§950aaa–4. Rural community access to advanced telecommunications

(a) Purpose

(1) In general

It is the purpose of the program established under this chapter to encourage and improve the use of telecommunications, computer networks, and related advanced technologies, by persons associated with end users, including students and teachers, medical professionals, small businesses, and other residents living in rural areas associated with rural community facilities in rural areas.

(2) Grants

Grants shall be made under this chapter to end users to fund up to 100 percent of each comprehensive rural telecommunications plan as approved by the Secretary.

(b) Grants

(1) General authorization

The Secretary may make grants to accomplish the purposes of the program established under this chapter in amounts that shall not exceed the levels set forth in paragraph (3).

(2) Disbursement

In order to facilitate appropriate planning for, and continuity of, the program established under this chapter, the Secretary may obligate funds appropriated during a particular year for disbursement in a subsequent year or years, and the total of funds so appropriated and obligated during a year may exceed the limitations described in paragraph (1).

(3) Limitations on authorization of appropriations

To carry out this chapter, there are authorized to be appropriated $25,000,000 for fiscal year 1991, $50,000,000 for each of fiscal years 1992 and 1993, and $60,000,000 for each of the fiscal years 1994 and 1995. Amounts appropriated under this paragraph shall remain available until expended.

(4) Use of funds

Grants under this chapter shall be made available to end users to be used for facilities, equipment, activities, and other uses as described in the approved rural telecommunications plan to achieve the purpose of this chapter, including-

(A) the development and acquisition of instructional programming;

(B) the development and acquisition, through lease or purchase, of computer hardware and software, audio and visual equipment, computer network components, telecommunications terminal equipment, telecommunications transmission facilities, data terminal equipment, or interactive video equipment, and other facilities that would further the purposes of the programs authorized by this chapter;

(C) providing technical assistance and instruction for the development or use of such programming, equipment, or facilities; or

(D) other uses that are consistent with achieving the purposes of this chapter as approved by the Secretary.

(5) Local exchange carriers

Under the conditions described in section 950aaa–3(h) of this title, expedited loans may also be made, to carry out any project authorized in this chapter, to local exchange carriers providing telephone service (as defined in section 924(a) ¹ of this title), to cover the costs of telecommunications transmission facilities.

(6) Informational efforts

The Secretary shall establish and implement procedures to carry out informational efforts to advise potential end users located in rural areas of each State about the program authorized by this chapter.

(7) Limits on grants

Grants awarded under this chapter for an end user shall not be used for the salaries or expenses of an end user.

(8) Use of appropriated funds

(A) In general

Subject to subparagraph (B), the Secretary shall make available-

(i) 50 percent of the funds made available pursuant to paragraph (3) for grants for end users that are consortia participating in the special program established under section 950aaa–5 of this title; and

(ii) 50 percent of the funds made available pursuant to paragraph (3) to provide funds for the programs, and end users participating in the programs, authorized by sections 950aaa through 950aaa–4 of this title.

(B) Release of funds

Not earlier than April 1 and not later than May 1 of each year, the Secretary shall make such funds described in subparagraph (A) as remain unobligated, available for any purpose described in subparagraph (A).

(c) Regulations

Not later than 160 days after November 28, 1990, the Secretary shall, in addition to promulgating the regulations described in section 950aaa–3(b) of this title, establish a priority system for awarding grants to end users located in rural areas that are most in need of enhanced communications to carry out the purposes of this chapter.

( Pub. L. 101–624, title XXIII, §2335, Nov. 28, 1990, 104 Stat. 4021 ; Pub. L. 102–551, §1(c), Oct. 28, 1992, 106 Stat. 4100 ; Pub. L. 103–354, title II, §235(b)(4)(C), Oct. 13, 1994, 108 Stat. 3222 .)

Termination of Section

For termination of section and amendment to section by section 1(b) of Pub. L. 102–551, see Termination of Chapter note set out under section 950aaa of this title.

References in Text

Section 924(a) of this title, referred to in subsec. (b)(5), was in the original "section 2333(a) of the Rural Electrification Act of 1936 (7 U.S.C. 924(a))", and was translated as reading "section 203(a) of the Rural Electrification Act of 1936", as the probable intent of Congress.

Amendments

1994-Pub. L. 103–354 substituted "Secretary" for "Administrator" wherever appearing.

1992-Subsec. (b)(8). Pub. L. 102–551, §1(b), (c), temporarily added par. (8). See Effective and Termination Dates of 1992 Amendment note below.

Effective and Termination Dates of 1992 Amendment

Amendment by Pub. L. 102–551 effective until Sept. 30, 1997, see section 1(b) of Pub. L. 102–551, set out as a Termination of Chapter note under section 950aaa of this title.

Section 1(d) of Pub. L. 102–551 provided that: "The amendments made by this section [enacting section 950aaa–5 of this title and amending this section] shall not apply to funds appropriated for fiscal year 1993 to carry out subtitle D of title XXIII of the Food, Agriculture, Conservation, and Trade Act of 1990 (7 U.S.C. 950aaa et seq.) [Pub. L. 101–624, enacting this chapter, amending section 1932 of this title, and enacting provisions set out as a note under section 1932 of this title] or require the revision of any regulation proposed to carry out such subtitle during fiscal year 1993."

Analysis by Office of Technology Assessment

Section 2385 of Pub. L. 101–624 provided that:

"(a) In General.-The Office of Technology Assessment shall include, in a study of the effects of information age technology on rural America, an analysis of the feasibility of ensuring that rural citizens in their homes and schools have the ability to acquire, by computer, information in a national library.

"(b) Contents.-In conducting the analysis under subsection (a), the Office of Technology Assessment shall-

"(1) evaluate, in consultation with the Librarian of Congress, the costs and benefits of establishing a national library whose volumes, periodicals, instructional materials, sound and video resources, and other data are accessible to individuals through their personal computers;

"(2) assess the technological, regulatory, or other impediments to the establishment of the library and information retrieval system described in paragraph (1), and the length of time required to establish such a library and retrieval system;

"(3) describe the potential for the library and information described in paragraph (1) to provide rural citizens the opportunity to study and explore foreign languages, geography, math, science, history, or other interests, and to exchange scholarly information and ideas with other users, and otherwise to engage in interactive study; and

"(4) recommend to the Congress the measures that should be taken to establish the library and retrieval system described in paragraph (1)."

¹ See References in Text note below.