7 CFR § 1700.55 - Telecommunications Program.

---
identifier: "/us/cfr/t7/s1700.55"
source: "ecfr"
legal_status: "authoritative_unofficial"
title: "7 CFR § 1700.55 - Telecommunications Program."
title_number: 7
title_name: "Agriculture"
section_number: "1700.55"
section_name: "Telecommunications Program."
chapter_name: "RURAL UTILITIES SERVICE, DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE"
part_number: "1700"
part_name: "GENERAL INFORMATION"
positive_law: false
currency: "2026-03-24"
last_updated: "2026-03-24"
format_version: "1.1.0"
generator: "[email protected]"
authority: "5 U.S.C. 301, 552; 7 U.S.C. 901  1921  6941  7 CFR 2.7."
regulatory_source: "63 FR 16085, Apr. 2, 1998, unless otherwise noted."
cfr_part: "1700"
---


# 1700.55 Telecommunications Program.

(a) *Administrator:* The authority to approve the following loans, loan guarantees, and lien accommodations is reserved to the Administrator:

(1) All loans, loan guarantees, and lien accommodations and subordinations of liens to finance operating costs.

(2) All loans, loan guarantees, or lien accommodations and subordinations of liens of $25,000,000 or more.

(3) Loans and loan guarantees with acquisition costs of $5,000,000 or more.

(4) Loans and loan guarantees containing funds to refinance outstanding debt of more than $5,000,000.

(5) All loan contracts, security instruments, and all other documents to be executed in connection with loans and loan guarantees approved by the Administrator.

(b) *Assistant Administrator, Telecommunications Program,* has the authority to approve the following loans, loan guarantees, and lien accommodations, except for those approvals reserved to the Administrator:

(1) Loans, loan guarantees, and lien accommodations and subordinations of liens not to exceed $25,000,000 except for those reserved to the Administrator.

(2) Loans and loan guarantees with acquisition costs where the acquisition portion of the loan is less than $5,000,000.

(3) Loans and loan guarantees including refinancing amounts that do not exceed $5,000,000.

(4) Distance learning and telemedicine loans and loan guarantees that do not exceed $5,000,000.

(5) Loan contracts, security instruments, and other documents to be executed in connection with loans and loan guarantees approved by the Assistant Administrator, Telecommunications Program.

(c) *Area Directors* have the authority to approve the following loans, loan guarantees, and lien accommodations, except for those approvals reserved to the Administrator:

(1) Loans, loan guarantees, and lien accommodations and subordinations of liens of less than $10,000,000.

(2) Loans and loan guarantees with acquisition costs of less than $2,000,000.

(3) Loans and loan guarantees including refinancing amounts of less than $2,000,000.

(4) Any modifications in the method of carrying out loan purposes.