[Code of Federal Regulations]
[Title 7, Volume 11]
[Revised as of January 1, 2003]
From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access
[CITE: 7CFR1751.100]

[Page 367-368]
 
                          TITLE 7--AGRICULTURE
 
    CHAPTER XVII--RURAL UTILITIES SERVICE, DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
 
PART 1751--TELECOMMUNICATIONS SYSTEM PLANNING AND DESIGN CRITERIA, AND PROCEDURES--Table of Contents
 
         Subpart B--State Telecommunications Modernization Plan
 
Sec. 1751.100  Definitions.


    As used in this subpart:
    Bit rate. The rate of transmission of telecommunications signals or 
intelligence in binary (two state) form in bits per unit time, e.g., Mb/
s (megabits per second), kb/s (kilobits per second), etc.
    Borrower. Any organization that has received an RUS loan designation 
number and which has an outstanding telephone loan made by RUS or the 
Rural Telephone Bank, or guaranteed by RUS, or which has a completed 
loan application with RUS.
    Emerging technologies. New or not fully developed methods of 
telecommunications.
    Modernization Plan (State Telecommunications Modernization Plan). A 
State plan, which has been approved by RUS, for improving the 
telecommunications network of those Telecommunications Providers covered 
by the plan. A Modernization Plan must conform to the provisions of this 
subpart.
    New facilities. Facilities which are wholly or partially constructed 
or reconstructed after a short- or medium-term requirements start date, 
as appropriate. This does not include connections or capacity extensions 
within the wired capacity of existing plant such as adding line cards to 
existing equipment.
    Plan Developer. The entity creating the Modernization Plan for the 
State, which may be the State PUC, the State legislature, or a numeric 
majority of the RUS Borrowers within the State. When this part refers to 
the PUC as the Plan Developer, this includes the State legislature.
    PUC (Public Utilities Commission). The public utilities commission, 
public service commission or other State body with such jurisdiction 
over rates, service areas or other aspects of the services and operation 
of providers of telecommunications services as vested in the commission 
or other body authority, to the extent provided by the State, to guide 
development of telecommunications services in the State. When this part 
refers to the PUC as the Plan Developer, this includes the State 
legislature.
    RE Act. The Rural Electrification Act of 1936, as amended (7 U.S.C. 
901 et seq.).
    REA. The Rural Electrification Administration, formerly an agency of 
the United States Department of Agriculture and predecessor agency to 
RUS with respect to administering certain electric and telephone loan 
programs.
    RELRA. The Rural Electrification Loan Restructuring Act of 1993 (107 
Stat. 1356).
    RUS. The Rural Utilities Service, an agency of the United States 
Department of Agriculture established pursuant to Section 232 of the 
Federal Crop Insurance Reform and Department of Agriculture 
Reorganization Act of 1994 (Pub. L. 103-354, 108 Stat. 3178 (7 U.S.C. 
6941 et seq.)), successor to REA with respect to administering certain 
electric and telephone programs. See 7 CFR 1700.1.
    RUS cost-of-money loan. A loan made under section 305(d)(2) of the 
RE Act bearing interest as determined under 7 CFR 1735.31(c). RUS cost-
of-money

[[Page 368]]

loans are made concurrently with RTB loans.
    RUS hardship loan. A loan made by RUS under section 305(d)(1) of the 
RE Act bearing interest at a rate of 5 percent per year.
    RTB loan. A loan made by the Rural Telephone Bank (RTB) under 
section 408 of the RE Act bearing interest as determined under 7 CFR 
1610.10. RTB loans are made concurrently with RUS cost-of-money loans.
    State. Each of the 50 states of the United States, the District of 
Columbia, and the territories and insular possessions of the United 
States. This does not include countries in the Compact of Free 
Association.
    Telecommunications. The transmission or reception of voice, data, 
sounds, signals, pictures, writings, or signs of all kinds, by wire, 
fiber, radio, light, or other visual or electromagnetic means.
    Telecommunications providers. RUS Borrowers and if the Plan 
Developer is a PUC, such other entities providing telecommunications 
services as the developer of the Modernization Plan (See Sec. 1751.101) 
may determine.
    Wireline Service. Telecommunica-tions service provided over 
telephone lines. It is characterized by a wire or wirelike connection 
carrying electricity or light between the subscriber and the rest of the 
telecommunications network. Wireline Service implies a physical 
connection. Although radio may form part of the circuit, it is not the 
major method of transmission as in radiotelephone.