The provision of broadband transmission service is vital to the economic development, education, health, and safety of rural Americans.

The purpose of the Community Connect Grant Program is to provide financial assistance in the form of grants to eligible applicants that will provide currently

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unserved areas, on a “community-oriented connectivity” basis, with broadband service that fosters economic growth and delivers enhanced educational, health care, and public safety services.

Rural Utilities Service will give priority to rural areas that it believes have the greatest need for broadband services, based on the criteria contained herein.

Grant authority will be used for the deployment of broadband service to extremely rural, lower-income communities on a “community-oriented connectivity” basis.

The “community-oriented connectivity” concept will stimulate practical, everyday uses and applications of broadband facilities by cultivating the deployment of new broadband services that improve economic development and provide enhanced educational and health care opportunities in rural areas.

Such an approach will also give rural communities the opportunity to benefit from the advanced technologies that are necessary to achieve these goals.

Please see 7 CFR 1739, subpart A for specifics.

This notice has been formatted to conform to a policy directive issued by the Office of Federal Financial Management (OFFM) of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), published in the Federal Register on June 23, 200 3. This Notice does not change the Community Connect Grant Program regulation (7 CFR 1739, subpart A).