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The Department of Agriculture has submitted a request to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for approval of an information collection requirement under the Paperwork Reduction Act. This involves using RUS Form 87, which collects data on the officers and officials of borrowing entities in the Rural Utilities Service's Electric and Telecommunications Programs. The information ensures that communications are correctly targeted and that proper officials are responsible for documents, helping to safeguard the government's interests in loan eligibility and administration. Public comments on this proposal are open until January 21, 2025.

The Department of Agriculture is seeking public comments on the need for, accuracy of, and methods to enhance the collection of information related to various Rural Utilities Service (RUS) programs. Information is crucial for determining eligibility for loans and grants that support rural electrification, telecommunications, water systems, and broadband access. The RUS gathers this information from various respondents, including private sector businesses, nonprofits, and government entities, to ensure funds are used appropriately and projects are feasible. Comments from the public are invited until February 20, 2025, through the website www.reginfo.gov.

The Rural Utilities Service (RUS), part of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, has announced a revision to the list of eligible countries for its Telecommunications and Electric Program purchases. Japan has been added to this list, and the update aligns with the November 2023 list issued by the U.S. Trade Representative. This list defines which countries can be treated similarly to U.S. products under the "Buy American" provision of the Rural Electrification Act. The new eligibility list is available through a specified USTR link, and further details can be obtained by contacting designated RUS officials.

The United States Department of Agriculture's Rural Development (RD) division is changing its funding opportunities to remove references to the previous Administration's key priorities and diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) criteria. This update follows an Executive Order titled "Ending Radical And Wasteful Government DEI Programs And Preferencing," issued in January 2025. Programs affected by this change will no longer consider these previous criteria for application scoring. Additionally, the Rural Energy for America Program's funding notice is corrected to include $50 million from the 2018 Farm Bill that was previously omitted.

The Rural Business-Cooperative Service, Rural Housing Service, and Rural Utilities Service in the Department of Agriculture announced a correction to a previous document about loan guarantee rates and fees for fiscal year 2021. The correction added missing details specific to Alaska and clarified when certain fee payments begin. The original notice was issued on September 1, 2020, and the correction updates it to include all necessary information.

The Rural Housing Service (RHS) and other agencies under the U.S. Department of Agriculture are seeking to revise an existing information collection to ensure they comply with civil rights laws. This involves gathering data on the people served by RHS programs to verify that they receive benefits without discrimination based on race, color, or national origin. The information collected is used for internal monitoring and is shared with other federal agencies and Congress. The public is invited to comment on whether this collection is necessary, its burden, and ways to improve or reduce the burden, with comments due by March 15, 2021.

The Rural Utilities Service of the USDA has announced that applications are open for the Community Connect Grant Program for Fiscal Year 2025. This program provides approximately $26 million to help construct broadband networks in rural areas lacking such services. Eligible entities like incorporated organizations, state or local governments, and Indian tribes can apply for grants ranging from $100,000 to $5,000,000 to ensure rural communities have access to affordable, high-speed internet. Applications must be submitted online between February 20, 2025, and April 21, 2025.

The United States Department of Agriculture's Rural Utilities Service (RUS) is seeking public comments on the revision of an existing information collection as outlined in the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995. This pertains to assessing the necessity, accuracy, and utility of the collected information and ways to minimize the burden on respondents. The RUS uses this information, provided mainly through audited financial statements by borrowers, to make decisions about their creditworthiness and the appropriate use of loan funds. Interested parties are encouraged to submit their comments by April 12, 2021, which will be taken into account in the request for approval from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB).

The Rural Utilities Service, a part of the USDA, is inviting applications for the Distance Learning and Telemedicine (DLT) grants for fiscal year 2025. This program aims to fund projects that enhance education and healthcare services through technology in rural areas, with an estimated $40 million available. Applications must be submitted online by March 6, 2024. The grants require a 15% funding match, and successful projects could receive between $50,000 to $1,000,000, provided they meet certain eligibility and criteria.

The Rural Utilities Service (RUS), a part of the USDA, is inviting public comments on a proposed information collection under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995. This is related to a program offering loans and grants for water and waste projects in small rural communities. The public is encouraged to comment on aspects such as the necessity and accuracy of the information collected, methods to enhance the information's quality, and ways to reduce any burden it might cause. Comments are to be submitted by April 12, 2021, via the Federal eRulemaking Portal.