[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 3 (Thursday, January 5, 1995)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 1758-1759]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-246]
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Proposed Rules
Federal Register
________________________________________________________________________
This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains notices to the public of
the proposed issuance of rules and regulations. The purpose of these
notices is to give interested persons an opportunity to participate in
the rule making prior to the adoption of the final rules.
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Federal Register / Vol. 60, No. 3 / Thursday, January 5, 1995 /
Proposed Rules
[[Page 1758]]
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Rural Utilities Service
7 CFR Part 1755
RIN 0572-AA66
Telephone Program Regulations
AGENCY: Rural Utilities Service, USDA.
ACTION: Proposed rule.
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SUMMARY: The Rural Utilities Service (RUS) proposes to amend 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outdated bulletins.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.
Therefore, RUS is requesting public comments on this proposed
rescission.
DATES: Comments concerning this proposed rule must be received by RUS,
or postmarked no later than February 6, 1995.
ADDRESSES: Comments should be mailed to Director, Telecommunications
Standards Division, Rural Utilities Service, room 2835, South Building,
U.S. Department of Agriculture, Washington, DC 20250-1500. RUS requests
an original and three copies of all comments (7 CFR part 1700). All
comments received will be made available for public inspection at room
2835, South Building, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Washington, DC
20250-1500 between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. (7 CFR 1.27(b)).
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Richard J. Peterson, Assistant
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. Copies of
individual bulletins are available from the Publications Branch, Rural
Utilities Service, room 0180, South Building, U.S. Department of
Agriculture, Washington, DC 20250-1500, telephone number (202) 720-
8674.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Executive Order 12866
This proposed 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 proposed rule has been reviewed under Executive Order 12778,
Civil Justice Reform. If adopted, this proposed 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 proposed 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 proposed 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 that 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 proposed 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 proposed 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 proposed 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 proposed 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
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 terms ``RUS bulletin'' and ``RUS standards and specifications''
have the same meaning as the term ``REA bulletin'' and ``REA standards
and specifications'', unless otherwise indicated. 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 propose to rescind the outdated RUS
bulletins listed below. RUS felt rescission was the best option for
these bulletins and welcomes public comment. These bulletins are
incorporated by reference at 7 CFR 1755.97.
[[Page 1759]]
List of RUS Bulletins Proposed for Rescission
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RUS bulletin No. Specification No. Date last issued Title of standard or 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 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 borrowers may refer to 7 CFR 1755.390, RUS
Specification for Filled Telephone Cables, and/or 7 CFR 1755.890, RUS
Specification for Filled Telephone Cables With Expanded Insulation, for
further information on filled cables.
RUS Bulletin 345-75, RUS Specification for Electronic Trunk
Circuits, PE-65, is proposed for rescission 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.
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 proposes to amend Chapter
XVII of title 7 of the Code of Federal Regulations as follows:
PART 1755--TELECOMMUNICATIONS STANDARDS AND SPECIFICATIONS FOR
MATERIAL, 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.
Sec. 1755.97 [Amended]
2. Section 1755.97 is amended by removing the entries listed below
from the table:
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RUS bulletin No. Specification No. Date last issued Title of standard or 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.......... Jan. 1977......... RUS Specification for Equipment for Direct Distance Dialing.
* * * * * * *
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Dated: 12-6-94.
Bob J. Nash,
Under Secretary, Rural Economic and Community Development.
[FR Doc. 95-246 Filed 1-4-95; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-15-P