligible purposes of Community Connect grant assistance(
see
7 CFR 1739.12).2. To be eligible for a grant, theProject must (
see
7 CFR 1739.11):a. Serve a Rural Area whereBroadband Transmission Service doesnot currently exist, to be verified byRural Development prior to the award of the grant;b. Serve one Community recognizedin the latest U.S. Census or the mostrecent edition of the Rand McNallyAtlas containing population data;c. Deploy Basic BroadbandTransmission Service, free of all chargesfor at least 2 years, to all CriticalCommunity Facilities located within theproposed Service Area;d. Offer Basic BroadbandTransmission Service to residential andbusiness customers within the proposedService Area; ande. Provide a Community Center withat least ten (10) Computer Access Pointswithin the proposed Service Area, andmake Broadband Transmission Serviceavailable therein, free of all charges tousers for at least 2 years.
C. See paragraph IV.B of this notice for a discussion of the items that make upa completed application. You may alsorefer to 7 CFR 1739.15 for completed grant application items.
IV. Application and SubmissionInformation
A. Clarifications to Requirements for FY 2011
1. Although 7 CFR 1739.3 definesBroadband Transmission Service as 200kilobits/second both in the downstreamand upstream directions, the Agencyrecognizes that these speeds are notadequate to deliver much neededbenefits such as distance learning andtelemedicine to communities that arenot currently receiving broadbandservice. Therefore, when theapplications are scored for the
‘‘
community-oriented connectivitybenefits derived from the proposedservices
’’
emphasis will be placed on theamount of bandwidth that is beingdelivered to the customer. Although theamount of bandwidth is not the onlyitem that will be evaluated for thiscriteria, the bandwidth being providedto enhance rural economic developmentwill have a direct impact on the scorethat is assigned. All applicants areencouraged to construct systems that arecapable of delivering the broadbandspeeds that are identified in the FederalCommunications Commission’sNational Broadband Plan.2. When determining the points thatwill be awarded for the
‘‘
community-oriented connectivity
’’
benefits derivedfrom the proposed service, systems thatare proposing to deliver more than theminimum bandwidth requirements havea greater potential of receiving themaximum number of points for thiscategory.3. When determining if a communityhas no existing broadband service,applicants are encouraged to refer to theFederal Communication Commission’sNational Broadband Map.4. Rural Development clarifies thatthe definition of
‘‘
Critical CommunityFacilities
’’
includes the mandatoryCommunity Center.5. For all funding commitments,including all matching fundcommitments and commitments madeby the applicant, that are required tocomplete the Project in addition to theRural Development grant, evidencemust be submitted demonstrating thatfunding arrangements have beenobtained. If the appropriate fundingcommitments are not included in theapplication, the application will bedeemed ineligible for consideration.This evidence must:a. Clearly state the name of the entitythat is making the commitment;b. Include the amount of thecommitment; andc. State the purpose of commitment.6. Rural Development clarifies that inorder to qualify as eligible costs forgrant coverage or matching fundcontributions, operating expensesincurred in providing BroadbandTransmission Service to CriticalCommunity Facilities for the first 2years of operation and in providingtraining and instruction must be for thefollowing purposes subject to thespecified maximum amounts:a. Salary for operations manager, notto exceed $30,000 per year.b. Salary for technical support staff,not to exceed $30,000 per year.c. Salary for community center staff,not to exceed $25,000 per year.d. Bandwidth expenses, not to exceed$25,000 per year.e. Training courses on the use of theInternet, not to exceed $15,000 per year.The operating costs to be funded bythe grant or used as matchingcontributions cannot exceed in theaggregate $250,000. No other operatingexpenses are eligible for grant fundingor to be considered as matching funds.The period for expenses to beconsidered eligible for grant funding orto be used as an in-kind match is threeyears from the date the Administratorsigns the award documents.7. Community means anyincorporated or unincorporated town,village, or borough located in a RuralArea, that is recognized in the latestdecennial census as published by theBureau of the Census or in the mostrecent edition of a Rand McNally Atlascontaining population data.8. Rural Development clarifies thatthe economic need of the applicant’sservice territory will be based on themedian household income (MHI) for theCommunity serviced and the state inwhich the Community is located, asdetermined by the U.S. Bureau of theCensus at
http://factfinder.census.gov
. If the community was qualified using theRand McNally Atlas, the applicant mustuse the MHI, contained in the latestdecennial census, of the county inwhich the Community resides as theCommunity MHI.
B. Where To Get ApplicationInformation
The application guide, copies of necessary forms and samples, and theCommunity Connect Grant Programregulation are available from thesesources:1. The Internet:
http:// www.rurdev.usda.gov/ utp
_
commconnect.html
.2. The Rural Development BroadbandDivision, for paper copies of thesematerials: (202) 690–4673.
C. What constitutes a completed application?
1. Detailed information on each itemrequired can be found in theCommunity Connect Grant Programregulation and the Community ConnectGrant Program application guide.Applicants are strongly encouraged toread and apply both the regulation andthe application guide. This Notice doesnot change the requirements for acompleted application for any form of Community Connect Grant Programfinancial assistance specified in theCommunity Connect Grant Programregulation. The Community ConnectGrant Program regulation and theapplication guide provide specificguidance on each of the items listed andthe Community Connect Grant Programapplication guide provides all necessaryforms and sample worksheets.2. Applications should be prepared inconformance with the provisions in 7CFR 1739, subpart A, and applicableUSDA regulations including 7 CFR parts3015, 3016, and 3019. Applicants mustuse the Rural Development ApplicationGuide for this program containinginstructions and all necessary forms, as
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