Grant Details

Grant Details:
Application Due Date: TBA

Description: 

Overview:

Advanced telecommunications services play a vital role in the economic development, education and health care of rural Americans. The Distance Learning and Telemedicine (DLT) Program is specifically designed to meet the educational and health care needs of rural America through the use of advanced telecommunications technologies. With DLT grants, loans, and loan-grant combinations, we have helped rural communities enjoy enhance educational opportunities, improved health care services and greater economic development.

Our partnership wiht rural America is long-standing. For 60 years, the Telecommunications Program has been at the forefront of providing the infrastructure financing that brought advanced telecommunications services to the most rural areas of our country. Today, the Telecommunications Program of the Rural Utilities Service continues as an essential source of financing and technical assistance for rural telecommunication systems. The DLT Grant Program strengthens that partnership and commitment by continuing to improve the quality of life for rural citizens.

DLT Program, we have helped build community partnerships that provide both the infrastructure needed to reach the schoolhouse or clinic door and the equipment required inside that door.

Eligibility:

1. Currently deliver or propose to deliver distance learning or telemedicine services for the term of the grant. To receive a grant, the purposes must meet the grant definition of distance learning and/or telemedicine.

2. Be legally organized as an incorporated organization or partnership; and Indian tribe or tribal organization; a state or local unit of government; a consortium; or other legal entity, including a private corporation organized on a for profit or not-for profit basis with the legal capacity to contract with the United States Government.

3. Operate a rural community facility or deliver distance learning or telemedicine services to entities that operate a rural community facility or the residents of rural areas at rates calculated to ensure that the benefit of the financial assistance passes through the such entities or to residents of rural areas.

Application Deadline:

April 25, 2011

Applications are evaluated for eligibility and scored on information submitted by the application deadline. RUS will not solicit or consider eligibility and scoring information submitted after the deadline. All applications must either be delivered into our hands or carry third-party proof of shipping (or electronic submission, if applicable) by the application deadline to be eligible for funding under the FY 2011 DLT program. Applications will not be accepted by fax or e-mail. Late applications will be returned without being considered for funding.

Applications are to be presented in the format described in this Guide. Paper applications must either be delivered and in our hands by the application deadline or show proof-of-shipping no later than the application deadline. The proof-of-shipping must be from a third party such as the Postal Service or a commercial carrier. Evidence of shipping not under direct control of such a third party, such as a printed label from a postage meter, does not constitute proof-of-shipping. The following proofs are acceptable:
• A legibly dated U.S. Postal Service postmark
• A legible mail receipt with the date of mailing stamped by the USPS
• A dated shipping label, invoice, or receipt from a commercial carrier

Ship at least one copy with original signatures and two additional copies of your application to:

Director, ASD

Telecommunications Program, STOP 1550, Room 2844
1400 Independence Ave., SW
Washington, D.C. 20250-1550

Organization Information:
Organization: U.S. Department of Agriculture
Website: http://www.usda.gov/wps/portal/usdahome

Contact Information:
Contact Name: DLT Program Staff
Contact Email: dltinfo@wdc.usda.gov
Contact Phone: 202-720-0413

More Information:
http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/supportdocuments/2011-dlt-app-guide-Final-Feb-23-2011.pdf