Home Page > Executive Branch > Code of Federal Regulations > Electronic Code of Federal Regulations

e-CFR Data is current as of January 13, 2009

Title 7: Agriculture

Browse Previous | Browse Next

PART 1738—RURAL BROADBAND ACCESS LOANS AND LOAN GUARANTEES

Authority:   Pub. L. 107–171, 7 U.S.C. 901 et seq.

Source:   68 FR 4867, Jan. 30, 2003, unless otherwise noted

Subpart A—General

top

top

(a) This part sets forth the general policies, types of loans and loan guarantees, and program requirements under the Rural Broadband Access Loan and Loan Guarantee Program to provide funds for the costs of the construction, improvement, and acquisition of facilities and equipment for broadband service in eligible rural communities.

(b) Additional information regarding the Rural Broadband Access Loan and Loan Guarantee Program can be found in RUS Bulletin 1738–1, “Rural Broadband Access Loan and Loan Guarantee Application Guide” and RUS Bulletin 1738–2, “Rural Broadband Access Loan and Loan Guarantee Advance and Construction Procedures Guide”.

(c) When reference is made in this part to existing RUS regulations, an applicant or borrower under this part will follow the requirements applicable to an RUS telecommunications borrower.

top

As used in this part:

Acquisition means the purchase of operating broadband facilities or another broadband system whether by acquiring broadband facilities or equipment, or majority stock interest of one or more organizations.

Administrator means the Administrator of the Rural Utilities Service, or his or her designee.

Affiliate means an organization that directly, or indirectly through one or more intermediaries, controls or is controlled by, or is under common control with, the applicant.

Applicant means an eligible entity requesting approval of a loan or loan guarantee under this part.

Borrower means any organization that has an outstanding loan made or guaranteed by RUS.

Broadband pilot program means that program implemented through Notices of Funds Availability, published in theFederal Registerat 65 FR 75920 and at 67 FR 3140.

Broadband service means any technology identified by the Administrator as having the capacity to transmit data to enable a subscriber to the service to originate and receive high-quality voice, data, graphics, and video. To qualify as broadband, the project must offer data transmission services, and may provide voice, graphics, video, and other services. At the beginning of each fiscal year, RUS will publish a notice in theFederal Registerdefining the minimum rate-of-data transmission criteria to qualify as broadband service during that fiscal year's funding period.

Composite economic life means the weighted (by dollar amount of each class of facility in the loan) average economic life of all classes of facilities in the loan.

Economic life means the estimated useful service life of an asset as determined by RUS.

Eligible rural community is defined in the RE Act as any area of the United States that is not contained in an incorporated city or town with a population in excess of 20,000 inhabitants. For purposes of this part, RUS interprets:

(1) “United States” to include its territories and insular possessions (including the Federated States of Micronesia, the Republic of the Marshall Islands, and the Republic of Palau);

(2) “Area” to mean any identifiable place that has no more than 20,000 inhabitants based on the most recent available information of the Bureau of the Census; and

(3) “An incorporated city or town with a population in excess of 20,000 inhabitants” to mean any incorporated city or town with a population in excess of 20,000 inhabitants based on the most recent available information of the Bureau of the Census.

Feasibility study means the pro forma financial analysis prepared by the applicant, and acceptable to RUS, to determine the economic feasibility of a loan.

Fiscal year means the fiscal year of the federal government.

Forecast period means the time period beginning on the date (base date) of the applicant's balance sheet used in preparing the feasibility study and ending on a date equal to the base date plus the number of years estimated in the feasibility study for completion of the construction covered by the loan. Feasibility projections are usually for 5 years.

Initial loan means the first loan made under section 601 of the RE Act to each eligible entity.

Interim construction means the construction, improvement, or acquisition of facilities and equipment prior to loan approval and release of funds.

Interim financing means funding for a project that RUS has acknowledged could be included in a loan prior to approving the loan.

Loan means any loan made or guaranteed under this part by RUS, unless otherwise noted.

Loan contract means the loan agreement between RUS and the borrower, including all amendments thereto.

Loan documents means the loan contract, note, and security instrument between the borrower and RUS and any associated document pertaining to a loan.

Loan funds means funds provided pursuant to a loan made or guaranteed under this part by RUS.

Mortgage means the security document between the borrower, as debtor, and RUS, as creditor, including any amendments and supplements thereto.

Private loan guarantee means a loan made by a non-Federal lender and guaranteed by RUS.

RE Act means the Rural Electrification Act of 1936, as amended (7 U.S.C. 901 et seq. ).

Release of funds means a determination by RUS that an applicant has complied with all of the conditions prerequisite to the advance of funds as set forth in the loan contract.

RUS means the Rural Utilities Service, an agency of the United States Department of Agriculture, and successor to the Rural Electrification Administration.

RUS telecommunications borrower means any organization that has an outstanding telecommunications loan made or guaranteed by RUS under Titles II, III, or IV of the RE Act.

Service area means the geographical area within which the applicant proposes to make broadband service available with a loan provided under this part.

Telecommunications means the transmission and reception of voice, data, sounds, signals, pictures, writings, or signs of all kinds, by wire, fiber, radio, light, or other visual or electromagnetic means.

TIER means Times Interest Earned Ratio. TIER is the ratio of an applicant's net income (after taxes) plus interest expense, all divided by interest expense. For the purpose of this calculation, all amounts will be annual figures and interest expense will include only interest on debt with a maturity greater than one year.

[68 FR 4867, Jan. 30, 2003, as amended at 70 FR 16931, Apr. 4, 2005]

top

top

top

(a) The purpose of the Rural Broadband Access Loan and Loan Guarantee Program is to provide loans to provide funds, on a technology neutral basis, for the costs of construction, improvement, and acquisition of facilities and equipment for broadband service in eligible rural communities.

(b) The proceeds of any loan made under this part may be used to refinance an outstanding obligation on another telecommunications loan made or guaranteed under the RE Act if the use of the proceeds will further the construction, improvement, or acquisition of facilities in eligible rural communities.

(1) Funds used for refinancing may not constitute more than 40 percent of the loan. The remainder of the proceeds shall only be used for the construction or improvement of facilities and equipment for broadband services.

(2) In calculating the expected composite economic life under §1738.41 of this part, the economic life of any loan refinanced under this section will be based on the remaining economic life of the assets underlying that loan.

(c) RUS will not assess fees or charges for any loan made under this part.

(d) Loans will only be made under this part if the applicant's financial operations, taking into account the impact of the facilities financed with the proceeds of the loan and the associated debt, are economically feasible, as determined by RUS.

[68 FR 4867, Jan. 30, 2003; 68 FR 8989, Feb. 27, 2003]

top

(a) As provided in §1738.15 of this part, priority will be given to loans to finance service to eligible rural communities in which broadband service is not available to residential customers in the applicant's proposed service area.

(b) RUS shall consider the following criteria in determining whether broadband service is not available to residential customers:

(1) Broadband service is not being provided to residential customers in the applicant's proposed service area and no entity is committed to provide such service before the service would reasonably be expected to be available pursuant to the loan application;

(2) Broadband service is not provided at rates comparable to those of similar services in neighboring urban and suburban areas, as determined by RUS; and

(3) The quality of existing service, including, but not limited to, the availability of specified data rates, system latency, and data rate restrictions, is not satisfactory as determined by RUS.

(c) All applicants, as part of submitting a completed application, shall:

(1) Certify to RUS the extent to which paragraphs (b)(1) through (b)(3) of this section, apply to residential customers in the proposed service area, and

(2) Publish legal notice stating the applicant's intent to offer broadband service in a particular community.

(i) The notice must set forth the applicant's proposed service area, and request any incumbent broadband service provider to submit to RUS within 30 days:

(A) The number of residential customers receiving broadband service in the applicant's proposed service area, the rates of data transmission, and the cost of each level of service, or proof of commitment to provide service in the proposed service area, and

(B) A map of its service territory.

(ii) The notice must satisfy all other requirements to constitute legal notice within the areas proposed to be served.

(iii) The notice must be published in state and local newspapers covering the applicant's proposed service area if such publication is not included in the legal notice requirement.

top

RUS will make broadband loans for facilities which RUS determines are necessary to serve subscribers located in eligible rural communities. RUS may determine that it is necessary for facilities financed with loan funds to be located outside of eligible rural communities.

top

(a) On October 1, of each fiscal year, or as soon as possible after funds become available, RUS will:

(1) Establish a national reserve for broadband loans, and

(2) Allocate amounts in the reserve to each State, territory, and insular possession, based on the ratio of the number of communities with a population of 2,500 inhabitants or less in the state, territory, and insular possession to the number of communities with a population of 2,500 inhabitants or less in all states, territories, and insular possessions. Population will be based upon the Bureau of the Census' latest decennial census.

(b) To be considered eligible for funding from the State reserve during the fiscal year, an application, determined by RUS to be complete, must be postmarked no later than January 31 of the fiscal year.

(c) On April 1 of each fiscal year, RUS will return all unobligated amounts in each state's reserve to the national reserve and will make the national reserve available to eligible entities in any state.

(d) To be considered eligible for funding from the national reserve during the current fiscal year, a completed application, satisfactory to RUS, must be postmarked no later than July 31 of the fiscal year.

(e) Completed applications that are economically and technically feasible, as determined by RUS, will be considered for funding in accordance with the priority requirements set forth in §1738.15 of this part.

top

(a) Each application that was submitted and remains unfunded from the broadband pilot program will be given a one-time priority for funding for a loan under this part.

(b) Each applicant will be given 30 days from the date of publication of this part in theFederal Registerto resubmit a completed application in accordance with the provisions of this part.

(c) Completed applications submitted within the 30-day time-frame will be considered for financing:

(1) First, where broadband service is not available to residential customers, as set forth in §1738.11 of this part.

(i) Completed applications will be funded on a first-in, first-out basis, as long as funds remain available in the applicable state's reserve.

(ii) When the state reserve is not adequate to fund the next completed application on a first-in, first-out basis, RUS will consider subsequent completed applications for that state for funding on a first-in, first-out basis. All unfunded, completed applications will be carried forward for consideration for funding from the national reserve.

(2) Second, where broadband service is available to residential customers:

(i) On January 1, 2003, after all new applications submitted under this part proposing to provide service where none is available have been considered under §1738.15(b) of this part, all completed applications will be considered for funding on a first-in, first-out basis, as long as funds remain available in the applicable state's reserve.

(ii) When the state reserve is not adequate to fund the next completed application on a first-in, first-out basis, RUS will consider subsequent completed applications for that state for funding on a first-in, first-out basis. All unfunded, completed applications will be carried forward for consideration for funding from the national reserve.

top

Subject to the one-time priority set forth in §1738.14 of this part, in making loans under this part, priority will be given to eligible entities submitting completed applications for the construction, improvement, or acquisition of facilities and equipment for broadband service in eligible rural communities as follows:

(a) As of October 1 of the fiscal year, completed applications remaining unfunded from the previous fiscal year where broadband service is not available to residential customers, as set forth in §1738.11(b)(1) of this part, will be considered for funding on a first-in, first-out basis, as long as funds remain available in the applicable state's reserve. When the state reserve is not adequate to fund the next completed application on a first-in, first-out basis, RUS will consider subsequent completed applications for that state for funding on a first-in, first-out basis. All unfunded, completed applications will be carried forward for consideration for funding from the national reserve.

(b) New completed applications proposing to provide service where none is available to residential customers, as set forth in §1738.11 of this part, will be considered for funding, from the state reserve prior to April 1 and the national reserve after April 1, on a first-in, first-out basis, as long as funds remain available. As applications are processed using the first-in, first-out process, RUS may expedite for consideration for funding applications proposing to provide service where none is available, as set forth in §1738.11(b)(1). When funds are not adequate to fund the next completed application on a first-in, first-out basis, RUS will consider subsequent completed applications for funding on a first-in, first-out basis.

(c) On January 1, March 30, April 1, July 1 and September 30 of the fiscal year, all unfunded, completed applications on hand will be prioritized and considered for funding, from the state reserve prior to April 1 and the national reserve after April 1, as follows:

(1) First, where broadband service is not available to residential customers, as set forth in §1738.11(b)(1) of this part, on a first-in, first-out basis, as long as funds remain available.

(2) Second, where broadband service is not available to residential customers, as set forth in §1738.11(b)(2) and (3) of this part, on a first-in, first-out basis, as long as funds remain available.

(3) Third, where broadband service is available to residential customers, on a first-in, first-out basis, so long as funds remain available.

top

(a) RUS makes broadband loans to legally organized entities providing, or proposing to provide, broadband services in eligible rural communities.

(1) Types of eligible entities include cooperative, nonprofit, limited dividend or mutual associations, limited liability companies, commercial organizations and Indian tribes and tribal organizations as defined in 25 U.S.C. 450b (b) and (c). Individuals or partnerships of individuals are not eligible entities.

(2) An entity is not eligible if it serves more than 2 percent of the telephone subscriber lines installed in the United States.

(3) To be eligible, an entity must have sufficient authority to enter into a contract with RUS and to carry out the purposes of the proposed loan.

(b) A State or local government, including any agency, subdivision, or instrumentality thereof (including consortia thereof) shall be eligible for a broadband loan only if, not later than April 30, 2003, no other eligible entity is already offering or has committed to offer broadband services to the eligible rural community. RUS will determine whether the commitment is sufficient for purposes of this paragraph.

top

Applicants are required to comply with certain regulations on nondiscrimination and equal employment opportunity. See RUS Bulletin 1790–1, “Nondiscrimination Among Beneficiaries of RUS Programs” and RUS Bulletin 20–15:320–15, “Equal Employment Opportunity in Construction Financed with RUS Loans”; 7 CFR parts 15 and 15b and 45 CFR part 90.

top

Recognizing plant costs, the applicant's cost of system design, and RUS' administrative costs, RUS will not consider applications for loans or loan guarantees of less than $100,000. Maximum loan amounts apply only to an applicant for a direct 4-percent broadband loan, as provided for in §1738.30(b)(2) of this part.

top

(a) RUS makes broadband loans to finance the construction, improvement, and acquisition of facilities and equipment to provide broadband service in eligible rural communities.

(b) RUS makes broadband loans to finance broadband facilities leased under the terms of a capital lease as defined in generally accepted accounting principles. RUS will not make a broadband loan to finance facilities leased under the terms of an operating lease as defined in generally accepted accounting principles.

(c) RUS makes broadband loans to finance an acquisition by an eligible entity only when the acquisition is necessary and incidental to furnishing or improving rural broadband service.

(d) RUS will not approve the use of broadband loans to acquire any stock or any facilities or equipment of an affiliate of the applicant.

(e) RUS will not make a broadband loan to finance the following items:

(1) Customer terminal equipment (including modems) not owned by the applicant during its economic life and any associated inside wiring;

(2) Vehicles not used primarily in construction; and

(3) Operating expenses.

(f) RUS will not make a broadband loan to finance systems or facilities that have not been designed and constructed to RUS' satisfaction. See RUS' Bulletins 1738–1 and 1738–2.

(g) Prior to October 1, 2004, RUS will not make a broadband loan under this part to provide broadband service in an area receiving local exchange telephone service from an RUS telecommunications borrower to any entity other than the incumbent RUS telecommunications borrower if, not later than 90 days after RUS receives an application proposing to provide broadband service in the borrower's local exchange service territory, the incumbent RUS telecommunications borrower submits to RUS a letter of intent to provide or begin to construct residential broadband service in its local exchange service territory prior to October 1, 2004. The incumbent RUS telecommunications borrower must provide, prior to October 1, 2004, support of their intent to provide broadband service through submitting either a loan application to construct broadband facilities or proof that construction of broadband facilities has begun. Thereafter, unless the RUS telecommunications borrower has constructed or begun to construct broadband facilities in its service area, RUS will consider an application for a loan under this part to provide the broadband service in an area served by an RUS telecommunications borrower according to the criteria for determining broadband availability in §1738.11(b) of this part.

(h) RUS will not approve loans to more than one applicant to provide broadband service within the same eligible rural community, nor to an applicant proposing to provide service in a community served by a borrower using funds under this part regardless of the definition of broadband service at the time of loan approval.

(i) If an unadvanced loan, or a portion thereof, is rescinded, a new loan shall not be made to the same applicant for the same purposes as in the rescinded loan.

top

(a) To be eligible for a loan, RUS will require an applicant to provide credit support in an amount equal to 20 percent of the requested loan amount.

(b) The applicant must have, as part of the minimum 20 percent requirement, cash or, in the case of State and local governments, cash equivalents in an amount equal to operating expenses for the first full year of providing service, as determined by a feasibility study satisfactory to RUS. This cash requirement will be waived for applicants operating as telecommunications companies which have positive cash flow for the two calendar years immediately preceding the date of application.

(c) The remainder of the minimum requirement can be met by undepreciated assets which would normally be financed as part of a loan under this part, additional cash or cash equivalents, licenses, or an unconditional letter of credit, or the equivalent, satisfactory to RUS.

(d) For purposes of this section, assets and licenses will be valued based on the lower of cost or market value, net of liens or other obligations of payments for those assets and licenses.

top

(a) Upon notification by RUS that an applicant's application is considered complete, the applicant may enter into an interim financing agreement with a lender other than RUS or use its own internally generated funds for interim construction.

(b) For an applicant to preserve the option of obtaining loan funds for reimbursement of interim financing, the following procedures must be followed:

(1) Interim construction shall be conducted in accordance with RUS Bulletin 1738–2 and 7 CFR part 1788, except that the applicant shall not begin interim construction until all necessary licenses, permits, and other governmental approvals have been obtained;

(2) Equal employment opportunity requirements apply to interim construction. See RUS Bulletin 20–15: 320–15; and

(3) Interim construction shall be covered by an Environmental Report prepared in accordance with 7 CFR part 1794 and approved by RUS.

(c) RUS approval of interim financing is not a commitment that RUS will make loan funds available.

top

(a) RUS makes loans only if, in the judgment of the Administrator, the security therefore is reasonably adequate and the loan will be repaid within the time agreed.

(b) RUS generally requires that an applicant provide RUS with a first lien, in form and substance satisfactory to RUS, on all of the applicant's property and such additional security as RUS may require. If necessary, RUS will share in the first lien with another lender provided the RUS loan is adequately secured and will be repaid within the time agreed.

(c) Unless otherwise approved by RUS, the applicant shall purchase and own the collateral for the loan free from liens or security interests, other than those securing the RUS loan.

(d) In the case of loans that include the financing of broadband facilities that do not constitute self-contained operating systems or units, the applicant shall, in addition to the mortgage lien on all of the applicant's facilities financed by RUS, furnish adequate assurance, in the form of contractual or other arrangements, satisfactory to RUS, that continuous and efficient broadband service will be rendered.

(e) Beginning with the first calendar year following the end of the forecast period, RUS will require the recipient of a broadband loan 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 1.25 and not greater than 2.0.

(f) Additional financial, investment, operational, and managerial controls appear in the loan documents required by RUS.

top

top

top

(a) Direct cost-of-money broadband loans shall bear interest at a rate (the “Cost of Money Interest Rate”) equal to the cost of borrowing to the Department of Treasury for obligations of comparable maturity. The Cost of Money Interest Rate will be provided by RUS when the funds are advanced to the borrower.

(b) Direct 4 percent broadband loan.

(1) To be eligible for a direct loan bearing an interest rate of 4 percent, the applicant must be proposing to serve:

(i) A community that:

(A) Has a population of less than 2,500 inhabitants;

(B) Is not currently receiving broadband service as set forth in §1738.11(b)(1) of this part, and

(C) Is located in a county with per capita personal income that is less than or equal to that percent of the national average per capita personal income which RUS will publish in theFederal Registerat the beginning of each fiscal year. County per capita personal income as a percent of the national average per capita personal income is published by the Bureau of Economic Analysis, U.S. Department of Commerce, at http://www.bea.doc.gov/bea/regional/reis/. RUS will use the most recent statistics published on October 1 of the fiscal year in which the application is deemed complete by RUS; and

(ii) A service area with a certain maximum population density, calculated as the total number of persons in the service area divided by the square miles of the service area. The maximum population density requirement will be published by RUS in theFederal Registerat the beginning of each fiscal year.

(2) The total amount of financing made available by RUS, in each fiscal year, for direct loans bearing an interest rate of 4 percent and the maximum of any one loan will be published by RUS in theFederal Registerat the beginning of each fiscal year.

(3) When an approved application exceeds the maximum amount of 4 percent financing that may be made available to the borrower, a direct loan made at 4 percent may be made simultaneously with a “Cost-of-Money Interest Rate” loan.

(4) A 4 percent direct loan may be made simultaneously with a Cost-of-Money Interest Rate loan or a private loan guarantee.

(c) Private loan guarantees. A private loan guarantee shall bear interest at a rate set by the lender consistent with the current applicable market rate for a loan of comparable maturity.

(1) A private loan guarantee is available to any legally organized lending agency which includes commercial banks, trust companies, mortgage banking firms, insurance companies, and any other institutional investor authorized by law to loan money, hereafter referred to as “lender”. At the time of application, applicants must provide RUS the name of the lender who will be providing the funding and a commitment from that lender to provide the funds.

(i) The lender shall be subject to credit examination and supervision by a Federal or state agency unless RUS determines that alternative examination and supervisory mechanisms are adequate.

(ii) The lender shall demonstrate to RUS the capability to adequately service guaranteed loans. The lender shall also be in good standing with its licensing authority and meet the loan making, loan servicing, and other requirements of the jurisdiction in which the lender makes loans guaranteed under this part.

(2) The lender selected by the borrower shall provide evidence satisfactory to RUS of its qualification under this part, along with the name of the authority that supervises such lender.

(3) The lender may establish charges and fees for the loan provided they are not greater than those normally charged other applicants for the same type of loan in the ordinary course of business. RUS will not guarantee any portion of the loan used to pay lender charges and fees.

(4) Loans are guaranteed for no more than 80 percent of the amount of principal except for those purposes in §1738.30(c)(3) of this part for which RUS will not provide a guarantee. RUS' guarantee is limited to the loan repayment obligation of the borrower and does not extend to guaranteeing that a lender will remit to a holder loan payments made by the borrower.

(5) The interest rate must be fixed and must be the same for the Guaranteed Loan Amount or the respective Guaranteed Loan Portion Amount or the respective Guaranteed-Amount Equivalent, as the case may be, and Unguaranteed Loan Amount or the respective Unguaranteed Loan Portion Amount or the respective Unguaranteed-Amount Equivalent, as the case may be.

(6) The entire loan will be secured by the same security with equal lien priority for the Guaranteed Loan Amount or the respective Guaranteed Loan Portion Amount or the respective Guaranteed-Amount Equivalent, as the case may be, and Unguaranteed Loan Amount or the respective Unguaranteed Loan Portion Amount or the respective Unguaranteed-Amount Equivalent, as the case may be. The Unguaranteed Loan Amount or the respective Unguaranteed Loan Portion Amount or the respective Unguaranteed-Amount Equivalent, as the case may be, will neither be paid first nor given any preference or priority over the Guaranteed Loan Amount or the respective Guaranteed Loan Portion Amount or the respective Guaranteed-Amount Equivalent, as the case may be.

(7) All loan documents, including, but not limited to, a loan guarantee agreement between RUS and the lender, the loan note guarantee, the guaranteed loan note, and the mortgage will be prepared by RUS. Contact RUS for copies of forms of the loan documents. The guaranteed loan agreement between the borrower and the lender shall be subject to RUS approval.

(8) Once a private loan guarantee is approved, the lender will be required to fully service the loan including:

(i) Determining that all prerequisites to each advance of loan funds by the lender under the terms of the contract of guarantee, all financing documents, and all related security documents have been fulfilled. The lender must obtain RUS approval to advance funds prior to each advance of funds.

(ii) Billing and collecting loan payments from the borrower.

(iii) Notifying the Administrator promptly of any default in the payment of principal and interest on the loan and submit a report, as soon thereafter as possible, setting forth its views as to the reasons for the default, how long it expects the borrower will be in default, and what corrective actions the borrower states it is taking to achieve a current debt service position.

(iv) Notifying the Administrator of any known violations or defaults by the borrower under the lending agreement, contract of guarantee, or related security instruments, or conditions of which the lender is aware which might lead to nonpayment, violation, or other default.

(9) Upon notice to the lender, RUS may assume loan servicing responsibilities for the loan or the Guaranteed Loan Amount or the respective Guaranteed Loan Portion Amount or the respective Guaranteed-Amount Equivalent, as the case may be, or require the lender to assign such responsibilities to a different entity, if the lender fails to perform its loan servicing responsibilities under the loan guarantee agreement, or if the lender becomes insolvent, makes an admission in writing of its inability to pay its debts generally as they become due, or becomes the subject of proceedings commenced under the Bankruptcy Reform Act of 1978 (11 U.S.C. 101 et seq. ) or any similar applicable Federal or state law, or is no longer in good standing with its licensing authority, or ceases to meet the eligibility requirements of this section. Such negligent servicing is defined as the failure to perform those services which a reasonable prudent lender would perform in servicing its own portfolio of loans that are not guaranteed, and includes not only a failure to act but also not acting in a timely manner.

(10)(i) The Guarantee shall cease to be effective with respect to any Guaranteed Loan Amount or any Guaranteed Loan Portion Amount or any Guaranteed-Amount Equivalent to the extent that:

(A) The Guaranteed Loan Amount or the respective Guaranteed Loan Portion Amount or the respective Guaranteed-Amount Equivalent, as the case may be, is separated at any time from the Unguaranteed Loan Amount or the respective Unguaranteed Loan Portion Amount or the respective Unguaranteed-Amount Equivalent, as the case may be, in any way, directly or through the issuance of any Guaranteed-Amount Equity Derivative or any Guaranteed-Amount Debt Derivative; or

(B) Any holder of the Guaranteed Loan Note or any Guaranteed Loan Portion Note or any Derivative, as the case may be, having a claim to payments on the Guaranteed Loan receives more than its pro-rata percentage of any payment due to such holder from payments made under the Guarantee at any time during the term of the Guaranteed Loan.

(ii) The assignment by the lender requires prior written approval from RUS.

(iii) The assignment shall entitle the holder to all of the lender's rights. However, the lender shall remain responsible for servicing the entire loan.

(iv) The borrower, its principal officers, members of the borrower's board of directors and members of the immediate families of said officials shall not be a holder of the borrower's loan.

(11) RUS will not guarantee any loan under this subpart that provides for:

(i) A balloon payment of principal or interest at the final maturity date of the loan; or

(ii) The payment of interest on interest.

(12) For purposes of this subsection:

(i) Derivative means any right, interest, instrument or security issued or traded on the credit of the Guaranteed Loan or any Guaranteed Loan Portion, including but not limited to:

(A) Any participation share of, or undivided ownership or other equity interest in, the Guaranteed Loan or any Guaranteed Loan Portion;

(B) Any note, bond or other debt instrument or obligation which is collateralized or otherwise secured by a pledge of, or security interest in, the Guaranteed Loan or any Guaranteed Loan Portion; or

(C) Any such interest in such an interest or any such instrument secured by such an instrument.

(ii) Guaranteed-Amount Debt Derivative means any note, bond or other debt instrument or obligation which is collateralized or otherwise secured by a pledge of, or security interest in, the Guaranteed Loan Note or any Guaranteed Loan Portion Note or any Derivative, as the case may be, which has an exclusive or preferred claim to the Guaranteed Loan Amount or the respective Guaranteed Loan Portion Amount or the respective Guaranteed-Amount Equivalent, as the case may be.

(iii) Guaranteed-Amount Equity Derivative means any participation share of, or undivided ownership or other equity interest in, the Guaranteed Loan or any Guaranteed Loan Portion or any Derivative, as the case may be, which has an exclusive or preferred claim to the Guaranteed Loan Amount or the respective Guaranteed Loan Portion Amount or the respective Guaranteed-Amount Equivalent, as the case may be.

(iv) Guaranteed-Amount Equivalent means:

(A) With respect to any Derivative which is equal in principal amount to the Guaranteed Loan or any Guaranteed Loan Portion, that amount of payment on account of such Derivative which is equal to the Guaranteed Loan Amount or the respective Guaranteed Loan Portion Amount, as the case may be; or

(B) With respect to any Derivatives which in the aggregate are equal in principal amount to the Guaranteed Loan or any Guaranteed Loan Portion, that amount of payment on account of such derivatives which is equal to the Guaranteed Loan Amount or the respective Guaranteed Loan Portion Amount, as the case may be.

(v) Guaranteed Loan Amount means that amount of payment on account of the Guaranteed Loan which is guaranteed under the terms of the Guarantee.

(vi) Guaranteed Loan Portion Amount means that amount of payment on account of any Guaranteed Loan Portion which is guaranteed under the terms of the Guarantee.

(vii) Guaranteed Loan Note means, collectively, the note or notes executed and delivered by the Borrower to evidence the Guaranteed Loan.

(viii) Guaranteed Loan Portion means any portion of the Guaranteed Loan.

(ix) Guaranteed Loan Portion Note means any note executed and delivered by the Borrower to evidence a Guaranteed Loan Portion.

(x) Unguaranteed-amount equivalent means all amounts of payment on account of any Derivative other than the respective Guaranteed-Amount Equivalent.

(xi) Unguaranteed loan amount means all amounts of payment on account of the Guaranteed Loan other than the Guaranteed Amount.

(xii) Unguaranteed loan portion Amount means all amounts of payment on account of any Guaranteed Loan Portion other than the respective Guaranteed Loan Portion Amount.

top

Loan guarantees made under this part are supported by the full faith and credit of the United States.

top

top

top

Terms and conditions of loans are set forth in a mortgage, note, and loan contract. Provisions of the mortgage and loan contract are implemented by provisions in RUS bulletins and regulations. Standard forms of the mortgage, note, and loan contract can be obtained from RUS. However, RUS reserves the right to establish terms and conditions, including security requirements, on a case-by-case basis.

top

(a) Broadband loans 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.

(1) The expected composite economic life shall be based upon the depreciation rates for the facilities financed by the loan.

(2) The depreciation rates used shall be the rates currently in place, as long as RUS finds them to be reasonable for the telecommunications industry.

(b) Applicants may request a repayment period that is shorter than the expected composite economic life of the facilities financed. A shorter period may be approved as long as the Administrator determines that the loan remains feasible.

(c) Interest is payable on funds advanced each month as it accrues beginning with the first billing after the advance, as defined in the note. Principal payments on each note are scheduled to begin one year after the date of the first advance. After this deferral period, interest and principal payments on all funds advanced during this one-year period shall be made in equal monthly installments. Principal payments on funds advanced 1 year or more after the date of the first advance will begin with the first billing after the advance. The interest and principal payments on each of these advances shall be made in equal monthly installments.

top

For questions or comments regarding e-CFR editorial content, features, or design, email ecfr@nara.gov.

For questions concerning e-CFR programming and delivery issues, email webteam@gpo.gov.

Section 508 / Accessibility