[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 3 (Thursday, January 5, 1995)] [Rules and Regulations] [Pages 1711-1712] From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov] [FR Doc No: 95-244] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 7 CFR Part 1755 Telephone Standards and Specifications AGENCY: Rural Utilities Service, USDA. ACTION: Final rule; technical amendment. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: The Rural Utilities Service (RUS) is amending its list of codified regulations on telecommunications standards and specifications for materials, equipment and construction to add new entries in order to bring it up to date. EFFECTIVE DATE: January 5, 1995. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: F. Lamont Heppe, Jr., Deputy Director, Program Support Staff, Rural Utilities Service, room 2234, South Building, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Washington, DC 20250-1500, telephone number (202) 720-0380. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Executive Order 12866 This final rule has been determined to be not significant for the purposes of Executive Order 12866 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 proceeding 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 simply involves telephone standards and specifications already codified and determined not to have a significant economic impact on a substantial number of small entities. Information Collection and Recordkeeping Requirements In compliance with the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) regulations (5 CFR part 1320) which implements the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1980 (Pub. L. 96-511) and section 3504 of that Act, there are no information collection and recordkeeping requirements contained in this final rule. National Environmental Policy Act Certification The Administrator of RUS 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. 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 titled 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 Pursuant to the Department of Agriculture Reorganization Act of 1994 (Pub. L. 103-354, 108 Stat. 3178), the United States Secretary of Agriculture simultaneously abolished the Rural Electrification Administration (REA) and established the Rural Utilities Service (RUS). The term ``RUS standards and specifications'', has the same meaning as the term ``REA standards and specifications'', unless otherwise indicated. RUS issues standards and specifications for construction of telephone facilities financed with RUS loan funds. In this document, RUS is setting out for the public for informational purposes the currently completed list of codified specifications. Due to the nature of this document and the Administrative Procedure Act, this action is being published as a final rule and is effective date of publication. List of Subjects in 7 CFR Part 1755 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. [[Page 1712]] 2. Section 1755.98 is amended by adding in numerical order new entries to the table to read as follows: Sec. 1755.98 List of telephone standards and specifications included in other 7 CFR parts. * * * * * ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Issue Section date Title ------------------------------------------------------------------------ * * * * * 1755.390..... 6-21-93 RUS Specification for Filled Telephone Cables. * * * * * 1755.522..... 6-28-93 RUS General Specification for Digital, Stored Program Controlled Central Office Equipment. 1755.525..... 7-18-94 RUS Form 525, Central Office Equipment Contract (Including Installation). 1755.860..... 12-20-93 RUS Specification for Filled Buried Wires. 1755.870..... 7-14-94 RUS Specification for Terminating Cables. 1755.890..... 6-21-93 RUS Specification for Filled Telephone Cables with Expanded Insulation. 1755.900..... 8-4-94 RUS Specification for Filled Fiber Optic Cables. * * * * * ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Dated: December 6, 1994. Bob J. Nash, Under Secretary, Rural Economic and Community Development. [FR Doc. 95-244 Filed 1-4-95; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3410-15-P