Distance Learning and Telemedicine Loan and Grant Program; Confirmation of Effective Date, Corrections, and Correcting Amendments

[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 91 (Wednesday, May 12, 1999)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 25422-25423]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-11855]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Rural Utilities Service

7 CFR Part 1703


Distance Learning and Telemedicine Loan and Grant Program; 
Confirmation of Effective Date, Corrections, and Correcting Amendments

AGENCY: Rural Utilities Service, USDA.

ACTION: Direct final rule; Confirmation of effective date, corrections, 
and correcting amendments.

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SUMMARY: The Rural Utilities Service (RUS) hereby gives notice that no 
adverse comments were received regarding the direct final rule on the 
Distance Learning and Telemedicine Loan and Grant Program, published in 
the Federal Register, March 25, 1999, at 64 FR 14401 and confirms the 
effective date of the direct final rule. In addition, this document is 
making corrections and correcting amendments to this rule.

DATES: The direct final rule, which published at 64 FR 14401, and the 
corrections and correcting amendments, are effective on May 10, 1999.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Roberta D. Purcell, Assistant 
Administrator, Telecommunications Program, Rural Utilities Service, 
STOP 1590, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20250-1590, 
Telephone (202) 720-9554, Facsimile (202) 720-0810.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Confirmation of Effective Date

    This is to confirm the effective date of the direct final rule, 7 
CFR Part 1703, Distance Learning and Telemedicine Loan and Grant 
Program, published March 25, 1999, at 64 FR 14401, and is to advise 
that RUS did not receive any written adverse comments and no written 
notice of intent to submit adverse comments on this rule.

Need for Correction

    As published, the direct final rule contains errors and information 
that may be misleading and is in need of modification.

List of Subjects in 7 CFR Part 1703

    Community development, Grants programs-education, Grant programs-
health care, Grant programs-housing and community development, Loan 
programs-education, Loan programs-health care. Loan programs-housing 
and community development, Reporting and recordkeeping requirements, 
Rural areas.
    I. Accordingly, FR Doc. 99-6995, RUS direct final rule, published 
on March 25, 1999, at 64 FR 14355, is corrected as follows:


Sec. 1703.103  [Corrected]

    1. On page 14359, in the first column, in Sec. 1703.103, paragraph 
(a)(3), beginning in line 10, the words ``distance learning or 
telemedicine grant'' are corrected to read ``financial assistance''.


Sec. 1703.105  [Corrected]

    2. On page 14359, in the second column, in Sec. 1703.105, paragraph 
(c), line 12, the word ``eminent'' is corrected to read ``imminent''.
    3. On page 14359, in the third column, in Sec. 1703.105, paragraph 
(e)(6), beginning with line 2, the words ``DLT borrower'' are corrected 
to read ``DLT recipient'' and in line 5 the word ``borrower'' is 
corrected to read ``recipient''.


Sec. 1703.108  [Corrected]

    4. On page 14360, in the second column, in Sec. 1703.108, paragraph 
(a), line 4, the word ``preceding'' is corrected to read ``following''.


Sec. 1703.123  [Corrected]

    5. On page 14361, in the second column, in Sec. 1703.123, paragraph 
(a)(13), line 2, ``Sec. 1703.105'' is corrected to read 
``Sec. 1703.121''.
    6. On page 14361, in the second column, in Sec. 1703.123, paragraph 
(a)(14), line 2, ``Sec. 1703.105'' is corrected to read 
``Sec. 1703.121''.


Sec. 1703.126  [Corrected]

    7. On page 14363, in the first column, in Sec. 1703.126, paragraph 
(a), line 7, ``paragraph (a)(2)'' is corrected to read ``paragraph 
(b)(2)(iv)''.


Sec. 1703.127  [Corrected]

    8. On page 14365, in the first column, in Sec. 1703.127, paragraph 
(c)(1), line 4, ``Sec. 1703.115(e)(1)'' is corrected to read 
``Sec. 1703.125(e)(1)''.
    9. On page 14365, in the second column, in Sec. 1703.127, paragraph 
(c)(3), beginning in line 4, the words ``in accordance of 
Sec. 1703.125(e).'' are corrected to read ``in accordance with 
Sec. 1703.125(e).''.


Sec. 1703.134  [Corrected]

    10. On page 14368, in the second column, in Sec. 1703.134, 
paragraph (l), beginning in line 2, the words ``any additional RUS 
may'' are corrected to read ``any additional information RUS may''.


Sec. 1703.144  [Corrected]

    11. On page 14371, in the first column, in Sec. 1703.144, paragraph 
(c)(4), beginning in line 2, the words ``for both the combination loan 
and grant and'' are corrected to read ``for the loan and''.
    12. On page 14371, in the second column, in Sec. 1703.144, 
paragraph (d)(2), line 9, remove the word ``for''.
    13. On page 14371, in the second column, in Sec. 1703.144, 
paragraph (d)(3), the second sentence is corrected to read ``Those 
assets for which a loan is being requested should be clearly 
indicated.''
    14. On page 14371, in the third column, in Sec. 1703.144, paragraph 
(f)(2), beginning in line 16, the words ``fund using a combination loan 
and grant.'' are corrected to read ``fund using a loan.''.
    15. On page 14371, in the third column, in Sec. 1703.144, paragraph 
(f)(4), line 4, ``Sec. 1703.131(h).'' is corrected to read 
``Sec. 1703.141(h).''.


Sec. 1703.145  [Corrected]

    16. On page 14372, in the second column, in Sec. 1703.145, 
paragraph (b), beginning in line 12, the words ``total loan and grant 
funding available for the fiscal year.'' are corrected to read ``total 
loan funding available for the fiscal year.''.

[[Page 25423]]

    II. Title 7 CFR part 1703 is corrected by making the following 
correcting amendments:

PART 1703--RURAL DEVELOPMENT

    17. The authority citation for part 1703 continues to read as 
follows:

    Authority: 7 U.S.C. 901 et seq. and 950aaa et seq.

    18. Sec. 1703.123 is amended by revising paragraph (a)(5) to read 
as follows:


Sec. 1703.123  Nonapproval purposes for grants.

    (a) * * *
    (5) To purchase equipment that will be owned by the local exchange 
carrier or another telecommunications service provider unless that 
service provider is the applicant.
* * * * *
    19. Sec. 1703.125 is amended by adding paragraph (b)(9) and by 
revising paragraphs (i)(1) through (i)(7) and by removing paragraphs 
(i)(8) through (i)(11) to read as follows:


Sec. 1703.125  Completed application.

* * * * *
    (b) * * *
    (9) A listing of the location of each end user site (city, town, 
village, borough, or rural areas) plus the State.
* * * * *
    (i) * * *
    (1) E.O. 11246, Equal Employment Opportunity, as amended by E.O. 
11375 and as supplemented by regulations contained in 41 CFR part 60;
    (2) Architectural barriers;
    (3) Flood hazard area precautions;
    (4) Assistance and Real Property Acquisition Policies Act of 1970;
    (5) Drug-Free Workplace Act of 1998 (41 U.S.C. 701);
    (6) E.O.s 12549 and 12689, Debarment and Suspension;
    (7) Byrd Anti-Lobbying Amendment (31 U.S.C. 1352).
* * * * *
    20. Sec. 1703.134 is amended by revising paragraphs (g)(1) through 
(g)(7) by removing paragraphs (g)(8) through (g)(11) to read as 
follows:


Sec. 1703.134  Completed application.

* * * * *
    (g) * * *
    (1) E.O. 11246, Equal Employment Opportunity, as amended by E.O. 
11375 and as supplemented by regulations contained in 41 CFR part 60;
    (2) Architectural barriers;
    (3) Flood hazard area precautions;
    (4) Assistance and Real Property Acquisition Policies Act of 1970;
    (5) Drug-Free Workplace Act of 1998 (41 U.S.C. 701);
    (6) E.O.s 12549 and 12689, Debarment and Suspension;
    (7) Byrd Anti-Lobbying Amendment (31 U.S.C. 1352).
* * * * *
    21. Sec. 1703.140 is amended by revising the first sentence of the 
introductory paragraph to read as follows:


Sec. 1703.140  Completed application.

    A loan may be used by eligible organizations as defined in 
Sec. 1703.103 for distance learning and telemedicine projects to 
finance 100 percent of the cost of approved purposes contained in 
Sec. 1703.141 provided that no financial assistance may exceed the 
maximum amount for the year in which the loan is made. * * *
* * * * *
    22. Sec. 1703.141 is amended by revising the first sentence of 
paragraph (i) to read as follows:


Sec. 1703.141  Approved purposes for loans.

* * * * *
    (i) Any project costs, except for salaries and administrative 
expenses, not included in paragraphs (a) through (h) of this section, 
incurred during the first two years of operation after the financial 
assistance has been approved. * * *
* * * * *
    23. Sec. 1703.142 is amended by revising paragraphs (a) and (b)(4), 
and by addding paragraph (b)(5) to read as follows:


Sec. 1703.142  Nonapproved purposes for loan.

    (a) Loans made under this subpart will not be provided to pay the 
costs of recurring or operating expenses incurred after two years from 
approval of the project except for leases (see Sec. 1703.141).
    (b) * * *
    (4) To pay for salaries, wages, or administrative expenses; or
    (5) For any purpose that the Administrator has not specifically 
approved.
* * * * *
    24. Sec. 1703.144 is amended by revising paragraphs (g)(1) through 
(g)(7) and by removing paragraphs (g)(8) through (g)(10) to read as 
follows:


Sec. 1703.144  Completed application.

* * * * *
    (g) * * *
    (1) E.O. 11246, Equal Employment Opportunity, as amended by E.O. 
11375 and as supplemented by regulations contained in 41 CFR part 60;
    (2) Architectural barriers;
    (3) Flood hazard area precautions;
    (4) Assistance and Real Property Acquisition Policies Act of 1970;
    (5) Drug-Free Workplace Act of 1998 (41 U.S.C. 701);
    (6) E.O.s 12549 and 12689, Debarment and Suspension;
    (7) Byrd Anti-Lobbying Amendment (31 U.S.C. 1352).
* * * * *

    Dated: May 6, 1999.
Wally Beyer,
Administrator, Rural Utilities Service.
[FR Doc. 99-11855 Filed 5-11-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-15-P