80 FR 59080 - New Equipment Contract for Telecommunications and Broadband Borrowers
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Rural Utilities Service Federal Register Volume 80, Issue 190 (October 1, 2015)
Rural Utilities Service
Federal Register Volume 80, Issue 190 (October 1, 2015)
| Page Range | 59080-59081 | |
| FR Document | 2015-25045 |
[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 190 (Thursday, October 1, 2015)] [Proposed Rules] [Pages 59080-59081] From the Federal Register Online [www.thefederalregister.org] [FR Doc No: 2015-25045] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE Rural Utilities Service 7 CFR Parts 1753 and 1755 RIN 0572-AC29 New Equipment Contract for Telecommunications and Broadband Borrowers AGENCY: Rural Utilities Service, USDA. ACTION: Request for comments. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: The Rural Utilities Service (RUS), a Rural Development agency of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), is requesting public comments on streamlining the Agency's contractual process for equipment procurement by replacing type-specific Equipment Contracts, RUS Forms 397, 398, 525, 545, and the associated documents (Forms 231, 396, 396a, 397b, 397c, 397d, 397f, 397g, 397h, 517, 525a, 744, 752a, 754, and addenda) with a new, unified Equipment Contract, RUS Form 395 and the associated close-out documents (Forms 395a, 395b, 395c and 395d). DATES: Comments, electronic and/or paper, must be received by November 30, 2015 to be assured consideration. Late comments will not be considered. ADDRESSES: Comments may be submitted by one of the following methods:Federal Rulemaking Portal at http://www.regulations.gov. Follow the on-line instructions for submitting comments on this final rule with request or comments. Postal Mail/Commercial Delivery: Please send your comments addressed to Thomas P. Dickson, Acting Director, Program Development and Regulatory Analysis, Rural Utilities Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, 1400 Independence Avenue, STOP 1522, Room 5164, Washington, DC 20250-1522. All comments submitted in response to this document will be included in the record and will be made available to the public. RUS will make the comments publicly available online at: http://www.regulations.gov. Additional [[Page 59081]] information about Rural Development and its programs is available on the Internet at http://www.rd.usda.gov. How to Obtain a Copy: To obtain a copy of the proposed new RUS Form 395, Equipment Contract, use one of the following methods: Internet at the following Web site: http://www.rd.usda.gov/files/UTP_form_395.pdf. Email/Postal: By contacting the individual listed in the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT section of this document. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Aylene Mafnas, Chief, Engineering Branch, Policy and Outreach Division, Rural Utilities Service, Telecommunications Program, U.S. Department of Agriculture, STOP 1599, 1400 Independence Ave. SW., Washington, DC 20250-1550, Telephone number: (202) 690-4673. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Background Rural Development is a mission area within the U.S. Department of Agriculture comprising the Rural Utilities Service, Rural Housing Service and Rural Business/Cooperative Service. Rural Development's mission is to increase economic opportunity and improve the quality of life for all rural Americans. Rural Development meets its mission by providing loans, loan guarantees, grants and technical assistance through more than 40 programs aimed at creating and improving housing, businesses and infrastructure throughout rural America. The Rural Utilities Service (RUS) loan, loan guarantee and grant programs act as a catalyst for economic and community development. By financing improvements to rural electric, water and waste, and telecom and broadband infrastructure, RUS also plays a big role in improving other measures of quality of life in rural America, including public health and safety, environmental protection, conservation and cultural and historic preservation. In order to continue to facilitate the programmatic interest of the Rural Electrification Act of 1936 (the ``RE Act''), as amended (7 U.S.C. 901 et seq.), that loans and loans guaranteed by RUS are adequately secured, RUS has established the use of certain standardized forms for materials, equipment, and construction of electric and telecommunications systems. The use of standard forms, construction contracts, and procurement procedures help to assure that appropriate standards and specifications are maintained by the borrower in order to not adversely affect RUS's loan security, and ensure that loan and loan guarantee funds are effectively used for the intended purpose(s). RUS may, from time to time, promulgate new contract forms or revise or eliminate existing contract forms. In so doing, RUS is required by 7 CFR 1755.29, to publish a notice of rulemaking in the Federal Register announcing, as appropriate, a revision in, or a proposal to amend Sec. 1755.30(c), List of telecommunications standard contract forms. On February 12, 2014, RUS published a proposed rule in the Federal Register, (79 FR 8327) to establish a New Equipment Contract and associated Policies for Telecommunications and Broadband Borrowers, RUS Form 395 under 7 CFR parts 1753 and 1755. RUS Form 395, reflects present business and RUS practices, as well as changes in technology, services and equipment. It has come to the attention of the Agency that the proposed rule published in the Federal Register was not clear on how or where to obtain a copy of the proposed new Equipment Contract, RUS Form 395. RUS is issuing this Request for comments to provide an opportunity for interested persons to obtain a copy of the new RUS Form 395 for their review and comment. The information collection and recordkeeping requirements associated with the new RUS Form 395 and its associated forms were submitted to OMB on February 12, 2014 and filed with comment. The purpose of this undertaking is to improve the customer service provided by RUS's rural telecommunications and broadband borrowers. Changes in competition, legislation, technologies, and regulation have resulted in changes to business practices in the communications industry. In response to these changes RUS has undertaken a comprehensive review of its Telecommunications and Broadband Programs' contracts and contracting procedures. The new Equipment Contract, RUS Form 395 and the associated close- out documents (Forms 395a, 395b, 395c and 395d) will replace the current Equipment Specific Contracts, RUS Forms 397, 398, 525, 545, and the associated close-out documents (Forms 231, 396, 396a, 517, 744, 752, 752a, and 754). The contract terms and obligations included in the new RUS Form 395, Equipment Contract, reflect current RUS and private sector industry practices, as well as changes in technology, services and equipment. The intent here is to streamline the contractual process for RUS borrowers and expedite the process of approving equipment procurement during RUS funded construction projects. Dated: July 29, 2015. Brandon McBride, Administrator, Rural Utilities Service. [FR Doc. 2015-25045 Filed 9-30-15; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3410-15-P
![59080 Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 190 / Thursday, October 1, 2015 / Proposed Rules
(3) ways to enhance the quality, utility, (pounds); number of lugs; label; charitable organizations, but shall be
and clarity of the information to be signature of person responsible for subject to the safeguard provisions
collected; and (4) ways to minimize the loading at handling facility; recipient contained in § 944.350.
burden of the collection of information charity name; how many lugs received; Dated: September 25, 2015.
on those who are to respond, including signature of responsible charity Rex A. Barnes,
the use of appropriate automated, recipient and date received. Any such
Associate Administrator, Agricultural
electronic, mechanical, or other grapes shall not be used for resale. Marketing Service.
technological collection techniques or ■ 3. Amend § 925.304 by redesignating
[FR Doc. 2015–24801 Filed 9–30–15; 8:45 am]
other forms of information technology. paragraphs (c), (d), (e), (f), and (g) as
BILLING CODE 3410–02–P
Comments should reference OMB No. paragraphs (d), (e), (f), (g), and (h), and
0581–0189 Generic OMB Fruit Crops, adding a new paragraph (c) to read as
and be sent to the USDA in care of the follows:
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Docket Clerk at the address above. All
§ 925.304 California Desert Grape
comments received will be available for Rural Utilities Service
Regulation 6.
public inspection during regular
business hours at the same address. * * * * *
(c) Donation to charitable 7 CFR Parts 1753 and 1755
All responses to this notice will be
summarized and included in the request organizations. Handlers of grapes failing RIN 0572–AC29
for OMB approval. All comments will to meet the requirements of § 925.55 and
paragraph (a) of this section may donate New Equipment Contract for
also become a matter of public record.
such grapes to charitable organizations. Telecommunications and Broadband
AMS is committed to compliance
Any such grapes shall not be used for Borrowers
with the E-Government Act to promote
the use of the Internet and other resale. Handlers donating such grapes to AGENCY: Rural Utilities Service, USDA.
information technologies, to provide a charitable organization shall submit a
completed Food Donation Form, ACTION: Request for comments.
increased opportunities for citizen
access to Government information and CDGAC Form No.8, as required in SUMMARY: The Rural Utilities Service
services, and for other purposes. § 925.160 (c), within 2 days of receipt by (RUS), a Rural Development agency of
A 60-day comment period is provided the intended charity. the United States Department of
to allow interested persons to respond * * * * * Agriculture (USDA), is requesting
to the proposal. public comments on streamlining the
In accordance with section 8e of the PART 944—FRUITS; IMPORT Agency’s contractual process for
Act, the United States Trade REGULATIONS equipment procurement by replacing
Representative has concurred with the ■ 4. In § 944.350, revise paragraph (a)(1) type-specific Equipment Contracts, RUS
issuance of this rule. to read as follows: Forms 397, 398, 525, 545, and the
associated documents (Forms 231, 396,
List of Subjects in 7 CFR Part 925 § 944.350 Safeguard procedures for 396a, 397b, 397c, 397d, 397f, 397g,
Grapes, Marketing agreements, avocados, grapefruit, kiwifruit, olives, 397h, 517, 525a, 744, 752a, 754, and
reporting and recordkeeping oranges, prune variety plums (fresh addenda) with a new, unified
prunes), and table grapes, exempt from
requirements. Equipment Contract, RUS Form 395 and
grade, size, quality, and maturity
For the reasons set forth in the requirements. the associated close-out documents
preamble, 7 CFR part 925 is proposed to (Forms 395a, 395b, 395c and 395d).
(a) * * *
be amended as follows: (1) Avocados, grapefruit, kiwifruit, DATES: Comments, electronic and/or
olives, oranges, prune variety plums paper, must be received by November
PART 925—TABLE GRAPES GROWN 30, 2015 to be assured consideration.
(fresh prunes) and table grapes for
IN A DESIGNATED AREA OF Late comments will not be considered.
consumption by charitable institutions
SOUTHEASTERN CALIFORNIA ADDRESSES: Comments may be
or distribution by relief agencies;
■ 1. The authority citation for 7 CFR * * * * * submitted by one of the following
part 925 and 944 continues to read as ■ 5. Revise paragraphs (d) and (e) of methods:
§ 944.503 to read as follows: • Federal Rulemaking Portal at
follows:
http://www.regulations.gov. Follow the
Authority: 7 U.S.C. 601–674. § 944.503 Table Grape Import Regulation on-line instructions for submitting
■ 2. Amend § 925.160 by adding 4. comments on this final rule with request
paragraph (c) to read as follows: * * * * * or comments.
(d) Any lot or portion thereof which • Postal Mail/Commercial Delivery:
§ 925.160 Reports. fails to meet the import requirements, Please send your comments addressed
* * * * * and is not being imported for purposes to Thomas P. Dickson, Acting Director,
(c) Handlers that donate grapes to of processing or donation to charitable Program Development and Regulatory
charitable organizations pursuant to organizations, prior to or after Analysis, Rural Utilities Service, U.S.
§ 925.304(c) shall submit a completed reconditioning may be exported or Department of Agriculture, 1400
Food Donation Form (CDGAC Form 8) disposed of under the supervision of the Independence Avenue, STOP 1522,
tkelley on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with PROPOSALS
to the Committee within 2 days of Federal or Federal-State Inspection Room 5164, Washington, DC 20250–
receipt by the charitable organization. Service with the costs of certifying the 1522.
Such form shall include the following: disposal of said lot borne by the All comments submitted in response
The name of the producer; the name of importer. to this document will be included in the
the handler; loading location and date; (e) The grade, size, quality, and record and will be made available to the
inspection location and date; Variety(s) maturity requirements of this section public. RUS will make the comments
Federal State Inspection Service (FSIS) shall not be applicable to grapes publicly available online at: http://
Certificate number(s); lug weight imported for processing or donation to www.regulations.gov. Additional
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![Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 190 / Thursday, October 1, 2015 / Proposed Rules 59081
information about Rural Development not adversely affect RUS’s loan security, during RUS funded construction
and its programs is available on the and ensure that loan and loan guarantee projects.
Internet at http://www.rd.usda.gov. funds are effectively used for the Dated: July 29, 2015.
How to Obtain a Copy: To obtain a intended purpose(s). Brandon McBride,
copy of the proposed new RUS Form RUS may, from time to time,
promulgate new contract forms or revise Administrator, Rural Utilities Service.
395, Equipment Contract, use one of the
or eliminate existing contract forms. In [FR Doc. 2015–25045 Filed 9–30–15; 8:45 am]
following methods:
• Internet at the following Web site: so doing, RUS is required by 7 CFR BILLING CODE 3410–15–P
http://www.rd.usda.gov/files/UTP_ 1755.29, to publish a notice of
form_395.pdf. rulemaking in the Federal Register
• Email/Postal: By contacting the announcing, as appropriate, a revision DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
individual listed in the FOR FURTHER in, or a proposal to amend § 1755.30(c),
INFORMATION CONTACT section of this List of telecommunications standard Federal Aviation Administration
document. contract forms. On February 12, 2014,
RUS published a proposed rule in the 14 CFR Part 39
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Federal Register, (79 FR 8327) to [Docket No. FAA–2015–3585; Directorate
Aylene Mafnas, Chief, Engineering
establish a New Equipment Contract Identifier 2015–NE–22–AD]
Branch, Policy and Outreach Division,
and associated Policies for
Rural Utilities Service, RIN 2120–AA64
Telecommunications and Broadband
Telecommunications Program, U.S.
Borrowers, RUS Form 395 under 7 CFR Airworthiness Directives; Engine
Department of Agriculture, STOP 1599,
parts 1753 and 1755. RUS Form 395, Alliance Turbofan Engines
1400 Independence Ave. SW.,
reflects present business and RUS
Washington, DC 20250–1550,
practices, as well as changes in AGENCY: Federal Aviation
Telephone number: (202) 690–4673.
technology, services and equipment. It Administration (FAA), DOT.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: has come to the attention of the Agency ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking
Background that the proposed rule published in the (NPRM).
Federal Register was not clear on how
Rural Development is a mission area or where to obtain a copy of the SUMMARY: We propose to adopt a new
within the U.S. Department of proposed new Equipment Contract, RUS airworthiness directive (AD) for certain
Agriculture comprising the Rural Form 395. RUS is issuing this Request Engine Alliance (EA) GP7270 turbofan
Utilities Service, Rural Housing Service for comments to provide an opportunity engines. This proposed AD was
and Rural Business/Cooperative Service. for interested persons to obtain a copy prompted by the manufacturer
Rural Development’s mission is to of the new RUS Form 395 for their informing us that the inspection and
increase economic opportunity and review and comment. The information repair criteria in the maintenance
improve the quality of life for all rural collection and recordkeeping manual for aft bolt holes of the high-
Americans. Rural Development meets requirements associated with the new pressure compressor (HPC) cone shaft
its mission by providing loans, loan RUS Form 395 and its associated forms on the affected engines is incorrect. This
guarantees, grants and technical were submitted to OMB on February 12, proposed AD would require inspection
assistance through more than 40 2014 and filed with comment. of the HPC cone shaft and repair of
programs aimed at creating and The purpose of this undertaking is to affected parts, if needed. We are
improving housing, businesses and improve the customer service provided proposing this AD to prevent failure of
infrastructure throughout rural America. by RUS’s rural telecommunications and the HPC cone shaft, which could lead to
The Rural Utilities Service (RUS) broadband borrowers. Changes in uncontained engine failure and damage
loan, loan guarantee and grant programs competition, legislation, technologies, to the airplane.
act as a catalyst for economic and and regulation have resulted in changes
community development. By financing DATES: We must receive comments on
to business practices in the
improvements to rural electric, water this proposed AD by November 30,
communications industry. In response
and waste, and telecom and broadband 2015.
to these changes RUS has undertaken a
infrastructure, RUS also plays a big role comprehensive review of its ADDRESSES: You may send comments,
in improving other measures of quality Telecommunications and Broadband using the procedures found in 14 CFR
of life in rural America, including Programs’ contracts and contracting 11.43 and 11.45, by any of the following
public health and safety, environmental procedures. methods:
protection, conservation and cultural The new Equipment Contract, RUS • Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to
and historic preservation. Form 395 and the associated close-out http://www.regulations.gov. Follow the
In order to continue to facilitate the documents (Forms 395a, 395b, 395c and instructions for submitting comments.
programmatic interest of the Rural 395d) will replace the current • Fax: 202–493–2251.
Electrification Act of 1936 (the ‘‘RE Equipment Specific Contracts, RUS • Mail: U.S. Department of
Act’’), as amended (7 U.S.C. 901 et seq.), Forms 397, 398, 525, 545, and the Transportation, Docket Operations,
that loans and loans guaranteed by RUS associated close-out documents (Forms M–30, West Building Ground Floor,
are adequately secured, RUS has 231, 396, 396a, 517, 744, 752, 752a, and Room W12–140, 1200 New Jersey
established the use of certain 754). The contract terms and obligations Avenue SE., Washington, DC 20590.
• Hand Delivery: Deliver to Mail
tkelley on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with PROPOSALS
standardized forms for materials, included in the new RUS Form 395,
equipment, and construction of electric Equipment Contract, reflect current RUS address above between 9 a.m. and 5
and telecommunications systems. The and private sector industry practices, as p.m., Monday through Friday, except
use of standard forms, construction well as changes in technology, services Federal holidays.
contracts, and procurement procedures and equipment. The intent here is to For service information identified in
help to assure that appropriate streamline the contractual process for this proposed AD, contact Engine
standards and specifications are RUS borrowers and expedite the process Alliance, 400 Main St., East Hartford,
maintained by the borrower in order to of approving equipment procurement CT 06108, M/S 169–10, phone: 800–
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Document Created: 2015-12-15 08:40:20
Document Modified: 2015-12-15 08:40:20
| Category | Regulatory Information | |
| Collection | Federal Register | |
| sudoc Class | AE 2.7: GS 4.107: AE 2.106: | |
| Publisher | Office of the Federal Register, National Archives and Records Administration | |
| Section | Proposed Rules | |
| Action | Request for comments. | |
| Dates | Comments, electronic and/or paper, must be received by November 30, 2015 to be assured consideration. Late comments will not be considered. | |
| Contact | Aylene Mafnas, Chief, Engineering Branch, Policy and Outreach Division, Rural Utilities Service, Telecommunications Program, U.S. Department of Agriculture, STOP 1599, 1400 Independence Ave. SW., Washington, DC 20250-1550, Telephone number: (202) 690-4673. | |
| FR Citation | 80 FR 59080 | |
| RIN Number | 0572-AC29 | |
| CFR Citation | 7
CFR
1753 7 CFR 1755 |
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