Federal Register / Vol. 76, No. 43 / Friday, March 4, 2011 / Notices 12017 

Relay Service (FIRS) at 1–800–877–8339 

between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m., Eastern 

Standard Time, Monday through Friday. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The 

meeting is open to the public. The 

following business will be conducted: 

Review of the status of approved 

projects; discussion of travel 

reimbursement, review and discussion 

of new project proposal and public 

forum discussion. Persons who wish to 

bring related matters to the attention of 

the Committee may file written 

statements with the Committee staff 

before or after the meeting. Public input 

sessions will be provided and 

individuals who made written requests 

by March 17, 2011 will have the 

opportunity to address the Committee at 

those 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 AGRICULTURE 

Forest Service 

Manti-La Sal National Forest Resource 

Advisory Committee 

AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA. 

ACTION: Notice of meeting. 

SUMMARY: The Manti-La Sal National 

Forest Resource Advisory Committee 

will meet in Price, Utah. The committee 

is meeting as authorized under the 

Secure Rural Schools and Community 

Self-Determination Act (Pub. L. 110– 

343) and in compliance with the Federal 

Advisory Committee Act. The purpose 

of the meeting is to consider Secure 

Rural Schools Act Title II project 

proposals and hear oral presentations. 

DATES: The meeting will be held March 

30, 2011, and will begin at 9 a.m. 

ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held in 

the conference room of the Manti-La Sal 

National Forest, 599 West Price River 

Drive, Price, Utah. Written comments 

should be sent to Rosann Fillmore, 

Manti-La Sal National Forest, 599 West 

Price River Drive, Price, UT 84501. 

Comments may also be sent via e-mail 

to rdfillmore@fs.fed.us or via facsimile 

to 435–637–4940. 

All comments, including names and 

addresses when provided, are placed in 

the record and are available for public 

inspection and copying. The public may 

inspect comments received at the MantiLa Sal National Forest, 599 West Price 

River Drive, Price, UT 84501. Visitors 

are encouraged to call ahead to 435– 

636–3525 to facilitate entry into the 

building. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Rosann Fillmore, RAC coordinator, 

USDA, Manti-La Sal National Forest, 

599 West Price River Drive, Price, UT 

84501; 435–636–3525; E-mail 

rdfillmore@fs.fed.us. 

Individuals who use 

telecommunication devices for the deaf 

(TDD) may call the Federal Information 

Relay Service (FIRS) at 1–800–877–8339 

between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m., Eastern 

Standard Time, Monday through Friday. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The 

meeting is open to the public. The 

following business will be conducted: 

(1) Consideration of Project Funding 

Proposals. (2) Oral presentations from 

proponents. (3) Other business. (4) 

Public comment. Persons who wish to 

bring related matters to the attention of 

the Committee may file written 

statements with the Committee staff 

before or after the meeting. Public input 

sessions will be provided and 

individuals who made written requests 

by March 25, 2011 will have the 

opportunity to address the Committee at 

those 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 AGRICULTURE 

Forest Service 

Delta-Bienville Resource Advisory 

Committee 

AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA. 

ACTION: Notice of meeting. 

SUMMARY: The Delta-Bienville Resource 

Advisory Committee will meet in 

Forest, Mississippi. The committee is 

meeting as authorized under the Secure 

Rural Schools and Community SelfDetermination Act (Pub. L. 110–343) 

and in compliance with the Federal 

Advisory Committee Act. The purpose 

is to hold the first meeting of the newly 

formed committee. 

DATES: The meeting will be held on 

March 14, 2011, and will begin at 6 p.m. 

ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held at 

the Bienville Ranger District Work 

Center, Hwy 501 South, 935A South 

Raleigh St, Forest, Mississippi 39074. 

Written comments should be sent to 

Michael T. Esters, Bienville Ranger 

District Office, 3473 Hwy 35 South, 

Forest, Mississippi 39074. Comments 

may also be sent via e-mail to 

mesters@fs.fed.us, or via facsimile to 

601 469–2513. 

All comments, including names and 

addresses when provided, are placed in 

the record and are available for public 

inspection and copying. The public may 

inspect comments received at Bienville 

Ranger District Office, 3473 Hwy 35 

South, Forest, Mississippi 39074. 

Visitors are encouraged to call ahead to 

601 469–3811 to facilitate entry into the 

building. 

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 use 

telecommunication devices for the deaf 

(TDD) may call the Federal Information 

Relay Service (FIRS) at 1–800–877–8339 

between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m., Eastern 

Standard Time, Monday through Friday. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The 

meeting is open to the public. The 

following business will be conducted: 

(1) Review project proposals and 

recommendations. Persons who wish to 

bring related matters to the attention of 

the Committee may file written 

statements 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 AGRICULTURE 

Rural Utilities Service 

Announcement of Grant Application 

Deadlines and Funding Levels 

AGENCY: Rural Utilities Service, USDA. 

ACTION: Notice of solicitation of 

applications. 

SUMMARY: The United States Department 

of Agriculture’s (USDA) Rural Utilities 

Service (RUS) announces the 

availability of $25 million in funding for 

Fiscal Year (FY) 2011 for the 

Community Connect Grant Program. 

This funding represents carry over 

balances from prior Appropriations 

Acts. This notice is being issued prior 

to passage of a final Appropriations Act 

for FY 2011, to allow potential 

applicants time to submit proposals and 

give the Agency time to process 

applications within the current fiscal 

year. RUS will publish a subsequent 

notice identifying the amount received 

in the final Appropriations Act, if any. 

Expenses incurred in developing 


jlentini on DSKJ8SOYB1PROD with NOTICES
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applications will be at the applicant’s 

risk. For FY 2010, Congress 

appropriated approximately $17.9 

million. In addition, RUS announces the 

minimum and maximum amounts for 

Community Connect grants applicable 

for the fiscal year. The Community 

Connect Grant Program regulations can 

be found at 7 CFR part 1739, subpart A. 

DATES: You may submit completed 

applications for grants on paper or 

electronically according to the following 

deadlines: 

• Paper copies must carry proof of 

shipping no later than May 3, 2011 to 

be eligible for FY 2011 grant funding. 

Late applications are not eligible for FY 

2011 grant funding. 

• Electronic copies must be received 

by May 3, 2011 to be eligible for FY 

2011 grant funding. Late applications 

are not eligible for FY 2011 grant 

funding. 

ADDRESSES: You may obtain application 

guides and materials for the Community 

Connect Grant Program via the Internet 

at the following Web site: http:// 

www.rurdev.usda.gov/ 

utp_commconnect.html. You may also 

request application guides and materials 

from RUS by contacting the appropriate 

individual listed in section VII of the 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section of 

this notice. 

Submit completed paper applications 

for grants to the Rural Utilities Service, 

U.S. Department of Agriculture, 1400 

Independence Ave., SW., Room 2870, 

STOP 1599, Washington, DC 20250– 

1599. Applications should be marked 

‘‘Attention: Director, Broadband 

Division, Rural Utilities Service.’’ 

Submit electronic grant applications 

at http://www.grants.gov (Grants.gov), 

following the instructions you find on 

that Web site. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Kenneth Kuchno, Director, Broadband 

Division, Rural Utilities Service, U.S. 

Department of Agriculture, telephone: 

(202) 690–4673, fax: (202) 690–4389. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Overview 

Federal Agency: Rural Utilities 

Service (RUS). 

Funding Opportunity Title: 

Community Connect Grant Program. 

Announcement Type: Initial 

announcement. 

Catalog of Federal Domestic 

Assistance (CFDA) Number: 10.863. 

Dates: You may submit completed 

applications for grants on paper or 

electronically according to the following 

deadlines: 

• Paper copies must carry proof of 

shipping no later than May 3, 2011, to 

be eligible for FY 2011 grant funding. 

Late applications are not eligible for FY 

2011 grant funding. 

• Electronic copies must be received 

by May 3, 2011, to be eligible for FY 

2011 grant funding. Late applications 

are not eligible for FY 2011 grant 

funding. 

Items in Supplementary Information 

I. Funding Opportunity: Brief introduction to 

the Community Connect Grant Program 

II. Award Information: Available funds and 

minimum and maximum amounts 

III. Eligibility Information: Who is eligible, 

what kinds of projects are eligible, what 

criteria determine basic eligibility 

IV. Application and Submission Information: 

Where to get application materials, what 

constitutes a completed application, how 

and where to submit applications, 

deadlines, items that are eligible 

V. Application Review Information: 

Considerations and preferences, scoring 

criteria, review standards, selection 

information 

VI. Award Administration Information: 

Award notice information, award 

recipient reporting requirements 

VII. Agency Contacts: Web, phone, fax, 

e-mail, contact name. 

I. Funding Opportunity 

The provision of broadband 

transmission service is vital to the 

economic development, education, 

health, and safety of rural Americans. 

The purpose of the Community Connect 

Grant Program is to provide financial 

assistance in the form of grants to 

eligible applicants that will provide 

currently unserved areas, on a 

‘‘community-oriented connectivity’’ 

basis, with broadband transmission 

service that fosters economic growth 

and delivers enhanced educational, 

health care, and public safety services. 

Rural Utilities Service will give priority 

to rural areas that it believes have the 

greatest need for broadband 

transmission services, based on the 

criteria contained herein. 

Grant authority will be used for the 

deployment of broadband transmission 

service to extremely rural, lower-income 

communities on a ‘‘community-oriented 

connectivity’’ basis. The ‘‘communityoriented connectivity’’ concept will 

stimulate practical, everyday uses and 

applications of broadband facilities by 

cultivating the deployment of new 

broadband transmission services that 

improve economic development and 

provide enhanced educational and 

health care opportunities in rural areas. 

Such an approach will also give rural 

communities the opportunity to benefit 

from the advanced technologies that are 

necessary to achieve these goals. Please 

see 7 CFR part 1739, subpart A for 

specifics. 

This notice has been formatted to 

conform to a policy directive issued by 

the Office of Federal Financial 

Management (OFFM) of the Office of 

Management and Budget (OMB), 

published in the Federal Register on 

June 23, 2003. This Notice does not 

change the Community Connect Grant 

Program regulation (7 CFR 1739, 

subpart A). 

II. Award Information 

A. Available Funds 

1. General. The Administrator has 

determined that the following amounts 

are available for grants in FY 2011 

under 7 CFR 1739.2(a). 

2. Grants 

a. $25 million is available for grants 

from prior year appropriations. Under 7 

CFR 1739.2, the Administrator has 

established a minimum grant amount of 

$50,000 and a maximum grant amount 

of $1,500,000 for FY 2011. 

b. Assistance instrument: Rural 

Development will execute grant 

documents appropriate to the project 

prior to any advance of funds with 

successful applicants. B. Community 

Connect grants cannot be renewed. 

Award documents specify the term of 

each award. Applications to extend 

existing projects are welcomed (grant 

applications must be submitted during 

the application window) and will be 

evaluated as new applications. 

III. Eligibility Information 

A. Who is eligible for grants? (See 7 

CFR 1739.10.) 

1. Only entities legally organized as 

one of the following are eligible for 

Community Connect Grant Program 

financial assistance: 

a. An incorporated organization, 

b. An Indian tribe or tribal 

organization, as defined in 25 U.S.C. 

450b(b) and (c), 

c. A State or local unit of government, 

d. A cooperative, private corporation 

or limited liability company organized 

on a for-profit or not-for-profit basis. 

2. Individuals are not eligible for 

Community Connect Grant Program 

financial assistance directly. 

3. Applicants must have the legal 

capacity and authority to own and 

operate the broadband facilities as 

proposed in its application, to enter into 

contracts and to otherwise comply with 

applicable federal statutes and 

regulations. 

B. What are the basic eligibility 

requirements for a project? 

1. Required matching contributions. 

Please see 7 CFR 1739.14 for the 

requirement. Grant applicants must 


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demonstrate a matching contribution, in 

cash or in kind (new, non-depreciated 

items), of at least fifteen (15) percent of 

the total amount of financial assistance 

requested. Matching contributions must 

be used for eligible purposes of 

Community Connect grant assistance 

(see 7 CFR 1739.12). 

2. To be eligible for a grant, the 

Project must (see 7 CFR 1739.11): 

a. Serve a Rural Area where 

Broadband Transmission Service does 

not currently exist, to be verified by 

Rural Development prior to the award of 

the grant; 

b. Serve one Community recognized 

in the latest U.S. Census or the most 

recent edition of the Rand McNally 

Atlas containing population data; 

c. Deploy Basic Broadband 

Transmission Service, free of all charges 

for at least 2 years, to all Critical 

Community Facilities located within the 

proposed Service Area; 

d. Offer Basic Broadband 

Transmission Service to residential and 

business customers within the proposed 

Service Area; and 

e. Provide a Community Center with 

at least ten (10) Computer Access Points 

within the proposed Service Area, and 

make Broadband Transmission Service 

available therein, free of all charges to 

users for at least 2 years. 

C. See paragraph IV.B of this notice for 

a discussion of the items that make up 

a completed application. You may also 

refer to 7 CFR 1739.15 for completed 

grant application items. 

IV. Application and Submission 

Information 

A. Clarifications to Requirements for FY 

2011 

1. Although 7 CFR 1739.3 defines 

Broadband Transmission Service as 200 

kilobits/second both in the downstream 

and upstream directions, the Agency 

recognizes that these speeds are not 

adequate to deliver much needed 

benefits such as distance learning and 

telemedicine to communities that are 

not currently receiving broadband 

service. Therefore, when the 

applications are scored for the 

‘‘community-oriented connectivity 

benefits derived from the proposed 

services’’ emphasis will be placed on the 

amount of bandwidth that is being 

delivered to the customer. Although the 

amount of bandwidth is not the only 

item that will be evaluated for this 

criteria, the bandwidth being provided 

to enhance rural economic development 

will have a direct impact on the score 

that is assigned. All applicants are 

encouraged to construct systems that are 

capable of delivering the broadband 

speeds that are identified in the Federal 

Communications Commission’s 

National Broadband Plan. 

2. When determining the points that 

will be awarded for the ‘‘communityoriented connectivity’’ benefits derived 

from the proposed service, systems that 

are proposing to deliver more than the 

minimum bandwidth requirements have 

a greater potential of receiving the 

maximum number of points for this 

category. 

3. When determining if a community 

has no existing broadband service, 

applicants are encouraged to refer to the 

Federal Communication Commission’s 

National Broadband Map. 

4. Rural Development clarifies that 

the definition of ‘‘Critical Community 

Facilities’’ includes the mandatory 

Community Center. 

5. For all funding commitments, 

including all matching fund 

commitments and commitments made 

by the applicant, that are required to 

complete the Project in addition to the 

Rural Development grant, evidence 

must be submitted demonstrating that 

funding arrangements have been 

obtained. If the appropriate funding 

commitments are not included in the 

application, the application will be 

deemed ineligible for consideration. 

This evidence must: 

a. Clearly state the name of the entity 

that is making the commitment; 

b. Include the amount of the 

commitment; and 

c. State the purpose of commitment. 

6. Rural Development clarifies that in 

order to qualify as eligible costs for 

grant coverage or matching fund 

contributions, operating expenses 

incurred in providing Broadband 

Transmission Service to Critical 

Community Facilities for the first 2 

years of operation and in providing 

training and instruction must be for the 

following purposes subject to the 

specified maximum amounts: 

a. Salary for operations manager, not 

to 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 the 

Internet, not to exceed $15,000 per year. 

The operating costs to be funded by 

the grant or used as matching 

contributions cannot exceed in the 

aggregate $250,000. No other operating 

expenses are eligible for grant funding 

or to be considered as matching funds. 

The period for expenses to be 

considered eligible for grant funding or 

to be used as an in-kind match is three 

years from the date the Administrator 

signs the award documents. 

7. Community means any 

incorporated or unincorporated town, 

village, or borough located in a Rural 

Area, that is recognized in the latest 

decennial census as published by the 

Bureau of the Census or in the most 

recent edition of a Rand McNally Atlas 

containing population data. 

8. Rural Development clarifies that 

the economic need of the applicant’s 

service territory will be based on the 

median household income (MHI) for the 

Community serviced and the state in 

which the Community is located, as 

determined by the U.S. Bureau of the 

Census at http://factfinder.census.gov. If 

the community was qualified using the 

Rand McNally Atlas, the applicant must 

use the MHI, contained in the latest 

decennial census, of the county in 

which the Community resides as the 

Community MHI. 

B. Where To Get Application 

Information 

The application guide, copies of 

necessary forms and samples, and the 

Community Connect Grant Program 

regulation are available from these 

sources: 

1. The Internet: http:// 

www.rurdev.usda.gov/ 

utp_commconnect.html. 

2. The Rural Development Broadband 

Division, for paper copies of these 

materials: (202) 690–4673. 

C. What constitutes a completed 

application? 

1. Detailed information on each item 

required can be found in the 

Community Connect Grant Program 

regulation and the Community Connect 

Grant Program application guide. 

Applicants are strongly encouraged to 

read and apply both the regulation and 

the application guide. This Notice does 

not change the requirements for a 

completed application for any form of 

Community Connect Grant Program 

financial assistance specified in the 

Community Connect Grant Program 

regulation. The Community Connect 

Grant Program regulation and the 

application guide provide specific 

guidance on each of the items listed and 

the Community Connect Grant Program 

application guide provides all necessary 

forms and sample worksheets. 

2. Applications should be prepared in 

conformance with the provisions in 7 

CFR 1739, subpart A, and applicable 

USDA regulations including 7 CFR parts 

3015, 3016, and 3019. Applicants must 

use the Rural Development Application 

Guide for this program containing 

instructions and all necessary forms, as 


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well as other important information, in 

preparing their application. Completed 

applications must include the following: 

a. An Application for Federal 

Assistance. A completed Standard Form 

(SF) 424. 

b. An executive summary of the 

Project. The applicant must provide 

Rural Development with a general 

project overview. 

c. Scoring criteria documentation. 

Each grant applicant must address and 

provide documentation on how it meets 

each of the scoring criteria detailed 7 

CFR 1739.17. 

d. System design. The applicant must 

submit a system design, including, 

narrative specifics of the proposal, 

associated costs, maps, engineering 

design studies, technical specifications 

and system capabilities, etc. 

e. Scope of work. The scope of work 

must include specific activities and 

services to be performed under the 

proposal, who will carry out the 

activities and services, specific timeframes for completion, and a budget for 

all capital and administrative 

expenditures reflecting the line item 

costs for all grant purposes, the 

matching contribution, and other 

sources of funds necessary to complete 

the project. 

f. Community-Oriented Connectivity 

Plan. The applicant must provide a 

detailed Community-Oriented 

Connectivity Plan. 

g. Financial information and 

sustainability. The applicant must 

provide financial statements and 

information and a narrative description 

demonstrating the sustainability of the 

Project. 

h. A statement of experience. The 

applicant must provide a written 

narrative describing its demonstrated 

capability and experience, if any, in 

operating a broadband 

telecommunications system. 

i. Evidence of legal authority and 

existence. The applicant must provide 

evidence of its legal existence and 

authority to enter into a grant agreement 

with RUS and to perform the activities 

proposed under the grant application. 

j. Funding commitment from other 

sources. If the Project requires 

additional funding from other sources in 

addition to the Rural Development 

grant, the applicant must provide 

evidence that funding agreements have 

been obtained to ensure completion of 

the Project. 

k. DUNS Number. 

As required by the OMB, all 

applicants for grants must supply a Dun 

and Bradstreet Data Universal 

Numbering System (DUNS) number 

when applying. The Standard Form 424 

(SF–424) contains a field for you to use 

when supplying your DUNS number. 

Obtaining a DUNS number costs 

nothing and requires a short telephone 

call to Dun and Bradstreet. Please see 

http://www.grants.gov/applicants/ 

request_duns_number.jsp for more 

information on how to obtain a DUNS 

number or how to verify your 

organization’s number. 

l. Central Contractor Registration 

(CCR). 

(a) In accordance with 2 CFR part 25, 

applicants, whether applying 

electronically or by paper, must be 

registered in the CCR prior to submitting 

an application. Applicants may register 

for the CCR at https:// 

www.uscontractorregistration.com/ or 

by calling 1–877–252–2700. Completing 

the CCR registration process takes up to 

five business days, and applicants are 

strongly encouraged to begin the process 

well in advance of the deadline 

specified in this notice. 

(b) The CCR registration must remain 

active, with current information, at all 

times during which an entity has an 

application under consideration by an 

agency or has an active Federal Award. 

To remain registered in the CCR 

database after the initial registration, the 

applicant is required to review and 

update, on an annual basis from the date 

of initial registration or subsequent 

updates, its information in the CCR 

database to ensure it is current, accurate 

and complete. 

m. Compliance with other federal 

statutes. The applicant must provide 

evidence of compliance with other 

federal statutes and regulations, 

including, but not limited to the 

following: 

(i) 7 CFR part 15, subpart A— 

Nondiscrimination in Federally 

Assisted Programs of the Department of 

Agriculture—Effectuation of Title VI of 

the Civil Rights Act of 1964. 

(ii) 7 CFR part 3015—Uniform Federal 

Assistance Regulations. 

(iii) 7 CFR part 3017— 

Governmentwide Debarment and 

Suspension (Non-procurement). 

(iv) 7 CFR part 3018—New 

Restrictions on Lobbying. 

(v) 7 CFR part 3021— 

Governmentwide Requirements for 

Drug-Free Workplace (Financial 

Assistance). 

(vi) Certification regarding 

Architectural Barriers. 

(vii) Certification regarding Flood 

Hazard Precautions. 

(viii) An environmental report, in 

accordance with 7 CFR 1794. 

(ix) Certification that grant funds will 

not be used to duplicate lines, facilities, 

or systems providing Broadband 

Transmission Service. 

(x) Federal Obligation Certification on 

Delinquent Debt. 

D. How many copies of an application 

are required? 

1. Applications submitted on paper: 

Submit the original application and two 

(2) copies to Rural Development. 

2. Electronically submitted 

applications: The additional paper 

copies are not necessary if you submit 

the application electronically through 

Grants.gov. 

E. How and Where To Submit an 

Application 

Grant applications may be submitted 

on paper or electronically. 

1. Submitting applications on paper. 

a. Address paper applications for 

grants to the Rural Utilities Service, U.S. 

Department of Agriculture, 1400 

Independence Ave., SW., Room 2868, 

STOP 1599, Washington, DC 20250– 

1599. Applications should be marked 

‘‘Attention: Director, Broadband 

Division, Rural Utilities Service.’’ 

b. Paper applications must show proof 

of mailing or shipping consisting of one 

of the following: 

(i) A legibly dated U.S. Postal Service 

(USPS) postmark; 

(ii) A legible mail receipt with the 

date of mailing stamped by the USPS; or 

(iii) A dated shipping label, invoice, 

or receipt from a commercial carrier. 

c. Due to screening procedures at the 

Department of Agriculture, packages 

arriving via the USPS are irradiated, 

which can damage the contents. Rural 

Development encourages applicants to 

consider the impact of this procedure in 

selecting their application delivery 

method. 

2. Electronically submitted 

applications. 

(a) Applicant may file an electronic 

application at http://www.grants.gov. 

Applications will not be accepted via 

facsimile machine transmission or 

electronic mail. Grants.gov contains full 

instructions on all required passwords, 

credentialing, and software. Follow the 

instructions at Grants.gov for registering 

and submitting an electronic 

application. If a system problem or 

technical difficulty occurs with an 

electronic application, please use the 

customer support resources available at 

the Grants.gov Web site. 

(b) First time Grants.gov users should 

go to the ‘‘Get Started’’ tab on the 

Grants.gov site and carefully read and 

follow the steps listed. These steps need 

to be initiated early in the application 

process to avoid delays in submitting 

your application online. 


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(c) Registering with the Central 

Contractor Registry (CCR), will take 

some time to complete, so keep that in 

mind when beginning the application 

process. In order to register with the 

CCR, your organization will need a Data 

Universal Numbering System (DUNS) 

Number. 

F. Deadlines 

1. Paper applications must be 

postmarked and mailed, shipped, or 

sent overnight no later than May 3, 2011 

to be eligible for FY 2011 grant funding. 

Late applications are not eligible for FY 

2011 grant funding. 

2. Electronic grant applications must 

be received by May 3, 2011 to be eligible 

for FY 2011 funding. Late applications 

are not eligible for FY 2011 grant 

funding. 

G. Funding Restrictions 

1. Eligible grant purposes. Grant funds 

may be used to finance: 

a. The construction, acquisition, or 

leasing of facilities, including spectrum, 

to deploy Broadband Transmission 

Service to all participating Critical 

Community Facilities and all required 

facilities needed to offer such service to 

residential and business customers 

located within the proposed Service 

Area; 

b. The improvement, expansion, 

construction, or acquisition of a 

Community Center that furnishes free 

access to broadband Internet service, 

provided that the Community Center is 

open and accessible to area residents 

before, during, and after normal working 

hours and on Saturday or Sunday. Grant 

funds provided for such costs shall not 

exceed the greater of five percent (5%) 

of the grant amount requested or 

$100,000; 

c. End-User Equipment needed to 

carry out the Project; 

d. Operating expenses incurred in 

providing Broadband Transmission 

Service to Critical Community Facilities 

for the first 2 years of operation and in 

providing training and instruction; and 

e. The purchase of land, buildings, or 

building construction needed to carry 

out the Project. 

2. Ineligible grant purposes. 

a. Grant funds may not be used to 

finance the duplication of any existing 

Broadband Transmission Service 

provided by another entity. 

b. Facilities financed with grant funds 

cannot be utilized, in any way, to 

provide local exchange 

telecommunications service to any 

person or entity already receiving such 

service. 

3. Please see 7 CFR 1739.3 for 

definitions, 7 CFR 1739.12 for eligible 

grant purposes, and 7 CFR 1739.13 for 

ineligible grant purposes. 

V. Application Review Information 

A. Criteria 

1. Grant applications are scored 

competitively and subject to the criteria 

listed below. 

2. Grant application scoring criteria 

(total possible points: 100) See 7 CFR 

1739.17 for the items that will be 

reviewed during scoring and for scoring 

criteria. 

a. The rurality of the Project (up to 40 

points); 

b. The economic need of the Project’s 

Service Area (up to 30 points); and 

c. The ‘‘community-oriented 

connectivity’’ benefits derived from the 

proposed service (up to 30 points). 

B. Review Standards 

1. All applications for grants must be 

delivered to Rural Utilities Service at 

the address and by the date specified in 

this notice (see also 7 CFR 1739.2) to be 

eligible for funding. Rural Utilities 

Service will review each application for 

conformance with the provisions of this 

part. Rural Utilities Service may contact 

the applicant for additional information 

or clarification. 

2. Incomplete applications as of the 

deadline for submission will not be 

considered. If an application is 

determined to be incomplete, the 

applicant will be notified in writing and 

the application will be returned with no 

further action. 

3. Applications conforming with this 

part will then be evaluated 

competitively by a panel of Rural 

Utilities Service employees selected by 

the Administrator of Rural Utilities 

Service, and will be awarded points as 

described in the scoring criteria in 

7 CFR 1739.17. Applications will be 

ranked and grants awarded in rank 

order until all grant funds are expended. 

4. Regardless of the score an 

application receives, if Rural 

Development determines that the 

Project is technically or financially 

infeasible, Rural Development will 

notify the applicant, in writing, and the 

application will be returned with no 

further action. 

C. Selection Process 

Grant applications are ranked by final 

score. Rural Development selects 

applications based on those rankings, 

subject to the availability of funds. 

VI. Award Administration Information 

A. Award Notices 

Rural Utilities Service recognizes that 

each funded project is unique, and 

therefore may attach conditions to 

different projects’ award documents. 

Rural Utilities Service generally notifies 

applicants whose projects are selected 

for awards by faxing an award letter. 

Rural Utilities Service follows the award 

letter with a grant agreement that 

contains all the terms and conditions for 

the grant. An applicant must execute 

and return the grant agreement, 

accompanied by any additional items 

required by the grant agreement. 

B. Administrative and National Policy 

Requirements 

The items listed in paragraph IV.B.2.k 

of this notice, and the Community 

Connect Grant Program regulation, 

application guide and accompanying 

materials implement the appropriate 

administrative and national policy 

requirements. 

C. Reporting 

1. Performance reporting. All 

recipients of Community Connect Grant 

Program financial assistance must 

provide annual performance activity 

reports to Rural Development until the 

project is complete and the funds are 

expended. A final performance report is 

also required; the final report may serve 

as the last annual report. The final 

report must include an evaluation of the 

success of the project. See 7 CFR 

1739.19. 

2. Financial reporting. All recipients 

of Community Connect Grant Program 

financial assistance must provide an 

annual audit, beginning with the first 

year a portion of the financial assistance 

is expended. Audits are governed by 

United States Department of Agriculture 

audit regulations. Please see 7 CFR 

1739.20. 

3. Recipient and Subrecipient 

Reporting. The applicant must have the 

necessary processes and systems in 

place to comply with the reporting 

requirements for first-tier sub-awards 

and executive compensation under the 

Federal Funding Accountability and 

Transparency Act of 2006 in the event 

the applicant receives funding unless 

such applicant is exempt from such 

reporting requirements pursuant to 

2 CFR part 170, § 170.110(b). The 

reporting requirements under the 

Transparency Act pursuant to 2 CFR 

part 170 are as follows: 

a. First Tier Sub-Awards of $25,000 or 

more in non-Recovery Act funds (unless 

they are exempt under 2 CFR Part 170) 

must be reported by the Recipient to 

http://www.fsrs.gov no later than the 

end of the month following the month 

the obligation was made. 

b. The Total Compensation of the 

Recipient’s Executives (5 most highly 


jlentini on DSKJ8SOYB1PROD with NOTICES
12022 Federal Register / Vol. 76, No. 43 / Friday, March 4, 2011 / Notices 

compensated executives) must be 

reported by the Recipient (if the 

Recipient meets the criteria under 2 CFR 

Part 170) to http://www.ccr.gov by the 

end of the month following the month 

in which the award was made. 

c. The Total Compensation of the 

Subrecipient’s Executives (5 most 

highly compensated executives) must be 

reported by the Subrecipient (if the 

Subrecipient meets the criteria under 

2 CFR part 170) to the Recipient by the 

end of the month following the month 

in which the subaward was made. 

VII. Agency Contacts 

A. Web site: http://www.usda.gov/rus/ 

commconnect.htm. This Web site 

maintains up-to-date resources and 

contact information for the Community 

Connect Grant Program. 

B. Phone: 202–690–4673 

C. Fax: 202–690–4389 

D. Main point of contact: Kenneth 

Kuchno, Director, Broadband Division, 

Rural Utilities Service, U.S. Department 

of Agriculture. 

Dated: February 18, 2011. 

Jonathan Adelstein, 

Administrator, Rural Utilities Service. 

[FR Doc. 2011–4751 Filed 3–3–11; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE P 

COMMISSION ON CIVIL RIGHTS 

Sunshine Act Notice 

AGENCY: United States Commission on 

Civil Rights. 

ACTION: Notice of briefing cancellation. 

SUMMARY: On December 8, 2010 (75 FR 

76396), the U.S. Commission on Civil 

Rights announced a briefing to be held 

on Friday, March 11, 2011 at the 

Commission’s headquarters. On March 

1, 2011, the Commission cancelled the 

briefing. The details of the cancelled 

meeting are: 

DATE AND TIME: Friday, March 11, 2011; 

9:30 a.m. EST. 

PLACE: 624 Ninth Street, NW., Room 

540, Washington, DC 20425. 

Briefing Agenda 

This briefing is open to the public. 

Topic: The Civil Rights Implications 

of Eminent Domain Abuse. 

I. Introductory Remarks by Chairman; 

II. Speakers’ Presentations; 

III. Questions by Commissioners and 

Staff Director; 

IV. Adjourn Briefing. 

CONTACT PERSON FOR FURTHER

INFORMATION: Lenore Ostrowsky, Acting 

Chief, Public Affairs Unit (202) 376– 

8591. TDD: (202) 376–8116. 

Persons with a disability requiring 

special services, such as an interpreter 

for the hearing impaired, should contact 

Pamela Dunston at least seven days 

prior to the meeting at 202–376–8105. 

TDD: (202) 376–8116. 

Dated: March 1, 2011. 

Kimberly Tolhurst, 

Senior Attorney-Advisor. 

[FR Doc. 2011–4910 Filed 3–2–11; 11:15 am] 

BILLING CODE 6335–01–P 

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE 

Foreign-Trade Zones Board 

[Docket 15–2011] 

Foreign-Trade Zone 230–Greensboro, 

NC; Application for Subzone; VF 

Jeanswear (Apparel Distribution); 

Mocksville, NC 

An application has been submitted to 

the Foreign-Trade Zones Board (the 

Board) by the Piedmont Triad 

Partnership, grantee of FTZ 230, 

requesting special-purpose subzone 

status for the warehousing and 

distribution facility of VF Jeanswear, 

located in Mocksville, North Carolina. 

The application was submitted pursuant 

to the provisions of the Foreign-Trade 

Zones Act, as amended (19 U.S.C. 81a– 

81u), and the regulations of the Board 

(15 CFR part 400). It was formally filed 

on March 1, 2011. 

The VF Jeanswear facility (430 

employees, 71.67acres/494,000 square 

feet of enclosed space) is located at 1401 

U.S. Highway 601 South, Mocksville, 

North Carolina. The facility is used for 

warehousing and distribution of foreignorigin apparel (duty rates 16.6%–28.6%) 

for the U.S. market and export. The 

applicant is not seeking manufacturing 

or processing authority with this 

request. 

FTZ procedures could exempt VF 

Jeanswear from customs duty payments 

on foreign apparel that is exported 

(about 1% of shipments). On domestic 

sales, duty payments would be deferred 

until the foreign merchandise is shipped 

from the facility and entered for U.S. 

consumption. FTZ designation would 

further allow VF Jeanswear to realize 

logistical benefits through the use of 

certain customs procedures. The request 

indicates that the savings from FTZ 

procedures would help improve the 

facility’s international competitiveness. 

In accordance with the Board’s 

regulations, Diane Finver of the FTZ 

Staff is designated examiner to evaluate 

and analyze the facts and information 

presented in the application and case 

record and to report findings and 

recommendations to the Board. 

Public comment is invited from 

interested parties. Submissions (original 

and 3 copies) shall be addressed to the 

Board’s Executive Secretary at the 

address below. The closing period for 

their receipt is May 3, 2011. Rebuttal 

comments in response to material 

submitted during the foregoing period 

may be submitted during the subsequent 

15-day period to May 18, 2011. 

A copy of the application will be 

available for public inspection at the 

Office of the Executive Secretary, 

Foreign-Trade Zones Board, Room 2111, 

U.S. Department of Commerce, 1401 

Constitution Avenue, NW., Washington, 

DC 20230–0002, and in the ‘‘Reading 

Room’’ section of the Board’s Web site, 

which is accessible via http:// 

www.trade.gov/ftz. 

For further information, contact Diane 

Finver at Diane.Finver@trade.gov (202) 

482–1367. 

Dated: March 1, 2011. 

Elizabeth Whiteman, 

Acting Executive Secretary. 

[FR Doc. 2011–4960 Filed 3–3–11; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 3510–DS–P 

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE 

Foreign-Trade Zones Board 

Foreign-Trade Zone 147—Berks 

County, PA; Site Renumbering Notice; 

Correction 

The Federal Register notice (76 FR 

1134, 1/7/11) describing the 

renumbering of sites within ForeignTrade Zone 147 in Berks County, 

Pennsylvania, should be as follows: 

FTZ 147 currently consists of 19 

‘‘sites’’ totaling 5,038 acres in the 

Reading area. The current update does 

not alter the physical boundaries that 

have previously been approved, but 

instead involves an administrative 

renumbering that separates certain noncontiguous sites for record-keeping 

purposes. 

Under this revision, the site list for 

FTZ 147 will be as follows: Site 1 (865 

acres)—Reading Municipal Airport 

complex; Site 2 (6.64 acres)—Second 

Street and Grand Street, Hamburg; Site 

3 (160.71 acres)—Excelsior Industrial 

Park, Maiden Creek Township; Site 4 

(272.33 acres total)—within the 

International Trade District of York 

located at East Berlin and Zarfoss Roads 

(26.64 acres), at 500 Lincoln Street and 

160 & 222 N. Hartley Street (16.69 

acres), at the Industrial Plaza of York, 

Roosevelt Avenue and West 

Philadelphia Street (1 acre), and at 260 


jlentini on DSKJ8SOYB1PROD with NOTICES