Notice2021-23128
Rural eConnectivity Program
Primary source
Metadata and text below are from the Federal Register, a public-domain U.S. government work. Always verify the official published version before relying on it for any legal matter.
Published
October 25, 2021
Issuing agencies
Agriculture DepartmentRural Utilities Service
Abstract
The Rural Utilities Service, a Rural Development agency of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), hereinafter referred to as "RUS" or "the Agency" is issuing a Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) to announce that it is accepting applications for fiscal year 2022 (FY 22) for the Rural eConnectivity Program (the ReConnect Program). In addition, this FOA defines requirements that are determined at the time a funding announcement is published, as outlined in the regulation. As part of this announcement, the Agency is also informing potential applicants and other interested parties about its intention to seek information on a topic that will help inform future funding announcements. More information is located in Section G of this announcement.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 86 Issue 203 (Monday, October 25, 2021)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 203 (Monday, October 25, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Pages 58860-58864]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2021-23128]
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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Rural Utilities Service
[Docket Number: RUS-21-Telecom-0010]
Rural eConnectivity Program
AGENCY: Rural Utilities Service, USDA.
ACTION: Funding opportunity announcement.
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SUMMARY: The Rural Utilities Service, a Rural Development agency of the
United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), hereinafter referred to
as ``RUS'' or ``the Agency'' is issuing a Funding Opportunity
Announcement (FOA) to announce that it is accepting applications for
fiscal year 2022 (FY 22) for the Rural eConnectivity Program (the
ReConnect Program). In addition, this FOA defines requirements that are
determined at the time a funding announcement is published, as outlined
in the regulation. As part of this announcement, the Agency is also
informing potential applicants and other interested parties about its
intention to seek information on a topic that will help inform future
funding announcements. More information is located in Section G of this
announcement.
DATES: Beginning on November 24, 2021, applications can be submitted
through the RUS on-line application portal until 11:59 a.m. Eastern on
February 22, 2022. Applications will not be accepted after February 22,
2022 until a new application opportunity has been opened with the
publication of an additional FOA in the Federal Register.
ADDRESSES: Applications must be submitted electronically through the
RUS on-line application portal located at <a href="https://www.usda.gov/reconnect">https://www.usda.gov/reconnect</a>. This FOA will be made available for informational purposes
on <a href="http://Grants.gov">Grants.gov</a>.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For general inquiries regarding the
ReConnect Program, contact Laurel Leverrier, Assistant Administrator,
Telecommunications Program, Rural Utilities Service, U.S. Department of
Agriculture (USDA), email <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#610d001413040d4f0d041704131308041321141205004f060e17"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="c7aba6b2b5a2abe9aba2b1a2b5b5aea2b587b2b4a3a6e9a0a8b1">[email protected]</span></a>, telephone: (202)
720-9554.
For inquiries regarding eligibility concerns, please contact the
ReConnect Program Staff at <a href="https://www.usda.gov/reconnect/contact-us">https://www.usda.gov/reconnect/contact-us</a>.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Overview
Federal Agency: Rural Utilities Service.
Funding Opportunity Title: The Rural eConnectivity Program.
Announcement Type: Funding Opportunity Announcement.
Assistance Listing: 10.752.
Funding Opportunity Number (grants.gov): RUS-REC-2022.
Dates: Beginning on November 24, 2021, applications can be
submitted through the RUS on-line application portal until 11:59 a.m.
Eastern on February 22, 2022. Applications will not be accepted after
February 22, 2022 until a new application opportunity has been opened
with the publication of an additional FOA in the Federal Register.
Administrative: The Agency encourages applicants to consider
projects that will advance the following key priorities:
<bullet> Assisting Rural communities recover economically from the
impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, particularly disadvantaged
communities.
<bullet> Ensuring all rural residents have equitable access to
Rural Development programs and benefits from Rural Development funded
projects.
<bullet> Reducing climate pollution and increasing resilience to
the impacts of climate change through economic support to rural
communities.
In addition, the Agency would like to highlight the importance of
creating good-paying jobs with strong labor standards.
Program Description
1. Program purpose. The ReConnect Program provides loans, grants,
and loan/grant combinations to facilitate broadband deployment in rural
areas. In facilitating the expansion of broadband services and
infrastructure, the program will fuel long-term rural economic
development and opportunities in rural America.
2. Statutory authority. The ReConnect Program is authorized by the
Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2018 (Pub. L. 115-141), which directs
the
[[Page 58861]]
pilot to be conducted under the Rural Electrification Act of 1936 (7
U.S.C. 901 et seq). Since its establishment in 2018, the ReConnect
Program has been implemented by issuing two FOAs that detailed the
requirements for submitting an application. The ReConnect Program has
received successive appropriations by Congress and has matured due to
Agency experience and feedback provided by stakeholders. The policies
and procedures for the ReConnect Program are codified in a final rule,
7 CFR part 1740, that was published in the Federal Register on February
26, 2021 (86 FR 11603). Among other things, those rules require that
the applicant demonstrate that the project can be completely built out
within five years from the date funds are first made available; the
project is technically feasible; all project costs can be fully funded
or accounted for; facilities funded with grant funds will provide the
broadband service proposed in the application for the composite
economic life of the facilities, as approved by RUS, or as provided in
the Award Documents; and that facilities funded with loan funds must
provide broadband service through the amortization period of the loan.
Applicants should carefully review those rules in conjunction with this
FOA.
For FY 22, loans, grants, and loan/grant combinations will be made
for the costs of construction, improvement, or acquisition of
facilities and equipment needed to facilitate broadband deployment in
rural areas.
3. Definition of terms. The definitions applicable to this FOA are
as follows:
i. Local government means the administration of a particular town,
county, or district, with representatives elected by those who live
there.
ii. Remote areas means areas classified by the USDA Economic
Research Service as Frontier and Remote Area (FAR) Level 4. A
geographic information system (GIS) layer of FAR Level 4 areas can be
found at <a href="https://www.usda.gov/reconnect">https://www.usda.gov/reconnect</a>.
iii. Socially Vulnerable Community means a community or area
identified in the Center for Disease Control's Social Vulnerability
Index with a score of .75 or higher. A GIS layer identifying the
Socially Vulnerable Communities can be found at <a href="https://www.usda.gov/reconnect">https://www.usda.gov/reconnect</a>.
iv. Sufficient access to broadband (7 CFR 1740.2) means any rural
area in which households have fixed, terrestrial broadband service
defined as 100 megabits per second (Mbps) downstream and 20 Mbps
upstream.
v. System requirements (7 CFR 1740.3(a)(2)). Facilities proposed to
be constructed with award funds must be capable of delivering 100 Mbps
symmetrical service to every premise in the proposed funded service
area (PFSA). Please note that capable of delivering 100 Mbps
symmetrical service to every premise means that all premises in the
PFSA must be able to receive this service at the same time.
vi. Tribal Government means the governing body of an Indian or
Alaska Native tribe, band, nation, pueblo, village, or community listed
pursuant to the Federally Recognized Indian Tribe List Act of 1994, 25
U.S.C. 479a.
vii. Tribal land means any area identified by the United States
Census Bureau as tribal land. A GIS layer of Tribal Lands can be found
on the RUS mapping tool located at <a href="https://www.usda.gov/reconnect">https://www.usda.gov/reconnect</a>.
viii. Other definitions related to the ReConnect Program are
contained in 7 CFR 1740.2.
B. Federal Award Information
1. Funding categories, interest rates and terms (7 CFR 1740.3(b)).
i. 100 Percent Loan. Applications will be processed and awarded on
a rolling basis. In the event two loan applications are received for
the same PFSA, the application submitted first will be considered
first. The interest rate for a 100 percent loan will be set at a fixed
2 percent. Principal and interest payments will be deferred for three
years. The amortization period will be based on the composite economic
life of the assets funded plus three years.
ii. 50 Percent Loan/50 Percent Grant Combination. The interest rate
for the 50 percent loan component will be set at the Treasury rate for
the remaining amortization period at the time of each advance of funds.
Principal and interest payments will be deferred for three years. The
amortization period will be based on the composite economic life of the
assets funded plus three years. Applicants may propose substituting
cash for the loan component at the time of application and funds must
be deposited into the applicant's operating accounts at the closing of
the award.
iii. 100 Percent Grant. Applicants must provide a matching
contribution equal to at least 25 percent of the cost of the overall
project. The matching contribution requirement applies only to the 100
Percent Grant funding category. The applicant must clearly identify the
source of the funds even if it is to be provided from the applicant's
operating accounts. All matching funds must be deposited into the
applicant's operating accounts at the closing of the award. If the
matching funds are provided by a third party, a commitment letter from
the third party must be submitted indicating that the funds will be
available at the closing of the award if approved. The matching
contribution can only be used for eligible purposes. If the applicant
elects to initiate a loan to satisfy the matching requirement,
documentation must be included as part of the application indicating
the terms and conditions for the loan and that the grant funded assets
cannot be used as collateral for the matching funds loan. The loan must
be entered into and funds transferred into the applicant's accounts by
the closing of the award.
iv. 100 Percent Grant for Tribal Governments and Socially
Vulnerable Communities. If the applicant is a Tribal Government, or a
corporation that is wholly owned by a Tribal Government, proposing to
provide service on its own lands, there is no matching fund requirement
and applicants may apply for grant funds to construct the broadband
facilities. In addition, if at least 75 percent of the geographic area
of an applicant's PFSA(s) consists of Socially Vulnerable Communities,
as defined in section A.3.iii. of this FOA, there is no matching fund
requirement and applicants may apply for grant funds to construct the
broadband facilities.
2. Maximum and minimum funding amounts (7 CFR 1740.3(b)).
i. 100 Percent Loan. Up to $200,000,000 is available for loans. The
maximum amount that can be requested in an application is $50,000,000.
ii. 50 Percent Loan--50 Percent Grant Combination. Up to
$250,000,000 is available for loan/grant combinations. The maximum
amount that can be requested in an application is $25,000,000 for the
loan and $25,000,000 for the grant. Loan and grant amounts will always
be equal.
iii. 100 Percent Grant. Up to $350,000,000 is available for grants.
The maximum amount of grant funds that can be requested in an
application is $25,000,000. However, to encourage broadband deployment
in remote areas, if an applicant provides supporting information that
demonstrates that the PFSA(s) is comprised 100 percent of areas
classified by the USDA Economic Research Service as FAR Level 4, the
applicant may request up to $35,000,000. A GIS layer of FAR Level 4
areas can be found at <a href="https://www.usda.gov/reconnect">https://www.usda.gov/reconnect</a>.
iv. 100 Percent Grant for Tribal Governments and Socially
Vulnerable Communities. Up to $350,000,000 is available for grants. The
maximum
[[Page 58862]]
amount of grant funds that can be requested in an application is
$25,000,000. However, to encourage broadband deployment in remote
areas, if an applicant provides supporting information that
demonstrates that the PFSA(s) is comprised 100 percent of locations
within areas classified by the USDA Economic Research Service as FAR
Level 4, the applicant may request up to $35,000,000. A GIS layer of
FAR Level 4 areas can be found at <a href="https://www.usda.gov/reconnect">https://www.usda.gov/reconnect</a>.
v. The minimum amount that can be requested in any ReConnect
Program application is $100,000.
C. Eligibility Information
1. Eligibility requirements. The eligibility requirements for the
ReConnect Program are published at 7 CFR 1740 Subpart B.
2. Eligible service areas. The following areas are eligible:
i. For a PFSA to be eligible for funding, at least 90 percent of
the households in the PFSA must lack sufficient access to broadband.
For purposes of this FOA, sufficient access to broadband means any
rural area in which households have access to fixed, terrestrial
broadband service of at least 100 megabits per second (Mbps) downstream
and 20 Mbps upstream. Applicants must submit evidence that sufficient
access to broadband does not exist for 90 percent of the households in
the PFSA, identify all existing providers in the PFSA, and indicate
what level of service is being provided. If these areas are found to
have sufficient service, the application will be rejected.
ii. Pursuant to the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 (Pub. L.
116-260), the service areas of existing RUS borrowers without
sufficient access to broadband, as defined in this FOA, are eligible
for ReConnect funding.
iii. Areas that receive support from the Federal Communications
Commission (FCC), but are without sufficient access to broadband, as
defined in this FOA, are eligible for funding under this FOA.
iv. RUS will offer funding in areas receiving or under
consideration for a Rural Digital Opportunity Fund (RDOF) award because
RDOF funds both operational expenses and capital expenses, while
ReConnect funds only capital expenses. However, the application should
explain why RUS should provide additional funding. For example, will
the applicant commit to an accelerated deployment schedule if it
receives RUS funding. RUS will also require all ReConnect awardees
receiving or under consideration for RDOF funding to submit a statement
certifying that the funds requested from ReConnect have not been and
will not be reimbursed by the RDOF award. That is, funds must be used
only for complementary purposes and not for duplicative ones, and
therefore funding recipients cannot claim that both RDOF and ReConnect
funds were used to pay for the same labor or materials used to deploy
broadband to specific locations or to procure the same unit of network
equipment. Recipients that receive both RDOF and ReConnect funding must
keep separate accounts to track the sources and uses of each funding
source as needed to support the certification statement submitted with
its ReConnect application.
v. If two or more applications are submitted for the same non-
Tribal Land area receiving or under consideration for an RDOF award,
and one of those applications is submitted by the RDOF winning bidder,
or the winning bidder's assignee, and its application scores equally as
high as the other application(s) for the area, RUS will give preference
to the applicant receiving or under consideration for the RDOF award,
except that on Tribal Lands, RUS will give preference to the applicant
that has a Tribal Government Resolution of Consent.
vi. If an applicant has applied for or is receiving other federal
funding to deploy broadband in all or part of the PFSA, the applicant
should explain how RUS funding will be complementary to but not
duplicative of the other funding. ReConnect awardees will be required
to submit a statement certifying that the funds requested from
ReConnect have not been and will not be reimbursed by any other federal
funding mechanism.
3. Tribal Government Resolution of Consent. Pursuant to 7 CFR
1740.60(d)(19), a certification from the appropriate tribal official is
required if service is being proposed over or on tribal lands. The
appropriate certification is a Tribal Government Resolution of Consent.
The appropriate tribal official is the Tribal Council of the Tribal
Government with jurisdiction over the tribal lands at issue. Any
applicant that fails to provide a certification to provide service on
the tribal lands identified in the PFSA will not be considered for
funding.
4. Pre-application expenses. The costs associated with satisfying
the environmental review requirements are eligible for reimbursement
under this category. Up to three percent of the requested award funds
can be used for this purpose. Please note that any environmental
expenses will count as part of the overall five percent that is
allowable for pre-application expenses.
D. Application and Submission Information
1. All requirements for submission of an application under the
ReConnect Program are subject to 7 CFR part 1740.
2. Applications must be submitted through the Agency's online
application system located on the ReConnect web page, <a href="https://www.usda.gov/reconnect">https://www.usda.gov/reconnect</a>. All materials required for completing an
application are included in the online system. Please note there are a
number of supporting documents that will need to be uploaded through
the application system.
3. Applicants can submit only one application. Applicants may start
multiple applications in the system but only one can be submitted.
E. Application Review Information
1. Evaluation. All applications are subject to the submission and
evaluation requirements contained in 7 CFR 1740, Subpart E.
2. Scoring. Applications will be scored based on the following
criteria:
i. Rurality of PFSA (25 Points). Points will be awarded for serving
the least dense rural areas as measured by the population of the PFSA
per square mile or if the PFSA is located at least one hundred miles
from a city or town that has a population of greater than 50,000
inhabitants. If multiple service areas are proposed, the density
calculation will be made on the combined areas as if they were a single
area and not the average densities. Population densities of 6 or less
or if the PFSA is located one hundred miles from a city or town of
50,000, 25 points will be awarded.
ii. Level of existing service (25 Points). Projects that are
proposing to build in areas that are not receiving service of at least
25 Mbps downstream and 3 Mbps upstream will receive 25 points, with
points awarded based on the number of households lacking such service
that the project will serve. Applicants must provide supporting
evidence that 25/3 service does not exist for those households. To the
extent possible, applicants must identify all existing providers in the
PFSA and indicate what level of service is actually being provided.
Applicants are not required to treat the publicly available FCC current
Form 477 data as dispositive of what speed service currently exists.
iii. Economic need of the community (20 Points). Economic need is
based on the county poverty percentage of the PFSA in the application.
The percentages must be determined by utilizing the United States
Census Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates (SAIPE) Program. For
applications
[[Page 58863]]
where 75 percent of the PFSA(s) are proposing to serve communities with
a SAIPE score of 20 percent or higher, 20 points will be awarded.
Proposed funded service areas located in geographic areas for which no
SAIPE data exist will be determined to have an average SAIPE poverty
percentage of 30 percent. Such geographic areas may include territories
of the United States or other locations eligible for funding through
the ReConnect Program. A GIS layer identifying SAIPE areas can be found
in the RUS mapping tool located at <a href="https://reconnect.usda.gov">https://reconnect.usda.gov</a>.
iv. Affordability (20 Points). Applications can receive 20 points
based on their affordability measures. Applicants should demonstrate
that the broadband prices they will offer are affordable to their
target markets, provide information about the pricing and speed tiers
they intend to offer, and include at least one low-cost option offered
at speeds that are sufficient for a household with multiple users to
simultaneously telework and engage in remote learning. Applicants
should also commit to applying to participate in the Federal
Communication Commission's Lifeline Program, the Emergency Broadband
Benefit Program, and any successors to those programs which provide
low-income consumers with discounts on broadband services. More details
are available in the Application Guide.
v. Labor Standards (20 points). It is important that necessary
investments in broadband infrastructure be carried out in ways that
produce high-quality infrastructure, avert disruptive and costly
delays, and promote efficiency. The Agency understands the importance
of promoting workforce development and encourages recipients to ensure
that broadband projects use strong labor standards consistent with
Tribal laws when projects propose to build infrastructure on Tribal
Lands. Using these practices in construction projects not only promotes
effective and efficient delivery of high-quality infrastructure and
supports the economic recovery through employment opportunities for
workers, but may also help to ensure a reliable supply of skilled labor
that would minimize disruptions, such as those associated with labor
disputes or workplace injuries.
Applicants should include in their applications a description of
whether and, if so, how the project will incorporate strong labor
standards, including whether workers (including contractors and
subcontractors) will be paid wages at or above the prevailing rate; \1\
whether the project will be covered by a project labor agreement; what
safety training, professional certifications, in-house training and/or
licensure will be required of workers (including contractors and
subcontractors); whether a locally-based workforce will be used;
whether work will be performed by a directly employed workforce or
whether the employer has policies and practices in place to ensure
employees of contractors and subcontractors are qualified; and whether
the applicant, its contractors, or subcontractors have any violations
of state or federal labor, workplace safety and health, or employment
laws within the last five years.
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\1\ This means that all laborers and mechanics employed by
contractors and subcontractors in the performance of such project
are paid wages at rates not less than those prevailing, as
determined by the U.S. Secretary of Labor in accordance with
subchapter IV of chapter 31 of title 40, United States Code
(commonly known as the ``Davis-Bacon Act'') or, for the
corresponding classes of laborers and mechanics employed on projects
of a character similar to the contract work in the civil subdivision
of the State (or the District of Columbia) in which the work is to
be performed, or by the appropriate state entity pursuant to a
corollary state prevailing-wage-in-construction law (commonly known
as ``baby Davis-Bacon Acts'').
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For applicants that commit to strong labor standards, consistent
with Tribal Laws when the project proposes to build infrastructure on
Tribal Lands, 20 points will be awarded. Projects that propose to build
infrastructure on Tribal Lands must follow Tribal Laws such as Tribal
Employment Rights Ordinances to be in compliance with a ReConnect
award, regardless of receiving points under this standard. The Agency
reserves the right to adjust award amounts for unforeseen
circumstances.
vi. Tribal lands (15 Points). For applicants that are Tribal
Governments and tribal entities and, at a minimum, 50 percent of the
geographical area of the PFSA(s) is to provide service on tribal lands,
15 points shall be awarded. For non-tribal entities where at least 50
percent of the geographic area of the PFSA(s) is to provide service on
tribal lands, 10 points shall be awarded. Tribal lands will be analyzed
using the GIS layer in the RUS mapping tool located at <a href="https://reconnect.usda.gov">https://reconnect.usda.gov</a>.
vii. Local governments, non-profits and cooperatives (15 points).
Applications submitted by local governments, non-profits or
cooperatives (including for projects involving public-private
partnerships where the local government, non-profit, or cooperative is
the applicant) will be awarded 15 points.
viii. Socially Vulnerable Communities (15 points). For applications
where at least 75 percent of the PFSA(s) are proposing to serve
Socially Vulnerable Communities, as defined in this FOA, 15 points will
be awarded.
ix. Net neutrality (10 points). For applicants that commit to net
neutrality, 10 points will be awarded. A board resolution or its
equivalent must be submitted in the application committing that the
applicant's networks shall not (1) block lawful content, applications,
services, or non-harmful devices, subject to reasonable network
management; (2) impair or degrade lawful internet traffic on the basis
of internet content, application, or service, or use of a non-harmful
device, subject to reasonable network management; and (3) engage in
paid prioritization, meaning the management of a broadband provider's
network to directly or indirectly favor some traffic over other
traffic, including through use of techniques such as traffic shaping,
prioritization, resource reservation, or other forms of preferential
traffic management, either (a) in exchange for consideration (monetary
or otherwise) from a third party, or (b) to benefit an affiliated
entity.
x. Wholesale broadband services (10 points). Recipients that commit
to offering wholesale broadband services at rates and terms that are
reasonable and nondiscriminatory will receive 10 points.
F. Federal Award Administration Information
1. Closing, servicing and reporting. All applications are subject
to the requirements contained in 7 CFR 1740, Subpart F.
2. Other requirements. All applications are subject to the
additional requirements contained in 7 CFR 1740, Subpart G.
3. Ineligible Costs. A recipient may not use grant or loan funds,
whether directly or indirectly as an offset for other funds, to support
or oppose collective bargaining.
G. Upcoming Request for Information
As noted in the Summary section of this announcement, RUS intends
to issue a Request for Information (RFI) seeking feedback from
potential applicants and other interested parties on whether the
requirement for facilities constructed with RUS funding to provide 100
Mbps symmetrical service to every premise in the proposed funded
service area (PFSA) at the same time should apply in future funding
rounds. The feedback from that RFI will help inform future funding
announcements, including potentially scoring criteria.
[[Page 58864]]
H. Federal Awarding Agency Contacts
Any questions should be addressed to the contact information
located in the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT section of this FOA.
I. Other Information
1. Paperwork Reduction Act. In accordance with the Paperwork
Reduction Act of 1995, the information collection requirements
associated with the ReConnect Program, as covered in this FOA, have
been approved by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) under OMB
Control Number 0572-0152. This funding announcement does not create any
new information collection requirements nor does it change existing
information collection requirements.
2. Congressional Review Act. Pursuant to Subtitle E of the Small
Business Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act of 1996 (also known as the
Congressional Review Act or CRA), 5 U.S.C. 801 et seq., the Office of
Information and Regulatory Affairs in the Office of Management and
Budget designated this action as a major rule as defined by 5 U.S.C.
804(2), because it is likely to result in an annual effect on the
economy of $100,000,000 or more. Accordingly, there is a 60-day delay
in the effective date of this action. Application selection will not
begin until after December 27, 2021. Therefore, the 60-day delay
required by the CRA is not expected to have a material impact upon the
administration and/or implementation of the ReConnect Program.
3. USDA Non-Discrimination Statement. In accordance with Federal
civil rights law and USDA civil rights regulations and policies, the
USDA, its Mission Areas, agencies, staff offices, employees, and
institutions participating in or administering USDA programs are
prohibited from discriminating based on race, color, national origin,
religion, sex, gender identity (including gender expression), sexual
orientation, disability, age, marital status, familial status, family/
parental status, income derived from a public assistance program,
political beliefs, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights
activity, in any program or activity conducted or funded by USDA (not
all bases apply to all programs). Remedies and complaint filing
deadlines vary by program or incident.
Program Information may be made available in languages other than
English. Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of
communication to obtain program information (e.g., Braille, large
print, audiotape, American Sign Language, etc.) should contact the
responsible Mission Area, Agency, or staff office; the USDA TARGET
Center at 202-720-2600 (voice and TTY); or the Federal Relay Service at
(800) 877-8339.
To file a program discrimination complaint, a complainant should
complete a Form AD-3027, USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form,
which can be obtained online at https://www/<a href="http://ocio.usda.gov/documents/ad-3027">ocio.usda.gov/documents/ad-3027</a>, from any USDA office, by calling (866) 632-9992, or by writing a
letter addressed to USDA. The letter must contain the complainant's
name, address, telephone number, and a written description of the
alleged discriminatory action in sufficient detail to inform the
Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights about the nature and date of an
alleged civil rights violation. The completed AD-3027 form or letter
must be submitted to USDA by:
(1) Mail: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Office of the Assistant
Secretary for Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue SW, Washington, DC
20250-9410; or
(2) Fax: (833) 256-1665 or (202) 690-7442; or
(3) Email: <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#dbaba9b4bca9bab6f5b2b5afbab0be9baea8bfbaf5bcb4ad"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="99e9ebf6feebf8f4b7f0f7edf8f2fcd9eceafdf8b7fef6ef">[email protected]</span></a>.
USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer, and lender.
Christopher A. McLean,
Acting Administrator, Rural Utilities Service.
[FR Doc. 2021-23128 Filed 10-22-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-15-P
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This is legal information, not legal advice. Laws vary by jurisdiction and change frequently. Always verify current law with official sources and consult a licensed attorney in your jurisdiction for advice on your specific situation.