[Federal Register: February 19, 2003 (Volume 68, Number 33)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 7897-7898]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr19fe03-1]
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Rules and Regulations
Federal Register
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[[Page 7897]]
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Rural Utilities Service
7 CFR Part 1755
RUS Specification for Voice Frequency Loading Coils
AGENCY: Rural Utilities Service, USDA.
ACTION: Final rule.
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SUMMARY: The Rural Utilities Service (RUS) hereby amends its
regulations on Telecommunications Standards and Specifications for
Materials, Equipment and Construction, by rescinding the current issue
of RUS Bulletin 345-22, RUS Specification for Voice Frequency Loading
Coils, PE-26. This specification has become outdated because of
advancements made in the delivery of telecommunications services to
rural subscribers.
DATES: Effective date: March 21, 2003.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Charlie I. Harper, Jr., Chief, Outside
Plant Branch, Telecommunications Standards Division, Rural Utilities
Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW.,
STOP 1598, Washington, DC 20250-1598, telephone (202) 720-0667.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Executive Order 12866
This final rule is exempt from the Office of Management and Budget
(OMB) review for the purposes of Executive Order 12866 and, therefore
has not been reviewed by OMB.
Executive Order 12988
This final rule has been reviewed under Executive Order 12988,
Civil Justice Reform. RUS has determined that this final rule meets the
applicable standards provided in section 3 of that Executive Order. In
addition, all State and local laws and regulations that are in conflict
with this rule will be preempted, no retroactive effect will be given
to this rule, and, in accordance with section 212(e) of the Department
of Agriculture Reorganization Act of 1994 (7 U.S.C. 6912(e)),
administrative appeal procedures, if any, must be exhausted before an
action against the Department or its agencies may be initiated.
Regulatory Flexibility Act Certification
RUS has determined that this rule will not have a significant
economic impact on a substantial number of small entities, as defined
in the Regulatory Flexibility Act (5 U.S.C. 601 et seq.). Loan
documents between RUS and its telecommunications borrowers require
borrowers to comply with certain standards and specifications for the
construction of telecommunications facilities financed with RUS loan
funds. This rule rescinds the requirements that borrowers comply with
an outdated RUS Specification for Voice Frequency Loading Coils. This
rule relieves borrowers of a requirement that no longer represents best
practices in the telecommunications industry and consequently will not
have a significant impact on the affected entities.
Information Collection and Recordkeeping Requirements
This final rule contains no information collection or recordkeeping
requirements under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C.
Chapter 35).
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.
Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance
The program described by this final rule is listed in the Catalog
of Federal Domestic Assistance programs under No. 10.851, Rural
Telephone Loans and Loan Guarantees, and No. 10.852, 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 20402-9325. Telephone (202) 512-1800.
Executive Order 12372
This final rule is excluded from the scope of Executive Order
12372, Intergovernmental Consultation, which may require consultation
with State and local officials. See the final rule related notice
entitled, ``Department Programs and Activities Excluded from Executive
Order 12372,'' (50 FR 47034) advising that RUS loans and loan
guarantees were not covered by Executive Order 12372.
Unfunded Mandates
This final rule contains no Federal mandates (under the regulatory
provision of Title II of the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act) for State,
local, and tribal governments or the private sector. Thus, this final
rule is not subject to the requirements of section 202 and 205 of the
Unfunded Mandates Reform Act.
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 construction of
telecommunications facilities financed with RUS loan funds. After
review of RUS's bulletin and specification issuances, RUS has decided
to rescind the outdated RUS Bulletin 345-22, RUS Specification for
Voice Frequency Loading Coils, PE-26, issued January 19, 1989. This
bulletin is incorporated by reference at 7 CFR 1755.97.
RUS Bulletin 345-22, RUS Specification for Voice Frequency Loading
Coils, PE-26, specifies the technical requirements for voice frequency
loading coils that are used in aerial, direct burial, and underground
plant installations. Since RUS borrowers are designing and constructing
new plant facilities capable of handling both voice and data
transmission which require that loop lengths be shorter than 18,000
feet, the installation of voice frequency loading coils in these new
transmission facilities using these shorter loop lengths is no longer
required.
Therefore RUS is rescinding this bulletin because of obsolescence.
[[Page 7898]]
On January 31, 2002, RUS published a proposed rule (67 FR 4679) to
rescind RUS Bulletin 345-22, RUS Specification for Voice Frequency
Loading Coils, PE-26, because of obsolescence. Comments on this
proposed rule were due by April 1, 2002. One comment was received by
this due date. The commenter agreed with RUS that the bulletin should
be rescinded because of obsolescence. Since the commenter agreed with
RUS, RUS will rescind RUS Bulletin 345-22, RUS Specification for Voice
Frequency Loading Coils, PE-26.
List of Subjects in 7 CFR Part 1755
Loan programs--communications, Reporting and recordkeeping
requirements, 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., 6941 et seq.
Sec. 1755.97 [Amended]
2. Section 1755.97 is amended by removing the entry ``RUS Bulletin
No. 345-22'' from the table.
Dated: January 3, 2003.
Hilda Gay Legg,
Administrator, Rural Utilities Service.
[FR Doc. 03-3746 Filed 2-18-03; 8:45 am]
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