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Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 37 / Friday, February 26, 2021 / Rules and Regulations other federal agencies and gain additional insight into the unique economic, geographical and political realities that continue to impair access to affordable broadband in many tribal communities. The listening session will be held prior to the release of the next Rural eConnectivity Program funding announcement, and tribal communities will be notified once this session has been scheduled.
USDA Rural Development has participated in listening sessions and Farm Bill tribal consultations that have either specifically been focused on the Rural eConnectivity Program or have touched on the challenges with utilizing Rural Developments programs to finance broadband infrastructure throughout Indian Country and Alaska.
For instance, on June 4, 2018, USDAs Senior Advisor for Rural Infrastructure, the Assistant Administrator for the Telecommunications Programs and Rural Developments Native American Coordinator hosted a listening session on the legislation authorizing the Rural eConnectivity Pilot program during the National Congress of American Indians Midyear Conference in Kansas City, MO, prior to the release of the first funding announcement for the program.
Additionally, in May and June of 2019, the Administrator of the Rural Utilities Service and Rural Developments Native American Coordinator participated in USDA Farm Bill consultations hosted by USDAs Office of Tribal Relations in Washington, DC and Reno, NV.
Although the Rural eConnectivity Program was not the focus of these sessions, concerns from tribal leaders regarding broadband infrastructure and Rural Developments programs were shared at both events.
Over the last two years, Rural Development has targeted outreach to tribes during Round 1 and Round 2 of the Rural eConnectivity Program funding opportunities. For instance, in April of 2019, a tribal focused Rural eConnectivity Program technical assistance workshop was held on the Pascua Yaqui reservation just outside of Tucson, AZ. Subsequently, in January and February of 2020, Rural Developments Native American Coordinator attended the Round 2 Rural eConnectivity Program technical assistance workshops in Seattle and Denver. He hosted a breakout session at both workshops on collaborating with tribes and was available to answer questions of potential tribal applicants.
Rural Developments State Directors, Telecom General Field Representatives, and additional Rural Development staff have met with tribes on a regular basis to discuss tribal broadband projects,
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tribal broadband challenges and Rural Development programs throughout this period as well. For instance, in August of 2019, USDA Rural Development Colorado hosted a broadband workshop in Durango, CO. Tribes in the region were encouraged to participate and Rural Development leadership used the opportunity to visit two nearby tribes to discuss their current development priorities and challengesincluding access to broadband infrastructure.
Finally, Rural Development has looked to leverage interagency opportunities to provide outreach to tribes. For instance, Rural Development staff hosted 3 workshops at the inaugural National Tribal Broadband Summit hosted by the Department of Interior in September of 2019. The Administrator for the Rural Utilities Service also provided closing comments at the conclusion of the first day of the summit. More recently, on July 20, 2020, Rural Development staff participated in a Community Broadband Funders Webinar hosted by FEMA
Regions 9 and 10 and provided information on Rural Developments telecommunications and broadband programs, including the Rural eConnectivity Program. Additional federal agencies that presented information during the webinar included Department of Commerces National Telecommunications Information Administration and the Economic Development Administration, the Federal Communications Commission, HUDs Office of Native American Programs, Health and Human Services and FEMA. The webinar was not a tribal specific event, but tribes were encouraged to participate and some of the content was geared specifically to tribal participants.
Ongoing outreach, interagency collaboration, and project meetings with tribes helps inform RD leadership of ongoing tribal challenges and opportunities regarding broadband financing and infrastructure deployment. These types of interactions led to tribal application priority points in the first Rural eConnectivity Program funding announcement and special consideration for tribal broadband plans and tribal critical facilities in the application scoring criteria during the first and second Rural eConnectivity Program funding opportunities. Moving forward, this type of tribal collaboration, along with the tribal listening session planned for this rule, will help inform Rural Development staff in the development of future Rural eConnectivity Program funding opportunity announcements.

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Civil Rights Impact Analysis Rural Development, a mission area for which RUS is an agency, has reviewed this rule in accordance with USDA
Regulation 43004, Civil Rights Impact Analysis, to identify any major civil rights impacts the rule might have on program participants on the basis of age, race, color, national origin, sex, or disability. After review and analysis of the rule and available data, it has been determined that based on the analysis of the program purpose, application submission and eligibility criteria, issuance of this Final Rule is not likely to adversely or disproportionately impact very low, low and moderateincome populations, minority populations, women, Indian tribes or persons with disability, by virtue of their race, color, national origin, sex, age, disability, or marital or familial status. No major civil rights impact is likely to result from this rule.
Information Collection and Recordkeeping Requirements The Information Collection and Recordkeeping requirements contained in this rule have been submitted for approval under OMB Control Number 05720152.
List of Subjects in 7 CFR Part 1740
Broadband, Community development, Grant programscommunications, Loan programscommunications, Rural areas, Telecommunications.
Accordingly, for reasons set forth in the preamble, chapter XVII, title 7, the Code of Federal Regulations is amended by adding new part 1740 to read as follows:
CHAPTER XVIIRURAL UTILITIES
SERVICE, DEPARTMENT OF
AGRICULTURE

PART 1740RURAL ECONNECTIVITY
PROGRAM
Sec.
Subpart AGeneral 1740.1 Overview.
1740.2 Definitions.
1740.3 Funding parameters.
1740.4 Certifications.
1740.51740.8 Reserved Subpart BEligibility Requirements 1740.9 Eligible and ineligible entities.
1740.10 Eligible projects.
1740.11 Eligible and ineligible service areas.
1740.12 Eligible and ineligible cost purposes.
1740.131740.24 Reserved Subpart CAward Requirements 1740.25 Substantially Underserved Trust Areas.

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