{"abstract":"The Rural Utilities Service (RUS), a Rural Development agency of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), hereinafter referred to as \"RUS\" or \"the Agency\", is issuing a final rule to establish the Rural eConnectivity Program. The Rural eConnectivity Program provides loans, grants, and loan/grant combinations to facilitate broadband deployment in rural areas. This rule describes the eligibility requirements, the application process, the criteria that will be used by RUS to assess applicants' creditworthiness and outlines the application process. In addition, the Agency is seeking comments on the final rule.","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"}],"body_html_url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/full_text/html/2021/02/26/2021-03443.html","cfr_references":[{"chapter":null,"citation_url":null,"part":"1740","title":7}],"citation":"86 FR 11603","comment_url":null,"comments_close_on":null,"correction_of":null,"corrections":[],"dates":"Effective date: This final rule is effective April 27, 2021.","disposition_notes":null,"docket_ids":["RUS-20-Telecom-0023"],"dockets":[],"document_number":"2021-03443","effective_on":"2021-04-27","end_page":11618,"executive_order_notes":null,"executive_order_number":null,"full_text_xml_url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/full_text/xml/2021/02/26/2021-03443.xml","html_url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2021/02/26/2021-03443/rural-econnectivity-program","images":{},"images_metadata":{},"json_url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/api/v1/documents/2021-03443?publication_date=2021-02-26","mods_url":"https://www.govinfo.gov/metadata/granule/FR-2021-02-26/2021-03443/mods.xml","not_received_for_publication":null,"page_length":16,"page_views":{"count":5809,"last_updated":"2026-08-24 06:15:07 -0400"},"pdf_url":"https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2021-02-26/pdf/2021-03443.pdf","presidential_document_number":null,"proclamation_number":null,"public_inspection_pdf_url":"https://public-inspection.federalregister.gov/2021-03443.pdf?1614260717","publication_date":"2021-02-26","raw_text_url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/full_text/text/2021/02/26/2021-03443.txt","regulation_id_number_info":{"0572-AC51":{"issue":"202204","html_url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/regulations/0572-AC51/rural-econnectivity-program-reconnect-program-","title":"Rural eConnectivity Program (ReConnect Program)","xml_url":"http://www.reginfo.gov/public/do/eAgendaViewRule?pubId=202204&RIN=0572-AC51&operation=OPERATION_EXPORT_XML","priority_category":"Other Significant"}},"regulation_id_numbers":["0572-AC51"],"regulations_dot_gov_info":{"supporting_documents":[{"title":"Rural eConnectivity Program","document_id":"RUS-20-TELECOM-0023-0076"},{"title":"Santa Fe Indian School Comments","document_id":"RUS-20-TELECOM-0023-0075"},{"title":"Lummi Indian Business Council Comment","document_id":"RUS-20-TELECOM-0023-0074"},{"title":"Comment - Santa Clara Pueblo","document_id":"RUS-20-TELECOM-0023-0052"},{"title":"Rural eConnectivity Program RIA 12-29-20 final","document_id":"RUS-20-TELECOM-0023-0003"},{"title":"Rural eConnectivity Program","document_id":"RUS-20-TELECOM-0023-0001"}],"regulatory_plan":{"html_url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/regulations/0572-AC51/rural-econnectivity-program-reconnect-program-","title":"Rural eConnectivity Program (ReConnect Program)"},"comments_count":82,"agency_id":"RUS","comments_url":"https://www.regulations.gov/docketBrowser?rpp=50&so=DESC&sb=postedDate&po=0&dct=PS&D=RUS-20-TELECOM-0023","supporting_documents_count":6,"docket_id":"RUS-20-TELECOM-0023","document_id":"RUS-20-TELECOM-0023-0001","regulation_id_number":"0572-AC51","title":"Rural eConnectivity Program","checked_regulationsdotgov_at":"2021-04-29T03:30:09Z"},"regulations_dot_gov_url":null,"significant":true,"signing_date":null,"start_page":11603,"subtype":null,"title":"Rural eConnectivity Program","toc_doc":"Rural eConnectivity Program","toc_subject":null,"topics":["Broadband","Community development","Grant programs-communications","Loan programs-communications","Rural areas","Telecommunications"],"type":"Rule","volume":86}