1738.13—Allocation of funds.

(a) On October 1, of each fiscal year, or as soon as possible after funds become available, RUS will:
(1) Establish a national reserve for broadband loans, and
(2) Allocate amounts in the reserve to each State, territory, and insular possession, based on the ratio of the number of communities with a population of 2,500 inhabitants or less in the state, territory, and insular possession to the number of communities with a population of 2,500 inhabitants or less in all states, territories, and insular possessions. Population will be based upon the Bureau of the Census' latest decennial census.
(b) To be considered eligible for funding from the State reserve during the fiscal year, an application, determined by RUS to be complete, must be postmarked no later than January 31 of the fiscal year.
(c) On April 1 of each fiscal year, RUS will return all unobligated amounts in each state's reserve to the national reserve and will make the national reserve available to eligible entities in any state.
(d) To be considered eligible for funding from the national reserve during the current fiscal year, a completed application, satisfactory to RUS, must be postmarked no later than July 31 of the fiscal year.
(e) Completed applications that are economically and technically feasible, as determined by RUS, will be considered for funding in accordance with the priority requirements set forth in § 1738.15 of this part.