[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 45 (Friday, March 7, 1997)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 10483-10488]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-5223]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Rural Telephone Bank

7 CFR Part 1610

Rural Utilities Service

7 CFR Parts 1735, 1737, 1739, and 1746


Rural Telephone Bank and Telecommunications Program Loan 
Policies, Types of Loans, Loan Requirements

AGENCY: Rural Utilities Service and Rural Telephone Bank, USDA.

ACTION: Proposed rule.

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SUMMARY: The Rural Utilities Service (RUS) proposes to amend its 
regulations to incorporate changes to the telecommunications loan 
program

[[Page 10484]]

required by the 1996 Farm Bill and the regulatory reinvention 
initiative of the Vice President's National Performance Review. RUS has 
reviewed the regulations concerning the telecommunications program and 
the Rural Telephone Bank loan policies and requirements to determine 
whether they are necessary, impose the least possible burden consistent 
with safety and soundness, and are written in a clear, straightforward 
manner. As a result of this review, the RUS telecommunications program 
proposes to update and streamline its regulations and policy 
statements. In addition, this regulation proposes to eliminate some 
policies and procedures that have become obsolete.

DATES: Written comments must be received by RUS or carry a postmark or 
equivalent not later than May 6, 1997.

ADDRESSES: Submit written comments to Jonathan Claffey, Acting Deputy 
Director, Advanced Telecommunications Services Staff, Rural Utilities 
Service, 1400 Independence Ave., SW., STOP 1701, Room 2919, South 
Building, Washington, DC 20250-1701. RUS requests a signed original and 
three copies of all comments (7 CFR part 1700). All comments received 
will be made available for public inspection at room 4034, South 
Building, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Washington, DC, between 8:00 
a.m. and 4:00 p.m. (7 CFR part 1.27(b)).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Cheryl Gamboney, Analyst, Advanced 
Telecommunications Services Staff, (address as above). Telephone: (202) 
720-0415. Facsimile: (202) 720-2734.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Classification

     This proposed rule has been determined to be not significant and 
has not been reviewed by the Office of Management and Budget under 
Executive Order 12866.

Civil Justice Reform

    This proposed rule has been reviewed under Executive Order 12988, 
Civil Justice Reform. RUS has determined that this proposed rule meets 
the applicable standards provided in Sec. 3. of the Executive Order.

Regulatory Flexibility Act Certification

    Pursuant to section 605(b) of the Regulatory Flexibility Act, 5 
U.S.C. 605(b), RUS certifies that this proposed rule will not have a 
significant economic impact on a substantial number of small entities. 
If a rule has a significant economic impact on a substantial number of 
small entities, the Regulatory Flexibility Act requires agencies to 
analyze regulatory options that would minimize any significant impact 
of a rule on small entities. The application for loans under the RUS 
telecommunications program are discretionary, regulatory requirements 
will, therefore, apply only to those entities which choose to apply for 
funding.
    This action is being taken as part of the National Performance 
Review program to eliminate excess regulations and to improve the 
quality of those that remain in effect. This proposed rule simply 
reduces the Times Interest Earned Ratio requirement for all borrowers, 
simplifies current cash distribution and investment requirements for 
all borrowers, and standardizes determination of loan maturity. This 
proposed rule is consistent with RUS' continuing effort to devolve, in 
particular, cash management authority to the borrowers. It is also 
consistent with the goals of the regulatory reinvention initiative of 
the National Performance Review.

Information Collection and Recordkeeping Requirements

    A notice of public comments was issued in the Federal Register on 
February 25, 1997, at 62 FR 8421 requesting approval by the Office of 
Management and Budget (OMB) pursuant to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 
1995 (44 U.S.C. Chapter 35, as amended) under control number 0572-0079.
    Send questions or comments regarding this burden or any other 
aspect of these collections of information, including suggestions for 
reducing the burden, to F. Lamont Heppe, Jr., Director, Program Support 
and Regulatory Analysis, Rural Utilities Service, STOP 1522, 
Washington, DC 20250-1522.

National Environmental Policy Act Certification

    RUS 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.

Program Affected

    The program described by this proposed rule is listed in the 
Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Programs under 10.851, Rural 
Telecommunications 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.

Intergovernmental Review

    This program 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 RUS and Rural Telephone Bank loans and loan 
guarantees to governmental and non-governmental entities from coverage 
under this Order.

Unfunded Mandate

    This rule contains no Federal mandates (under the regulatory 
provisions of Title II of the Unfunded Mandate Reform Act) for State, 
local, and tribal governments or the private sector. Thus today's rule 
is not subject to the requirements of sections 202 and 205 of the 
Unfunded Mandate Reform Act.

Background

    The Federal Agriculture Improvement and Reform Act of 1996 (Pub. L. 
104-127) amended Section 309 of the Rural Electrification Act of 1936, 
as amended (7 U.S.C. 901 et seq.)(RE Act), by eliminating the provision 
that allows RUS telecommunications borrowers to determine the term of a 
loan made under Title 3 of the RE Act at the time the loan application 
is submitted.
    The present maximum loan period is 35 years. With rapidly changing 
technology, obsolescence is occurring more quickly; therefore, 
borrowers are depreciating their facilities at a faster rate. If plant 
financed is retired and replaced by new plant before the loan is 
repaid, earnings from this new plant will have to be used to pay the 
old loan and any new loan used to finance the replacement facilities. 
If the loan period is longer than the depreciation period and the 
capital recovered through depreciation is not used to replace plant, 
the loan could be undercollateralized and the borrower's rate base 
would be eroded.
    RUS is, therefore, proposing that the loan period for RUS and Rural 
Telephone Bank (Bank) loans not exceed the expected composite economic 
life of the facilities to be financed; expected composite economic life 
means the depreciated life plus three years. Bank borrowers may request 
a repayment period that is longer than the expected composite economic 
life of

[[Page 10485]]

the facilities financed by the loan. Such borrowers, however, will be 
required to provide additional security for the loan by maintaining a 
funded reserve. The maximum loan period for all loans will remain at 35 
years.
    Further, under existing regulations, if the loan maturity period 
selected by the borrower exceeds the expected composite economic life 
of the facilities financed by a period of more than three years, the 
loan would be conditioned upon the borrower electing to maintain either 
a net plant to secured debt ratio of at least 1.2, or a funded reserve 
in such amount that the balance of the reserve plus the value of the 
facilities less depreciation be at least equal to the remaining 
principal payments on the loan. RUS is proposing to offer, subject to 
certain conditions, borrowers subject to the funded reserve or net 
plant to secured debt ratio requirements an option to replace those 
notes with notes that match the remaining composite economic life of 
the facilities financed, as determined by the feasibility study 
prepared in connection with the loan. Borrowers meeting these 
conditions replacing Bank notes will not be required to pay a 
prepayment premium, if such requirement is contained in the original 
note.
    To optimize the use of loan funds, RUS proposes to limit the size 
of RUS cost-of-money loans and Bank loans made to individual borrowers 
in order to distribute the amount of RUS cost-of-money and Bank funds 
appropriated among a greater number of borrowers. Section 201 of the RE 
Act, in part, clearly states that, ``* * * The Administrator in making 
such loans shall, insofar as possible, obtain assurance that the 
telecommunications service to be furnished or improved thereby will be 
made available to the widest practical number of rural users * * *''.
    In fiscal years 1991 through 1995, the Agriculture Appropriation 
Acts had established loan levels for the Bank in amounts insufficient 
to provide for the total number of applications completed and on hand 
at the end of those fiscal years. If the Bank had limited the amount of 
individual loans to no more than 10 percent of the lending authority, 
approximately $35.6 million of Bank funding over those five years would 
have been available to other borrowers. Correspondingly, approximately 
$25.6 million of RUS cost-of-money funding also would have been 
available to other borrowers.
    Moreover, recent Federal action affecting RUS and Bank borrowers is 
the Telecommunications Act of 1996, a broad and far-reaching reform of 
communications law that is expected to change notably the 
telecommunications industry. The Telecommunications Act will provide 
for a more competitive, deregulated national telecommunications policy 
framework. Of greatest immediate relevance for RUS and Bank borrowers 
are forthcoming regulations by the Federal Communications Commission 
concerning certain provisions of the Telecommunications Act. Pending 
the outcome of these forthcoming regulations, RUS borrowers have 
temporarily delayed plans for major network construction. However, now 
more than ever, the need and importance of RUS telecommunications loans 
is crucial for future development of telecommunications infrastructure 
in rural America. As a direct result of RUS's telecommunications loans, 
rural communities have been enjoying access to advanced 
telecommunications services.
    To continue fulfilling RUS's mission of ensuring that rural 
telecommunications providers have the means to modernize their 
networks, to fully effect the mandated area coverage provision of the 
RE Act, and to achieve maximum use of funds available, RUS is proposing 
to limit the loan amount to any single borrower in a fiscal year to, 
generally, no more than 10 percent of the lending authority from 
appropriations in any fiscal year. This proposed regulation would 
optimize the use of a limited source of loan funding by distributing 
the amount of funding available among the greatest number of applicants 
in an economical, efficient, and orderly manner.
    In general, the security documents required in connection with RUS 
loans, Bank loans, and RUS guarantees contain provisions requiring 
borrowers to maintain a certain Times Interest Earned Ratio (TIER) 
level. In particular, under existing regulations, borrowers are 
required to maintain after the end of the Forecast Period a TIER equal 
to the projected TIER determined by the feasibility study prepared in 
connection with the loan, but not greater than 1.75. RUS proposes to 
reduce the maximum TIER maintenance requirement to no more than 1.50 
for all borrowers receiving any type of loan after the effective date 
of the final rule. In 1995 almost ninety percent of RUS's reporting 
borrowers had a TIER greater than 1.5.
    Section 205 of the RE Act and the RUS mortgage documents, contain 
RUS's policy regarding investments and distributions of assets by 
borrowers. In general, borrowers with a certain minimum net worth 
requirement are permitted to make capital distributions without RUS 
approval in a cumulative amount up to a limit set by a formula that 
considers the borrowers past financial performance. The calculation 
used to determine a borrower's allowable distribution level has, over 
the years, become exceedingly complex. RUS is simplifying its policy by 
eliminating the complex formula used to determine the allowable level 
of distributions and investments and replacing it with a more 
straightforward process which can readily be calculated from a 
borrower's current financial statements. The new requirements limit the 
amount of distributions and investments relative to the borrower's 
current net worth. To facilitate the availability of cash flow to 
support diversified activities, RUS proposes predefined tests, using 
current annual financial data only, for determining the level of 
permitted distributions and investments. This approach would recognize 
and provide for diversity among borrowers without creating undue 
complexity. RUS's new policy regarding investments and distributions of 
assets by borrowers will be in all mortgages for loans approved after 
the effective date of the final rule. Borrowers that have not received 
a loan after the effective date of the final rule may request the 
Administrator to apply the new requirements to them.
    For over 25 years it has been the RUS preferred design to bury 
outside plant (e.g., buried wire and cable telecommunications 
facilities and associated material) whenever economically feasible. 
This method of construction minimizes potential impairment of 
borrowers' facilities due to damage caused by storms and other natural 
catastrophes. Based on its long experience in this type of design, RUS 
proposes to adopt the policy that it will finance only buried plant for 
all loans unless RUS determines that buried plant is not economically 
feasible.
    RUS further proposes to make technical corrections to final 
regulations which were reorganized and redesignated on September 27, 
1990, at 55 FR 39393. In particular, certain regulations contained 
cross references which inadvertently had not been updated. This action 
is simply a correction to these regulations with no change to 
substance. Changes to regulatory text are merely to update cross 
references. As currently published, the final regulations may prove to 
be misleading.
    On August 27, 1991, at 56 FR 42461, RUS published 7 CFR parts 1739 
and 1746 that established pre-and post-loan policies for 90 percent RUS 
guarantees

[[Page 10486]]

of certain loans from qualified private lenders. This program was 
authorized under section 314 of the RE Act. The Rural Electrification 
Loan Restructuring Act of 1993, Public Law 103-129, signed by President 
Clinton on November 1, 1993, amended section 314 of the RE Act to 
abolish this 90 percent guarantee program. RUS is, therefore, removing 
7 CFR parts 1739 and 1746.

List of Subjects

7 CFR Part 1610

    Accounting, Loan programs--communications, Reporting and 
recordkeeping requirements, Rural areas, Telecommunications.

7 CFR Part 1735

    Accounting, Loan programs--communications, Reporting and 
recordkeeping requirements, Rural areas, Telecommunications.

7 CFR Part 1737

    Accounting, Loan programs--communications, Reporting and 
recordkeeping requirements, Rural areas, Telecommunications.

7 CFR Part 1739

    Accounting, Guaranteed program, Loan programs--communications, 
Reporting and recordkeeping requirements, Rural areas, 
Telecommunications.

7 CFR Part 1746

    Accounting, Guaranteed program, Loan programs--communications, 
Reporting and recordkeeping requirements, Rural areas, 
Telecommunications.

    For the reasons set forth in the preamble, and under the authority 
of 7 U.S.C. 901 et. seq., chapters XVI and XVII of Title 7 of the Code 
of Federal Regulations are proposed to be amended as follows:

CHAPTER XVI

PART 1610--LOAN POLICIES

    1. The authority citation for part 1610 continues to read as 
follows:

    Authority: 7 U.S.C. 941 et seq.; Pub. L. 103-354, 108 Stat. 3178 
(7 U.S.C. 6941, et. seq.).

    2. In Sec. 1610.6, new paragraph (d) is added to read as follows:


Sec. 1610.6  Concurrent Bank and RUS cost-of-money loans.

* * * * *
    (d) Generally, no more than 10 percent of lending authority from 
appropriations in any fiscal year for Bank and RUS cost-of-money loans 
may be loaned to a single borrower. The Bank will publish by notice in 
the Federal Register the dollar limit that may be loaned to a single 
borrower in that particular fiscal year based on approved Bank and RUS 
lending authority.
    3. In Sec. 1610.11, a new paragraph (c) is added to read as 
follows:


Sec. 1610.11  Prepayments.

* * * * *
    (c) Borrowers that qualify to issue a refunding note or notes in 
accordance with 7 CFR 1735.43, Payments on loans, shall not be required 
to pay a prepayment premium on all payments made in accordance with the 
new payment schedule.

CHAPTER XVII

PART 1735--GENERAL POLICIES, TYPES OF LOANS, LOAN REQUIREMENTS--
TELECOMMUNICATIONS PROGRAM

    1. The part heading for part 1735 is revised as set forth above.
    1a. The authority citation for part 1735 is revised 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.).

    2. In Sec. 1735.2, the definition of Construction fund is amended 
by removing the reference ``See 7 CFR part 1758.'', the definitions for 
Adjusted assets and Adjusted net worth are removed, and new definitions 
Cash distribution, Net worth, and Total assets are added in 
alphabetical order to read as follows:


Sec. 1735.2  Definitions.

* * * * *
    Cash distribution means investments, guarantees, extensions of 
credit, advances, loans, non-affiliated company joint ventures, and 
affiliated company investments. Not included in this definition are 
qualified investments (see 7 CFR part 1744, subpart D).
* * * * *
    Net worth has the meaning as defined in the mortgage with RUS.
* * * * *
    Total assets has the meaning as defined in the mortgage with RUS.
    3. In Sec. 1735.3, the first sentence is revised to read as 
follows:


Sec. 1735.3  Availability of forms.

    Single copies of RUS forms and publications cited in this part are 
available from Program Support Regulatory Analysis, Rural Utilities 
Service, STOP 1522, 1400 Independence Ave., SW., Washington, DC 20250-
1522. * * *
    4. In Sec. 1735.17, paragraph (c) is revised to read as follows:


Sec. 1735.17  Facilities financed.

* * * * *
    (c) RUS will not make any type of loan to finance the following 
items:
    (1) Station apparatus (including PBX and key systems) not owned by 
the borrower and any associated inside wiring;
    (2) Certain duplicative facilities, see Sec. 1735.12;
    (3) Facilities to serve subscribers outside the local exchange 
service area of the borrower unless those facilities are necessary to 
furnishing or improving telecommunications service within the 
borrower's service areas;
    (4) Facilities to provide service other than 1-party; and
    (5) System designs or facilities to provide service that cannot 
withstand or are not designed to minimize damage caused by storms and 
other natural catastrophes, including, but not limited to hurricanes, 
floods, tornadoes, mudslides, lightning, windstorms, hail, fire, and 
smoke.
* * * * *
    5. In Sec. 1735.22, paragraph (g) is redesignated as new paragraph 
(i), paragraph (f) is revised, and new paragraphs (g) and (h) are added 
to read as follows:


Sec. 1735.22  Loan security.

* * * * *
    (f) For purposes of determining compliance with TIER requirements, 
unless a borrower whose existing mortgage contains TIER maintenance 
requirements notifies RUS in writing differently, RUS will apply the 
requirements described in paragraph (g) of this section to the borrower 
regardless of the provisions of the borrower's existing mortgage.
    (g) For loans approved after [effective date of final rule] loan 
contracts and mortgages covering hardship loans, RUS cost-of-money 
loans, RTB loans, and guaranteed loans will contain a provision 
requiring the borrower to maintain a TIER of at least 1.0 during the 
Forecast Period. At the end of the Forecast Period, the borrower shall 
be required to maintain, at a minimum, a TIER at least equal to the 
projected TIER determined by the feasibility study prepared in 
connection with the loan, but at least 1.0 and not greater than 1.5.
    (h) Nothing in this section shall affect any rights of supplemental 
lenders under the RUS mortgage, or other creditors of the borrower, to 
limit a borrower's TIER requirement to a level

[[Page 10487]]

above that established in paragraph (g) of this section.
* * * * *
    6. In Sec. 1735.31, paragraphs (d) and (e) are redesignated as new 
paragraphs (e) and (f), and new paragraph (d) is added to read as 
follows:


Sec. 1735.31  RUS cost-of-money and RTB loans.

* * * * *
    (d) Generally, no more than 10 percent of lending authority from 
appropriations in any fiscal year for RUS cost-of-money and RTB loans 
may be loaned to a single borrower. RUS will publish by notice in the 
Federal Register the dollar limit that may be loaned to a single 
borrower in that particular fiscal year based on approved RUS and RTB 
lending authority.
* * * * *
    7. Section 1735.33 is added to read as follows:


Sec. 1735.33  Variable interest rate loans.

    After June 10, 1991, and prior to November 1, 1993, RUS made 
certain variable rate loans at interest rates less than 5 percent but 
not less than 2 percent. For those borrowers that received variable 
rate loans, this section describes the method by which interest rates 
are adjusted. The interest rate used in determining feasibility is the 
rate charged to the borrower until the end of the Forecast Period for 
that loan. At the end of the Forecast Period, the interest rate for the 
loan may be annually adjusted by the Administrator upward to a rate not 
greater than 5 percent, or downward to a rate not less than the rate 
determined in the feasibility study on which the loan was based, based 
on the borrower's ability to pay debt service and maintain a minimum 
TIER of 1.0. Downward and upward adjustments will be rounded down to 
the nearest one-half or whole percent. To make this adjustment, 
projections set forth in the loan feasibility study will be revised 
annually by RUS (beginning within four months after the end of the 
Forecast Period) to reflect updated revenue and expense factors based 
on the borrower's current operating condition. Any such adjustment will 
be effective on July 1 of the year in which the adjustment was 
determined. If the Administrator determines that the borrower is 
capable of meeting the minimum TIER requirements of Sec. 1735.22(f) at 
a loan interest rate of 5 percent on a loan made as described in this 
section, then the loan interest rate shall be fixed, for the remainder 
of the loan repayment period , at the standard interest rate of 5 
percent.
    8. In Sec. 1735.43, paragraph (a) is revised, paragraph (b) is 
redesignated as new paragraph (f), and new paragraphs (b) through (e) 
are added to read as follows:


Sec. 1735.43  Payments on Loans.

    (a) Except as described in this paragraph (a), RUS loans approved 
after [effective date of final rule] must be repaid with interest 
within a period that, rounded to the nearest whole year, equals the 
expected composite economic life of the facilities to be financed, as 
calculated by RUS; expected composite economic life means the 
depreciated life plus three years. The expected composite economic life 
shall be based on the depreciation rates for the facilities financed by 
the loan. In states where the borrower must obtain state regulatory 
commission approval of depreciation rates, the depreciation rates used 
shall be the rates currently approved by the state commission or rates 
for which the borrower has received state commission approval. In cases 
where a state regulatory commission does not approve depreciation 
rates, the expected composite economic life shall be based on the most 
recent median depreciation rates published by RUS for all borrowers 
(see 7 CFR 1737.70). Borrowers may request a repayment period that is 
longer or shorter than the expected composite economic life of the 
facilities financed. If the Administrator determines that, if a shorter 
period is likely to cause the borrower to experience hardship, the 
Administrator may agree to approve a period longer than requested. A 
shorter period may be approved as long as the Administrator determines 
that the loan remains feasible.
    (b) Borrowers with RTB loans approved after [effective date of 
final rule] with a maturity that exceeds the expected composite 
economic life of the facilities to be financed by the loan by a period 
of more than three years, release of funds included in the loan shall 
be conditioned upon the borrower establishing and maintaining, pursuant 
to a plan approved by RUS, a funded reserve in such an amount that the 
balance of the reserve plus the value of the facilities less 
depreciation shall at all times be at least equal to the remaining 
principal payments on the loan. Funding of the reserve must begin 
within one year of approval of release of funds and must continue 
regularly over the expected composite economic life of the facilities 
financed.
    (c) Borrowers that have demonstrated to the satisfaction of the 
Administrator an inability to maintain the funded reserve or net plant 
to secured debt ratio requirements, if any, contained in their 
mortgage, may elect to replace notes with an original maturity that 
exceeded the composite economic life of the facilities financed with 
notes bearing a shorter maturity approximating the expected composite 
economic life of the facilities financed, if this will result in a 
shorter maturity for the loan. The principal balance of the notes 
(hereinafter in this section called the ``refunding notes'') issued to 
refund and substitute for the original notes would be the unpaid 
principal balance of the original notes. The refunding notes would 
mature at a date no later than the remaining economic life of the 
facilities financed by the loan, plus three years. Interest on the 
original note must continue to be paid through the closing date. All 
other payment terms, including the rate of interest on the refunding 
notes, would remain unchanged. Disposition of funds in the funded 
reserve will be determined by RUS at the closing date. RUS will notify 
the borrower in writing of the amendment of loan payment requirements 
and the terms and conditions thereof.
    (d) A borrower qualifying under paragraph (c) of this section shall 
not be required to pay a prepayment premium on such portion of the 
payments under its new notes as exceeds the payments required under the 
notes being replaced.
    (e) To apply for refunding notes, borrowers must send to the Area 
Office the following:
    (1) A certified copy of a board resolution requesting an amendment 
of loan payment requirements and that certain notes be replaced;
    (2) If applicable, evidence of approval by the regulatory body with 
jurisdiction over the telecommunications service provided by the 
borrower to issue refunding notes; and
    (3) Such other documents as may be required by the RUS.
* * * * *
    9. In Sec. 1735.46, paragraphs (b), (c) and (d) are revised, 
paragraphs (e) and (f) are removed, and paragraphs (g) and (h) are 
redesignated as paragraphs (e) and (f) to read as follows:


Sec. 1735.46  Loan security documents.

* * * * *
    (b) Loan security documents of borrowers with loans approved after 
[effective date of final rule] will provide limits on allowable cash 
distributions in any calendar year as follows:
    (1) No more than 25 percent of the prior calendar year's net 
earnings or margins if the borrower's net worth is at

[[Page 10488]]

least 1 percent of its total assets after the distribution is made;
    (2) No more than 50 percent of the prior calendar year's net 
earnings or margins if the borrower's net worth is at least 20 percent 
of its total assets after the distribution is made;
    (3) No more than 75 percent of the prior calendar year's net 
earnings or margins if the borrower's net worth is at least 30 percent 
of its total assets after the distribution is made; or
    (4) No limit on distributions if the borrower's net worth is at 
least 40 percent of its total assets after the distribution is made.
    (c) Borrowers that have not received a loan after [effective date 
of final rule] may request the Administrator to apply these 
requirements to them. Borrowers may request in writing that RUS 
substitute the new requirements described in paragraphs (b)(1) through 
(b)(4) of this section. Upon request by the borrower, the provisions of 
the borrower's loan documents restricting cash distributions or 
investments shall not be enforced to the extent that such provisions 
are inconsistent with this section.
    (d) Rural development investments meeting the criteria set forth in 
7 CFR part 1744, subpart D, will not be counted against a borrower's 
allowable cash distributions in any calendar year (7 U.S.C. 926).
* * * * *


Sec. 1735.60  [Amended]

    10. Sec. 1735.60, paragraph (a) introductory text is amended by 
removing the reference ``(see 7 CFR part 1758)'' and paragraph (a)(3) 
is removed.


Sec. 1735.76  [Amended]

    11. Sec. 1735.76, the second ``or'' is removed and the word ``of'' 
is added in its place.

PART 1737--PRE-LOAN POLICIES AND PROCEDURES COMMON TO INSURED AND 
GUARANTEED TELECOMMUNICATIONS LOANS

    12. The part heading for part 1737 is revised as set forth above.
    13. The authority citation for part 1737 is revised 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. 1737.70  [Amended]

    14. In Sec. 1737.70, paragraph (d) is removed and reserved.

PART 1739--[REMOVED]

    15. Part 1739 is removed.

PART 1746--[REMOVED]

    16. Part 1746 is removed.

    Dated: February 24, 1997.
Jill Long Thompson,
Under Secretary, Rural Development.
[FR Doc. 97-5223 Filed 3-6-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-15-P