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[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 229 (Friday, November 28, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Pages 70847-70849]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-28100]

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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Rural Utilities Service

Environmental Review of Telecommunications Program Projects

AGENCY: Rural Utilities Service, USDA.

ACTION: Request for public comment.

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SUMMARY: The Rural Utilities Service (RUS), an agency of the United 
States Department of Agriculture, hereinafter referred to as 
``agency,'' seeks public and Federal agency comments regarding the 
preparation of a Programmatic Environmental Assessment for the 
development of a more efficient and effective environmental review 
process for the RUS Telecommunications Program--an environmental review 
process that is commensurate with the potential environmental impacts 
of both wired and wireless projects financed by the agency. RUS is 
seeking comment from interested stakeholders to contribute to the 
development of agency procedures for implementing the environmental 
review procedures of the Telecommunications Infrastructure Loan 
Program, Farm Bill Broadband Loan Program, Community Connect Grant 
Program, and Distance Learning and Telemedicine Program. The proposed 
review process will support the agency's mission of facilitating the 
development of affordable, reliable utility infrastructure to improve 
the quality of life and promote economic development in rural America.

DATES: Interested parties must submit written comments on or before 
January 27, 2015.

ADDRESSES: Submit comments, identified by docket number RUS-14-Telecom-
0008, by any of the following methods:
    Federal eRulemaking Portal: http://www.regulations.gov. Follow 
instructions for submitting comments.
    Postal Mail/Commercial Delivery/Hand Delivery: Michele Brooks, 
Director, Program Development and Regulatory Analysis, USDA Rural 
Development, 1400 Independence Avenue SW., STOP 1522, Room 5159, 
Washington, DC 20250-1522.
    RUS will post all comments received without change, including any 
personal information that is included with the comment, on http://www.regulations.gov. Comments will be available for inspection online 
at http://www.regulations.gov and at the address listed above between 
8:00 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, except holidays. A copy 
of this publication is also available through the Rural Development 
homepage at http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/RDU_FederalRegisterPubs.html. 
Additional information about the Agency and its programs is available 
on the Internet at http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/home.html.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Emily Orler, USDA, Rural Utilities 
Service, 1400 Independence Avenue SW., Stop 1571, Room 2244-S, 
Washington, DC 20250-1570, Telephone (202) 720-1414 or email to: 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    The RUS Telecommunications Program provides a variety of loans and 
grants to build and expand broadband networks in rural America. Loans 
to build broadband networks and deliver service to households and 
businesses in rural communities provide a necessary source of capital 
for rural telecommunications companies, broadband, wireless companies, 
and fiber-to-the-home providers. Grant funding is awarded based on a 
number of factors relating to the benefits to be derived from the 
proposed broadband network project, as specified in applicable program 
regulations.
    Eligible applicants for RUS loans and grants include for-profit and 
non-profit entities, tribes, municipalities, and cooperatives. The 
agency particularly encourages investment in tribal and economically 
disadvantaged areas. Through low-cost funding for broadband 
infrastructure, rural residents

[[Page 70848]]

can have access to broadband services that will close the digital 
divide between rural and urban communities, that is sustainable over 
time, and is crucial for economic development. Once funds are awarded, 
RUS monitors the projects to make sure they are completed in accordance 
with program requirements. Each loan and grant program has different 
applicants, project eligibility requirements, and program objectives.
    The Telecommunications Program includes the following programs:
    Telecommunications Infrastructure Loan Program provides loans for a 
variety of applicable technologies, for the costs of construction, 
improvement, expansion, and acquisition (some restrictions apply) of 
facilities and equipment to provide telecommunications services in 
rural areas;
    Farm Bill Broadband Loan Program provides loans for a variety of 
applicable technologies, for costs of construction, improvement, 
expansion, and acquisition (some restrictions apply) of facilities and 
equipment to provide broadband service to eligible rural communities;
    Community Connect Grant Program provides grants to eligible 
applicants for broadband access to rural communities currently without 
broadband service. Priority is given to areas where development of new 
broadband services will improve economic development and provide 
enhanced educational and healthcare opportunities. The program serves 
the most rural, lowest income communities without existing broadband 
access; and
    Distance Learning and Telemedicine Grant Program provides grants 
for distance learning and telemedicine in rural areas through the use 
of telecommunications, computer networks, and related advanced 
technologies to be used by students, teachers, medical professionals, 
and other rural residents. Grants are awarded based on rurality and 
economic need through a competitive process and may be used to fund 
telecommunications-enabled information, audio, and video equipment.
    In accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), 
National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA), the Endangered Species Act 
(ESA) and other applicable environmental statutes, regulations, and 
Executive Orders, RUS must evaluate the environmental impact of its 
actions prior to taking those actions. RUS actions include the approval 
of financial assistance for project proposals by eligible applicants 
within eligible service areas.
    The application process for requesting financial assistance for the 
Telecommunications programs varies slightly from a competitive grant 
program, individual project proposals, or multi-year ``loan design'' 
applications. Accordingly, each program's application process and 
resulting environmental review process is administered differently. The 
agency seeks to synchronize future environmental review compliance 
processes for all Telecommunications Programs and develop a more 
efficient and effective environmental review process commensurate to 
the potential environmental impacts of Telecommunications Program 
projects.
    The Programmatic Environmental Assessment of the Telecommunications 
Program will provide an analysis of the RUS administrative record of 
past Telecommunications Program projects regarding NEPA, NHPA, and ESA. 
The analysis will address telecommunication technologies and 
construction methods, and evaluate alternative program delivery 
processes for individual projects and loan design applications relevant 
to existing and future RUS Telecommunications Program projects. If 
appropriate, the Programmatic Environmental Assessment will provide a 
basis for preliminary environmental review decisions.

Request for Comment

    Stakeholder input is vital to improving delivery of the 
Telecommunications Program to agency participants and the public. The 
following questions are intended to guide stakeholder comments; 
however, RUS welcomes pertinent comments beyond the scope of these 
questions. RUS is requesting comment and discussion from the following 
stakeholders:

Interested or Affected Citizens

    1. What are your primary concerns with the construction of wired 
broadband infrastructure in or near road rights-of-way, on existing 
electrical distribution poles or towers, or on new poles or towers?
    2. What environmental issues do you want studied as part of the 
environmental review of Telecommunications Program projects? Please 
address your recommendations for wired or wireless technology projects.
    3. What environmental protection and design and construction 
standards would you like Telecommunications Program participants to use 
during project construction?
    4. How would you like to be involved in RUS and applicant planning 
for broadband projects?
    5. How would you benefit from broadband availability or 
improvements in your area?

Broadband Providers

    1. What are your greatest challenges in completing environmental 
reviews, including NEPA, NHPA, and ESA for both wired and wireless 
technologies?
    2. For projects requiring the use of Federal land, what are the 
greatest challenges in obtaining the necessary land use authorizations 
or permits?
    3. What do you believe is a reasonable length of time for RUS to 
consider a completed loan application, including environmental reviews 
and compliance, before making a decision to fund a project?
    4. What should RUS do to expedite the completion of environmental 
reviews and compliance during the review of project applications, 
particularly for projects that cross land with multiple ownership, 
i.e., private, Federal, state, or tribal lands?
    5. What additional guidance do you want from RUS field personnel to 
assist you in completing the necessary requirements for a loan or grant 
application, including environmental reviews and Federal land use 
permits if they are needed?
    6. What environmental protection measures and/or design and 
construction standard operating procedures for environmental protection 
have you found to be most efficient and cost-effective?

Federal Land Management and Other Agencies as Appropriate

    1. How and when would you like to be contacted regarding a pending 
Telecommunications Program project application that relates to or 
affects your agency's responsibilities?
    2. Telecommunications Program projects at times require the use of 
Federal land, requiring authorization by the relevant Federal land 
management agency. The land use request prepared by the applicant is 
summarized in a SF-299 form with appropriate attachments. What 
information, studies, and reports are most important to you in 
fulfilling your agency's responsibilities for environmental review of 
the decision to authorize, modify, or deny a requested land use? Is 
there a difference in requested information if the proposal is a wired 
or wireless proposal?
    3. If your agency requires an applicant to submit environmental 
information to

[[Page 70849]]

be evaluated during the consideration of a request to use Federal land, 
how is guidance provided to the applicant by your agency prior to 
completion of the SF-299? What role should the Telecommunications 
Program play in providing guidance to such applicants?
    4. The Programmatic Environmental Assessment of the 
Telecommunications Program will outline the Federal land management 
agencies' categorical exclusions and procedures for identifying 
extraordinary circumstances. The RUS environmental document will also 
acknowledge that the use and occupancy of Federal land by some 
Telecommunications Program projects is necessary and, in particular 
circumstances with necessary authorizations, appropriate. What barriers 
do you envision in adopting a RUS environmental document in the 
consideration of your agency's decisions to authorize a special use 
permit by a Telecommunications Program participant?
    5. How can RUS and other Federal agencies work together to share 
information as well as train managers and staff at the field levels 
regarding broadband issues and necessary environmental reviews and 
Federal decisionmaking, including land use authorizations?

    Dated: November 4, 2014.
Jasper Schneider,
Acting Administrator, Rural Utilities Service.
[FR Doc. 2014-28100 Filed 11-26-14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE P
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