1946 Federal Register / Vol. 90, No. 6 / Friday, January 10, 2025 / Notices 

Officers held objection resolution 

meetings with objectors and interested 

persons in May 2024. Based on these 

meetings and a review of the objections, 

the Reviewing Officer for the list of 

species of conservation concern issued 

a written response to objectors on 

September 26, 2024. The Reviewing 

Officer for the LMP issued a written 

response to objectors on September 27, 

2024. The instructions from the 

Reviewing Officers were addressed in 

the ROD, Revised LMP, and FEIS. 

Cooperating Agencies 

The following entities have 

participated in the planning process as 

cooperating agencies: State of Idaho 

(Office of Species Conservation), 

Clearwater County, and Idaho County. 

Government to Government Consulting 

Agency 

The Nez Perce-Clearwater National 

Forests consulted with the Nez Perce 

Tribe throughout the planning process 

of the revised Plan. 

Responsible Official 

The Responsible Official for 

approving the Revised LMP is Heath 

Perrine, Acting Forest Supervisor, Nez 

Perce-Clearwater National Forests. The 

Responsible Official for approving the 

list of species of conservation concern is 

Leanne Marten, Regional Forester, 

Northern Region. 

Jacqueline Emanuel, 

Associate Deputy Chief, National Forest 

System. 

[FR Doc. 2024–30342 Filed 1–8–25; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 3411–15–P 

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 

Rural Utilities Service 

[Docket #: RUS–24–TELECOM–0037] 

Notice of Funding Opportunity for the 

Community Connect Grant Program 

for Fiscal Year 2025 

AGENCY: Rural Utilities Service, USDA. 

ACTION: Notice. 

SUMMARY: The Rural Utilities Service 

(RUS or the Agency), a Rural 

Development (RD) agency of the United 

States Department of Agriculture 

(USDA), announces the acceptance of 

applications under the Community 

Connect Grant (CCG) program for fiscal 

year (FY) 2025. This notice is being 

issued prior to passage of an FY 2025 

appropriations act in order to allow 

applicants sufficient time to prepare 

their applications and give the Agency 

time to process applications within FY 

2025. Based on FY 2024 appropriated 

funding, the Agency estimates that 

approximately $26 million will be 

available, for FY 2025. These grant 

funds will be made available to eligible 

applicants to construct broadband 

networks that provide service on a 

community-oriented connectivity basis 

in rural areas. All applicants are 

responsible for any expenses incurred in 

developing their applications. 

DATES: The application window opens 

on February 20, 2025. Completed 

applications for grants must be 

submitted electronically by no later than 

11:59 a.m. eastern time (ET), April 21, 

2025. 

ADDRESSES: All applications must be 

submitted electronically at: https://

www.rd.usda.gov/community-connect. 

This funding opportunity will also be 

posted to https://www.grants.gov. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Randall Millhiser, Deputy Assistant 

Administrator, Office of Loan 

Origination and Approval, Rural 

Utilities Service, U.S. Department of 

Agriculture, 1400 Independence Avenue 

SW, Mail Stop 1590, Room 4121–S, 

Washington, DC 20250–1590, telephone: 

(202) 720–0800, email: 

Randall.Millhiser@usda.gov. 

For inquiries regarding eligibility 

concerns, please contact the Community 

Connect Program Staff at https://

www.rd.usda.gov/programs-services/ 

telecommunications-programs/ 

community-connect-grants#contact. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Overview 

Federal Awarding Agency Name: 

Rural Utilities Service. 

Funding Opportunity Title: 

Community Connect Grant Program. 

Announcement Type: Notice of 

Funding Opportunity (NOFO). 

Funding Opportunity Number: 

RDRUS–CC–2025. 

Assistance Listing: 10.863. 

Dates: Completed electronic 

applications must be filed through 

https://www.rd.usda.gov/communityconnect. The application window opens 

on February 20, 2025. Completed 

applications for grants must be 

submitted electronically by no later than 

11:59 a.m. ET, April 21, 2025. Late or 

incomplete applications will not be 

accepted. 

Rural Development Key Priorities: The 

Agency encourages applicants to 

consider projects that will advance the 

following key priorities (more details 

available at https://www.rd.usda.gov/ 

priority-points): 

• Creating More and Better Markets. 

Assisting rural communities to recover 

economically through more and better 

market opportunities and through 

improved infrastructure. 

• Advancing Racial Justice, PlaceBased Equity, and Opportunity. 

Ensuring all rural residents have 

equitable access to RD programs and 

benefits from RD funded projects. 

• Addressing Climate Change and 

Environmental Justice. Reducing climate 

pollution and increasing resilience to 

the impacts of climate change through 

economic support to rural communities. 

A. Program Description 

1. Purpose of the Program. The 

program provides financial assistance to 

eligible applicants that will provide 

service at or above the broadband grant 

speed to all premises in rural, 

economically-challenged communities 

where broadband service does not exist. 

The deployment of broadband services 

on a ‘‘community-oriented 

connectivity’’ basis stimulates economic 

development and provides enhanced 

educational and health care 

opportunities in rural areas. 

2. Statutory and Regulatory Authority. 

The CCG program is authorized under 

the Rural Electrification Act of 1936 (RE 

Act) and implemented by 7 CFR part 

1739. 

3. Definitions. The definitions 

applicable to this notice are published 

at 7 CFR 1739.3 and repeated within the 

FY 2025 CCG Program Application 

Guide (Application Guide) available at: 

https://www.rd.usda.gov/communityconnect. 

4. Application of Awards. Awards 

under the CCG program will be made on 

a competitive basis using specific 

review criteria contained in 7 CFR 

1739.16. The Agency will review, 

evaluate and score applications received 

in response to this notice based on the 

provisions found in 7 CFR 1739.17 and 

as indicated in this notice. The Agency 

advises all interested parties that the 

applicant bears the full burden in 

preparing and submitting an application 

in response to this notice. 

B. Federal Award Information 

Type of Award: Grants. 

Fiscal Year Funds: FY 2025. 

Available Funds: The Agency 

estimates that approximately $26 

million will be available for FY 2025, 

based on FY 2024 amounts. RUS may at 

its discretion, increase the total level of 

funding available in this funding round 

from any available source provided the 

awards meet the requirements of the 

statute which made the funding 

available to the agency. 

Minimum Award: $100,000. 

Maximum Award: $5,000,000. 


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Anticipated Award Date: September 

2025. 

Performance Period: 3 years. 

Renewal or Supplemental Awards: 

While prior Community Connect grants 

cannot be renewed, existing Community 

Connect awardees can submit 

applications for new projects. The 

Agency will evaluate project proposals 

from existing awardees as new 

applications. Only one grant application 

per applicant is eligible for approval 

under this grant opportunity. 

Type of Assistance Instrument: Grant. 

C. Eligibility Information 

1. Eligible Applicants. Eligible 

applicants must meet the eligibility 

requirements of 7 CFR 1739.10. Only 

entities legally organized as one of the 

following are eligible for Community 

Connect Grant Program financial 

assistance: 

(a) Incorporated organization; 

(b) Indian Tribe or Tribal 

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

5304; 

(c) State government; 

(d) Local unit of government; 

(e) Any other legal entity, including a 

cooperative, private corporation, or 

limited liability company organized on 

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

References in this program to a State, 

State government, or State agency are 

meant to include the Commonwealth of 

Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands of the 

United States, Guam, American Samoa, 

the Commonwealth of the Northern 

Mariana Islands, the Federated States of 

Micronesia, Palau, and the Marshall 

Islands. 

Applicants must have the legal 

capacity and authority to enter into 

contracts, to comply with applicable 

Federal statutes and regulations, and to 

own and operate the broadband 

facilities as proposed in their 

application. Corporations that have been 

convicted of a Federal felony within the 

past 24 months are not eligible. Any 

corporation that has been assessed to 

have any unpaid Federal tax liability, 

for which all judicial and administrative 

remedies have been exhausted or have 

lapsed and is not being paid in a timely 

manner pursuant to an agreement with 

the authority responsible for collecting 

the tax liability, is not eligible for 

financial assistance. 

2. Cost Sharing or Matching. The 

Program requires matching 

contributions as specified in 7 CFR 

1739.14. The Application Guide 

provides additional information on 

required matching contributions. 

3. Other Eligibility Requirements. 

All submitted proposals must meet 

the eligibility requirements listed at 7 

CFR 1739.11. For FY 2025 applications, 

the following additional eligibility 

requirements apply: 

(a) Proposed Funded Service Area 

(PFSA). The applicant must define a 

contiguous geographic, area located 

entirely within an eligible rural area, in 

which Broadband Service does not exist 

and where the applicant proposes to 

offer service at the Broadband Grant 

Speed to all residential and business 

customers. The PFSA may consist of 

multiple municipalities and may be 

located in more than one State. 

(i) RUS will validate that broadband 

service does not exist in areas that 

applicants describe as having no 

broadband access or access that is less 

than 10 Megabits per second (Mbps) 

downstream plus 1 Mbps upstream. For 

the purposes of this notice, the Agency 

will leverage the latest version of the 

Federal Communication Commission’s 

(FCC) Location Fabric dataset, which is 

a standardized list of locations for the 

Broadband Data Collection, to help 

determine the number of premises 

located in the PFSA. 

(ii) The broadband grant speed is 100 

Mbps downstream and 20 Mbps 

upstream for fixed terrestrial broadband 

service, whether fixed or wireless. 

(iii) A PFSA must not overlap with 

service areas of current RUS borrowers 

and grantees. 

(iv) Areas already receiving Federal 

funding to construct terrestrial facilities 

providing at least 10 Mbps downstream 

and/1 Mbps upstream service in the 

project PFSA as of the date of this 

notice, and which have been reported to 

the Agency, are ineligible. As a result, 

no CCG funds may be used to duplicate 

costs, services, connections, facilities, or 

equipment that have been authorized 

under such areas. Applicants submitting 

a project to serve an area in which the 

same entity has already received final 

approval for other Federal funding must 

explain in the application why CCG 

funding is being requested and why 

RUS should provide additional funding, 

as funds must not be used for 

duplicative purposes. Awardees that 

receive both other Federal funds and 

CCG funding must submit a statement 

certifying that the funds requested from 

the CCG program have not and will not 

be reimbursed by another Federal award 

nor used to reimburse another Federal 

award, and that the Awardee will keep 

separate accounts for each source of 

funding to track the uses of the funding 

to support the certification statement 

submitted with the CCG application. 

RUS can consider adjusting the service 

area or award amount of a project 

selected for CCG funding if, in the 

course of evaluating an application, the 

Agency learns that the service area or a 

portion of it is already sufficiently 

served or has received final approval for 

Federal funding to construct facilities 

that will provide sufficient access to 

broadband service as defined under this 

notice. 

(v) Areas that have an Enforceable 

Commitment at the time of publication 

of this notice are ineligible for CCG 

funds. For this notice only, Enforceable 

Commitment means a legally 

enforceable obligation by any Federal, 

State, or local agency, utilizing Federal 

funds, to provide broadband service 

with speeds of at least 10Mbps 

downstream and 1 Mbps upstream. 

Enforceable commitments do not negate 

the Agency’s intention to coordinate 

and communicate with Federal partners 

before extending an offer to ensure 

awards made under this application 

window do not duplicate awards made 

by other Federal and State partners. 

However, if an applicant submits 

evidence that the entity that received 

the Enforceable Commitment has not 

deployed broadband service as required 

by the awarding Agency’s regulations or 

award documents, the Agency may 

consider such area eligible for funding 

after consultation with the awarding 

agency. To assist applicants with 

identifying areas that are already 

receiving Federal funds to deploy 

broadband, areas with Enforceable 

Commitments are identified in a GIS 

layer located in the RUS mapping tool 

and on the FCC’s National Broadband 

Funding Map. 

(vi) A Tribal Resolution of Consent 

from the appropriate Tribal body with 

jurisdiction over the Tribal Lands at 

issue is required if service is being 

proposed over or on Tribal Lands. Tribal 

Lands are identified on the GIS layers 

included in the Community Connect 

mapping tool located at rd.usda.gov/ 

community-connect. Resolutions of 

Tribal Consent are not required when a 

Federally Recognized Tribe is the 

applicant proposing service on its own 

Tribal Lands. Any non-Tribal applicant 

that fails to provide a Resolution of 

Consent when proposing service on 

Tribal Lands identified in the PFSA will 

not be considered for funding. The 

intent of the Tribal Resolution of 

Consent is to ensure that Federally 

Recognized Tribes being served by a 

non-Tribal applicant authorize the 

construction of broadband infrastructure 

on their Tribal Lands if an award is 

made. However, all environmental, 

permitting and rights-of-way 

requirements must still be completed, 

and adhered to, by applicants prior to 

initiating construction on Tribal Lands. 

Therefore, ongoing communication and 


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collaboration will be required to ensure 

the timely and mutually agreeable build 

out of the funded infrastructure. 

Applicants and Tribes that have 

questions regarding this process are 

encouraged to contact Telecom Program 

staff, USDA Rural Development’s Tribal 

Relations Team or USDA’s Office of 

Tribal Relations. 

(vi) The Consolidated Appropriations 

Act, 2022 (Pub. L. 117–103), the 

Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023 

(Pub. L. 117–328), and the Consolidated 

Appropriations Act, 2024 (Pub. L. 118– 

42) included funding under the 

ReConnect Program for Community 

Project Funding/Congressionally 

Directed Spending projects. The 

proposed service areas for these projects 

are not eligible for funding under this 

NOFO. A GIS layer of the proposed 

service areas for these projects will be 

made available in the CCG mapping tool 

located at: https://www.rd.usda.gov/ 

community-connect. 

(b) Essential Community Facilities. 

The applicant must propose to offer free 

service at the Broadband Grant Speed to 

all participating Essential Community 

Facilities located within the PFSA for at 

least two (2) years. 

(c) Community Center. The applicant 

must provide a Community Center 

within the PFSA with a minimum of 

two (2), and up to ten (10), computer 

access points and wireless access at the 

Broadband Grant Speed, free of all 

charges, to all users for at least two (2) 

years. Grant funds used for the 

improvement, expansion, construction, 

or acquisition of a community center 

must not exceed the lesser of 10 percent 

of the requested grant amount or 

$150,000. 

D. Application and Submission 

Information 

1. Address to Request Application 

Package. The Application Guide, copies 

of necessary forms and resources are 

available at: https://www.usda.gov/ 

community-connect. Application 

information is also available at https:// 

www.grants.gov/. 

2. Content and Form of Application 

Submission. 

(a) Application Completion. Carefully 

review the Application Guide and 7 

CFR part 1739, which detail all relevant 

forms and worksheets. The components 

of a complete application can be found 

at 7 CFR 1739.15, and the Application 

Guide and Community Connect 

Application Checklist. 

(b) Submission of Application Items. 

Given the high volume of program 

interest, applicants should submit the 

application items in the order indicated 

in the Application Guide. Applications 

that are not assembled and tabbed in the 

specified order prevent timely 

determination of eligibility. For FY 

2025, one proposal per applicant is 

eligible for approval. If an applicant 

submits more than one proposal, then 

the Agency will only consider the 

application with the highest score. 

3. System for Award Management and 

Unique Entity Identifier. 

(a) At the time of application, each 

applicant must have a Unique Entity 

Identifier (UEI) and an active 

registration in the System for Award 

Management (SAM) before submitting 

its application in accordance with 2 

CFR part 25. Instructions for obtaining 

the UEI are available at https://sam.gov/ 

content/entity-registration. 

(b) Applicant must maintain an active 

SAM registration, with current, accurate 

and complete information, at all times 

during which it has an active Federal 

award or an application under 

consideration by a Federal awarding 

agency. 

(c) Applicant must ensure they 

complete the Financial Assistance 

General Certifications and 

Representations in SAM. 

(d) Applicants must provide a valid 

UEI in its application, unless 

determined exempt under 2 CFR 25.110. 

(e) The Agency will not make an 

award until the applicant has complied 

with all SAM requirements including 

providing the UEI. If an applicant has 

not fully complied with the 

requirements by the time the Agency is 

ready to make an award, the Agency 

may determine that the applicant is not 

qualified to receive a Federal award and 

use that determination as a basis for 

making a Federal award to another 

applicant. 

4. Submission Dates and Times. 

(a) Application Technical Assistance: 

Prior to official submission of 

applications, applicants may request 

technical assistance or other application 

guidance from the Agency, as long as 

such requests are made prior to the 

closing of the application window. 

(b) Application Deadline Date: 

Completed electronic applications must 

be filed through https://

www.rd.usda.gov/community-connect. 

The application window opens on 

February 20, 2025. Completed 

applications for grants must be 

submitted electronically by no later than 

11:59 a.m. ET, April 21, 2025. 

(c) Applications Received After 

Deadline Date: If completed 

applications are not received by the 

application deadline date provided in 

section D.4(b) above, the application 

will neither be reviewed nor considered 

for funding under any circumstances. 

5. Funding Restrictions. Ineligible 

grant purposes are listed at 7 CFR 

1739.13. Grant funds may not be used 

to finance the duplication of lines, 

facilities, or systems providing 

broadband service. 

6. Other Submission Requirements. 

Applications will not be accepted via 

mail, fax or electronic mail. Electronic 

applications for grants must be 

submitted through the Agency’s online 

application intake system. The Agency’s 

online application intake system can be 

found on the CCG website at: https://

www.rd.usda.gov/community-connect. 

The Agency’s online application 

intake system requires all users to 

obtain Level II eAuthentication (eAuth) 

accounts and for applicant users to 

submit an Authorized Representative 

Request (ARR) and a resolution in order 

to access the Agency’s online 

application intake system to submit an 

application. These procedures may take 

several business days to complete; 

therefore, the applicant should complete 

the registration, credentialing, and 

authorization procedures before 

submitting an application. eAuth 

partnered with Login.gov to provide our 

public customers multi-factor 

authentication (MFA) login options for 

secure and convenient access to USDA 

sites. For USDA sites that require users 

to login using Login.gov credentials, 

those users will need to link their eAuth 

accounts with their Login.gov accounts. 

Once a public customer links a 

Login.gov account to eAuth, the 

customer will use it for all future access 

to eAuth protected USDA applications. 

Instructions on creating a Level II 

eAuthentication account are available 

at: https://www.eauth.usda.gov/home/. 

Instructions on creating a Login.gov 

account and linking it to eAuth are 

available at: https://login.gov/. If system 

errors or technical difficulties occur, use 

the Contact Us Form available on the 

Community Connect website at: https:// 

www.rd.usda.gov/programs-services/ 

telecommunications-programs/ 

community-connect-grants#contact. 

The Agency reserves the right to ask 

applicants for clarifying information 

and additional verification of assertions 

in the application. 

E. Application Review Information 

1. Criteria. 

(a) Scoring Criteria. All scoring 

criteria is outlined in 7 CFR 1739.17 and 

in the Application Guide. 

(b) Ineligible Areas. RUS will not fund 

projects located in an area that does not 

meet the definition of ‘‘rural area’’ 

found in 7 CFR 1739.3. 

(c) Pending Applications. RUS will 

not fund more than one project that 


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proposes to provide broadband service 

in the same geographic area. If a project 

overlaps the PFSA of an application 

already submitted to the Rural 

eConnectivity Program (ReConnect 

Program), the Telecommunications 

Infrastructure Loan and Loan Guarantee 

Program, or the Rural Broadband Access 

Loan and Loan Guarantee Program, the 

project will not be considered until a 

determination is made on the previously 

submitted application. 

(d) Substantially Underserved Trust 

Areas (SUTA). Applicants seeking 

assistance may request consideration 

under the SUTA provisions in 7 U.S.C. 

936f. 

(i) If the Administrator determines 

that a community within ‘‘trust land’’ 

(as defined in 38 U.S.C. 3765) has a high 

need for the benefits of the Program, the 

Administrator may designate the 

community as a ‘‘substantially 

underserved trust area’’ (as defined in 

section 306F of the REAct). 

(ii) To receive consideration under 

SUTA, the applicant must submit to the 

Agency a completed application that 

includes all information requested in 7 

CFR part 1700, subpart D. In addition, 

the application must identify the 

discretionary authorities within subpart 

D that it seeks to have applied to its 

application. 

2. Review and Selection Process. Once 

the Agency has received the application, 

the Agency will publish a public notice 

of each application in accordance with 

7 CFR 1739.15(l). The CCG Public 

Notice Filings for each application may 

be found at https://www.rd.usda.gov/ 

community-connect and clicking the 

‘‘Public Notice Filings’’ button. The 

Agency will use the information 

submitted to determine if there is 

sufficient access to broadband in any 

part of the PFSA. Public notice 

responders should note that the Agency 

may request additional information or 

work directly with the responder to 

verify the accuracy of its public notice 

response. Additionally, responders 

should be aware that the agency will use 

all available rights and remedies for 

responses to the Agency that are clearly 

inaccurate despite the responder’s 

certification to the government 

otherwise, and that such filings abuse 

Federal resources intended to ensure 

that the Agency validate eligible 

applications. In the event there are no 

public notice responses to a CCG 

application, the Agency will still use all 

information available in evaluating the 

eligibility of the project. 

Grants are awarded in rank order, 

subject to the availability of funds and 

consistent with 7 CFR 1739.16 and 7 

CFR 1739.17. It should be noted that an 

application receiving fewer points can 

be selected over an application 

receiving more points in the event that 

there are insufficient funds available to 

cover the costs of the higher scoring 

application or if the higher scoring 

application would consume a 

disproportionate amount of funds 

available relative to its ranking, as stated 

in 7 CFR 1739.16(f). 

The Agency reserves the right to offer 

the applicant a lower amount than the 

amount proposed in the application, as 

stated in 7 CFR 1739.16(g). 

If the Agency receives more than one 

proposal from the same applicant, then 

the Agency will only consider the 

application with the highest score, 

except in accordance with 7 CFR 

1739.16(f). 

F. Federal Award Administration 

Information 

1. Federal Award Notices. 

(a) RUS notifies applicants whose 

projects are selected for awards by 

mailing and/or emailing a copy of an 

award letter. The receipt of an award 

letter does not authorize the applicant to 

commence performance under the 

award. After sending the award letter, 

the Agency will send an agreement that 

contains all the terms and conditions for 

the grant. 

(b) An applicant must execute and 

return the grant agreement, 

accompanied by any additional items 

required by the agreement, within the 

number of days specified in the 

selection notice letter. 

2. Administrative and National Policy 

Requirements. The items listed in this 

announcement, the CCG program 

regulation, the Application Guide, and 

program resources implement the 

appropriate administrative and national 

policy requirements, which include but 

are not limited to: 

(a) Executing a CCG Agreement. 

(b) Using Form SF 270, ‘‘Request for 

Advance or Reimbursement,’’ to request 

reimbursements (along with the 

submission of receipts for expenditures, 

timesheets, and any other 

documentation to support the request 

for reimbursement). 

(c) Ensuring that records are 

maintained to document all activities 

and expenditures utilizing CCG funds 

and matching funds (receipts for 

expenditures are to be included in this 

documentation). 

(d) Complying with policies, 

guidance, and requirements as 

described in the following applicable 

Code of Federal Regulations, and any 

successor regulations: 

(i) 2 CFR parts 200 and 400 (Uniform 

Administrative Requirements, Cost 

Principles, and Audit Requirements for 

Federal Awards). The Government must 

be provided an exclusive first lien on all 

grant assets during the service 

obligation of the grant, and thereafter 

any sale or disposition of grant assets 

must comply with the Uniform 

Administrative Requirements, Cost 

Principles, and Audit Requirements for 

Federal Awards, codified in 2 CFR part 

200. Note that this part will apply to 

ALL grant funds of an Awardee, 

regardless of the entity status or type of 

organization. 

(ii) 2 CFR parts 417 and 180 

(Governmentwide Nonprocurement 

Debarment and Suspension). 

(iii) Complying with Executive Order 

13166, ‘‘Improving Access to Services 

for Persons with Limited English 

Proficiency.’’ For information on limited 

English proficiency and agency-specific 

guidance, go to https://www.LEP.gov. 

(iv) Accountability and Compliance 

with Civil Rights Laws. The regulation 

found at 7 CFR part 1901, subpart E 

contains policies and procedures for 

implementing the regulations of the 

Department of Agriculture issued 

pursuant to title VI of the Civil Rights 

Act of 1964, title VIII of the Civil Rights 

Act of 1968, title IX, section 504 of the 

Rehabilitation Act of 1973, Executive 

Order 13166, Executive Order 11246, 

and the Equal Credit Opportunity Act of 

1974, as they relate to Rural 

Development. Nothing herein shall be 

interpreted to prohibit preference to 

American Indians on Indian 

Reservations. 

(1) The policies contained in this 

subpart apply to recipients. As 

recipients of Federal financial 

assistance, awardees are required to 

comply with the applicable Federal, 

State and local laws. Title VI of the Civil 

Rights Act of 1964 and Section 504 of 

the Rehabilitation Act prohibits 

discrimination by recipients of Federal 

financial assistance. Recipients are 

required to adhere to specific outreach 

activities. These outreach activities 

include contacting community 

organizations and leaders that include 

minority leaders; advertising in local 

newspapers and other media throughout 

the entire service area; and including 

the nondiscrimination slogan, ‘‘This is 

an Equal Opportunity Program. 

Discrimination is prohibited by Federal 

Law,’’ in methods that may include, but 

not be limited to, advertisements, public 

broadcasts, and printed materials, such 

as brochures and pamphlets. All 

recipients must submit and have on file 

a valid Form RD 400–1 (Equal 

Opportunity Agreement); and RD Form 

400–4 (Assurance Agreement). 


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(2) By completing the SAM

Certification and Representations, 

recipients affirm they will operate the 

program free from discrimination. The 

recipient will maintain the race and 

ethnic data on the board members and 

beneficiaries of the program. The 

recipient will provide alternative forms 

of communication to persons with 

limited English proficiency. The Agency 

will conduct Civil Rights Compliance 

Reviews on recipients to identify the 

collection of racial and ethnic data on 

program beneficiaries. In addition, the 

Compliance Review will ensure that 

equal access to the program benefits and 

activities are provided for persons with 

disabilities and language barriers. 

(e) Geospatial Data. Awardee, and any

and all contracts entered into by the 

Awardee with respect to the Award, 

shall ensure that geospatial data 

required to be collected and provided to 

the Agency, conforms with the 

requirements of USDA Department 

Regulation DR–3465–001 and the 

Geospatial Metadata Standards set forth 

in DM 3465–001, which can be obtained 

online at https://www.usda.gov/ 

directives/dr-3465-001 and https://

www.usda.gov/directives/dm-3465-001. 

3. Reporting.

(a) Annual Project Performance

Activity Report. All recipients of 

Community Connect financial 

assistance must provide annual project 

performance activity reports to RUS 

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 

in meeting the Community Connect 

Grant Program objectives. See 7 CFR 

1739.19 for additional information on 

these reporting requirements. 

(b) Annual Performance Report. For

three years starting the first January 31st 

after Project Completion, the Awardee 

must submit the following information 

utilizing RUS’ online reporting system: 

(i) Existing network service

improvements and facility upgrades, as 

well as new equipment and capacity 

enhancements that support high-speed 

broadband access for educational 

institutions, health care providers, and 

public safety service providers; 

(ii) The estimated number of end

users who are currently using or 

forecasted to use the new or upgraded 

infrastructure; 

(iii) The progress towards fulfilling

the objectives for which the assistance 

was granted; 

(iv) The speed and average price of

the most subscribed tier of the 

Awardee’s broadband service offerings 

in the Project’s service area; 

(v) The price and number of

subscribers who are subscribing to 

service at the Broadband Grant Speed of 

100 Mbps downstream and 20 Mbps 

upstream; and 

(vi) The average price of broadband

service in the Project’s service area. 

(c) Annual Map Reporting: No later

than thirty (30) calendar days after the 

end of the Calendar Year, the Awardee 

shall be required to submit an updated 

Approved Project Service Area map 

through RUS’ online mapping tool 

showing the areas where construction 

has been completed and geospatial 

location of residences and businesses 

that are receiving new broadband 

service until the entire Approved 

Project Service Area can receive the 

broadband service. 

(d) Financial Reporting. All recipients

of Community Connect financial 

assistance must provide an annual 

audit, consistent with the Community 

Connect grant agreement, and the 

applicable USDA audit regulations at 7 

CFR 1739.20, 7 CFR part 1773, or 2 CFR 

part 200, subpart F, as applicable. 

(e) Recipient and Sub-recipient

Reporting. The applicant must have the 

necessary processes and systems in 

place to comply with the reporting 

requirements for first-tier subawards 

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 170.105. The reporting 

requirements under the Transparency 

Act pursuant to 2 CFR part 170 are as 

follows: 

(i) First Tier Subawards of $30,000 or

more (unless they are exempt under 2 

CFR part 170) must be reported by the 

recipient to fsrs.gov no later than the 

end of the month following the month 

the obligation was made. There is 

currently underway a consolidation of 

eight Federal procurement systems, 

including the Federal Subaward 

Reporting System (FSRS), into one 

system, SAM. As a result, the FSRS will 

soon be consolidated into and accessed 

through sam.gov. 

(ii) The total compensation of the

recipient’s executives (the five most 

highly compensated executives) must be 

reported by the recipient (if the 

recipient meets the criteria under 2 CFR 

part 170) to https://sam.gov by the end 

of the month following the month in 

which the award was made. 

(iii) The total compensation of the

subrecipient’s executives (the five most 

highly compensated executives) must be 

reported by the subrecipient (if the sub 

recipient 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. 

(f) Record Keeping and Accounting.

The agreement will contain provisions 

related to record keeping and 

accounting requirements. 

G. Federal Awarding Agency Contacts

The CCG website maintains up-todate resources and contact information 

for the CCG Program. The CCG has a 

Contact page located at https://

www.rd.usda.gov/programs-services/ 

telecommunications-programs/ 

community-connect-grants#contact. For 

inquiries regarding eligibility concerns, 

please contact your General Field 

Representative (GFR) at: https://

www.rd.usda.gov/contact-us/telecomgfr. Persons with disabilities that require 

alternative means for communication 

should contact the 711 Relay Service. 

H. Build America, Buy America

1. Funding to Non-Federal Entities.

Awardees that are Non-Federal Entities, 

defined pursuant to 2 CFR 200.1 as any 

State, local government, Indian Tribe, 

Institution of Higher Education, or 

nonprofit organization, shall be 

governed by the requirements of section 

70914 of the Build America, Buy 

America Act (BABA) within the 

Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, 

Public Law 117–58. Any requests for 

waiver of these requirements must be 

submitted pursuant to USDA’s guidance 

available online at https://

www.usda.gov/ocfo/federal-financialassistance-policy/ 

USDABuyAmericaWaiver. 

2. Funding to All Other Entities.

Awardees that are not Non-Federal 

Entities shall be governed by the 

Agency’s Buy American requirement at 

7 CFR part 1787. Any requests for 

waiver of these requirements must be 

submitted pursuant to those regulations. 

I. Other Information

1. Paperwork Reduction Act. In

accordance with the Paperwork 

Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 

chapter 35), the information collection 

requirements associated with the 

programs, as covered in this notice, 

have been approved by the Office of 

Management and Budget (OMB) under 

OMB Control Number 0572–0127. 

2. National Environmental Policy Act.

All recipients under this Notice are 

subject to the requirements of 7 CFR 

part 1970. 

3. Federal Funding Accountability

and Transparency Act. All applicants, 

in accordance with 2 CFR part 25, must 


khammond on DSK9W7S144PROD with NOTICES
Federal Register / Vol. 90, No. 6 / Friday, January 10, 2025 / Notices 1951 

be registered in SAM and have a UEI 

number as stated in section D.3 of this 

notice. All recipients of Federal 

financial assistance are required to 

report information about first-tier 

subawards and executive total 

compensation in accordance with 2 CFR 

part 170. 

4. Civil Rights Act. All grants made 

under this notice are subject to title VI 

of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 as 

required by the USDA (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) and section 504 of the 

Rehabilitation Act of 1973, title VIII of 

the Civil Rights Act of 1968, title IX, 

Executive Order 13166 (Limited English 

Proficiency), Executive Order 11246, 

and the Equal Credit Opportunity Act of 

1974. 

5. Equal Opportunity for Religious 

Organizations. 

(a) Faith-based organizations may 

apply for this award on the same basis 

as any other organization, as set forth at, 

and subject to the protections and 

requirements of, this part and any 

applicable constitutional and statutory 

requirements, including 42 U.S.C. 

2000bb et seq. USDA will not, in the 

selection of recipients, discriminate for 

or against an organization on the basis 

of the organization’s religious character, 

motives, or affiliation, or lack thereof, or 

on the basis of conduct that would not 

be considered grounds to favor or 

disfavor a similarly situated secular 

organization. 

(b) A faith-based organization that 

participates in this program will retain 

its independence from the Government 

and may continue to carry out its 

mission consistent with religious 

freedom and conscience protections in 

Federal law. Religious accommodations 

may also be sought under many of these 

religious freedom and conscience 

protection laws. 

(c) A faith-based organization may not 

use direct Federal financial assistance 

from USDA to support or engage in any 

explicitly religious activities except 

when consistent with the Establishment 

Clause of the First Amendment and any 

other applicable requirements. An 

organization receiving Federal financial 

assistance also may not, in providing 

services funded by USDA, or in their 

outreach activities related to such 

services, discriminate against a program 

beneficiary or prospective program 

beneficiary on the basis of religion, a 

religious belief, a refusal to hold a 

religious belief, or a refusal to attend or 

participate in a religious practice. 

6. Nondiscrimination Statement. In 

accordance with Federal civil rights 

laws and USDA civil rights regulations 

and policies, the USDA, its Mission 

Areas, agencies, staff offices, employees, 

and institutions participating in or 

administering USDA programs are 

prohibited from discriminating based on 

race, color, national origin, religion, sex, 

gender identity (including gender 

expression), sexual orientation, 

disability, age, marital status, family/ 

parental status, income derived from a 

public assistance program, political 

beliefs, or reprisal or retaliation for prior 

civil rights activity, in any program or 

activity conducted or funded by USDA 

(not all bases apply to all programs). 

Remedies and complaint filing 

deadlines vary by program or incident. 

Program information may be made 

available in languages other than 

English. Persons with disabilities who 

require alternative means of 

communication to obtain program 

information (e.g., Braille, large print, 

audiotape, American Sign Language) 

should contact the responsible Mission 

Area, agency, or staff office or the 711 

Relay Service. 

To file a program discrimination 

complaint, a complainant should 

complete a Form AD–3027, USDA 

Program Discrimination Complaint 

Form, which can be obtained online at: 

https://www.usda.gov/sites/default/ 

files/documents/ad-3027.pdf, from any 

USDA office, by calling (866) 632–9992, 

or by writing a letter addressed to 

USDA. The letter must contain the 

complainant’s name, address, telephone 

number, and a written description of the 

alleged discriminatory action in 

sufficient detail to inform the Assistant 

Secretary for Civil Rights (ASCR) about 

the nature and date of an alleged civil 

rights violation. The completed AD– 

3027 form or letter must be submitted to 

USDA by: 

(1) Mail: U.S. Department of 

Agriculture, Office of the Assistant 

Secretary for Civil Rights, 1400 

Independence Avenue SW, Washington, 

DC 20250–9410; or 

(2) Fax: (833) 256–1665 or (202) 690– 

7442; or 

(3) Email: program.intake@usda.gov. 

USDA is an equal opportunity 

provider, employer, and lender. 

Andrew Berke, 

Administrator, Rural Utilities Service, USDA 

Rural Development. 

[FR Doc. 2024–30454 Filed 1–8–25; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 3410–15–P 

COMMISSION ON CIVIL RIGHTS 

Notice of Public Meeting of the Texas 

Advisory Committee 

AGENCY: Commission on Civil Rights. 

ACTION: Announcement of virtual 

business meetings. 

SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given, 

pursuant to the provisions of the rules 

and regulations of the U.S. Commission 

on Civil Rights (Commission) and the 

Federal Advisory Committee Act 

(FACA) that the Texas Advisory 

Committee (Committee) to the U.S. 

Commission on Civil Rights will hold 

virtual business meetings via ZoomGov 

on the following dates and times listed 

below. The purpose of these meetings is 

to plan their final panels on racial 

disparities in maternal mortality in the 

state. 

DATES: These meetings will take place 

on: 

• Tuesday, January 14th, from 12:00 

p.m.–1:00 p.m. CT 

• Tuesday, January 28th, from 12:00 

p.m.–1:00 p.m. CT 

Zoom Webinar Link to Join (Audio/ 

Visual): https://www.zoomgov.com/ 

webinar/register/WN_

Sgf9ihSCTZmzu2N_mftwVg. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Brooke Peery, Designated Federal 

Officer (DFO) at bpeery@usccr.gov or by 

phone at (202) 701–1376. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Committee meetings are available to the 

public through the videoconference link 

above. Any interested member of the 

public may listen to the meeting. An 

open comment period will be provided 

to allow members of the public to make 

a statement as time allows. Per the 

Federal Advisory Committee Act, public 

minutes of the meeting will include a 

list of persons who are present at the 

meeting. If joining via phone, callers can 

expect to incur regular charges for calls 

they initiate over wireless lines, 

according to their wireless plan. The 

Commission will not refund any 

incurred charges. Closed captioning will 

be available for individuals who are 

deaf, hard of hearing, or who have 

certain cognitive or learning 

impairments. To request additional 

accommodations, please email Angelica 

Trevino, Support Services Specialist, 

atrevino@usccr.gov at least 10 business 

days prior to the meeting. 

Members of the public are entitled to 

make comments during the open period 

at the end of the meeting. Members of 

the public may also submit written 

comments; the comments must be 

received in the Regional Programs Unit 


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