[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 214 (Monday, November 6, 1995)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 55991-55992]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-27394]
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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Rural Utilities Service
7 CFR Part 1755
Telecommunications Program Regulations
AGENCY: Rural Utilities Service, USDA.
ACTION: Final rule.
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SUMMARY: The Rural Utilities Service (RUS) amends its regulations on
Telecommunications Standards and Specifications for Materials,
Equipment and Construction, by rescinding a number of outdated
bulletins. These bulletins are incorporated by reference in RUS
telecommunications regulations and thus are regulatory in nature.
EFFECTIVE DATE: December 6, 1995.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Richard J. Peterson, Deputy Director,
Telecommunications Standards Division, Rural Utilities Service, room
2835, South Building, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Washington, DC
20250-1500, telephone number (202) 720-8663.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Executive Order 12866
This final rule has been determined to be not significant and
therefore has not been reviewed by the Office of Management and Budget.
Executive Order 12778
This final rule has been reviewed under Executive Order 12778,
Civil Justice Reform. If adopted, this final rule will not:
(1) Preempt any State or local laws, regulations, or policies;
(2) Have any retroactive effect; and
(3) Require administrative proceedings before parties may file suit
challenging the provisions of this rule.
Regulatory Flexibility Act Certification
The Administrator of RUS has determined that this final rule will
not have a significant economic impact on a substantial number of small
entities, as defined by the Regulatory Flexibility Act (5 U.S.C. 601 et
seq.). This final rule streamlines and updates RUS requirements for
telephone borrowers by rescinding obsolete standards and
specifications. Borrowers unable to use products meeting only the
specifications being eliminated may experience increased short-term
costs. However, RUS believes borrowers will benefit from reduced
overall costs due to the greater durability and lower maintenance costs
over time. These bulletins no longer meet industry standards.
Information Collection and Recordkeeping Requirements
This final rule contains no information collection or recordkeeping
requirements under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1980 (Pub. L. 96-
511).
National Environmental Policy Act Certification
The Administrator has determined that this final rule will not
significantly affect the quality of the human environment as defined by
the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.).
Therefore, this action does not require an environmental impact
statement or assessment.
Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance
The program described by this final rule is listed in the Catalog
of Federal Domestic Assistance Programs under number 10.851, Rural
Telephone Loans and Loan Guarantees, and 10.582, Rural Telephone Bank
Loans. This catalog is available on a subscription basis from the
Superintendent of Documents, the United States Government Printing
Office, Washington, DC 20402.
Executive Order 12372
This final rule is excluded from the scope of Executive Order
12372, Intergovernmental Consultation that requires intergovernmental
consultation with state and local officials. A Notice of Final Rule
entitled Department Programs and Activities Excluded from Executive
Order 12372 (50 FR 47034) exempts RUS and RTB loans and loan
guarantees, and RTB bank loans, to governmental and nongovernmental
entities from coverage under this Order.
Background
RUS issues publications titled ``bulletins'' which serve to guide
borrowers regarding already codified policy, procedures, and
requirements needed to manage loans, loan guarantee programs, and the
security instruments which provide for and secure RUS financing. RUS
issues standards and specifications for the construction of telephone
facilities financed with RUS loan funds. After review of RUS's bulletin
and specification issuances, RUS has decided to rescind the outdated
RUS bulletins listed below. These bulletins are incorporated by
reference at 7 CFR 1755.97.
List of RUS Bulletins for Rescission
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Title of standard or
RUS bulletin No. Specification No. Date last issued specification
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345-13........................... PE-22.................... Jan. 1983............... RUS Specification for
Aerial and Underground
Telephone Cable.
345-29........................... PE-38.................... Feb. 1982............... RUS Specification for
Self-Supporting Cable.
345-75........................... PE-65.................... Jan. 1977............... RUS Specification for
Electronic Trunk
Circuits.
345-168.......................... Form 538................. Oct. 1977............... RUS Specification for
Equipment for Direct
Distance Dialing.
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RUS Bulletins 345-13, RUS Specification for Aerial and Underground
Telephone Cable, PE-22 and 345-29, RUS Specification for Self-
Supporting Cable, PE-38 specify the technical requirements for air core
cables that are primarily used in aerial plant installations. With the
development of filled cables having 80 degree Centigrade filling
compounds, filled cables, which are primarily used for direct buried
and underground plant
[[Page 55992]]
installations, can now be used for aerial plant installations. Since
filled cables provide greater service reliability than air core cables,
filled cables for aerial plant installations have increased on RUS
borrower construction projects. This increasing use of filled cables
for aerial installations has resulted in a decline of air core cables
for aerial plant construction projects. Since the use of air core
cables in aerial plant construction is declining on RUS borrower
projects, RUS is rescinding both bulletins because of obsolescence.
RUS Bulletin 345-75, RUS Specification for Electronic Trunk
Circuits, PE-65, is being rescinded because RUS trunk circuits are now
digitally derived making RUS Bulletin 345-75 obsolete.
RUS Bulletin 345-168, RUS Specification for Equipment for Direct
Distance Dialing, Form 538, specified the technical requirements for
equipment use in direct distance dialing. Since the equipment
requirements for direct distance dialing are now specified in RUS 7 CFR
1755.522, RUS General Specification for Digital, Stored Program
Controlled Central Office Equipment, RUS Bulletin 345-168 is no longer
required therefore making the document obsolete.
Comments
On January 5, 1995, RUS published a proposed rule (60 FR 1758) to
rescind RUS Bulletin 345-13, RUS Specification for Aerial and
Underground Telephone Cable, PE-22; RUS Bulletin 345-29, RUS
Specification for Self-Supporting Cable, PE-38; RUS Bulletin 345-75,
RUS Specification for Electronic Trunk Circuits, PE-65; and RUS
Bulletin 345-168, RUS Specification for Equipment for Direct Distance
Dialing, Form 538, because of obsolescence. Comments on this proposed
rule were due by February 6, 1995. Comments and recommendations were
received from four organizations by this due date. The comments,
recommendations, and responses are summarized as follows:
All four organizations commented that they agreed with RUS's
decision to rescind all four of the outdated bulletins.
Response: Since all four organizations agreed with RUS's decision
to rescind the outdated bulletins, RUS will rescind the outdated
bulletins.
List of Subjects in 7 CFR Part 1755
Incorporation by reference, Loan programs--communications, Rural
areas, Telephone.
For reasons set out in the preamble, RUS amends Chapter XVII of
title 7 of the Code of Federal Regulations as follows:
PART 1755--TELECOMMUNICATIONS STANDARDS AND SPECIFICATIONS FOR
MATERIALS, EQUIPMENT AND CONSTRUCTION
1. The authority citation for part 1755 continues to read as
follows:
Authority: 7 U.S.C. 901 et seq.; 1921 et seq.; Pub. L. 103-354,
108 Stat. 3178 (7 U.S.C. 6941 et seq.).
Sec. 1755.97 [Amended]
2. Section 1755.97 is amended by removing from the table the
entries for bulletins 345-13, 345-29, 345-75, and 345-168.
Dated: October 30, 1995.
Jill Long Thompson,
Under Secretary, Rural Economic and Community Development.
[FR Doc. 95-27394 Filed 11-3-95; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-15-P
