Construction and Installation of Broadband Telecommunications Services in Rural America; Availability of Loan Funds

The Rural Utilities Service (RUS) announces a new loan program and the availability of loan funds under this program to finance the construction and installation of broadband telecommunications services in rural America. The President of the United States and the United States Congress have made $100 million in treasury rate loan funds available, through a one-year Pilot Program, to encourage telecommunications carriers to provide broadband service to rural consumers where such service does not currently exist. This program will provide loan funds, on an expedited basis, to communities up to 20,000 inhabitants to ensure rural consumers enjoy the same quality and range of telecommunications services that are available in urban and suburban communities. Loan funds are available immediately and applications will be processed and approved on a first-come, first served basis throughout FY 2001 until the appropriation is utilized in its entirety.