RURAL COMMUNITY ACCESS TO ADVANCED TELECOMMUNICATIONS.

SEC. 2335. RURAL COMMUNITY ACCESS TO ADVANCED TELECOMMUNICATIONS. (a) Purpose.— (1) In general.— It is the purpose of the program established under this chapter to encourage and improve the use of telecommunications, computer networks, and related advanced technologies, by persons associated with end users, including students and teachers, medical professionals, small businesses, and other residents living in rural areas associated with rural community facilities in rural areas. (2) Grants.— Grants shall be made under this chapter to end users to fund up to 100 percent of each comprehensive rural telecommunications plan as approved by the Administrator. (b) Grants.— (1) General authorization.— The Administrator may make grants to accomplish the purposes of the program established under this chapter in amounts that shall not exceed the levels set forth in paragraph (3). (2) Disbursement.— In order to facilitate appropriate planning for, and continuity of, the program established under this chapter, the Administrator may obligate funds appropriated during a particular year for disbursement in a subsequent year or years, and the total of funds so appropriated and obligated during a year may exceed the limitations described in paragraph (1). (3) Limitations on authorization of appropriations.— To carry out this chapter, there are authorized to be appropriated $25,000,000 for fiscal year 1991, $50,000,000 for each of fiscal years 1992 and 1993, and $60,000,000 for each of the fiscal years 1994 and 1995. Amounts appropriated under this paragraph shall remain available until expended. (4) Use of funds.— Grants under this chapter shall be made available to end users to be used for facilities, equipment, activities, and other uses as described in the approved rural telecommunications plan to achieve the purpose of this chapter, including— (A) the development and acquisition of instructional programming; (B) the development and acquisition, through lease or purchase, of computer hardware and software, audio and visual equipment, computer network components, telecommunications terminal equipment, telecommunications transmission facilities, data terminal equipment, or interactive video equipment, and other facilities that would further the purposes of the programs authorized by this chapter; (C) providing technical assistance and instruction for the development or use of such programming, equipment, or facilities; or (D) other uses that are consistent with achieving the purposes of this chapter as approved by the Administrator. 104 STAT. 4022 (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 efforts to advise potential end users located in rural areas 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.