Insight 7: ARRA Broadband Investment Program Guidelines of USDA – RUS Issued 9 July 2009 3. Implement in concert with NTIA and construc-tion with the FCC. 4. Establish appropriate monitoring and servicing of the investments to ensure that the objectives are achieved. The Rural Utilities Service (RUS) will support the expansion of broadband services in rural areas in the United States through fi nancing and grants to projects that provide access to high-speed services and facilitate economic development in locations without suffi cient access to such services. The ARRA includes the following requirements for broadband projects funded by RUS under the bill: 75% of areas to be served by a project receiving funds from such grants or loans shall be in a rural area without suffi cient access to high-speed broad-band services to facilitate rural economic develop-ment. Strategy: In order to provide economic stimulus during the current recession, ARRA requests that funds be obli-gated Priority shall be given to: Projects that will deliver end-users a choice of by 30 September 2010. RUS will offer grants, more than one service provider; direct loans and loan/grant combinations. These funds will be awarded on a competitive basis with unprecedented transparency and accountability. Projects that provide service to the highest per-centage of rural residents that do not have access to broadband services; Objectives: 1. Fund projects that will support rural economic Projects from current and former RUS borrowers; Projects that can commence immediately upon development and job creation beyond the imme-diate approval. construction and operations of the broad-band facilities. 2. Ensure that at least 75% of the investment serves Source: http//:www.scribd.com/doc/16345490/ARRA-Broadband- Investment-Program-Guidelines-of-USDARUS-Issued-060909. rural areas. 47