Access line means a transmission path between user terminal equipment and a switching center that is used for local exchange service. For multiparty service, the number of access lines equals the number of lines/paths terminating on the mainframe of the switching center.

Acquisition means the purchase of another telephone system, lines, or facilities whether by acquiring telephone plant in service or majority stock interest of one or more organizations.

Administrator means the Administrator of RUS.

Area Coverage means the provision of adequate telephone service to the widest practical number of rural users during the life of the loan.

Advance of funds means the transferring of funds by RUS to the borrower's construction fund.

Borrower means any organization which has an outstanding loan made or guaranteed by RUS, on which is seeking such financing.

Characteristics letter means the letter informing the borrower of the characteristics of the proposed loan before the loan is recommended.

Feasibility study means the pro forma financial analysis performed by RUS to determine the economic feasibility of a loan.

Forecast period means the time period beginning on the date (base date) of the borrower'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 the completion of the project. Feasibility projections are usually for 5 years, see § 1737.70(a). For example, the forecast period for a loan based on a December 31, 1990 balance sheet and having a 5-year estimated project completion time is the period from December 31, 1990 to December 31, 1995.

Guaranteed loan means a loan guaranteed by RUS under section 306 of the RE Act bearing interest at a rate agreed to by the borrower and the lender.

Hardship loan means a loan made by RUS under section 305(d)(1) of the RE Act bearing interest at a rate of 5 percent per year.

Initial loan means the first loan made to a borrower.

Interim construction means the purchase of equipment or the conduct of construction under an RUS-approved plan of interim financing.

Interim financing means funding for a project which RUS has acknowledged will be included in a loan, should said loan be approved, but for which RUS loan funds have not yet been made available.

Loan means any loan made or guaranteed by RUS.

Project means the improvements and telephone facilities financed by a particular RUS loan.

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

Release of funds means determination by RUS that a borrower has complied with all of the conditions prerequisite to the advances as set forth in the loan contract to the extent deemed necessary by RUS for approval of the use of loan funds and any required equity or other nonloan funds.

Reserves means loan or nonloan funds that have not been encumbered. Funds are encumbered when they have been set aside for by RUS for a particular loan purpose.

Rural area means any area of the United States, its territories and possessions (including any area within the Federated States of Micronesia, the Republic of the Marshall Islands, and the Republic of Palau) not included within the boundaries of any incorporated or unincorporated city, village or borough having a population exceeding 5,000 inhabitants. The population figure is obtained from the most recent decennial Census of the United States. If the applicable population figure cannot be obtained from the most recent decennial Census, RD will determine the applicable population figure based on available population data. For purposes of the “rural area” definition, the character of an area is determined as of a time the initial loan for the system is made.

RUS cost-of-money loan means a loan made under section 305(d)(2) of the RE Act bearing an interest rate as determined under 7 CFR 1735.31(c).

Special project means facilities involving investment in excess of $100,000 for any single subscriber.

Subscriber means the same as access line.

Subsequent Loan means any loan to a borrower which has already received a loan.

Telephone service means any communication service for the transmission or reception of voice, data, sounds, signals, pictures, writing, or signs of all kinds by wire, fiber, radio, light, or other visual or electromagnetic means and includes all telephone lines, facilities and systems to render such service. It does not mean:

Times Interest Earned Ratio (TIER) means the ratio of a borrower'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.