Rural Utilities Service Update for

Transcription

1 Rural Utilities Service Update for The Affiliated Tribes of Northwest Indians (ATNI) Jacqueline Rosier Branch Chief GFR Loan Origination & Approval Division RUS Telecommunications Program

2 In the 1930 s, the Rural Electrification Administration (REA) made financing available to bring electricity to rural communities In 1949, the REA received authority to finance telephone service in recognition of its importance to rural communities Starting in 1995, all telecommunications networks financed by RUS were required to be broadband-capable. RUS Telecommunications Programs History

3 The RUS Telecom Program s mission is to insure that rural Americans have the same access to reliable telecommunications services as their urban counterparts RUS has invested over $6 billion in loans and grants since 2009 to build out broadband service in rural areas Telecommunications Programs Mission

4 Infrastructure Loan Program Loans to finance new and improved telecommunications infrastructure in rural communities of 5,000 or less Farm Bill Broadband Loan Program Loans to finance the costs of construction, improvement and acquisition of facilities and equipment to provide broadband service to eligible rural communities Community Connect Grant Program Provides grant funding to build out broadband networks in rural unserved areas Broadband Initiatives Program (BIP) Loan and grant combination financing the build out of broadband networks in rural underserved areas (2009 and 2010) DLT Grant Program Grants for equipment needed to provide Distance Learning and Telemedicine services RUS Telecom Programs

5 Infrastructure Funding for Substantially Underserved Trust Areas (SUTA) Final rule published in 2012 Provisions: Make RUS infrastructure financing more accessible and affordable for Native American in Trust Areas. RUS Telecom Programs

6 Infrastructure Loan Program: $690 million Community Connect Grant Program: $10 million DLT Grant Program: $19 million Broadband Loan Program: $24 million new and $31 million carryover 2015 Funding Levels

7 Infrastructure Broadband 12 loans approved: $191 million 6 loans pending: $73 million 2014 Farm Bill mandated certain changes to the program Revised broadband regulation has been completed and is in the final stages of the approval process It is anticipated that the regulation will be published this summer Loan Program Update

8 Community Connect DLT Program FY15 application window closed February 17th 68 applications submitted, totaling $106 million NOSA is currently circulating for approval and we are anticipating that the grant window will open in the next 60 days. Grant Program Update

9 Awarded over $3.5 billion in funding to 297 Infrastructure Projects (LM and MM), 19 Technical Assistance Projects and 4 Satellite Awards In total, RUS has advanced over $2.6 billion in funds to awardees (84.4% of funding) 246 out of 255 active BIP Infrastructure projects were operational or partially operational as of the end of February 2015 All projects to be completed by September 30, 2015 BIP Update

10 USDA Broadband Grants & Loans for Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs 2002 Community Connect Grant $696, Rural Business Opportunity Grant 99, Rural Business Enterprise Grant 199, Technical Assistance Grant 200, BIP Grant/Loan 5,400,000 $6,594,000 Warm Springs Update

11 USDA Broadband Grants & Loans for Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs Fiber Network Technology Center New Options for Improved Telecom Service Warm Springs Telecom Created Construct Hybrid Fiber Wireless Network Broadband Internet/Applications Health Education/Safety New Building Customer Phone Lines Connected Meeting Challenges and Carrying internet Traffic Warm Springs Update

12 New Leadership Under Secretary: Lisa Mensah Administrator: Brandon McBride Electronic Intake System Across RUS telecommunications, electric and water programs Go Live Scheduled by End of FY 2015 Telecom Program Reorganization (3 divisions) Policy and Outreach Portfolio Management and Risk Assessment Loan Origination and Approval RUS Updates

13 Establishment of the Broadband Opportunity Council, co-chaired by the Secretaries of Commerce and Agriculture, and to consist of over 20 government Departments and groups Agencies to submit comprehensive survey of Federal programs that could assist broadband deployment Agencies to submit list of actions that each agency could take to identify and address regulatory barriers, incentivize investment, promote best practices, align funding decisions, and otherwise support wired broadband deployment and adoption Broadband Opportunity Council

14 Questions Steve Coyner, GFR 800 Tenney Road Suite Vancouver, WA Office: Jacqueline Rosier, Branch Chief GFR Loan Origination & Approval Division