Telecommunications Infrastructure Loan Program

Telecommunications Infrastructure Loan Program is sponsored by USDA Rural Utilities Service (RUS). This program provides long-term direct and guaranteed loans to qualified organizations for the purpose of financing the improvement, expansion, construction, acquisition, and operation of telephone lines, facilities, or systems to furnish and improve Telecommunications, 911, and Emergency Communications services in rural areas.

Telecommunications Infrastructure Loans & Loan Guarantees What does this program do? This program provides financing for the construction, maintenance, improvement and expansion of telephone service and broadband in rural areas. For more information on other programs administered by RUS Telecommunications please visit : http://www.

rd. usda. gov/programs - services/all -programs/telecom -programs Most entities that provide telecommunications in qualified rural areas including State and local governmental entities Federally Recog nized Tribes Non -profits, including Cooperatives, and limited dividend or mutual associations For -profit businesses (must be a corporation or limited liability company) What is an eligible area?

Rural areas and towns with a population of 5,000 or less Are as without telecommunications facilities or areas where the applicant is the recognized telecommunications provider are eligible Check with your local RD office to determine whether the proposed service area qualifies How may the funds be used?

Funds may b e used to finance broadband capable telecommunications service Acquisitions (in certain cases) Refinancing (in certain cases) For additional detail see Code of Federal Regulations 7 CFR 1735 What kind of funding is available?

Cost -of -Money Loans are direct loans from USDA Rural Utilities Service Loan Guarantees of up to 80% allow private lenders, including the Federal Financing Bank (F FB), to extend credit to qualified borrowers in rural areas • Hardship Loans may be used, at the sole discretion of USDA Rural Utilities Service, to assist applicants in meeting financial feasibility requirements for applications to serve Cost -of -money loans: fixed rate at current U.S. Treasury rates depending on loan maturity at time of each advance Loan Guarantees: fixed rate primarily from the Federal Financing Bank (FFB).

Interest rates (Treasury rate plus 1/8%) vary depending on call options and the interim maturity rate selected at each advance, which may be as short as 90 days, with auto -rollover. Current rates available online, scroll down to “Treasury Constant Maturities” add 0. 125% Hardship loa ns: fixed interest rate of 5% for up to 20 years and requires special Are there additional requirements?

Borrowers must have legal authority to provide, construct, operate and maintain the proposed facilities or services All facilities finan ced with the aid of federal dollars must be used for a public purpose May not duplicate similar services available in the same area Partnerships with other federal, state, local, private and non -profit entities are encouraged Who currently participates in this program?

See our Borrower Directory for a list of current participants. Applications for this program are accepted by the National Office year -round. Applicants should work with their local General Field Representative to ensure complete and eligible applications prior to submission.

For Program Resources please refer the "Forms and Resources" Tab (fo rms needed, guidance, certifications etc…) Who can answer questions about this program? For questions about the Telecommunications Infrastructure Loan Program, please call the Loan Origination and Approval Division at (202) 720 -0800. What governs this pr ogram?

Rural Electrification Act of 1936, as amended in 7 U.S.C. 901 et seq. Why does USDA Rural Development do this?

By helping private and non -profit providers secure the necess ary financing, this program helps maintain a seamless nationwide telecommunications network that also provides access to broadband for education, healthcare, public safety and jobs for all Americans regardless of where NOTE: Program details may change over time.

Before you begin an application, please confirm you have the most current information by contacting a General Field Representative who serves your area for assistance or consul t the program Instructions listed in the section above titled "What Governs this Program?

Notification to RD Apply users: Starting on November 16, 2023, The Rural Telecommunications Infrastructure Loan (Infrastructure) Program online application will migrate from RD Apply to Salesforce and will use the application intake system (Intake) currently used by ReConnect applicants.

If you intend to sub mit an Infrastructure application prior to the end of calendar year 2023, we encourage you to use RD Apply at your earliest convenience. If you do not intend to submit an Infrastructure application during calendar year 2023, we encourage you to submit any future Infrastructure applications through Intake. We will publish a link to Intake on this page.

Please reach out to your local General Field Representative or submit a question via Contact Us if you have any questions about this upcoming change.

Application Intake System Resources Infrastructure Program Network and Financials Workbook (Excel) Application Intake System User Manual -TBD Telecommunications Program Funded Service Areas Ma p RUS Application Intake System Telecommunication Infrastructure Loan Program Application Resources: For more information related to the Application for the program please refer to the Infrastructure Infrastructure Loan Application Guide (pdf) List of Eligible Countries Applicants should work with their local General Field Representative to ensure complete and eligible applications prior to submission Telecommunications Program Funded Service Areas Ma p RUS Forms and Publications Link: https://www.

rd. usda. gov/resources/forms Interest Rates: Telecommunications Program Telecom Program Entities Reporting in Reporting & Compliance Infrastructure borrowers who received a Rural Broadband (Farm Bill) loan or Broadband Initiatives Program (BIP) award and were at one time, reporting in Telecom's Broadband Collection and Analy sis System (BCAS).

Infrastructure borrowers who received a Reconnect award. Infrastructure borrowers who also have a Community Connect (CC) grant with Active Reporting requirements under the CC grant agreement. Financial and Operating Report filings for this category of Infrastructure borrowers must be completed online using Telecom’s Reporting & Compliance Syste m .

Please consult the Rural Development Reporting & Compliance User Guide for information on Telecom Program Entities Reporting in Data Collection System: Until further notice, Infrastructure borrowers who have not received a Rural Broadband (FARM Bill) loan, Broadband Initiatives Program (BIP) award, Reconnect award, or a Community Connect grant with outstanding reporting requirements, are still required to report in the Data Collection System (DCS).

Financial and Operating Report filings for this category of Infrastructure borrowers must be completed online using DCS . Additional filing and technical assistance can be found on the DCS There are no other architect, engineering or environmental requirements at the national level. If there are additional state -specific requirements they will be listed above.

There are no other additional requirem ents at the national level. If there are additional state - specific requirements they will be listed above. Contact For questions about the Telecommunications Infrastructure Loan Program, please call the Loan Origination and Approval Division at (202) 720 -0800.

General Field Representatives (GFR) Contact There are currently no events scheduled