7 U.S.C. § 901 — Short title

Page 518 TITLE 7—AGRICULTURE § 901 Sec. 918b. Acquisition of existing systems in rural com- munities with high energy costs. 918c. Rural and remote communities electrifica- tion grants. SUBCHAPTER II—RURAL TELEPHONE SERVICE 921. Congressional declaration of policy. 921a, 921b. Repealed. 922. Loans for telephone service. 923. State regulation of telephone service. 924. Definition of telephone service and rural area. 925. Loan feasibility. 926. Certain rural development investments by qualified telephone borrowers not treated as dividends or distributions. 927. General duties and prohibitions. 928. Prompt processing of telephone loans. SUBCHAPTER III—RURAL ELECTRIC AND TELEPHONE DIRECT LOAN PROGRAMS 930. Congressional declaration of policy. 931. Rural Electrification and Telephone Revolv- ing Fund. 931a. Level of loan programs under Rural Elec- trification and Telephone Revolving Fund. 932. Liabilities and uses of Rural Electrification and Telephone Revolving Fund. 933. Moneys in the Rural Electrification and Tele- phone Revolving Fund. 934. Authorized financial transactions; interim notes; purchase of obligations for resale; sale of notes and certificates; liens. 935. Insured loans; interest rates and lending lev- els. 936. Guaranteed loans; accommodation and subor- dination of liens; interest rates; assign- ability of guaranteed loans and related guarantees. 936a. Prepayment of loans. 936b. Sale or prepayment of direct or insured loans. 936c. Refinancing and prepayment of FFB loans. 936d. Eligibility of distribution borrowers for loans, loan guarantees, and lien accom- modations. 936e. Administrative prohibitions applicable to cer- tain electric borrowers. 936f. Substantially underserved trust areas. 937. Loans from other credit sources. 938. Full faith and credit of the United States. 939. Loan terms and conditions. 940. Refinancing of rural development loans. 940a. Repealed. 940b. Use of funds. 940c. Cushion of credit payments program. 940c–1. Guarantees for bonds and notes issued for electrification or telephone purposes. 940c–2. Rural development loans and grants. 940d. Repealed. 940e. Expansion of 911 access. 940f. Extension of period of existing guarantee. 940g. Electric loans for renewable energy. 940h. Bonding requirements. 940i. Cybersecurity and grid security improve- ments. SUBCHAPTER IV—RURAL TELEPHONE BANK 941 to 950b. Repealed. SUBCHAPTER V—RURAL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT 950aa. Additional powers and duties. 950aa–1. Repealed. SUBCHAPTER VI—RURAL BROADBAND ACCESS 950bb. Access to broadband telecommunications services in rural areas. 950bb–1. Expansion of middle mile infrastructure into rural areas. Sec. 950bb–2. Innovative Broadband Advancement Pro- gram. 950bb–3. Community Connect Grant Program. 950bb–4. Outdated broadband systems. 950bb–5. Default and deobligation; deferral. 950bb–6. Federal broadband program coordination. SUBCHAPTER VII—GENERAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE PROVISIONS 950cc. Public notice, assessments, and reporting re- quirements. 950cc–1. Environmental reviews. 950cc–2. Use of loan proceeds to refinance loans for de- ployment of broadband service. SUBCHAPTER I—RURAL ELECTRIFICATION § 901. Short title This chapter may be cited as the ‘‘Rural Elec- trification Act of 1936’’. (May 20, 1936, ch. 432, title I, § 1, 49 Stat. 1363; 1939 Reorg. Plan No. II, § 5, eff. July 1, 1939, 4 F.R. 2732, 53 Stat. 1434; Oct. 28, 1949, ch. 776, § 2, 63 Stat. 948; Pub. L. 103–354, title II, § 235(a)(1), Oct. 13, 1994, 108 Stat. 3220.) Editorial Notes AMENDMENTS 1994—Pub. L. 103–354 added section catchline and text and struck out former text which read as follows: ‘‘There is hereby created and established an agency of the United States to be known as the ‘Rural Elec- trification Administration’, all of the powers of which shall be exercised by an Administrator, who shall be appointed by the President, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, for a term of ten years, and who shall receive a salary of $10,000 per year. This chapter may be cited as the ‘Rural Electrification Act of 1936’.’’ 1949—Act Oct. 28, 1949, inserted ‘‘title I,’’ in credit of act May 20, 1936. Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries SHORT TITLE OF 1993 AMENDMENT Pub. L. 103–129, § 1, Nov. 1, 1993, 107 Stat. 1356, pro- vided that: ‘‘This Act [enacting sections 936d, 936e, and 2008e of this title, amending sections 902, 904, 913, 918, 924, 935, 936c, 937, 939, 940d, 946, 948, 1926, and 2006f of this title, and enacting provisions set out as a note below] may be cited as the ‘Rural Electrification Loan Re- structuring Act of 1993’.’’ SHORT TITLE OF 1992 AMENDMENT Pub. L. 102–428, § 1, Oct. 21, 1992, 106 Stat. 2183, pro- vided that: ‘‘This Act [amending section 936b of this title] may be cited as the ‘Rural Electrification Admin- istration Improvement Act of 1992’.’’ SHORT TITLE OF 1990 AMENDMENT Pub. L. 101–624, title XXIII, § 2351(a), Nov. 28, 1990, 104 Stat. 4038, provided that: ‘‘This subtitle [subtitle F (§§ 2351–2368) of title XXIII of Pub. L. 101–624, enacting sections 918 and 925 to 928 of this title, amending sec- tions 924, 932, 935, 936, 939, 945, 946, 948, and 950 of this title, and enacting provisions set out as notes under this section and section 946 of this title] may be cited as the ‘Rural Telecommunications Improvements Act of 1990’.’’ SHORT TITLE OF 1976 AMENDMENT Pub. L. 94–570, § 1, Oct. 20, 1976, 90 Stat. 2701, provided: ‘‘That this Act [amending sections 931 and 935 of this title and enacting provisions set out as a note under section 935 of this title] may be cited as the ‘Rural Page 519 TITLE 7—AGRICULTURE § 902 Electrification Administration Technical Amendments Act of 1976’.’’ REGULATIONS Pub. L. 103–129, § 6, Nov. 1, 1993, 107 Stat. 1367, pro- vided that: ‘‘Except as provided in section 2(b) of the Rural Electrification Act of 1936 [7 U.S.C. 902(b)] and section 370 of the Consolidated Farm and Rural Devel- opment Act [7 U.S.C. 2008e], as added by sections 2(c)(1)(C) and 5 of this Act, not later than 45 days after the date of enactment of this Act [Nov. 1, 1993], interim final regulations shall be issued by— ‘‘(1) the Administrator of the Rural Electrification Administration to carry out the amendments made by this Act [see Short Title of 1993 Amendment note above] to programs administered by the Adminis- trator; ‘‘(2) the Administrator of the Rural Development Administration to carry out the amendments made by this Act to programs administered by the Admin- istrator; and ‘‘(3) the Secretary of Agriculture to carry out the amendments made by this Act to programs adminis- tered by the Farmers Home Administration.’’ FINDINGS; STATEMENT OF POLICY Pub. L. 101–624, title XXIII, § 2352, Nov. 28, 1990, 104 Stat. 4038, as amended by Pub. L. 115–334, title VI, § 6602(b)(12), Dec. 20, 2018, 132 Stat. 4777, provided that: ‘‘(a) FINDINGS.—The Congress finds that— ‘‘(1) making modern telecommunications tech- nology and services available in rural areas in the United States promotes economic development and improves the quality of life in rural areas; and ‘‘(2) the efficient operation of the Rural Telephone Bank and the Rural Electrification Administration telephone loan programs is essential to the continued development of the telecommunications infrastruc- ture in rural areas in the United States. ‘‘(b) STATEMENT OF POLICY.—It is the policy of the Congress that the Rural Electrification Administration make loans that facilitate the development and en- hancement of the rural telecommunications infrastruc- ture in order to make modern telecommunications technology and services available at reasonable rates to the greatest practicable number of people in rural areas in the United States.’’ [Title IV of the Rural Electrification Act of 1936 (former 7 U.S.C. 941–950b), which established the Rural Telephone Bank, was repealed by Pub. L. 115–334, title VI, § 6602(a), Dec. 20, 2018, 132 Stat. 4776.] Executive Documents TRANSFER OF FUNCTIONS Functions of all officers, agencies, and employees of Department of Agriculture transferred with certain ex- ceptions, to Secretary of Agriculture by 1953 Reorg. Plan No. 2, § 1, eff. June 4, 1953, 18 F.R. 3219, 67 Stat. 633, set out as a note under section 2201 of this title. Rural Electrification Administration and its func- tions and activities transferred to Department of Agri- culture, to be administered therein by Administrator under general direction and supervision of Secretary of Agriculture, by 1939 Reorg. Plan No. II, set out in the Appendix to Title 5, Government Organization and Em- ployees. See also sections 401 to 404 of that plan for pro- visions relating to transfer of functions, records, prop- erty, personnel, and funds. § 902. General authority of Secretary of Agri- culture (a) Loans The Secretary of Agriculture (referred to in this chapter as the ‘‘Secretary’’) is authorized and empowered to make loans, or refinance loans made or guaranteed by the Secretary under this chapter, in the several States and Territories of the United States for rural elec- trification and for the purpose of furnishing and improving electric and telephone service in rural areas, as provided in this chapter, and for the purpose of assisting electric borrowers to implement demand side management, energy ef- ficiency and conservation programs, and on-grid and off-grid renewable energy systems. (b) Investigations and reports The Secretary may make, or cause to be made, studies, investigations, and reports regarding matters, including financial, technological, and regulatory matters, affecting the condition and progress of electric, telecommunications, and economic development in rural areas, and pub- lish and disseminate information with respect to the matters. (c) Technical assistance Not later than 180 days after December 20, 2018, the Secretary shall enter into a memo- randum of understanding with the Secretary of Energy under which the Secretary of Energy shall provide technical assistance to the Rural Utilities Service on loans to be made under sub- section (a) of this section and section 904(a) of this title. (May 20, 1936, ch. 432, title I, § 2, 49 Stat. 1363; Oct. 28, 1949, ch. 776, §§ 2, 3, 63 Stat. 948; Pub. L. 103–129, § 2(c)(1), Nov. 1, 1993, 107 Stat. 1363; Pub. L. 103–354, title II, § 235(a)(2), (13), Oct. 13, 1994, 108 Stat. 3220, 3221; Pub. L. 104–127, title VII, § 771, Apr. 4, 1996, 110 Stat. 1149; Pub. L. 110–234, title VI, § 6101, May 22, 2008, 122 Stat. 1195; Pub. L. 110–246, § 4(a), title VI, § 6101, June 18, 2008, 122 Stat. 1664, 1956; Pub. L. 115–334, title VI, § 6501, Dec. 20, 2018, 132 Stat. 4771; Pub. L. 116–94, div. B, title VII, § 765, Dec. 20, 2019, 133 Stat. 2655.) Editorial Notes CODIFICATION Pub. L. 110–234 and Pub. L. 110–246 made identical amendments to this section. The amendments by Pub. L. 110–234 were repealed by section 4(a) of Pub. L. 110–246. AMENDMENTS 2019—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 116–94 substituted ‘‘made or guaranteed by the Secretary’’ for ‘‘made by the Sec- retary’’. 2018—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 115–334, § 6501(a), substituted ‘‘loans, or refinance loans made by the Secretary under this chapter, in’’ for ‘‘loans in’’. Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 115–334, § 6501(b), added subsec. (c). 2008—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 110–246, § 6101, inserted ‘‘effi- ciency and’’ before ‘‘conservation’’. 1996—Pub. L. 104–127, § 771(1), inserted section catch- line. Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 104–127, § 771(1), (2), inserted head- ing, substituted ‘‘The Secretary of Agriculture (re- ferred to in this chapter as the ‘Secretary’) is’’ for ‘‘The Secretary of Agriculture is’’, struck out ‘‘and the fur- nishing of electric energy to persons in rural areas who are not receiving central station service’’ after ‘‘rural electrification’’, and substituted ‘‘systems.’’ for ‘‘sys- tems; to make, or cause to be made, studies, investiga- tions, and reports concerning the condition and progress of the electrification of and the furnishing of adequate telephone service in rural areas in the several States and Territories; and to publish and disseminate information with respect thereto.’’