Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 104 Part 5.djvu/700

 104 STAT. 4022 PUBLIC LAW 101-624—NOV. 28, 1990 (5) LOCAL EXCHANGE CARRIERS.—Under the conditions described in section 2334(h), 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 2333(a) of the Rural Electrification Act of 1936 (7 U.S.C. 924(a))), to cover the costs of telecommunications transmission facilities. (6) INFORMATIONAL EFFORTS. —The Administrator shall establish and implement procedures to carry out informational ef- forts to advise potential end users located in rural areeis 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. (c) REGULATIONS. — Not later than 160 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall, in addition to promulgating the regulations described in section 2334(b), 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. Employment. CHAPTER 2—RURAL BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT 7 USC 1932 note. SEC. 2336. PURPOSES. The purposes of this chapter are to— (1) provide funds to improve telecommunications service in rural areas; and (2) provide access to advanced telecommunications services and computer networks to improve job opportunities and the business environment in rural areas. SEC. 2337. LOANS FOR BUSINESS TELECOMMUNICATIONS PARTNERSHIPS. Section 310B of the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act (7 U.S.C. 1932) is amended by adding after the subsections added by section 2347(a) of this Act the following: " (i) LOANS FOR BUSINESS TELECOMMUNICATIONS PARTNERSHIPS. — "(1) IN GENERAL. — The Secretary may make loans under this subsection at low interest rates and at market rates to 1 or more businesses, local governments, or public agencies in rural areas to fund facilities in which the recipients of such loans share telecommunications terminal equipment, computers, computer software, and computer hardware. "(2) GENERAL REQUIREMENTS.— "(A) APPLICATION PROCESS. — " (i) SUBMISSION OF APPLICATION.— Any entity desiring a loan under this subsection shall submit an application therefor to the Secretary. "(ii) CONTENTS OF APPLICATION.— Each application for a loan under this subsection shall include— "(I) a detailed explanation of the proposed rural telecommunications system, including the general telecommunications transmission services and facilities required, and a list of the specific equipment that the applicant proposes to purchase or lease, to implement the system; "(II) a description of the manner in which the proposed project is to be funded;

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