[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 222 (Friday, November 16, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Pages 57701-57702]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-28748]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Rural Utilities Service


Rural Telephone Bank; Notice Under the Rural Electrification 
Act's ``Buy American'' Provision

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

ACTION: Notice of the ``Buy American'' status of certain countries 
under the Rural Electrification Act.

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[[Page 57702]]

SUMMARY: The Rural Utilities Service (RUS) published notice in the 
Federal Register for February 18, 1997, at 62 FR 7205 that the Uruguay 
Round Agreements Act, (108 Stat. 4954, Pub. L. 103-465, December 8, 
1994), amended the ``Buy American'' provision, (7 U.S.C. 903 note) of 
the Rural Electrification Act of 1936, as amended (7 U.S.C. 901 et 
seq.,) (the ``RE Act''). Under the amendment, the United States Trade 
Representative (USTR) is authorized to determine which countries 
(``eligible countries'') are eligible to have their products receive 
the same treatment as manufactured and unmanufactured products produced 
in the United States. This notice lists the current eligible countries 
for RUS electric and telecommunications programs, respectively. Please 
refer to the Federal Register notice published February 18, 1997, at 62 
FR 7205, for additional information on RUS Buy American requirements.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For electric program matters: George 
Bagnall, Director, Electric Staff Division, RUS, U.S. Department of 
Agriculture, STOP 1569, 1400 Independence Ave., SW., Washington, DC 
20250-1569. Telephone number (202) 720-1900, fax (202) 720-7491. For 
telecommunications program matters: Gerald Nugent, Director, 
Telecommunications Standards Division, RUS, U.S. Department of 
Agriculture, STOP 1598, 1400 Independence Ave., SW., Washington, DC 
20250-1598. Telephone number (202) 720-8663, fax (202) 720-4099.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: For telecommunications program borrowers: 
Eligible countries are Canada, Israel, and Mexico.
    For electric program borrowers: Eligible countries are Aruba, 
Austria, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, 
Hong Kong China, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Korea, 
Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Mexico, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, 
Singapore, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom.
    For electric and telecommunications borrowers: Eligibility of 
contracts with certain countries may be limited by contract amount or 
other restrictions. Contact RUS for additional information.
    The USTR may at any time declare one or more additional countries 
to be ``eligible countries'' for either electric or telecommunications 
borrowers. The Chair of Technical Standards Committee ``A'' (Electric) 
will be the point of contact for RUS with respect to USTR 
determinations of eligible countries. Each RUS borrower is responsible 
for assuring that its procurement complies with the requirements of the 
RE Act ``Buy American'' provision.

    Dated: November 8, 2001.
Hilda Gay Legg,
Administrator, Rural Utilities Service and Governor, Rural Telephone 
Bank.
[FR Doc. 01-28748 Filed 11-15-01; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-15-P