Title 40Public Buildings, Property, and WorksRelease 119-73

§14504 Telecommunications and technology initiative

Title 40 › Subtitle SUBTITLE IV— - APPALACHIAN REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT › Chapter CHAPTER 145— - SPECIAL APPALACHIAN PROGRAMS › Subchapter SUBCHAPTER I— - PROGRAMS › § 14504

Last updated Apr 6, 2026|Official source

Summary

The Appalachian Regional Commission can give technical help, grants, or contracts to people or groups in the region to expand affordable access to advanced telecommunications and business technologies, teach people how to use those technologies, help businesses get ready for e-commerce, and support tech startups. Grants can pay up to 50% of a project’s cost. In counties designated as distressed, up to 80% can be paid. In counties designated as at-risk, up to 70% can be paid. The money can be used alone or with other federal or private funds. The Commission may also use these funds to raise the federal share of other programs when it decides that is appropriate.

Full Legal Text

Title 40, §14504

Public Buildings, Property, and Works — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)The Appalachian Regional Commission may provide technical assistance, make grants, enter into contracts, or otherwise provide amounts to persons or entities in the region for projects—
(1)to increase affordable access to advanced telecommunications, entrepreneurship, and management technologies or applications in the region;
(2)to provide education and training in the use of telecommunications and technology;
(3)to develop programs to increase the readiness of industry groups and businesses in the region to engage in electronic commerce; or
(4)to support entrepreneurial opportunities for businesses in the information technology sector.
(b)Of the cost of any activity eligible for a grant under this section, not more than—
(1)50 percent may be provided from amounts appropriated to carry out this section;
(2)in the case of a project to be carried out in a county for which a distressed county designation is in effect under section 14526, 80 percent may be provided from amounts appropriated to carry out this section; or
(3)in the case of a project to be carried out in a county for which an at-risk county designation is in effect under section 14526, 70 percent may be provided from amounts appropriated to carry out this section.
(c)Assistance under this section may be provided entirely from amounts made available to carry out this section, in combination with amounts made available under other federal programs, or from any other source.
(d)Notwithstanding any provision of law limiting the federal share under any other federal program, amounts made available to carry out this section may be used to increase that federal share, as the Commission decides is appropriate.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Historical and Revision Notes

Revised SectionSource (U.S. Code)Source (Statutes at Large) 14504(a)40 App.:203(a).Pub. L. 89–4, title II, § 203, as added Pub. L. 107–149, § 5, Mar. 12, 2002, 116 Stat. 67. 14504(b)40 App.:203(c). 14504(c)40 App.:203(b)(1). 14504(d)40 App.:203(b)(2).

Editorial Notes

Amendments

2008—Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 110–371 added subsec. (b) and struck out heading and text of former subsec. (b). Text read as follows: “Not more than 50 percent (or 80 percent in the case of a project to be carried out in a county for which a distressed county designation is in effect under section 14526 of this title) of the cost of any activity eligible for a grant under this section may be provided from amounts appropriated to carry out this section.”

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

40 U.S.C. § 14504

Title 40Public Buildings, Property, and Works

Last Updated

Apr 6, 2026

Release point: 119-73