; and (ii) a city, town, or incorporated area that has a population of greater than 20,000 inhabitants. (B) Urban area growth The Secretary may, by regulation only, consider an area described in section 343(a)(13)(F)(i)(I) of that Act to not be a rural area for purposes of this section. (C) Exclusion of certain populations The term rural area does not include any population described in subparagraph (H) or (I) of section 343(a)(13) of the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act ( 7 U.S.C. 1991(a)(13) ). (c) Grants, loans, and combinations (1) In general The Secretary shall make grants, loans, and combinations of grants and loans to eligible entities described in subsection (d) to provide funds for the construction, improvement, or acquisition of facilities and equipment for the provision of broadband service in rural areas. (2) Project eligibility To be eligible for a grant, loan, or grant and loan combination under paragraph (1), in addition to the requirements of subsection (d), the project that is the subject of the grant, loan, or grant and loan combination shall— (A) provide broadband service of at least— (i) a 100–Mbps downstream transmission capacity; and (ii) a 100–Mbps upstream transmission capacity; and (B) subject to paragraph (4), be carried out in a proposed service territory in which at least 75 percent of the households lack access to broadband service of at least— (i) a 100–Mbps downstream transmission capacity; and (ii) a 20–Mbps upstream transmission capacity. (3) Priority In making grants, loans, and grant and loan combinations under paragraph (1), the Secretary— (A) shall give priority to applications for projects to provide broadband service in a proposed service territory in which at least 90 percent of households lack access to broadband service of at least— (i) a 100–Mbps downstream transmission capacity; and (ii) a 20–Mbps upstream transmission capacity