[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 4 (Thursday, January 6, 1994)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 657-661]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-196]


[[Page Unknown]]

[Federal Register: January 6, 1994]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Rural Electrification Administration

7 CFR Part 1773

RIN 0572-AA93

 

Policy on Audits of REA Borrowers

AGENCY: Rural Electrification Administration, USDA.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: This final rule revises and clarifies a provision of the 
current regulation which requires a certified public accountant (CPA) 
to state whether an electric borrower has complied with certain 
provisions of its loan and security instruments. This final rule also 
incorporates the illustrative management letter issued by the American 
Institute of Certified Public Accountants in a Technical Practice Aid 
dated November 11, 1992.

DATES: This rule is effective February 7, 1994. This rule applies to 
audits prepared as of December 31, 1993, and thereafter.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Ms. Roberta E. Detwiler, Chief, Technical Accounting and Auditing 
Staff, Borrower Accounting Division, Rural Electrification 
Administration, room 2222, South Building, U.S. Department of 
Agriculture, Washington, DC 20250, telephone number (202) 720-5227.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Executive Order 12866

    This final rule is issued in conformance with Executive Order 
12866.

Regulatory Flexibility Act Certification

    The Administrator, REA, has determined that the Regulatory 
Flexibility Act (5 U.S.C. 601 et seq.) does not apply to this final 
rule.

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, the 
information collection and recordkeeping requirements have been 
approved by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) under control 
number 0572-0095. Comments regarding these requirements may be sent to 
the United States Department of Agriculture, Clearance Office, OIRM, 
room 404-W, Washington, DC 20250 or to the Office of Management and 
Budget, Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, room 3201, 
Washington, DC 20503.

National Environmental Policy Act Certification

    The Administrator, REA, 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 10.850--Rural 
Electrification Loans and Loan Guarantees. 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. A Notice of Final Rule entitled 
Department Programs and Activities Excluded from Executive Order 12372 
(50 FR 47034) exempts REA and Rural Telephone Bank (RTB) loans and loan 
guarantees, and RTB bank loans, to governmental and nongovernmental 
entities from coverage under this Order.

Executive Order 12778

    This final rule has been reviewed under Executive Order 12778, 
Civil Justice Reform. This final rule:
    (1) Will not preempt any state or local laws, regulations, or 
policies, unless they present an irreconcilable conflict with this 
rule;
    (2) Will not have any retroactive effect; and
    (3) Will not require administrative proceeding before parties may 
file suit challenging the provisions of this rule.

Background

    On December 3, 1991, REA published a final rule on part 1773, at 56 
FR 63354, concerning audits of REA borrowers. Part 1773 implements the 
standard REA security instrument provision requiring REA borrowers to 
prepare and furnish to REA, at least once during each 12-month period, 
a full and complete report of its financial condition, operations, and 
cash flows, in form and substance satisfactory to REA, audited and 
certified by an independent CPA, satisfactory to REA, and accompanied 
by a report of such audit, in form and substance satisfactory to REA. A 
report of the audit was defined in Sec. 1773.1 to include the auditor's 
report, report on compliance, report on internal controls and 
management letter.
    The management letter is prepared by the CPA and addresses specific 
internal control, compliance, and other program issues not typically 
addressed in the standard auditor's report, report on internal 
controls, or report on compliance. The requirements for preparing a 
management letter are set forth in Sec. 1773.34, Management Letter. 
This final rule revises and clarifies Sec. 1773.34(e). Section 1773.34 
(e)(1)(i) for electric borrowers and Sec. 1773.34 (e)(2)(i) for 
telephone borrowers requires CPAs to test compliance with the loan and 
security instrument provision requiring borrowers to maintain 
insurance. REA is currently reviewing its insurance requirements to 
determine if these requirements are representative of current industry 
standards. Therefore, until such time as REA's review is completed and 
revisions, if any, to current policies are finalized, CPAs will not be 
required to test for compliance with the mortgage provision relating to 
insurance.
    Section 1773.34(e)(1)(ii) for electric borrowers and 
Sec. 1773.34(e)(2)(iii) for telephone borrowers requires CPAs to test 
for compliance with the loan and security instrument provision 
requiring funds to be deposited in banks or other depositories 
designated in the loan documents or approved by REA. Because of the 
many and varied investing activities available in today's economy, CPAs 
have questioned the definition of funds and what, if any, investments 
are affected. This final rule provides a definition of funds for 
purposes of applying this part 1773.
    Section 1773.34(e)(1)(iv) for electric borrowers and 
Sec. 1773.34(e)(2)(iv) for telephone borrowers requires CPAs to review 
the financial and statistical report and state whether the information 
presented is in agreement with the borrower's records. CPAs have 
questioned whether they are required to review a certified copy of the 
report obtained directly from REA or whether they may review a copy 
represented by the borrower as having been submitted to REA. This final 
rule clarifies REA's requirement for CPAs to review a copy of the 
financial and statistical report represented by the borrower as having 
been submitted to REA.
    Section 1773.34(e)(1)(iii) for electric borrowers and 
Sec. 1773.34(e)(2)(ii) for telephone borrowers requires the CPA to 
state whether an REA borrower has complied with the provision of its 
loan and security instrument that requires a borrower to obtain written 
approval of mortgagees to enter into any contract for the operation or 
maintenance of all or any part of its property, or for the use of its 
property by others. This requirement clearly goes beyond the scope of 
government auditing standards because it requires all contracts, even 
those that have little or no impact on financial statement amounts, to 
be reviewed by the CPA for REA approval. This testing has, during the 
effective period of part 1773, translated into increased audit fees. To 
minimize the cost impact to REA borrowers yet provide REA the assurance 
it requires, this final rule details the contracts that must be 
reviewed by CPAs.
    This final rule also incorporates the illustrative management 
letter, as amended by these part 1773 revisions, issued by the American 
Institute of Certified Public Accountants in a Technical Practice Aid 
dated November 11, 1992. The illustrative letter properly addresses the 
management letter requirements set forth in 7 CFR 1773.34 and includes 
specific language to ensure compliance with the promulgated auditing 
literature. As such, REA believes it is more informative than the 
sample management letter previously provided in appendix C to part 
1773.
    Due to a procedural change within REA that will more efficiently 
process and review audit reports submitted by REA borrowers, this final 
rule also amends Sec. 1773.3, Sec. 1773.20, and Sec. 1773.21 to require 
borrowers to submit to REA an additional copy of the audit, report on 
compliance, report on internal controls, and management letter and 
revises Sec. 1773.21 to require the submission of an additional copy of 
borrowers' plans for corrective action.

Comments

    A proposed rule entitled Policy on Audits of REA Borrowers, 
published September 23, 1993, at 58 FR 49442, invited interested 
parties to submit comments on or before November 22, 1993. Comments 
were received from the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association 
(NRECA) and two certified public accounting firms. The comments 
submitted by NRECA were based upon an analysis performed by the 
Accounting & Depreciation Committee, a subcommittee of the Generation 
and Transmission Managers Association Technical Advisory Committee, and 
were considered and concurred in by the NRECA Accounting and Tax 
Committee.
    One accounting firm agreed with the proposed revisions in all 
respects. The other commenters agreed with the proposed revisions; 
however, proffered additional revisions. The following paragraphs 
address the additional revisions proposed by the commenters.
    Comment. Sections 1773.40 and 1773.45 state that the certified 
public accountant's (CPA) workpapers must document whether all 
regulatory assets and liabilities comply with the requirements of 
Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 71, Accounting for the 
Effects of Certain Types of Regulation, and have received REA approval. 
REA telephone borrowers that comply with generally accepted accounting 
principles as required by part 32 of the Federal Communications 
Commission's Rules and Regulations, Uniform System of Accounts for 
Telecommunications Companies, are not required to obtain specific REA 
approval of regulatory assets and liabilities. Only REA electric 
borrowers must seek such approval. Sections 1773.40 and 1773.45 should 
be amended to specify that REA approval of regulatory assets and 
liabilities must only be documented for REA electric borrowers.
    Response. REA agrees with the comment and has revised Sec. 1773.40 
and Sec. 1773.45 accordingly.
    Comment. Section 1773.9(c) states that pursuant to the terms of its 
audit agreement with the borrower, the CPA must immediately report, in 
writing, all irregularities and all indications or instances of illegal 
acts, whether material or not to: (1) The president of the borrower's 
board of directors; (2) the Director, Borrowers Accounting Division; 
and (3) the Office of Inspector General. This requirement goes beyond 
that of generally accepted government auditing standards (GAGAS) which 
limits reporting requirements for irregularities to material instances 
and instances that cumulatively could have a material effect on the 
financial statements. GAGAS further limits the reporting of illegal 
acts to only the top official of the entity arranging for the audit. 
REA should modify the requirements set forth in Sec. 1773.9(c) to 
correspond with the GAGAS requirements.
    Response. REA recognizes that certain procedures set forth in part 
1773 exceed the requirements of a GAGAS audit and REA has acknowledged 
that fact in the rule. The Office of Inspector General, in Departmental 
Regulation No. 1700-1, Basic OIG Investigation/Audit Organization and 
Procedures, sets forth certain requirements that all Federal agencies 
within USDA must impose upon nonFederal auditors. One of these 
requirements is that all irregularities or illegal acts, regardless of 
materiality, discovered by nonFederal auditors be reported to the 
Federal agency requiring the audit and to OIG for appropriate action. 
For this reason, no revisions were made in the final rule.
    Comment. Section 1773.6(a)(2) states that ``The borrower and CPA 
acknowledge that REA regulations provide that if the borrower fails to 
have an audit performed and documented in compliance with GAGAS and 
this part, the borrower is in violation of its security instrument with 
REA''. This language exceeds the applicable mortgage covenant and the 
following language should be substituted: ``The borrower and CPA 
acknowledge that REA will consider the borrower to be in violation of 
its security instrument with REA if the borrower fails to have an audit 
performed and documented in compliance with GAGAS and 7 CFR part 1773. 
This acknowledgement shall not be considered a contractual admission 
against interest by either the borrower or the CPA.''
    Response. REA's proposed rule published on September 23, 1993, did 
not include revisions to Sec. 1773.6(a)(2). Therefore, comments on this 
section went beyond the scope of the proposal. REA is planning a 
separate rulemaking procedures that will include changes in 
Sec. 1773.6(a)(2) and REA will be soliciting comments at that time.
    Comment. Certain disclosure and reporting requirements contained in 
Sec. 1773.34 should include some consideration of materiality. The 
concept of materiality is inherent in all audits. Strict compliance 
with the existing policy has, however, resulted in reporting of 
immaterial items of non-compliance.
    Response. As previously discussed, REA recognizes that certain 
procedures set forth in part 1773 exceed the requirements of a GAGAS 
audit and REA has acknowledged that fact in the rule. Section 1773.34 
sets forth REA's requirement that the CPA must prepare a management 
letter and establishes the testing and reporting requirements for the 
management letter.
    Section 1773.34(e) sets forth certain provisions of REA's security 
instrument that REA has determined are essential to the security of its 
loans. CPAs auditing REA borrowers are, therefore, required to test for 
compliance with the security instrument provisions set forth in 
Sec. 1773.34. Because of the degree of reliance that REA places on the 
CPAs' testing in these areas, REA has determined that materiality 
should not be a factor upon which testing is based. REA has, however, 
through the publication of this final rule, revised and eliminated many 
of the unclear or burdensome requirements set forth in part 1773. For 
this reason, no additional revisions were made to Sec. 1773.34.

List of Subjects in 7 CFR Part 1773

    Accounting, Electric power, Loan programs--communications, Loan 
programs--energy, Reporting and recordkeeping requirements, Rural 
areas, Telephone.

    For the reasons set forth in the preamble, REA hereby amends 7 CFR 
chapter XVII as follows:

PART 1773--POLICY ON AUDITS OF REA BORROWERS

    1. The authority citation for part 1773 is revised to read as 
follows:

    Authority: 7 U.S.C. 901 et seq., 1921 et seq.)

    2. In Sec. 1773.3, paragraph (c) is revised to read as follows:


Sec. 1773.3  Annual audit.

 * * * * *
    (c) Until all loans made or guaranteed by REA have been repaid, the 
borrower must furnish three copies of the auditor's report, report on 
compliance, report on internal controls, and management letter to REA 
within 120 days of the as of audit date.
* * * * *
    3. In Sec. 1773.20, paragraph (a) is revised to read as follows:


Sec. 1773.20  CPA's submission of the auditor's report, report on 
compliance, report on internal controls, and management letter.

    (a) Time limit. As soon as possible after completion of the audit, 
but within 90 days of the as of audit date, the CPA should deliver the 
auditor's report, report on compliance, report on internal controls, 
and management letter to the president of the borrower's board of 
directors. As a minimum, copies should be provided for each member of 
the board of directors and the manager. Further, three copies must be 
provided to the borrower for transmittal to REA.
* * * * *
    4. In Sec. 1773.21, paragraphs (b) and (c) are revised to read as 
follows:


Sec. 1773.21  Borrower's review and submission of the auditor's report, 
report on compliance, report on internal controls, and management 
letter.

* * * * *
    (b) The borrower must furnish REA with three copies of the 
auditor's report, report on compliance, report on internal controls, 
and management letter within 120 days of the as of audit date. Any 
provision in REA's security instrument that requires such documents to 
be furnished to REA in a shorter period of time may be disregarded.
    (c) The borrower must furnish REA with three copies of its plan for 
corrective action, if any, within 180 days of the as of audit date.
* * * * *
    5. Section 1773.34 is amended by removing paragraph (e)(1)(i), 
redesignating paragraphs (e)(1)(ii) through (e)(1)(iv) as paragraphs 
(e)(1)(i) through (e)(1)(iii) respectively and revising the newly 
designated paragraphs, removing paragraph (e)(2)(i), redesignating 
paragraphs (e)(2)(ii) through (e)(2)(iv) as paragraphs (e)(2)(i) 
through (e)(2)(iii) respectively and revising the newly redesignated 
paragraphs to read as follows:


Sec. 1773.34  Management letter.

* * * * *
    (e) * * *
    (1) * * *
    (i) The requirement for funds to be deposited in banks or other 
depositories designated in the loan documents or approved by REA. For 
purposes of this part 1773, funds shall be defined as cash on deposit 
in demand and time accounts, and certificates of deposit;
    (ii) The requirement for a borrower to obtain written approval of 
mortgagees to enter into any contract for the operation or maintenance 
of all or any substantial part of its property, or for the use by 
others of its property. For purposes of this part 1773, the following 
contracts shall be deemed as requiring REA approval:
    (A) Management contracts in which the borrower has contracted to 
have another borrower or other entity manage its affairs;
    (B) Management contracts in which the borrower has contracted to 
manage another borrower or other utility system;
    (C) Operations and maintenance contracts in which the borrower has 
contracted to have another borrower or other entity operate and/or 
maintain all or a substantial part (45% or more) of the physical plant 
facilities of the borrower;
    (D) Operations and maintenance contracts in which the borrower has 
contracted to operate and maintain the physical plant facilities of 
another borrower or other utility system; and
    (E) Contracts between the borrower and its manager; and
    (iii) The requirement for a borrower to prepare and furnish 
mortgagees annual financial and statistical reports on the borrower's 
financial condition and operations. The CPA must state whether the 
information represented by the borrower as having been submitted to REA 
in its most recent December 31 REA Form 7 or Form 12 is in agreement 
with the borrower's records, and must comment on any exceptions noted. 
If the borrower represents that an amended report has been filed as of 
December 31, the comments must relate to the amended report.
    (2) * * *
    (i) The requirement for a borrower to obtain written approval of 
the mortgagees to enter into any contract for the operation or 
maintenance of property and for the use of mortgaged property by 
others, or for services pertaining to toll traffic, operator 
assistance, or switching. For purposes of this part 1773, the following 
contracts shall be deemed as requiring REA approval:
    (A) Any contract, agreement or lease between the borrower and an 
affiliate other than as allowed under 7 CFR part 1744, subpart E;
    (B) Any lease of a building or land; and
    (C) Any other contract as defined in Sec. 1773.34 (e)(2)(i) except:
    (1) Industry standard traffic settlement agreements involving 
interexchange and long distance carriers which, in form and substance, 
conform with contracts in general use in the telecommunications 
industry;
    (2) Billing and collecting agreements;
    (3) Toll pooling arrangements involving National Exchange Carrier 
Association and state associations;
    (4) Directory services agreements; and
    (5) Joint use agreements;
    (ii) The requirement for funds to be deposited in banks or other 
depositories designated in the loan documents or approved by REA. For 
purposes of this part 1773, funds shall be defined as cash on deposit 
in demand and time accounts, and certificates of deposit; and
    (iii) The requirement for a borrower to prepare and furnish 
mortgagees annual financial and statistical reports on the borrower's 
financial condition and operations. The CPA must state whether the 
information represented by the borrower as having been submitted to REA 
in its most recent December 31 REA Form 479 is in agreement with the 
borrower's records, and must comment on any exceptions noted. If the 
borrower represents that an amended report has been filed as of 
December 31, the comments must relate to the amended report.
* * * * *
    6. Section 1773.40 is revised to read as follows:


Sec. 1773.40  Regulatory assets.

    The CPA's workpapers must document whether all regulatory assets 
comply with the requirements of SFAS No. 71. For electric borrowers 
only, the CPA's workpapers must document whether all regulatory assets 
have received REA approval.
    7. Section 1773.45 is revised to read as follows:


Sec. 1773.45  Regulatory liabilities.

    The CPA's workpapers must document whether all regulatory 
liabilities comply with the requirements of SFAS No. 71. For electric 
borrowers only, the CPA's workpapers must document whether all 
regulatory liabilities have received REA approval.
    8. Appendix C to Part 1773 is revised to read as follows:

Appendix C to Part 1773--Illustrative Independent Auditors' Management 
Letter

    REA requires that CPAs auditing REA borrowers provide a 
management letter in accordance with Sec. 1773.34. REA requires that 
this letter bear the same date as the auditor's report and be 
addressed to the borrower's board of directors. The CPA is required 
to sign the auditor's report, report on compliance, report on 
internal controls, and management letter.

Illustrative Independent Auditors' Management Letter
March 15, 19x6
Board of Directors
[Name of Borrower]
[City, State]

    We have audited the financial statements of [Name of Borrower] 
for the year ended December 31, 19x5, and have issued our report 
thereon dated March 15, 19x6. We conducted our audit in accordance 
with generally accepted auditing standards, Government Auditing 
Standards issued by the Comptroller General of the United States, 
and 7 CFR part 1773, Policy on Audits of Rural Electrification 
Administration (REA) Borrowers. Those standards require that we plan 
and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether 
the financial statements are free of material misstatement.
    In planning and performing our audit of the financial statements 
of [Name of Borrower] for the year ended December 31, 19x5, we 
considered its internal control structure in order to determine our 
auditing procedures for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the 
financial statements and not to provide assurance on the internal 
control structure.
    A description of the responsibility of management for 
establishing and maintaining the internal control structure and the 
objectives of and inherent limitations in such a structure is set 
forth in our independent auditors' report on the internal control 
structure dated March 15, 19x6, and should be read in conjunction 
with this report.
    Our consideration of the internal control structure would not 
necessarily disclose all matters in the internal control structure 
that might be material weaknesses under standards established by the 
American Institute of Certified Public Accountants.
    A material weakness is a condition in which the design or 
operation of the specific internal control structure elements does 
not reduce to a relatively low level the risk that errors or 
irregularities in amounts that would be material in relation to the 
financial statements being audited may occur and not be detected 
within a timely period by employees in the normal course of 
performing their assigned functions. However, we noted no matters 
involving the internal control structure and its operation that we 
consider to be a material weakness as defined above. [If a material 
weakness was noted, refer the reader to the independent auditors' 
report on internal control structure.]
    7 CFR 1773.34 requires comments on specific aspects of the 
internal control structure, compliance with specific REA loan and 
security instrument provisions, and other additional matters. We 
have grouped our comments accordingly. In addition to obtaining 
reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free 
from material misstatements, at your request, we performed tests of 
specific aspects of the internal control structure, of compliance 
with specific REA loan and security instrument provisions, and of 
additional matters. The specific aspects of the internal control 
structure, compliance with specific REA loan and security instrument 
provisions, and additional matters tested include, among other 
things, the accounting procedures and records, materials control, 
compliance with specific REA loan and security instrument provisions 
set forth in 7 CFR 1773.34 (e)(1), [for telephone borrowers, 7 CFR 
1773.34 (e)(2)], related party transactions, and depreciation rates. 
[For electric borrowers:] The additional matters tested also include 
a schedule of deferred debits and credits, upon which we express an 
opinion. In addition, our audit of the financial statements also 
included the procedures specified in 7 CFR 1773.38-.45. Our 
objective was not to provide an opinion on these specific aspects of 
the internal control structure, compliance with specific REA loan 
and security instrument provisions, or additional matters, and 
accordingly, we express no opinion thereon.
    No reports (other than our independent auditors' report, our 
independent auditors' compliance report, and our independent 
auditors' report on the internal control structure, all dated March 
15, 19x6) or summary of recommendations related to our audit have 
been furnished to management.
    Our comments on specific aspects of the internal control 
structure, compliance with specific REA loan and security instrument 
provisions, and other additional matters as required by 7 CFR 
1773.34 are presented below.

Comments on Certain Specific Aspects of the Internal Control Structure

    We noted no matters regarding [Name of Borrower]'s internal 
control structure and its operation that we consider to be a 
material weakness as previously defined with respect to:

--The accounting procedures and records [list other comments];
--The process for accumulating and recording labor, material, and 
overhead costs, and the distribution of these costs to construction, 
retirement, and maintenance or other expense accounts [list other 
comments]; and,
--The materials control [list other comments].

Comments on Compliance With Specific REA Loan and Security Instrument 
Provisions

    Management's responsibility for compliance with laws, 
regulations, contracts, and grants is set forth in our independent 
auditors' report on compliance dated March 15, 19x6, and should be 
read in conjunction with this report. At your request, we have 
performed the procedures enumerated below with respect to compliance 
with certain provisions of laws, regulations, and contracts. The 
procedures we performed are summarized as follows:

--Procedure performed with respect to the requirement to maintain 
all funds in institutions whose accounts are insured by an Agency of 
the Federal Government:

    1. Obtained information from financial institutions with which 
[Name of Borrower] maintains funds that indicated that the 
institutions are insured by an Agency of the Federal Government.

--Procedures performed with respect to the requirement for a 
borrower to obtain written approval of the mortgagee to enter into 
any contract for the operation or maintenance of property, or for 
the use of mortgaged property by others [see Sec. 1773.34(e)(2)(i) 
for additional telephone borrower requirements in accordance with 7 
CFR 1773.34(e)] for the year ended December 31, 19x5 of [Name of 
Borrower]:

    1. Obtained and read a borrower prepared schedule of new written 
contracts entered into during the year for the operation or 
maintenance of its property, or for the use of its property by 
others as defined in Sec. 1773.34(e)(1)(ii) [Sec. 1773.34(e)(2)(i) 
for telephone borrowers].
    2. Reviewed Board of Director minutes to ascertain whether 
board-approved written contracts are included in the borrower-
prepared schedule.
    3. Noted the existence of written REA [and other mortgagee] 
approval of each contract listed by the borrower.

--Procedure performed with respect to the requirement to submit REA 
Form 7 or Form 12 [Form 479 for telephone borrowers] to the REA:

    1. Agreed amounts reported in Form 7 or Form 12 [Form 479 for 
telephone borrowers] to [Name of Borrower]'s records.
    The results of our tests indicate that, with respect to the 
items tested, [Name of Borrower] complied, except as noted below, in 
all material respects, with the specific REA loan and security 
instrument provisions referred to below. With respect to items not 
tested, nothing came to our attention that caused us to believe that 
[Name of Borrower] had not complied, in all material respects, with 
those provisions. The specific provisions tested, as well as any 
exceptions noted, include the requirements that:

--The borrower maintains all funds in institutions whose accounts 
are insured by an Agency of the Federal Government [list all 
exceptions];
--The borrower has obtained written approval of the REA [and other 
mortgagees] to enter into any contract for the operation or 
maintenance of property, or for the use of mortgaged property by 
others as defined in Sec. 1773.34(e)(1)(ii) [Sec. 1773.34(e)(2)(i) 
for telephone borrowers] [list all exceptions]; and
--The borrower has submitted its Form 7 or Form 12 [Form 479 for 
telephone borrowers] to the REA and the Form 7 or Form 12 [Form 479 
for telephone borrowers], Financial and Statistical Report, as of 
December 31 19x5, represented by the borrower as having been 
submitted to REA is in agreement with the [Name of Borrower]'s 
records in all material respects [list all exceptions].

Comments on Other Additional Matters

    In connection with our audit of the financial statements of 
[Name of Borrower], nothing came to our attention that caused us to 
believe that [Name of Borrower] failed to comply with respect to:

--The reconciliation of subsidiary plant records to the controlling 
general ledger plant accounts addressed at 7 CFR 1773.34(c)(1) [list 
all exceptions];
--The clearing of the construction accounts and the accrual of 
depreciation on completed construction addressed at 7 CFR 
1773.34(c)(2) [list all exceptions];
--The retirement of plant addressed at 7 CFR 1773.34(c) (3) and (4) 
[list all exceptions];
--Sales of plant material, or scrap addressed at 7 CFR 1773.34(c)(5) 
[list all exceptions];
--The disclosure of material related party transactions, in 
accordance with Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 57, 
Related Party Transactions, for the year ended December 31, 19x5, in 
the financial statements referenced in the first paragraph of this 
report addressed at 7 CFR 1773.34(f) [list all exceptions]; and
--For electric borrowers only: depreciation rates addressed at 7 CFR 
1773.34(g) [list all exceptions].

Detailed Schedule of Inventory Differences

    A detailed schedule of differences between physical inventory, 
perpetual inventory records, and the general ledger (identifying 
gross overages and gross shortages) is provided below. This schedule 
is not a required part of the basic financial statements but is 
supplementary information required by 7 CFR 1773.34(d). We have 
applied certain limited procedures, which consisted principally of 
inquiries of management regarding the method of measurement and 
presentation of the supplementary information. However, we did not 
audit the information and express no opinion on it. [Disclose the 
disposition of inventory differences.]

[The detailed schedule of inventory differences would be included 
here. The word ``unaudited'' should appear in the title of the 
schedule.]

For Electric Borrowers Only: Detailed Schedule of Deferred Debits and 
Deferred Credits

    Our audit was made for the purpose of forming an opinion on the 
basic financial statements taken as a whole. The detailed schedule 
of deferred debits and deferred credits required by 7 CFR 1773.34(h) 
and provided below is presented for purposes of additional analysis 
and is not a required part of the basic financial statements. This 
information has been subjected to the auditing procedures applied in 
our audit of the basic financial statements and, in our opinion, is 
fairly stated in all material respects in relation to the basic 
financial statements taken as a whole.

[The detailed schedule of deferred debits and deferred credits would 
be included here. The total amount of deferred debits and deferred 
credits as reported in the schedule must agree with the totals 
reported on the Balance Sheet under the specific captions of 
``Deferred Debits'' and ``Deferred Credits''. Those items that have 
been approved, in writing, by REA should be clearly indicated.]

    This report is intended solely for the information and use of 
the board of directors, management, and the REA and supplemental 
lenders. However, this report is a matter of public record and its 
distribution is not limited.

Name of Firm-----------------------------------------------------------
Michael V. Dunn,
Acting Under Secretary, Small Community and Rural Development.
[FR Doc. 94-196 Filed 1-5-94; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-15-M