Sec. 779.
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/bill/115/hr/1625/enr/section-779·A research copy — for the controlling text, always check the official state or federal source. Not legal advice.
For an additional amount for Rural Utilities Service—Distance Learning, Telemedicine, and Broadband Program , $600,000,000, to remain available until expended, for the Secretary of Agriculture to conduct a new broadband loan and grant pilot program under the Rural Electrification Act of 1936 (7 U.S.C. 901 et seq.): , That for the purpose of the new pilot program, the authorities provided in such Act shall include the authority to make grants for such purposes, as described in section 601(a) of such Act:
Provided , That the cost of direct loans shall be as defined in section 502 of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974: Provided further , That at least 90 percent of the households to be served by a project receiving a loan or grant under the pilot program shall be in a rural area without sufficient access to broadband, defined for this pilot program as 10 Mbps downstream, and 1 Mbps upstream, which shall be reevaluated and redetermined, as necessary, on an annual basis by the Secretary of Agriculture:
Provided further , That an entity to which a loan or grant is made under the pilot program shall not use the loan or grant to overbuild or duplicate broadband expansion efforts made by any entity that has received a broadband loan from the Rural Utilities Service: Provided further , That in addition to other available funds, not more than four percent of the funds can be used for administrative costs to carry out this pilot program and up to three percent may be utilized for technical assistance and pre-development planning activities to support the most rural communities, which shall be transferred to and merged with the appropriation for Provided further Rural Development, Salaries and Expenses : , That the Rural Utility Service is directed to expedite program delivery methods that would implement this section:
Provided further , That for purposes of this section, the Secretary shall adhere to the notice, reporting and service area assessment requirements set forth in sections 6104(a)(2)(D) and 6104(a)(2)(E) of the Agricultural Act of 2014 (7 U.S.C. 950bb(d)(5), and 950bb(d)(8) and 950bb(d)(10)). Provided further
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