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    <RIN_INFO>
        <RIN>0572-AC13</RIN>
        <PUBLICATION>
            <PUBLICATION_ID>200904</PUBLICATION_ID>
            <PUBLICATION_TITLE>Unified Agenda of Federal Regulatory and Deregulatory Actions</PUBLICATION_TITLE>
        </PUBLICATION>
        <AGENCY>
            <CODE>0572</CODE>
            <NAME>Rural Utilities Service</NAME>
            <ACRONYM>RUS</ACRONYM>
        </AGENCY>
        <PARENT_AGENCY>
            <CODE>0500</CODE>
            <NAME>Department of Agriculture</NAME>
            <ACRONYM>USDA</ACRONYM>
        </PARENT_AGENCY>
        <RULE_TITLE>General Policies, Types of Loans, Loan Requirements--Telecommunications Program</RULE_TITLE>
        <ABSTRACT><![CDATA[The Rural Development Utilities Programs Telecommunications Program makes loans to rural utilities and other entities to improve and expand telecommunications services in rural areas.  One of the provisions contained in 7 CFR part 1735 requires a borrower to maintain a Times Interest Earned Ratio (TIER) of at least 1.0 during the loan forecast period when the construction is being undertaken.  It has become necessary to revise 7 CFR part 1735 to eliminate this requirement. 

This change would not constitute a loan security issue for the Agency because the borrower would still be required to maintain the prescribe TIER at the end of the forecast period (i.e. end of the construction period). The Agency believes that the change will eliminate situation where an otherwise financially sound applicant or borrower is denied funding because it could not meet the TIER requirement.]]></ABSTRACT>
        <PRIORITY_CATEGORY>Substantive, Nonsignificant</PRIORITY_CATEGORY>
        <RIN_STATUS>Previously Published in The Unified Agenda</RIN_STATUS>
        <RULE_STAGE>Completed Actions</RULE_STAGE>
        <MAJOR>No</MAJOR>
        <UNFUNDED_MANDATE_LIST>
            <UNFUNDED_MANDATE>No</UNFUNDED_MANDATE>
        </UNFUNDED_MANDATE_LIST>
        <CFR_LIST>
            <CFR>7 CFR 1735</CFR>
        </CFR_LIST>
        <LEGAL_AUTHORITY_LIST>
            <LEGAL_AUTHORITY>7 USC 901</LEGAL_AUTHORITY>
        </LEGAL_AUTHORITY_LIST>
        <LEGAL_DLINE_LIST/>
        <RPLAN_ENTRY>No</RPLAN_ENTRY>
        <TIMETABLE_LIST>
            <TIMETABLE>
                <TTBL_ACTION>Direct Final Rule</TTBL_ACTION>
                <TTBL_DATE>11/05/2008</TTBL_DATE>
                <FR_CITATION>73 FR 65724</FR_CITATION>
            </TIMETABLE>
            <TIMETABLE>
                <TTBL_ACTION>Direct Final Rule Effective</TTBL_ACTION>
                <TTBL_DATE>12/22/2008</TTBL_DATE>
                <FR_CITATION>73 FR 65724</FR_CITATION>
            </TIMETABLE>
        </TIMETABLE_LIST>
        <RFA_REQUIRED>No</RFA_REQUIRED>
        <SMALL_ENTITY_LIST>
            <SMALL_ENTITY>No</SMALL_ENTITY>
        </SMALL_ENTITY_LIST>
        <GOVT_LEVEL_LIST>
            <GOVT_LEVEL>None</GOVT_LEVEL>
        </GOVT_LEVEL_LIST>
        <FEDERALISM>No</FEDERALISM>
        <ENERGY_AFFECTED>No</ENERGY_AFFECTED>
        <PRINT_PAPER>No</PRINT_PAPER>
        <INTERNATIONAL_INTEREST>No</INTERNATIONAL_INTEREST>
        <AGENCY_CONTACT_LIST>
            <CONTACT>
                <FIRST_NAME>Michele</FIRST_NAME>
                <LAST_NAME>Brooks</LAST_NAME>
                <MIDDLE_NAME>L.</MIDDLE_NAME>
                <TITLE>Director, Regulations Management Team, RD Innovation Center</TITLE>
                <AGENCY>
                    <CODE>0572</CODE>
                    <NAME>Rural Utilities Service</NAME>
                    <ACRONYM>RUS</ACRONYM>
                </AGENCY>
                <PHONE>202 690-1078</PHONE>
                <EMAIL>michele.brooks@wdc.usda.gov</EMAIL>
                <MAILING_ADDRESS>
                    <STREET_ADDRESS>Room 5159 South Building, STOP 1522, 1400 Independence Avenue SW,</STREET_ADDRESS>
                    <CITY>Washington</CITY>
                    <STATE>DC</STATE>
                    <ZIP>20250</ZIP>
                </MAILING_ADDRESS>
            </CONTACT>
        </AGENCY_CONTACT_LIST>
    </RIN_INFO>
</REGINFO_RIN_DATA>
