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through October 1, 2012, of the funds of the Com-
modity Credit Corporation, the Secretary shall make 
available to carry out this subsection $30,000,000, 
to remain available until expended. 
‘‘(5) RESERVATION OF FUNDS FOR PROJECTS 
TO BENEFIT BEGINNING FARMERS AND RANCHERS 
OR
SOCIALLY
DISADVANTAGED
FARMERS
AND 
RANCHERS AND MID-TIER VALUE CHAINS.— 
‘‘(A) IN
GENERAL.—The Secretary shall 
reserve 10 percent of the amounts made avail-
able under paragraph (4) to fund projects that 
benefit beginning farmers and ranchers (as de-
fined in section 343(a)(11) of the Consolidated 
Farm and Rural Development Act) or socially 
disadvantaged farmers and ranchers (as defined 
in section 355(e) of such Act). 
‘‘(B) MID-TIER VALUE CHAINS.—The Sec-
retary shall reserve 10 percent of the amounts 
made available under paragraph (4) to fund ap-
plications of eligible entities described in para-
graph (1) that propose to develop mid-tier value 
chains. 
‘‘(C) 
UNOBLIGATED
AMOUNTS.—Any 
amounts in the reserves established under sub-
paragraphs (A) and (B) that are not obligated 
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by June 30 of the fiscal year shall be available 
to the Secretary to make grants under this sec-
tion to eligible entities in any State, as deter-
mined by the Secretary.’’; and 
(2) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(6) CRITERIA TO BE APPLIED IN AWARDING 
GRANTS.—In awarding grants under this section, 
the Secretary shall consider an application more fa-
vorably when compared to other applications to the 
extent that the project contributes to increasing op-
portunities for operators of small and medium-size 
farms and ranches structured as family farms (as 
defined in regulations prescribed under section 302 
of the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development 
Act).’’. 
SEC. 6028. ASSISTANCE FOR RURAL PUBLIC TELEVISION 
STATIONS. 
Section 2333 of the Food, Agriculture, Conservation 
and Trade Act of 1990 (7 U.S.C. Sec. 950aaa–2) is 
amended by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(j) DIGITAL SERVICE TRANSITION ASSISTANCE FOR 
PUBLIC TELEVISION STATIONS.—The Secretary may pro-
vide grants under this section to noncommercial education 
television broadcast stations that serve rural areas for the 
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purposes of developing digital facilities, equipment, and in-
frastructure to enhance digital services to rural areas.’’. 
SEC. 6029. TELEMEDICINE AND DISTANCE LEARNING SERV-
ICES IN RURAL AREAS. 
(a) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—Section 
2335A of the Food, Agriculture, Conservation and Trade 
Act of 1990 (7 U.S.C. 950aaa–5) is amended by striking 
‘‘2007’’ and inserting ‘‘2012’’. 
(b) CONFORMING AMENDMENT.—Section 1(b) of 
Public Law 102–551 (7 U.S.C. 950aaa note) is amended 
by striking ‘‘2007’’ and inserting ‘‘2012’’. 
SEC. 6030. GUARANTEES FOR BONDS AND NOTES ISSUED 
FOR ELECTRIFICATION OR TELEPHONE PUR-
POSES. 
Section 313A(f) of the Rural Electrification Act of 
1936 (7 U.S.C. 940c–1(f)) is amended by striking ‘‘2007’’ 
and inserting ‘‘2012’’. 
SEC. 6031. COMPREHENSIVE RURAL BROADBAND STRAT-
EGY. 
Not later than 180 days after the date of the enact-
ment of this Act, the Secretary of Agriculture shall submit 
to the President, the Committee on Agriculture of the 
House of Representatives, and the Committee on Agri-
culture, Nutrition, and Forestry of the Senate a report 
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describing a comprehensive rural broadband strategy that 
includes— 
(1) recommendations— 
(A) to promote interagency coordination of 
Federal agencies in regards to policies, proce-
dures, and targeted resources, and to improve 
and streamline the polices, programs, and serv-
ices; 
(B) to coordinate among Federal agencies 
regarding existing rural broadband or rural ini-
tiatives that could be of value to rural 
broadband development; 
(C) to address both short- and long-term 
solutions and needs assessments for a rapid 
build-out of rural broadband solutions and ap-
plications for Federal, State, regional, and local 
government policy makers; 
(D) to identify how specific Federal agency 
programs and resources can best respond to 
rural broadband requirements and overcome ob-
stacles that currently impede rural broadband 
deployment; and 
(E) to promote successful model deploy-
ments and appropriate technologies being used 
in rural areas so that State, regional, and local 
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governments can benefit from the cataloging 
and successes of other State, regional, and local 
governments; and 
(2) a description of goals and timeframes to 
achieve the strategic plans and visions identified in 
the report. 
SEC. 6032. STUDY OF RAILROAD ISSUES. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of Agriculture, in 
coordination with the Secretary of Transportation, shall 
conduct a study of railroad issues regarding the movement 
of agricultural products, domestically produced renewable 
fuels and domestically produced resources for the produc-
tion of electricity for rural America, and economic develop-
ment in rural America. The study shall include an exam-
ination of the following: 
(1) The importance of freight railroads to— 
(A) the delivery of equipment, seed, fer-
tilizer, and other such products important to 
the development of agricultural commodities 
and products; 
(B) the movement of agricultural commod-
ities and products to market; 
(C) the delivery of ethanol and other re-
newable fuels; 
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