{"abstract":"The Rural Utilities Service, Rural Business-Cooperative Service, and Rural Housing Service, agencies that comprise the Rural Development Mission Area within the United States Department of Agriculture, are issuing this final rule to establish the authority authorized by Section 6210 of the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018, which will assist rural families and small businesses in gaining access to broadband service by permitting recipients of a loan, grant, or loan guarantee from RD to use up to 10 percent of the amount provided to construct broadband infrastructure in areas not served by minimum acceptable level of broadband service. This rule describes the procedures by which these agencies will consider projects eligible for special broadband authority.","action":"Final rule; request for comments.","agencies":[{"raw_name":"DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE","name":"Agriculture Department","id":12,"url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/agencies/agriculture-department","json_url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/api/v1/agencies/12","parent_id":null,"slug":"agriculture-department"},{"raw_name":"Rural Utilities Service","name":"Rural Utilities Service","id":460,"url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/agencies/rural-utilities-service","json_url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/api/v1/agencies/460","parent_id":12,"slug":"rural-utilities-service"},{"raw_name":"Rural Housing Service","name":"Rural Housing Service","id":458,"url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/agencies/rural-housing-service","json_url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/api/v1/agencies/458","parent_id":12,"slug":"rural-housing-service"},{"raw_name":"Rural Business-Cooperative Service","name":"Rural Business-Cooperative Service","id":456,"url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/agencies/rural-business-cooperative-service","json_url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/api/v1/agencies/456","parent_id":12,"slug":"rural-business-cooperative-service"},{"raw_name":"Farm Service Agency","name":"Farm Service Agency","id":157,"url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/agencies/farm-service-agency","json_url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/api/v1/agencies/157","parent_id":12,"slug":"farm-service-agency"}],"body_html_url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/full_text/html/2020/09/15/2020-19033.html","cfr_references":[{"chapter":null,"citation_url":null,"part":"1710","title":7},{"chapter":null,"citation_url":null,"part":"1779","title":7},{"chapter":null,"citation_url":null,"part":"1780","title":7},{"chapter":null,"citation_url":null,"part":"1783","title":7},{"chapter":null,"citation_url":null,"part":"1942","title":7},{"chapter":null,"citation_url":null,"part":"1980","title":7},{"chapter":null,"citation_url":null,"part":"3570","title":7},{"chapter":null,"citation_url":null,"part":"4274","title":7},{"chapter":null,"citation_url":null,"part":"4279","title":7},{"chapter":null,"citation_url":null,"part":"4280","title":7}],"citation":"85 FR 57077","comment_url":null,"comments_close_on":null,"correction_of":null,"corrections":[],"dates":"Effective date: September 15, 2020.","disposition_notes":null,"docket_ids":["Docket Numbers: RUS-20-TELECOM-0022"],"dockets":[],"document_number":"2020-19033","effective_on":"2020-09-15","end_page":57085,"executive_order_notes":null,"executive_order_number":null,"full_text_xml_url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/full_text/xml/2020/09/15/2020-19033.xml","html_url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2020/09/15/2020-19033/special-authority-to-enable-funding-of-broadband-and-smart-utility-facilities-across-select-rural","images":{},"images_metadata":{},"json_url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/api/v1/documents/2020-19033?publication_date=2020-09-15","mods_url":"https://www.govinfo.gov/metadata/granule/FR-2020-09-15/2020-19033/mods.xml","not_received_for_publication":null,"page_length":9,"page_views":{"count":2499,"last_updated":"2026-08-26 12:15:06 -0400"},"pdf_url":"https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2020-09-15/pdf/2020-19033.pdf","presidential_document_number":null,"proclamation_number":null,"public_inspection_pdf_url":"https://public-inspection.federalregister.gov/2020-19033.pdf?1600087516","publication_date":"2020-09-15","raw_text_url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/full_text/text/2020/09/15/2020-19033.txt","regulation_id_number_info":{"0572-AC50":{"issue":"202304","html_url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/regulations/0572-AC50/smart-utility-authority-for-broadband","title":"Smart Utility Authority for Broadband","xml_url":"http://www.reginfo.gov/public/do/eAgendaViewRule?pubId=202304&RIN=0572-AC50&operation=OPERATION_EXPORT_XML","priority_category":"Substantive, Nonsignificant"}},"regulation_id_numbers":["0572-AC50"],"regulations_dot_gov_info":{"supporting_documents":[],"regulatory_plan":{"html_url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/regulations/0572-AC50/smart-utility-authority-for-broadband","title":"Smart Utility Authority for Broadband"},"comments_count":8,"agency_id":"RUS","comments_url":"https://www.regulations.gov/docketBrowser?rpp=50&so=DESC&sb=postedDate&po=0&dct=PS&D=RUS-20-TELECOM-0022","supporting_documents_count":0,"docket_id":"RUS-20-TELECOM-0022","document_id":"RUS-20-TELECOM-0022-0001","regulation_id_number":"0572-AC50","title":"Smart Utility Authority for Broadband","checked_regulationsdotgov_at":"2020-11-18T04:30:09Z"},"regulations_dot_gov_url":null,"significant":false,"signing_date":null,"start_page":57077,"subtype":null,"title":"Special Authority To Enable Funding of Broadband and Smart Utility Facilities Across Select Rural Development Programs","toc_doc":"Special Authority To Enable Funding of Broadband and Smart Utility Facilities Across Select Rural Development Programs","toc_subject":null,"topics":["Administrative practice and procedure","Agriculture","Business and industry","Community development","Community facilities","Credit","Disaster assistance","Electric power","Energy","Fair housing","Fire prevention","Grant programs-Indians","Grant programs-business","Grant programs-energy","Grant programs-housing and community development","Housing","Indians","Livestock","Loan programs","Loan programs-Indians","Loan programs-agriculture","Loan programs-business","Loan programs-energy","Loan programs-housing and community development","Loan programs-natural resources","Low and moderate income housing","Reporting and recordkeeping requirements","Rural areas","Soil conservation","Waste treatment and disposal","Water supply","Watersheds"],"type":"Rule","volume":85}