[Code of Federal Regulations]
[Title 7, Volume 11, Parts 1600 to 1899]
[Revised as of January 1, 2000]
From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access
[CITE: 7CFR1770]

[Page 879-900]
 
PART 1770--ACCOUNTING REQUIREMENTS FOR RUS TELEPHONE BORROWERS

                      Subpart A--General Provisions

Sec.
1770.1--1770.9  [Reserved]

                  Subpart B--Uniform System of Accounts

1770.10  General.
1770.11  Accounting system requirements.
1770.12  Supplementary accounts.
1770.13  Accounting requirements.
1770.14  Continuing property records.
1770.15  Supplementary accounts required of all borrowers.
1770.16  Supplementary accounts required of nonprofit organizations.
1770.17--1770.25  [Reserved]

                  Subpart C--Accounting Interpretations

1770.26  General.
1770.27  Definitions.
1770.28-1770.45  [Reserved]

 Appendix to Subpart C to Part 1770--Accounting Methods and Procedures 
                        Required of All Borrowers

    Authority: 7 U.S.C. 901 et seq.; 7 U.S.C. 1921 et seq.; Pub. L. 103-
354, 108 Stat. 3178 (7 U.S.C. 6941 et seq.).

    Source: 55 FR 3388, Feb. 1, 1990, unless otherwise noted.

                      Subpart A--General Provisions

Secs. 1770.1--1770.9  [Reserved]

                  Subpart B--Uniform System of Accounts

Sec. 1770.10  General.

    This subpart implements provisions of the standard RUS loan 
documents with respect to the accounting system accounts to be 
maintained by telecommunications borrowers of the Rural Utilities 
Service.

Sec. 1770.11  Accounting system requirements.

    (a) Each RUS borrower subject to the jurisdiction of the Federal 
Communications Commission (FCC) or a State regulatory body shall 
maintain its accounts and records in accordance with the rules and 
regulations prescribed by that regulatory body.
    (b) Each RUS borrower not subject to regulatory control as specified 
in Sec. 1770.11(a) shall maintain its accounts and records in accordance 
with the FCC Uniform System of Accounts as set forth in part 32 of the 
Commission's Rules and Regulations.
    (1) RUS borrowers having annual revenues derived from regulated 
telecommunications operations of $100,000,000 or more shall maintain the 
accounts prescribed in part 32 for Class A companies.
    (2) RUS borrowers having annual revenues derived from regulated 
telecommunications operations of less than $100,000,000 shall maintain 
the accounts prescribed in part 32 for Class B companies.

[[Page 880]]

    (3) RUS borrowers maintaining the accounts prescribed for Class B 
companies may adopt the Class A accounts if they desire more detailed 
and sophisticated accounting records.

Sec. 1770.12  Supplementary accounts.

    (a) All borrowers shall maintain the supplementary accounts set 
forth in Sec. 1770.15. These accounts conform in number and title with 
accounts prescribed in the FCC Uniform System of Accounts. In those 
instances in which a State regulatory body having jurisdiction over an 
RUS borrower has prescribed a system of accounts differing from that of 
the FCC, the account titles prescribed by RUS in Sec. 1770.15 shall 
remain unchanged; however, the supplementary account numbers shall be 
changed to conform with the State's accounting system.
    (b) In addition to the accounts set forth in Sec. 1770.15, 
cooperative or other nonprofit borrowers shall maintain the 
supplementary accounts set forth in Sec. 1770.16.
    (c) Borrowers are permitted to deviate from the specific subaccount 
numbers detailed in Secs. 1770.15 and 1770.16 provided that the primary 
account numbers and account descriptions conform with those prescribed.

(Approved by the Office of Management and Budget under control number 
0572-0003)

Sec. 1770.13  Accounting requirements.

    (a) Each borrower shall maintain its books of accounts on the 
accrual basis of accounting. All transactions shall be recorded in the 
period in which they occur and reconciled monthly. The books of accounts 
shall be closed at the end of each fiscal year and financial statements 
shall be prepared for the period and audited in accordance with the 
provisions of 7 CFR part 1773, RUS Policy on Audits of Electric and 
Telephone Borrowers.
    (b) All books of accounts, records, and memoranda shall be 
maintained in such a manner as to fully support the journal entries to 
which they relate. The books and records referred to herein shall 
include records of a nontechnical nature such as minute books, stock and 
membership records, reports, correspondence, and memoranda.
    (c) Interpretations of Federal or State requirements shall be 
referred to the applicable commission exercising jurisdiction over the 
borrower.
    (d) Interpretations of RUS accounting requirements shall be referred 
to the appropriate Telephone Area office of RUS.

Sec. 1770.14  Continuing property records.

    Each borrower shall maintain continuing property records which 
detail the date of placement, location, description of property, and the 
original cost of the property record units. The continuing property 
record and other underlying records of construction costs shall be 
maintained so that upon retirement of one or more retirement units or of 
minor items without replacement when not included in the costs of 
retirement units, the actual cost of the plant retired can be 
determined.

Sec. 1770.15  Supplementary accounts required of all borrowers.

    Accounts prescribed in the Stockholders' Equity and Patronage 
Capital section shall be maintained by stock companies and cooperatives 
as appropriate.

------------------------------------------------------------------------
  Class of company
---------------------
     Account No.                         Account title
---------------------
    A          B
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                      Current Assets

  1130.1     1120.11  Cash--General Fund.
  1130.2     1120.12  Cash--Construction Fund Trustee.
  1130.3     1120.13  Cash--Transfer of Funds.
             1120.21  Special Cash Deposits.
  1150.1     1120.31  Petty Cash Fund


[[Page 881]]


                      This account shall include funds in the custody of
                       employees or agents for making minor
                       disbursements. The fund shall be operated on an
                       imprest basis. Expenditures shall be supported by
                       receipts, and reimbursements to the fund shall be
                       for the exact amount of such expenditures and
                       shall be charged to the various accounts to which
                       the expenditures are allocable. At all times, the
                       total of the cash on hand and the unreimbursed
                       expenditures shall equal the amount of the fund.

  1150.2     1120.32  Change Fund.

                      Supplies

  1220.1     1220.1   Materials and Supplies.
  1220.2     1220.2   Property Held for Sale or Lease.
  1220.3     1220.3   Exempt Materials--Clearing.

                      Prepayments

             1280.1   Prepaid Rents.
             1280.2   Prepaid Taxes.
             1280.3   Prepaid Insurance.
             1280.4   Prepaid Directory Expenses.
             1280.5   Other Prepayments.

                      Investments

  1402.1     1402.1   Investments in Nonaffiliated Companies--Class B
                       RTB Stock.
  1402.11    1402.11  Investments in Nonaffiliated Companies--Class B
                       RTB Stock--Cr.
  1402.2     1402.2   Investments in Nonaffiliated Companies--Class C
                       RTB Stock.
  1402.3     1402.3   Other Investments in Nonaffiliated Companies.

                      Property, Plant, and Equipment

  2001.1     2001.1   Telecommunications Plant in Service--Classified.
  2001.2     2001.2   Telecommunications Plant in Service--Unclassified.
  2003.1     2003.1   Telecommunications Plant Under Construction--Short
                       Term--Contract.
  2003.2     2003.2   Telecommunications Plant Under Construction--Short
                       Term--Force Account.
  2003.3     2003.3   Telecommunications Plant Under Construction--Short
                       Term--Work Orders.
  2004.1     2004.1   Telecommunications Plant Under Construction--Long
                       Term--Contract.
  2004.2     2004.2   Telecommunications Plant Under Construction--Long
                       Term--Force Account.
  2004.3     2004.3   Telecommunications Plant Under Construction--Long
                       Term--Work Orders.

                      Telecommunications Plant in Service

             2210.11  Central Office Switching--Analog.
             2210.21  Central Office Switching--Digital.
             2210.31  Central Office Switching--Electro-Mechanical--Step-
                       by-Step.
             2210.32  Central Office Switching--Electro-Mechanical--
                       Crossbar.
             2210.33  Central Office Switching--Electro-Mechanical--
                       Other.
             2230.11  Central Office Transmission--Radio Systems--
                       Satellite and Earth Station Facilities.
             2230.12  Central Office Transmission--Radio Systems--Other.
             2230.21  Central Office Transmission--Circuit Equipment.

                      Depreciation and Amortization

 3100x      3100x     Retirement Work in Progress.

                      Current Liabilities

  4010.11    4010.11  Accounts Payable to Affiliated Companies.
  4010.21    4010.21  Accounts Payable to Nonaffiliated Companies.
  4010.22    4010.22  Accounts Payable--Employees' Income Tax Withheld.
  4010.23    4010.23  Accounts Payable--FICA Taxes Withheld.
  4010.24    4010.24  Accounts Payable--Federal Excise Taxes.
  4010.25    4010.25  Accounts Payable--Payroll.
  4070.1     4070.1   Income Taxes Accrued--Federal.
  4070.2     4070.2   Income Taxes Accrued--State and Local
  4080.1     4080.1   Other Taxes Accrued--Property.
  4080.2     4080.2   Other Taxes Accrued--Employer's Portion--FICA.
  4080.3     4080.3   Other Taxes Accrued--Federal Unemployment.
  4080.4     4080.4   Other Taxes Accrued--State Unemployment.
  4080.5     4080.5   Other Taxes Accrued--Miscellaneous.
  4120.1     4120.1   Unmatured Interest Accrued--RUS Notes.
  4120.2     4120.2   Unmatured Interest Accrued--Telephone Bank Notes.
  4120.3     4120.3   Unmatured Interest Accrued--Federal Financing Bank
                       Notes.
  4120.4     4120.4   Unmatured Interest Accrued--Bank for Cooperatives
                       Notes.
  4120.5     4120.5   Unmatured Interest Accrued--Rural Telephone
                       Finance Cooperative Notes.
  4120.6     4120.6   Other Accrued Liabilities.

                      Long-Term Debt

  4210.11    4210.11  Funded Debt--Other.
  4210.12    4210.12  RUS Notes.
  4210.13    4210.13  Telephone Bank Notes.

[[Page 882]]


  4210.14    4210.14  Federal Financing Bank Notes.
  4210.15    4210.15  Bank for Cooperatives Notes.
  4210.16    4210.16  Rural Telephone Finance Cooperative Notes.
  4210.17    4210.17  RUS Notes--Deferred Interest.
  4210.18    4210.18  RUS Notes--Advance Payments, Dr.
  4210.19    4210.19  Funded Debt--Other--Unadvanced, Dr.
  4210.20    4210.20  RUS Notes--Unadvanced, Dr.
  4210.21    4210.21  Telephone Bank Notes--Unadvanced, Dr.
  4210.22    4210.22  Federal Financing Bank Notes--Unadvanced, Dr.
  4210.23    4210.23  Bank for Cooperatives Notes--Unadvanced, Dr.
  4210.24    4210.24  Rural Telephone Finance Cooperative Notes--
                       Unadvanced, Dr.

                      Stockholders' Equity and Patronage Capital

  4540.11    4540.11  Capital Stock Subscribed.
  4540.12    4540.12  Memberships Subscribed but Unissued.
  4540.13    4540.13  Members' Equity Certificates Subscribed but
                       Unissued.
  4540.21    4540.21  Memberships Issued.
  4540.22    4540.22  Members' Equity Certificates Issued.
  4540.23    4540.23  Members' Equity--Other.
  4540.31    4540.31  Installments Paid on Capital Stock.
  4540.32    4540.32  Installments Paid on Memberships Subscribed.
  4540.33    4540.33  Installments Paid on Equity Certificates
                       Subscribed.
  4540.41    4540.41  Other Capital--Miscellaneous.
  4550.1     4550.1   Operating Margins.
  4550.2     4550.2   Nonoperating Margins.
  4550.3     4550.3   Other Margins.
  4550.4     4550.4   Patronage Capital Assignable.
  4550.5     4550.5   Patrons' Capital Credits Assigned.
  4550.6     4550.6   Gain on the Retirement of Capital Credits.

                      Plant Specific Operations Expense

             6210.11  Analog Electronic Expense.
             6210.21  Digital Electronic Expense.
             6210.31  Electro-Mechanical Expense.
             6230.11  Radio Systems Expense.
             6230.21  Circuit Equipment Expense.

                      Plant Nonspecific Operations Expense

             6560.1   Depreciation Expense.
             6560.2   Amortization Expense.
                      Operating Taxes.
             7200.1   Operating Investment Tax Credits--Net.
             7200.2   Operating Federal Income Taxes.
             7200.3   Operating State and Local Income Taxes.
  7240.1     7200.41  Operating Taxes--Property.
  7240.2     7200.42  Operating Taxes--Miscellaneous.
             7200.5   Provision for Deferred Operating Income Taxes--
                       Net.

                      Nonoperating Income and Expense

             7300.1   Dividend Income.
             7300.2   Interest Income.
             7300.3   Income From Sinking and Other Funds.
             7300.4   Allowance for Funds Used During Construction.
             7300.5   Gains or Losses from the Disposition of Certain
                       Property.
             7300.6   Other Nonoperating Income and Expense.

                      Nonoperating Taxes

             7400.1   Nonoperating Investment Tax Credits--Net.
             7400.2   Nonoperating Federal Income Taxes.
             7400.3   Nonoperating State and Local Income Taxes.
             7400.4   Nonoperating Other Taxes.
             7400.5   Provision for Deferred Nonoperating Income Taxes--
                       Net.

                      Extraordinary Items

             7600.1   Extraordinary Income Credits.
             7600.2   Extraordinary Income Charges.
             7600.3   Current Income Tax Effect of Extraordinary Items--
                       Net.
             7600.4   Provision for Deferred Income Tax Effect of
                       Extraordinary Items--Net.

  1130.1     1120.11  Cash--General Fund


[[Page 883]]


                      This account shall include all unrestricted funds
                       derived from revenues and other sources which are
                       on deposit in banks or other financial
                       institutions and available on demand. It shall
                       also include funds in transit to the depository
                       for which customers and agents have received
                       credit on their accounts. Separate subaccounts
                       should be maintained for each bank account in
                       which general fund cash is deposited.

  1130.2     1120.12  Cash--Construction Fund Trustee

                      This account shall include all loan funds received
                       from RUS, the Rural Telephone Bank, the Federal
                       Financing Bank, the Bank for Cooperatives, the
                       Rural Telephone Finance Cooperative, and all non-
                       loan funds supplied by the borrower under the
                       terms of the loan contract or otherwise required
                       by RUS. The offsetting credit for funds received
                       from RUS shall be to Account 4210.20, RUS Notes--
                       Unadvanced, Dr.; funds received from the Rural
                       Telephone Bank, to Account 4210.21, Telephone
                       Bank Notes--Unadvanced, Dr.; funds received from
                       the Federal Financing Bank, to Account 4210.22,
                       Federal Financing Bank Notes--Unadvanced, Dr.;
                       funds received from the Bank for Cooperatives, to
                       Account 4210.23, Bank for Cooperatives Notes--
                       Unadvanced, Dr.; and funds received from the
                       Rural Telephone Finance Cooperative, to Account
                       4210.24, Rural Telephone Finance Cooperative
                       Notes--Unadvanced, Dr.

  1130.3     1120.13  Cash--Transfer of Funds

                      This account shall include all transfers of funds
                       from one bank account to another. This account
                       shall be charged with the amount of a check drawn
                       for the transfer, and credited when the amount
                       transferred is entered into the Cash Receipts
                       Book.

             1120.21  Special Cash Deposits

                      This account shall include all cash on special
                       deposit, other than in sinking and other special
                       funds provided for elsewhere, to pay dividends,
                       interest, and other debts, when such payments are
                       due one year or less from the date of deposit;
                       the amount of cash deposited to insure the
                       performance of contracts to be performed within
                       one year from the date of the deposit; and other
                       cash deposits of a special nature not provided
                       for elsewhere. This account shall include the
                       amount of cash deposited with trustees to be held
                       until mortgaged property sold, destroyed, or
                       otherwise disposed of is replaced, and also cash
                       realized from the sale of the company's
                       securities and deposited with trustees to be held
                       until invested in physical property of the
                       company or for disbursement when the purposes for
                       which the securities were sold are accomplished.

  1150.1     1120.31  Petty Cash Fund

                      This account shall include funds in the custody of
                       employees or agents for making minor
                       disbursements. The fund shall be operated on an
                       inprest basis. Expenditures shall be supported by
                       receipts, and reimbursements to the fund shall be
                       for the exact amount of such expenditures and
                       shall be charged to the various accounts to which
                       the expenditures are allocable. At all times, the
                       total of the cash on hand and the unreimbursed
                       expenditures shall equal the amount of the fund.

  1150.2     1120.32  Change Fund

                      This account shall include funds in the custody of
                       employees or agents for making change. Records
                       shall be kept of the amount held by each person.
                       Disbursements shall not be made from the fund.

  1220.1     1220.1   Materials and Supplies*

                      This account shall include the cost of materials
                       and supplies held in stock including plant
                       supplies, motor vehicles supplies, tools, fuel,
                       other supplies and material and articles of the
                       company in process of manufacture for supply
                       stock.
                      Transportation charges and sales and use taxes, as
                       far as practicable, shall be included as a part
                       of the cost of the particular material to which
                       they relate. Transportation and sales and use
                       taxes which are not included as part of the cost
                       of particular material shall be equitably
                       apportioned among the accounts to which material
                       is charged.
                      As far as practicable, cash and other discounts on
                       material shall be deducted in determining cost of
                       the particular material to which they relate or
                       credited to the account to which the material is
                       charged. When such deduction is not practicable,
                       discounts shall be equitably apportioned among
                       the accounts to which material is charged.
                      Material recovered in connection with
                       construction, maintenance or retirement of
                       property shall be charged to this account as
                       follows:
                        --Reusable items that, when installed or in
                      service, were retirement units shall be included
                      in this account at the original cost.
                        --Reusable minor items that, when installed or
                      in service, were not retirement units shall be
                      included in this account at current prices new.
                        --The cost of repairing reusable material shall
                      be charged to the appropriate Plant Specific
                      Operations Expense accounts.
                        --Scrap and nonusable material included in this
                      account shall be carried at the estimated amount
                      which will be received therefor. The difference
                      between the amounts realized for scrap and
                      nonusable material sold, and the amounts at which
                      it is carried in this account shall be adjusted in
                      the accounts credited when the material was taken
                      up in this account.
                      Interest paid on material bills, the payments of
                       which are delayed, shall be charged to Account
                       7540, Other Interest Deductions.

[[Page 884]]


                      Inventories of materials and supplies shall be
                       taken during each calendar year and the
                       adjustments to this account shall be charged or
                       credited to Account 6512, Provisioning Expense.

  1220.2     1220.2   Property Held for Sale or Lease*

                      This account shall include the cost of all items
                       purchased for resale or lease. The cost shall
                       include applicable transportation charges, sales
                       and use taxes, and cash and other purchase
                       discounts. Inventory shortages and overages shall
                       be charged and credited, respectively to Account
                       7991, Other Nonregulated Revenues.
                        *These accounts shall not include items which
                      are related to a nonregulated activity unless that
                      activity involves joint or common use of assets
                      and resources in the provision of regulated and
                      nonregulated products and services.

  1220.3     1220.3   Exempt Materials--Clearing

                      This account shall include the cost of materials
                       and supplies designated as exempt material on the
                       carrier's ``Exempt Material List''. Charges to
                       this account shall be cleared monthly to the
                       primary plant and maintenance accounts in
                       accordance with percentages developed by the
                       individual carriers.
                      When there is a substantial amount of exempt
                       material on hand at the end of the year,
                       substantial enough to distort net income or
                       margins, a physical inventory may be taken. The
                       cost of the inventory on hand shall be debited to
                       this account and credited to the appropriate
                       primary plant and maintenance accounts on a pro-
                       rata basis related to the original charges to
                       these accounts. This entry shall be reversed at
                       the first of the year.

             1280.1   Prepaid Rents

                      This account shall include the amount of rents
                       paid in advance of the period in which it is
                       chargeable to income, except amounts chargeable
                       to telecommunications plant under construction
                       and minor amounts which may be charged directly
                       to the final accounts. As the term expires for
                       which the rents are paid, this account shall be
                       credited monthly and the appropriate account
                       charged.

             1280.2   Prepaid Taxes

                      This account shall include the balance of all
                       taxes paid in advance of the period in which they
                       are chargeable to income, except amounts
                       chargeable to telecommunications plant under
                       construction and minor amounts which may be
                       charged directly to the final accounts. As the
                       term expires for which the taxes are paid, this
                       account shall be credited monthly and the
                       appropriate account charged.

             1280.3   Prepaid Insurance

                      This account shall include the amount of insurance
                       premiums paid in advance of the period in which
                       they are chargeable to income, except premiums
                       chargeable to telecommunications plant under
                       construction and minor amounts which may be
                       charged directly to the final accounts. As the
                       term expires for which the premiums are paid,
                       this account shall be credited monthly and the
                       appropriate account charged.
             1280.4   Prepaid Directory Expenses

                      This account shall include the cost of preparing,
                       printing, binding, and delivering directories and
                       the cost of soliciting advertisements for
                       directories, except minor amounts which may be
                       charged directly to Account 6620, Services.
                       Amounts in this account, shall be cleared to
                       Account 6620 by monthly charges representing that
                       portion of the expenses applicable to each month.

             1280.5   Other Prepayments

                      This amount shall include prepayments, other than
                       those includable in Accounts 1280.1 through
                       1280.4 except minor amounts which may be charged
                       directly to the final accounts. As the term
                       expires for which the payments apply, this
                       account shall be credited monthly and the
                       appropriate account charged.

  1402.1     1402.1   Investments in Nonaffiliated Companies--Class B
                       RTB Stock

                      This account shall include the par value of the
                       required purchase of Class B Rural Telephone Bank
                       stock and the par value of the Class B Rural
                       Telephone Bank stock received as a patronage
                       refund. This account shall be debited at the time
                       the refund is received and Account 1402.11,
                       Investments in Nonaffiliated Companies--Class B
                       RTB Stock--Cr., credited.
                      This account shall be credited and Account 1402.11
                       debited when the patronage refund is redeemed.

  1402.11    1402.11  Investments in Nonaffiliated Companies--Class B
                       RTB Stock--Cr.

                      This account shall include the par value of Class
                       B Rural Telephone Bank stock received as a
                       patronage refund. This account shall be credited
                       at the time the refund is received and Account
                       1402.1, Investments in Nonaffiliated Companies--
                       Class B RTB Stock, debited.
                      This account shall be debited and Account 1402.1
                       credited when the patronage refund is redeemed.

  1402.2     1402.2   Investments in Nonaffiliated Companies--Class C
                       RTB Stock

                      This account shall include the par value of the
                       company's investment in Class C Rural Telephone
                       Bank stock. Cash dividends on Class C stock shall
                       be recorded in Account 7310/7300.1, Dividend
                       Income, when declared.

  1402.3     1402.3   Other Investments in Nonaffiliated Companies


[[Page 885]]


                      This account shall include the acquisition cost of
                       the company's investment in securities issued by
                       non-affiliated companies, other than securities
                       held in special funds which shall be charged to
                       Account 1408, Sinking Funds, and also its
                       investment advances to such parties and special
                       deposits of cash for more than one year from the
                       date of deposit.
                      Declines in value of investments shall be charged
                       to Account 4540.41, Other Capital, if temporary
                       and as a current period loss if permanent.
                       Detailed records shall be maintained to reflect
                       unrealized losses for each investment.

  2001.1     2001.1   Telecommunications Plant in Service--Classified

                      This account shall include the original cost of
                       the property capitalized in Accounts 2110 through
                       2690.
  2001.2     2001.2   Telecommunications Plant in Service--Unclassified

                      This account shall include the original cost of
                       telecommunications property which has been
                       completed and placed in service but which has not
                       been classified pending completion of final
                       inventories of construction, final cost
                       summaries, etc. The balance in this account is
                       subject to depreciation charges.

  2003.1     2003.1   Telecommunications Plant Under Construction--Short
                       Term--Contract

                      This account shall include all costs incurred in
                       the construction of telecommunications plant
                       performed under contract and designed to be
                       completed in one year or less. Included among
                       these costs are contractor payments, and charges
                       for engineering, supervision, taxes, insurance,
                       transportation, and other costs incurred in
                       contract construction. This account shall be
                       maintained such that the various items of costs
                       are readily identifiable.

  2003.2     2003.2   Telecommunications Plant Under Construction--Short
                       Term--Force Account

                      This account shall include all costs incurred in
                       the construction of telecommunications plant
                       performed by the borrowers' own employees and
                       designed to be completed in one year or less.
                       Included among these costs are charges for
                       material, labor, engineering, supervision, taxes,
                       insurance, transportation, supply expense, and
                       other costs incurred in the construction. This
                       account shall be maintained so that the various
                       items of cost are readily identified. Specific
                       subaccounts should be maintained to distinguish
                       individual projects.

  2003.3     2003.3   Telecommunications Plant Under Construction--Short
                       Term--Work Orders

                      This account shall include all costs incurred in
                       the construction of telecommunications plant
                       performed under a work order system or a line
                       extension contract and designed to be completed
                       in one year or less. This type of construction
                       generally includes service installations,
                       subscriber extensions, and minor plant
                       improvements after the completion of the initial
                       system. Included among these costs are charges
                       for labor, materials and supplies,
                       transportation, payroll taxes, insurance,
                       supervision and other costs incurred in the
                       construction. Subsidiary records shall be
                       maintained to reflect the cost of individual
                       jobs. These records shall be reconciled
                       periodically with the general ledger control
                       account. Specific subaccounts should be
                       maintained to accumulate costs incurred under
                       line extension contracts.

  2004.1     2004.1   Telecommunications Plant Under Construction--Long
                       Term--Contract

                      This account shall include all costs incurred in
                       the construction of telecommunications plant
                       performed under contract and designed to be
                       completed in more than one year. Included among
                       these costs are contractor payments, and charges
                       for engineering, supervision, taxes, insurance,
                       transportation, interest during construction, and
                       other costs incurred in contract construction.
                       This account shall be maintained such that the
                       various items of cost are readily identified.

  2004.2     2004.2   Telecommunications Plant Under Construction--Long
                       Term--Force Account

                      This account shall include all costs incurred in
                       the construction of telecommunications plant
                       performed by the borrowers' own employees and
                       designed to be completed in more than one year.
                       Included among these costs are charges for
                       material, labor, engineering, supervision, taxes,
                       insurance, transportation, supply expense,
                       interest during construction, and other costs
                       incurred in the construction. This account shall
                       be maintained such that the various items of cost
                       are readily identified. Specific subaccounts
                       should be maintained to distinguish individual
                       projects.

  2004.3     2004.3   Telecommunications Plant Under Construction--Long
                       Term--Work Orders

                      This account shall include all costs incurred in
                       the construction of telecommunications plant
                       performed under a work order system or a line
                       extension contract and designed to be completed
                       in more than one year. Included among these costs
                       are charges for labor, materials and supplies,
                       transportation, payroll taxes, insurance,
                       supervision, interest during construction, and
                       other costs incurred in the construction.
                       Subsidiary records shall be maintained to reflect
                       the cost of individual jobs. These records shall
                       be reconciled periodically with the general
                       ledger control account. Specific subaccounts
                       should be maintained to accumulate costs incurred
                       under line extension contracts.

             2210.11  Central Office Switching--Analog*

                      This account shall include the original cost of
                       stored program control analog circuit-switching
                       and associated equipment. This account shall also
                       include the original cost of remote analog
                       electronic circuit switches.

             2210.21  Central Office Switching--Digital*


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                      This account shall include the original cost of
                       stored program control digital switches and their
                       associated equipment. Included in this account is
                       the original cost of digital switches which
                       utilize either dedicated or non-dedicated
                       circuits. This account shall also include the
                       original cost of remote digital electronic
                       switches.

             2210.31  Central Office Switching--Electro-Mechanical--Step-
                       by-Step*

                      This account shall include the original cost of
                       step-by-step and associated circuit-switching
                       equipment.

             2210.32  Central Office Switching--Electro-Mechanical--
                       Crossbar*

                      This account shall include the original cost of
                       crossbar and associated circuit switching
                       equipment. Also included in this account is the
                       original cost of electronic translator system
                       equipment used in switching.

             2210.33  Central Office Switching--Electro-Mechanical--
                       Other*

                      This account shall include the original cost of
                       all other types of non-electronic circuit-
                       switching equipment such as panel systems and
                       their associated circuit-switching equipment.
                        *Switching plant excludes switchboards which
                      perform operator assistance functions and
                      equipment which is an integral part thereof. It
                      does not exclude equipment used solely for the
                      recording of calling telephone numbers in
                      connection with customer dialed charged traffic,
                      dial tandem switches, and special switchboards
                      used in conjunction with private line service;
                      such equipment shall be classified to the
                      particular switch that it serves.

             2230.11  Central Office Transmission--Radio Systems--
                       Satellite and Earth Station Facilities

                      This account shall include the original cost of an
                       ownership interest in satellites (including land-
                       side spares), other spare parts, materials, and
                       supplies. It shall include launch insurance and
                       other satellite launch costs. This account shall
                       also include the original cost of earth stations
                       and spare parts, materials, and supplies
                       therefor.

             2230.12  Central Office Transmission--Radio Systems--Other

                      This account shall include the original cost of
                       radio equipment used to provide radio
                       communication channels. Radio equipment is that
                       equipment which is used for the generation,
                       amplification, propagation, reception,
                       modulation, and demodulation of radio waves in
                       free space over which communications channels can
                       be provided. This account shall also include the
                       associated carrier and auxiliary equipment and
                       patch bay equipment which is an integral part of
                       the radio equipment. Such equipment may be
                       located in central office buildings, terminal
                       rooms, or repeater stations or may be mounted on
                       towers, masts, or other supports.

             2230.21  Central Office Transmission--Circuit Equipment

                      This account shall include the original cost of
                       equipment which is used to reduce the number of
                       physical pairs otherwise required to serve a
                       given number of subscribers by utilizing carrier
                       systems, concentration stages or combinations of
                       both. It shall include equipment that provides
                       for simultaneous use of a number of interoffice
                       channels on a single transmission path. This
                       account shall also include the original cost of
                       equipment which is used for the amplification,
                       modulation, regeneration, circuit patching,
                       balancing or control of signals transmitted over
                       interoffice communications transmission channels.
                       This account shall include the original cost of
                       equipment which utilizes the message path to
                       carry signaling information or which utilizes
                       separate channels between switching offices to
                       transmit signaling information independent of the
                       subscribers' communication paths or transmission
                       channels. This account shall also include the
                       original cost of associated material used in the
                       construction of such plant. Circuit equipment may
                       be located in central offices, in manholes, on
                       poles, in cabinets or huts or at other locations.
                      This account excludes carrier and auxiliary
                       equipment and patch bay which are recorded in
                       Account 2230.12, Central Office Transmission--
                       Radio Systems--Other

 3100x      3100x     Retirement Work in Progress

                      This account shall be charged with the original
                       cost of property retired from the
                       telecommunications plant accounts. It shall also
                       be charged with all of the costs incurred in
                       removing the retired plant from service. This
                       account shall be credited with the salvage value
                       of materials recovered in the retirement of the
                       telecommunications plant. At such time as the
                       retirement work order is complete, the net income/
                       loss resulting therefrom shall be transferred
                       from this account to the appropriate primary
                       plant depreciation reserve account.

  4010.11    4010.11  Accounts Payable to Affiliated Companies

                      This account shall include all amounts currently
                       due to affiliated companies for recurring trade
                       obligations, and not provided for in other
                       accounts, such as those for traffic settlements,
                       material and supplies, repairs to
                       telecommunications plant, matured rents, and
                       interest payable under monthly settlements on
                       short-term loans, advances, and open accounts.

  4010.21    4010.21  Accounts Payable to Nonaffiliated Companies

                      This account shall include all amounts currently
                       due to nonaffiliated companies for recurring
                       trade obligations, and not provided for in other
                       accounts, such as those for traffic settlements,
                       materials and supplies, repairs to
                       telecommunications plant, matured rents, and
                       interest payable under monthly settlements on
                       short-term loans, advances, and open accounts.

  4010.22    4010.22  Accounts Payable--Employees' Income Tax Withheld


[[Page 887]]


                      This account shall include income taxes payable
                       that have been withheld from employees' salaries.

  4010.23    4010.23  Accounts Payable--FICA Taxes Withheld

                      This account shall include FICA taxes payable that
                       have been withheld from employees' salaries.

  4010.24    4010.24  Accounts Payable--Federal Excise Taxes

                      This account shall include Federal excise taxes
                       payable.

  4010.25    4010.25  Accounts Payable--Payroll

                      This account shall include amounts payable to the
                       company's employees in the form of salaries or
                       wages.

  4070.1     4070.1   Income Taxes Accrued--Federal

                      For Class A companies, this account shall be
                       credited and Accounts 7220, 7420, and 7630, as
                       appropriate, shall be debited for the amount of
                       Federal income taxes accrued during the current
                       operating period.
                      For Class B companies, this account shall be
                       credited and Accounts 7220.2, 7400.2, and 7600.3,
                       as appropriate, shall be debited for the amount
                       of Federal income taxes accrued during the
                       current operating period.

  4070.2     4070.2   Income Taxes Accrued--State and Local

                      For Class A companies, this account shall be
                       credited and Accounts, 7230, 7430, and 7630, as
                       appropriate, shall be debited for the amount of
                       state and local income taxes accrued during the
                       current operating period.
                      For Class B companies, this account shall be
                       credited and Accounts, 7200.3, 7400.3, and
                       7600.3, as appropriate, shall be debited for the
                       amount of state and local income taxes accrued
                       during the current operating period.

  4080.1     4080.1   Other Taxes Accrued--Property

                      This account shall be credited and Account 7240.1/
                       7200.41, Operating Taxes--Property, shall be
                       debited for the amount of property taxes accrued
                       during the current operating period.

  4080.2     4080.2   Other Taxes Accrued--Employer's Portion--FICA

                      This account shall be credited and the appropriate
                       construction, depreciation, or expense account
                       shall be debited for the employer's portion of
                       FICA taxes accrued during the current operating
                       period.

  4080.3     4080.3   Other Taxes Accrued--Federal Unemployment

                      This account shall be credited and the appropriate
                       construction, removal, or expense account shall
                       be debited for the amount of Federal unemployment
                       taxes accrued during the current operating
                       period.

  4080.4     4080.4   Other Taxes Accrued--State Unemployment

                      This account shall be credited and the appropriate
                       construction, removal, or expense account shall
                       be debited for the amount of state unemployment
                       taxes accrued during the current operating
                       period.

  4080.5     4080.5   Other Taxes Accrued--Miscellaneous

                      This account shall be credited and Account 7240.2/
                       7200.42, Operating Taxes--Miscellaneous, shall be
                       debited for the amount of all other taxes accrued
                       during the current operating period and not
                       provided for elsewhere such as a gross receipts
                       tax, franchise taxes, and capital stock taxes.

  4120.1     4120.1   Unmatured Interest Accrued--RUS Notes

                      This account shall include the interest accrued as
                       of the balance sheet date but not payable until
                       after that date on RUS mortgage notes.
                      Interest expense incurred during the period of
                       construction of telecommunications plant shall be
                       charged to Account 2004, Telecommunications Plant
                       Under Construction--Long Term, and credited to
                       Account 7340/7300.4, Allowance for Funds Used
                       During Construction.

  4120.2     4120.2   Unmatured Interest Accrued--Telephone Bank Notes

                      This account shall include the interest accrued as
                       of the balance sheet date but not payable until
                       after that date on Rural Telephone Bank mortgage
                       notes.
                      Interest expense incurred during the period of
                       construction of telecommunications plant shall be
                       charged to Account 2004, Telecommunications Plant
                       Under Construction--Long Term, and credited to
                       Account 7340/7300.4, Allowance for Funds Used
                       During Construction.

  4120.3     4120.3   Unmatured Interest Accrued--Federal Financing Bank
                       Notes

                      This account shall include the interest accrued as
                       of the balance sheet date but not payable until
                       after that date on Federal Financing Bank
                       mortgage notes.
                      Interest expense incurred during the period of
                       construction of telecommunications plant shall be
                       charged to Account 2004, Telecommunications Plant
                       Under Construction--Long Term, and credited to
                       Account 7340/7300.4, Allowance for Funds Used
                       During Construction.

  4120.4     4120.4   Unmatured Interest Accrued--Bank for Cooperatives
                       Notes

                      This account shall include the interest accrued as
                       of the balance sheet date but not payable until
                       after that date on Bank for Cooperatives mortgage
                       notes.

[[Page 888]]


                      Interest expense incurred during the period of
                       construction of telecommunications plant shall be
                       charged to Account 2004, Telecommunications Plant
                       Under Construction--Long Term, and credited to
                       Account 7340/7300.4, Allowance for Funds Used
                       During Construction.

  4120.5     4120.5   Unmatured Interest Accrued--Rural Telephone
                       Finance Cooperative Notes

                      This account shall include the interest accrued as
                       of the balance sheet date but not payable until
                       after that date on Rural Telephone Finance
                       Cooperative mortgage notes.
                      Interest expense incurred during the period of
                       construction of telecommunications plant shall be
                       charged to Account 2004, Telecommunications Plant
                       Under Construction--Long Term, and credited to
                       Account 7340/7300.4, Allowance for Funds Used
                       During Construction.

  4120.6     4120.6   Other Accrued Liabilities

                      This account shall include the amount of wages,
                       compensated absences, interest on indebtedness of
                       the company, dividends on capital stock, and
                       rents accrued as of the balance sheet date but
                       not payable until after the date.
                      This account shall not include interest accrued on
                       RUS, Rural Telephone Bank, Bank for Cooperatives,
                       Federal Financing Bank, or Rural Telephone
                       Finance Cooperative debt.

  4210.11    4210.11  Funded Debt--Other

                      This account shall include the total face amount
                       of unmatured debt, maturing more than one year
                       from the date of issue, issued by the company and
                       not retired, and the total face amount of similar
                       unmatured debt of other companies, the payment of
                       which has been assumed by the company, including
                       funded debt the maturity of which has been
                       extended by specific agreement.
                      This account shall not include unmatured RUS,
                       Rural Telephone Bank, Federal Financing Bank,
                       Bank for Cooperatives, or Rural Telephone Finance
                       Cooperative debt.

  4210.12    4210.12  RUS Notes

                      This account shall include the total face amount
                       of unmatured RUS mortgage notes. Account 4210.20,
                       RUS Notes--Unadvanced, Dr., shall be charged and
                       this account credited upon execution of the
                       notes.
                      If principal installments are not paid at the
                       maturity date, the amount due shall be
                       transferred to Account 4050, Current Maturities--
                       Long-Term Debt.

  4210.13    4210.13  Telephone Bank Notes
                      This account shall include the total face amount
                       of unmatured Rural Telephone Bank mortgage notes.
                       Account 4210.21, Telephone Bank Notes--
                       Unadvanced, Dr., shall be changed and this
                       account credited upon execution of the notes.
                      If principal installments are not paid at the
                       maturity date, the amount due shall be
                       transferred to Account 4050, Current Maturities--
                       Long-Term Debt.

  4210.14    4210.14  Federal Financing Bank Notes

                      This account shall include the total face amount
                       of unmatured Federal Financing Bank mortgage
                       notes. Account 4210.22, Federal Financing Bank
                       Notes--Unadvanced, Dr., shall be charged and this
                       account credited upon execution of the notes.
                      If principal installments are not paid at the
                       maturity date, the amount due shall be
                       transferred to Account 4050, Current Maturities--
                       Long-Term Debt.

  4210.15    4210.15  Bank for Cooperatives Notes

                      This account shall include the total face amount
                       of unmatured Bank for Cooperatives mortgage
                       notes. Account 4210.23, Bank for Cooperatives
                       Notes--Unadvanced, Dr., shall be charged and this
                       account credited upon execution of the notes.
                      If principal installments are not paid at the
                       maturity date, the amount due shall be
                       transferred to Account 4050, Current Maturities--
                       Long-Term Debt.

  4210.16    4210.16  Rural Telephone Finance Cooperative Notes

                      This account shall include the total face amount
                       of unmatured Rural Telephone Finance Cooperative
                       mortgage notes. Account 4210.24, Rural Telephone
                       Finance Cooperative Notes--Unadvanced, Dr., shall
                       be charged and this account credited upon
                       execution of the notes.
                      If principal installments are not paid at the
                       maturity date, the amount due shall be
                       transferred to Account 4050, Current Maturities--
                       Long-Term Debt.

  4210.17    4210.17  RUS Notes--Deferred Interest

                      This account shall include interest accrued on RUS
                       mortgage notes, the payment of which has been
                       deferred in accordance with the terms of the
                       notes or extension agreements. The offsetting
                       charge shall be to Account 7510, Interest on
                       Funded Debt, for Class A companies and Account
                       7500, Interest and Related Items, for Class B
                       companies.
                      If interest payments are not made at the due date,
                       this account shall be debited and Account
                       4010.21, Accounts Payable to Nonaffiliated
                       Companies, credited with the amount of the
                       matured interest.

  4210.18    4210.18  RUS Notes--Advance Payments, Dr.

                      This account shall include all payments on RUS
                       mortgage notes made in advance of the due date
                       and not applied to a specific quarterly payment.
                       As these payments are applied to specific notes,
                       this account shall be credited and the long-term
                       debt and interest liability accounts debited.


[[Page 889]]


  4210.19    4210.19  Funded Debt--Other--Unadvanced, Dr.

                      This account shall include the total face amount
                       of notes executed to others, for which funds have
                       not been received.
                      This account shall be credited and Account 1130.1/
                       1120.11, Cash--General Funds, debited when funds
                       are received from the lender.

  4210.20    4210.20  RUS Notes--Unadvanced, Dr.

                      This account shall include the total face amount
                       of RUS mortgage notes for which funds have not
                       been received.
                      This account shall be credited and Account 1130.2/
                       1120.12, Cash--Construction Fund Trustee, debited
                       when funds are received from RUS.

  4210.21    4210.21  Telephone Bank Notes--Unadvanced, Dr.

                      This account shall include the total face amount
                       of Rural Telephone Bank mortgage notes for which
                       funds have not been received.
                      This account shall be credited and Account 1130.2/
                       1120.12, Cash--Construction Fund Trustee, debited
                       when funds are received from the Rural Telephone
                       Bank.

  4210.22    4210.22  Federal Financing Bank Notes--Unadvanced, Dr.

                      This account shall include the total face amount
                       of Federal Financing Bank mortgage notes for
                       which funds have not been received.
                      This account shall be credited and Account 1130.2/
                       1120.12, Cash--Construction Fund Trustee, debited
                       when funds are received from the Federal
                       Financing Bank.

  4210.23    4210.23  Bank for Cooperatives Notes--Unadvanced, Dr.

                      This account shall include the total face amount
                       of Bank for Cooperatives mortgage notes for which
                       funds have not been received.
                      This account shall be credited and Account 1130.2/
                       1120.12, Cash--Construction Fund Trustee, debited
                       when funds are received from the Bank for
                       Cooperatives.

  4210.24    4210.24  Rural Telephone Finance Cooperative Notes--
                       Unadvanced, Dr.

                      This account shall include the total face amount
                       of Rural Telephone Finance Cooperative mortgage
                       notes for which funds have not been received.
                      This account shall be credited and Account 1130.2/
                       1120.12, Cash--Construction Fund Trustee, debited
                       when funds are received from the Rural Telephone
                       Finance Cooperative.

  4540.11    4540.11  Capital Stock Subscribed.

                      This account shall include the par value of
                       capital stock for which legally enforceable
                       subscriptions have been received but for which,
                       at the date of the balance sheet, stock
                       certificates have not been issued.
                      This account shall be debited and Account 4510,
                       Capital Stock, credited when a subscriber has
                       paid the subscription in full and stock
                       certificates are issued.

  4540.12    4540.12  Memberships Subscribed but Unissued.

                      This account shall include the face amount of
                       memberships subscribed but not issued. This
                       account shall be credited at the time the
                       subscription is received and Account 1350.2,
                       Subscriptions to Memberships, debited.
                      This account shall be debited and Account 4540.21,
                       Memberships Issued, credited when a subscriber
                       has paid the subscription in full and the
                       membership certificates are issued.

  4540.13    4540.13  Members' Equity Certificates Subscribed but
                       Unissued.

                      This account shall include the face amount of
                       members' equity certificates subscribed but not
                       issued. This account shall be credited at the
                       time the subscription is received and Account
                       1350.3, Subscriptions to Members' Equity
                       Certificates, debited.
                      This account shall be debited and Account 4540.22,
                       Members' Equity Certificates Issued, credited
                       when a subscriber has paid the subscription in
                       full and the members' equity certificates are
                       issued.

  4540.21    4540.21  Memberships Issued.

                      This account shall include the face amount of
                       membership certificates outstanding. A subsidiary
                       membership certificate record shall be maintained
                       to reflect the detail of the balance in this
                       account.

  4540.22    4540.22  Member's Equity Certificates Issued.

                      This account shall include the face amount of
                       members' equity certificates outstanding. A
                       subsidiary members' equity certificate record
                       shall be maintained to reflect the detail of the
                       balance in this account.

  4540.23    4540.23  Members' Equity--Other.

                      This account shall include credit amounts arising
                       from donations, forfeitures of membership fees,
                       forgiveness of debts of the cooperative, and
                       member's equities not otherwise provided for.

  4540.31    4540.31  Installments Paid on Capital Stock.

                      This account shall include the amount of
                       installments paid on capital stock on a partial
                       or installment payment plan by subscribers
                       against whom there is no legally enforceable
                       subscription contract, and who are entitled to be
                       reimbursed the principal amount of their
                       payments, with or without interest, in the event
                       they fail to complete payment for the stock and
                       receive certificates therefore.

[[Page 890]]


                      This account shall be debited and Account 4510,
                       Capital Stock, credited with the par value of
                       capital stock when the total subscription is
                       received and the stock certificates are issued.
                       Any difference between the purchase price of the
                       subscription and the par value of the stock shall
                       be credited to Account 4520, Additional Paid-In
                       Capital.
                      A subsidiary ledger shall be maintained to record
                       for each subscriber, the amount subscribed,
                       payments made, and the balance due. The balance
                       in this account shall be reconciled monthly with
                       the subscription ledger.

  4540.32    4540.32  Installments Paid on Memberships Subscribed.

                      This account shall include the amount of
                       installments paid by prospective members on
                       membership subscriptions against whom there is no
                       legally enforceable subscription contract, and
                       who are entitled to be reimbursed for the
                       principal amount of their payments, with or
                       without interest, in the event they fail to
                       complete payment for the membership and receive
                       certificates therefor.
                      This account shall be debited and Account 4540.21,
                       Memberships Issued, credited with the face amount
                       of the membership when the total subscription is
                       received and the membership certificates are
                       issued.
                      A subsidiary ledger shall be maintained to record
                       for each subscriber, the amount subscribed,
                       payments made, and the balance due. The balance
                       in this account shall be reconciled monthly with
                       the subscription ledger.

  4540.33    4540.33  Installments Paid on Equity Certificates
                       Subscribed

                      This account shall include the amount of
                       installments paid by prospective members on
                       equity certificate subscriptions against whom
                       there is no legally enforceable subscription
                       contract, and who are entitled to be reimbursed
                       for the principal amount of their payments, with
                       or without interest, in the event they fail to
                       complete payment for the membership and receive
                       equity certificates therefor.
                      This account shall be debited and Account 4540.22,
                       Members' Equity Certificates Issued, credited
                       with the face amount of the memberships when the
                       total subscription is received and the equity
                       certificates are issued.
                      A subsidiary ledger shall be maintained to record
                       for each subscriber, the amount subscribed,
                       payments made, and the balance due. The balance
                       in this account shall be reconciled monthly with
                       the subscription ledger.

  4540.41    4540.41  Other Capital--Miscellaneous

                      This account shall include amounts which are
                       credits arising from capital recorded upon the
                       reorganization or recapitalization of the company
                       and temporary declines in the value of marketable
                       securities held for investment purposes.

  4550.1     4550.1   Operating Margins

                      This account shall include amounts received or
                       receivable from the furnishing of
                       telecommunications service in excess of costs
                       incurred in the furnishing of such service. If
                       costs exceed revenues, the excess cost of
                       furnishing telecommunications service shall be
                       recorded as a debit to this account.

  4550.2     4550.2   Nonoperating Margins

                      This account shall include margins arising from
                       transactions or activities not related to the
                       furnishing of telecommunications service.
                       Included in this account are receipts from
                       investments, income from investments, income from
                       nonoperating plant, and revenues derived from
                       services performed for others incident to the
                       company's regulated telecommunications
                       operations.

  4550.3     4550.3   Other Margins

                      This account shall include patronage capital
                       credits assigned to the cooperative by other
                       nonprofit organizations prior to January 1, 1970,
                       which were not credited directly to an operating
                       expense account as a reduction in the cost of
                       furnishing telecommunications service.
                      No entries shall be made to this account unless it
                       is to distribute or eliminate prior balances in
                       conformance with the bylaws of the cooperative.

  4550.4     4550.4   Patronage Capital Assignable

                      This account shall include all amounts transferred
                       from operating margins, nonoperating margins, and
                       other margin accounts which are assignable to
                       individual patrons.

  4550.5     4550.5   Patrons' Capital Credits Assigned

                      This account shall include the amounts of
                       patronage capital which have been credited to
                       individual patrons. A subsidiary patronage
                       capital ledger shall be maintained so as to
                       reflect the amount of capital furnished by each
                       patron and the amount of such capital returned to
                       the patron.

  4550.6     4550.6   Gain on the Retirement of Capital Credits

                      This account shall include credits resulting from
                       the retirement of patronage capital through
                       settlement of individual patrons' accounts at
                       less than 100 percent of the capital assigned to
                       the patron. The portion of patronage capital not
                       returned to patrons under such settlements shall
                       be debited to Account 4550.5, Patrons' Capital
                       Credits Assigned, and credited to this account.

[[Page 891]]


                      This account shall also include amounts
                       representing patronage capital authorized to be
                       retired to patrons who cannot be located.
                       Returned checks issued for retirements of
                       patronage capital, after an appropriate waiting
                       period, shall be credited to this account and a
                       record shall be maintained adequate to enable the
                       cooperative to make payment to the patron if and
                       when a claim has been established by the patron.

             6210.11  Analog Electronic Expense

                      This account shall include expenses associated
                       with analog electronic switching.

             6210.21  Digital Electronic Expense

                      This account shall include expenses associated
                       with digital electronic switching.

             6210.31  Electro-Mechanical Expense

                      This account shall include expenses associated
                       with electro-mechanical switching.

             6230.11  Radio Systems Expense

                      This account shall include expenses associated
                       with radio systems.

             6230.21  Circuit Equipment Expense

                      This account shall include expenses associated
                       with circuit equipment.

             6560.1   Depreciation Expense

                      This account shall include the depreciation
                       expense associated with telecommunications plant
                       in service (Accounts 2112 through 2441) and
                       property held for future telecommunications use
                       (Account 2002).

             6560.2   Amortization Expense

                      This account shall include the amortization
                       expense associated with capital leases and
                       leasehold improvements (Accounts 2681 and 2682),
                       intangibles (Account 2690), and
                       telecommunications plant adjustments (Account
                       2005).

             7200.1   Operating Investment Tax Credits--Net

                      This account shall be charged and Account 4320,
                       Unamortized Operating Investment Tax Credits--
                       Net, shall be credited with investment tax
                       credits generated from qualified expenditures
                       related to regulated operations which the company
                       defers rather than recognizes currently in
                       income.
                      This account shall be credited and Account 4320
                       shall be charged ratably with the amortization of
                       each year's investment tax credits included in
                       Account 4320 for investment services for
                       ratemaking purposes. Such amortization shall be
                       determined in relation to the period of time used
                       for computing book depreciation on the property
                       with respect to which the tax credits relate.

             7200.2   Operating Federal Income Taxes

                      This account shall be charged and Account 4070.1,
                       Income Taxes Accrued--Federal, shall be credited
                       for the amount of Federal income tax expense
                       incurred in the current operating period. This
                       account shall also reflect subsequent adjustments
                       to amounts previously charged.
                      Taxes should be accrued each month on an estimated
                       basis and adjustments made as later data becomes
                       available.

             7200.3   Operating State and Local Income Taxes

                      This account shall be charged and Account 4070.2,
                       Income Taxes Accrued--State and Local, shall be
                       credited for the amount of state and local income
                       tax expense incurred in the current operating
                       period. This account shall also reflect
                       subsequent adjustments to amounts previously
                       charged.
                      Taxes should be accrued each month on an estimated
                       basis and adjustments made as later data becomes
                       available.

  7240.1     7200.41  Operating Taxes--Property

                      This account shall be charged and Account 4080.1,
                       Other Taxes Accrued--Property, shall be credited
                       for the amount of property tax expense incurred
                       in the current operating period. This account
                       shall also reflect subsequent adjustments to
                       amounts previously charged.
                      Taxes should be accrued each month on an estimated
                       basis and adjustments made as later data becomes
                       available.

  7240.2     7200.42  Operating Taxes--Miscellaneous

                      This account shall be charged and Account 4080.5,
                       Other Taxes Accrued--Miscellaneous, shall be
                       credited for the amount of all other taxes
                       accrued during the current operating period and
                       not provided for elsewhere such as gross
                       receipts, franchise, and capital stock tax
                       expense incurred in the current operating period.
                       This account shall also reflect subsequent
                       adjustments to amounts previously charged.
                      Taxes should be accrued each month on an estimated
                       basis and adjustments made as later data becomes
                       available.

             7200.5   Provision for Deferred Operating Income Taxes-Net

                      This account shall be charged or credited, as
                       appropriate, with contra entries recorded in
                       either Account 4100, Net Current Deferred
                       Operating Income Taxes, or Account 4340, Net
                       Noncurrent Deferred Operating Income Taxes, as
                       appropriate, for income tax expense that has been
                       deferred.

[[Page 892]]


                      Subsidiary record categories shall be maintained
                       to distinguish between property and nonproperty
                       related deferrals and so that the company may
                       separately report the amounts contained herein
                       that relate to Federal, state, and local income
                       taxes.

             7300.1   Dividend Income

                      This account shall include dividends on
                       investments in common and preferred stock, which
                       is the property of the company, whether such
                       stock is owned by the company and held in its
                       treasury, or deposited in trust, or otherwise
                       controlled.
                      This account shall not include dividends or other
                       returns on securities issued or assumed by the
                       company and held by or for it, whether pledged as
                       collateral, or held in its treasury, in special
                       deposits, or in sinking or other funds.
                      Dividends on stocks of other companies held in
                       sinking or other funds shall be credited to
                       Account 7300.3, Income from Sinking and Other
                       Funds.
                      Dividends received and receivable from affiliated
                       companies accounted for on the equity method
                       shall be included in Account 1401, Investments in
                       Affiliated Companies, as a reduction of the
                       carrying value of the investments.

             7300.2   Interest Income

                      This account shall include interest on securities,
                       including notes and other evidences of
                       indebtedness which are the property of the
                       company, whether such securities are owned by the
                       company and held in its treasury, or deposited in
                       trust (except in sinking or other funds) or
                       otherwise controlled. It shall also include
                       interest on bank balances, certificates of
                       deposits, open accounts, and other analogous
                       items. There shall be included in this account
                       for each month, the applicable amount requisite
                       to extinguish, during the interval between the
                       date of acquisition and the date of maturity, the
                       difference between the purchase price and the par
                       value of securities owned, the income from which
                       is includable in this account. Amounts thus
                       credited or charged shall be concurrently
                       included in the accounts in which the securities
                       are carried. Any such difference remaining
                       unextinguished at the sale or upon the maturity
                       and satisfaction of such securities shall be
                       cleared to Account 7300.6. Other Nonoperating
                       Income and Expense.

             7300.3   Income from Sinking and Other Funds

                      This account shall include the income accrued on
                       cash, securities issued by other companies, and
                       other assets (not including securities issued or
                       assumed by the company) held in sinking and other
                       funds.
                      There shall be included in this account for each
                       month the applicable amount requisite to
                       extinguish, during the interval between the date
                       of acquisition and the date of maturity, the
                       difference between the purchase price and the par
                       value of securities held in sinking or other
                       funds. Amounts thus credited or charged shall be
                       concurrently included in the accounts in which
                       the securities are carried. Any such differences
                       remaining unextinguished upon the maturity and
                       satisfaction of such securities shall be cleared
                       to Account 7300.6. Other Nonoperating Income and
                       Expense.

             7300.4   Allowance for Funds Used During Construction

                      This account shall be credited with such amounts
                       as are charged to the telecommunications plant
                       accounts for the purpose or recording an
                       allowance for funds used for construction
                       purposes.

             7300.5   Gains or Losses from the Disposition of Certain
                       Property

                      This account shall include gains or losses
                       resulting from the disposition of land or
                       artworks; plant with traffic, and nonoperating
                       telecommunications plant not previously used in
                       the provision of telecommunication services.

             7300.6   Other Nonoperating Income and Expense

                      This account shall include all other items of
                       income and gains or losses from activities not
                       specifically provided for elsewhere such as gains
                       or losses realized on the sale of temporary cash
                       investments or marketable equity securities; fees
                       collected in connection with the exchange of
                       coupon bonds for registered bonds; uncollectible
                       amounts previously credited to Accounts 7300.1,
                       7300.2, 7300.3, 7300.4, 7300.5, and 7300.6, gains
                       or losses from the extinguishment of debt made to
                       satisfy sinking fund requirements; gains or
                       losses of a nonoperating nature arising from the
                       exchange or translation of foreign currency; net
                       unrealized losses on investments in current
                       marketable equity securities; write-downs or
                       write-offs of the book costs of investments in
                       equity securities due to permanent impairment;
                       amortization of goodwill; the company's share of
                       earnings or losses of affiliated companies
                       accounted for on the equity method; and the net
                       balance of the revenue from and the expenses of
                       property, plant, and equipment, the cost of which
                       is includable in Account 2006, Nonoperating
                       Plant.

             7400.1   Nonoperating Investment Tax Credits--Net

                      This account shall be charged and Account 4330,
                       Unamortized Nonoperating Investment Tax Credits--
                       Net, shall be credited with nonoperating
                       investment tax credits generated from qualified
                       expenditures related to other operations which
                       the company has elected to defer rather than
                       recognize currently in income.

[[Page 893]]


                      This account shall be credited and Account 4330,
                       Unamortized Nonoperating Investment Tax Credits--
                       Net, shall be charged with the amortization of
                       each year's investment tax credits included in
                       such accounts relating to amortization of
                       previously deferred investment tax credits of
                       other property or regulated property, the
                       amortization of which does not serve to reduce
                       costs of service (but the unamortized balance
                       does reduce rate base) for ratemaking purposes.
                       Such amortization shall be determined with
                       reference to the period of time used for
                       computing book depreciation on the property with
                       respect to which the tax credits relate.

             7400.2   Nonoperating Federal Income Taxes

                      This account shall be charged and Account 4070.1,
                       Income Taxes Accrued--Federal, shall be credited
                       for the amount of nonoperating Federal income
                       taxes for the current period. This account shall
                       also reflect subsequent adjustments to amounts
                       previously charged.
                      Taxes shall be accrued each month on an estimated
                       basis and adjustments made as later data becomes
                       available. Companies that adopt the flowthrough
                       method of accounting for investment tax credits
                       shall reduce the calculated provision in this
                       account by the entire amount of the credit
                       realized during the year. Tax credits, if
                       normalized, shall be recorded consistent with the
                       accounting for investment tax credits.
                      No entries shall be made to this account to
                       reflect interperiod tax allocation.

             7400.3   Nonoperating State and Local Income Taxes

                      This account shall be charged and Account 4070.2,
                       Income Taxes Accrued--State and Local, shall be
                       credited for the amount of nonoperating state and
                       local income taxes for the current period. This
                       account shall also reflect subsequent adjustments
                       to amounts previously charged.
                      Taxes shall be accrued each month on an estimated
                       basis and adjustments made as later data becomes
                       available.
                      No entries shall be made to this account to
                       reflect interperiod tax allocation.

             7400.4   Nonoperating Other Taxes

                      This account shall be charged and Account 4080.5,
                       Other Taxes Accrued--Miscellaneous, shall be
                       credited for all nonoperating taxes, other than
                       Federal, state, and local income taxes, and
                       payroll related taxes for the current period.
                       Among the items includable in this account are
                       property, gross receipts, franchise and capital
                       stock taxes. This account shall also reflect
                       subsequent adjustments to amounts previously
                       charged.

             7400.5   Provision for Deferred Nonoperating Income Taxes--
                       Net

                      This account shall be charged or credited, as
                       appropriate, with contra entries recorded in
                       either Account 4110, Net Current Deferred
                       Nonoperating Income Taxes, or Account 4350, Net
                       Noncurrent Deferred Nonoperating Income Taxes, as
                       appropriate, for nonoperating tax expenses that
                       have been deferred.
                      Subsidiary record categories shall be maintained
                       to distinguish between property and nonproperty
                       related deferrals and so that the company may
                       separately report the amounts contained herein
                       that relate to Federal, state, and local income
                       taxes.

             7600.1   Extraordinary Income Credits

                      This account shall be credited with nontypical,
                       noncustomary, and infrequently recurring gains
                       which would significantly distort the current
                       year's income computed before such extraordinary
                       items, if reported other than as extraordinary
                       items. Income tax relating to the amounts
                       recorded in this account shall be recorded in
                       Account 7600.3, Current Income Tax Effect for
                       Extraordinary Items--Net, and Account 7600.4,
                       Provision for Deferred Income Tax Effect of
                       Extraordinary Items--Net.

             7600.2   Extraordinary Income Charges

                      This account shall be debited with nontypical,
                       noncustomary, and infrequently recurring losses
                       which would significantly distort the current
                       year's income computed before such extraordinary
                       items, if reported other than as extraordinary
                       items. Income tax relating to the amounts
                       recorded in this account shall be recorded in
                       Account 7600.3, Current Income Tax Effect for
                       Extraordinary Items--Net, and Account 7600.4,
                       Provision for Deferred Income Tax Effect of
                       Extraordinary Items--Net.

             7600.3   Current Income Tax Effect of Extraordinary Items--
                       Net

                      This account shall be charged or credited and
                       Account 4070.1, Income Taxes Accrued--Federal, or
                       Account 4070.2, Income Taxes Accrued--State and
                       Local, shall be credited or charged, as
                       appropriate, for all current income tax effects
                       (Federal, state, and local) of items included in
                       Account 7600.1, Extraordinary Income Credits, and
                       Account 7600.2, Extraordinary Income Charges.

             7600.4   Provision for Deferred Income Tax Effect of
                       Extraordinary Items--Net

                      This account shall be charged or credited, as
                       appropriate, with a contra amount recorded in
                       Account 4350, Net Noncurrent Deferred
                       Nonoperating Income Taxes, or Account 4110, Net
                       Current Deferred Nonoperating Income Taxes, for
                       the income tax effects (Federal, state, and
                       local) of items included in Account 7600.1,
                       Extraordinary Income Credits, and Account 7600.2,
                       Extraordinary Income Charges, that have been
                       deferred.
------------------------------------------------------------------------

[55 FR 3388, Feb. 1, 1990; 55 FR 17352, Apr. 24, 1990, as amended at 55 
FR 53488, Dec. 31, 1990]

[[Page 894]]

Sec. 1770.16    Supplementary accounts required of nonprofit 
        organizations.

------------------------------------------------------------------------
  Class of company
---------------------
     Account No.                         Account title
---------------------
    A          B
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                      Current Assets

  1350.1     1350.1   Subscriptions to Capital Stock.
  1350.2     1350.2   Subscriptions to Memberships.
  1350.3     1350.3   Subscriptions to Members' Equity Certificates.
  1350.4     1350.4   Other Current Assets.

                      Current Liabilities

  4130.1     4130.1   Patronage Capital Payable.
  4130.2     4130.2   Other Current Liabilities--Miscellaneous.

                      Long-Term Debt

  4270.1     4270.1   Members' Redeemable Equity Certificates Subscribed
                       but Unissued.
  4270.2     4270.2   Members' Redeemable Equity Certificates Issued.
  4270.3     4270.3   Other Long-Term Debt.

  1350.1     1350.1   Subscriptions to Capital Stock

                      This account shall include the balance due from
                       subscribers upon legally enforceable
                       subscriptions to capital stock.
                      The purchase price of subscriptions shall be
                       charged to this account at the time the
                       subscription is received. The par value of the
                       stock subscribed shall be credited to Account
                       4540.11, Capital Stock Subscribed, and the
                       difference between the purchase price and the par
                       value shall be credited to Account 4520,
                       Additional Paid-In Capital.

  1350.2     1350.2   Subscriptions to Memberships

                      This account shall include the balance due on
                       memberships subscribed. The face amount of
                       memberships subscribed shall be charged to this
                       account at the time the subscription is received.
                       The offsetting credit shall be to Account
                       4540.12, Memberships Subscribed but Unissued.
                      A subscription ledger shall be maintained to
                       record for each subscriber, the amount
                       subscribed, payments made, and the balance due.
                       The balance in this account shall be reconciled
                       monthly with the subscription ledger.

  1350.3     1350.3   Subscriptions to Members' Equity Certificates

                      This account shall include the balance due on
                       member's equity certificates subscribed. The face
                       amount of certificates subscribed shall be
                       charged to this account at the time the
                       subscription is received. The offsetting credit
                       shall be to Account 4540.13, Members' Equity
                       Certificates Subscribed but Unissued, or to
                       Account 4270.1, Members' Redeemable Equity
                       Certificates Subscribed but Unissued.
                      A subscription ledger shall be maintained to
                       record for each subscriber, the amount
                       subscribed, payments made, and the balance due.
                       The balance in this account shall be reconciled
                       monthly with the subscription ledger. The
                       subscription ledger shall be maintained in such a
                       manner as to separately identify redeemable and
                       nonredeemable certificates.

  1350.4     1350.4   Other Current Assets

                      This account shall include the amount of all
                       current assets which are not includable in
                       Accounts 1120 through 1350.3.

  4130.1     4130.1   Patronage Capital Payable

                      This account shall include the amount of patronage
                       capital which has been authorized to be returned
                       to patrons.

  4130.2     4130.2   Other Current Liabilities--Miscellaneous

                      This account shall include liabilities of current
                       character which are not includable in Accounts
                       4010 through 4130.1.

  4270.1       70.1   Members' Redeemable Equity Certificates Subscribed
                       but Unissued

                      This account shall include the face amount of
                       members' equity certificates which are redeemable
                       at some specified future date for which
                       subscriptions have been received but for which
                       certificates have not been issued. This account
                       shall be credited at the time the subscription is
                       received and Account 1350.3, Subscriptions to
                       Members' Equity Certificates, debited.
                      This account shall be debited and Account 4270.2,
                       Members' Redeemable Equity Certificates Issued,
                       credited when a subscriber has paid the
                       subscription in full and the equity certificates
                       are issued.

  4270.2     4270.2   Members' Redeemable Equity Certificates Issued

                      This account shall include the face amount of
                       outstanding members' equity certificates which
                       are redeemable at some specified future date. A
                       subsidiary members' redeemable equity certificate
                       record shall be maintained to reflect the detail
                       of the balance in this account.

  4270.3     4270.3   Other Long-Term Debt

                      This account shall include long-term debt not
                       provided for elsewhere.
------------------------------------------------------------------------


[[Page 895]]

Secs. 1770.17--1770.25  [Reserved]

                  Subpart C--Accounting Interpretations

    Source: 61 FR 39847, July 31, 1996, unless otherwise noted.

Sec. 1770.26  General.

    (a) The standard provisions of the security instruments utilized by 
the Rural Utilities Service (RUS) and the Rural Telephone Bank (RTB) for 
all telecommunications borrowers require borrowers to at all times keep 
and safely preserve, proper books, records, and accounts in which full 
and true entries will be made of all of the dealings, business, and 
affairs of the borrower in accordance with the methods and principles of 
accounting prescribed by the state regulatory body having jurisdiction 
over the borrower and by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) in 
its Uniform System of Accounts for telecommunications companies (47 CFR 
part 32), as those methods and principles of accounting are supplemented 
from time to time by RUS.
    (b) This subpart implements those standard provisions of the RUS and 
RTB security instruments by prescribing accounting principles, 
methodologies, and procedures applicable to all telecommunications 
borrowers for particular situations.

Sec. 1770.27  Definitions.

    As used in this part:
    Borrower is an RUS telecommunications borrower.
    Cushion of Credit Account is a 5 percent interest bearing account 
established by RUS in which all voluntary payments or overpayments on 
Rural Electric and Telephone Revolving Funds after October 1, 1987, are 
deposited.
     FCC is the Federal Communications Commission.
    Part 32 is 47 CFR part 32, Uniform System of Accounts, issued by the 
Federal Communications Commission.
     RAO is the Responsible Accounting Officer of the Federal 
Communications Commission.
     RE Act is the Rural Electrification Act of 1936, as amended (7 
U.S.C. 901 et seq.).
     RETRF is the Rural Electric and Telephone Revolving Fund.
     RTB is the Rural Telephone Bank.
     RUS is the Rural Utilities Service, an agency of the United States 
Department of Agriculture, or its predecessor or successor.

Secs. 1770.28-1770.45  [Reserved]

 Appendix to Subpart C to Part 1770--Accounting Methods and Procedures 
                        Required of All Borrowers

    All borrowers shall maintain and keep their books of accounts and 
all other books and records which support the entries in such books of 
accounts in accordance with the accounting principles prescribed in this 
appendix.

                             Numerical Index

                            Number and Title

101  Postretirement Benefits
102  Rural Telephone Bank Stock
103  Cushion of Credit Investments
104  Rural Economic Development Loan and Grant Program
105  Satellite and Cable Television Services
106  Consolidated Financial Statements


                     Subject Matter Index                        Number

C
  Cable Television Services..................................        105
  Consolidated Financial Statements..........................        106
  Cushion of Credit Investments..............................        103
E
  Economic Development Loan and Grant Program................        104
F
  Financial Statements--Consolidated.........................        106
I
  Investments--Cushion of Credit.............................        103
P
  Postretirement Benefits....................................        101
R
  Rural Economic Development Loan and Grant Program..........        104
  Rural Telephone Bank Stock.................................        102
S
  Satellite Television Services..............................        105
  Stock--Rural Telephone Bank................................        102
  Postretirement Benefits....................................


    A. Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 106, Employers' 
Accounting for Postretirement Benefits Other than Pensions (Statement 
No. 106), requires reporting

[[Page 896]]

entities to accrue the expected cost of postretirement benefits during 
the years the employee provides service to the entity. For purposes of 
applying the provisions of Statement No. 106, members of the board of 
directors are considered to be employees of the cooperative. Prior to 
the issuance of Statement No. 106, most reporting entities accounted for 
postretirement benefit costs on a ``pay-as-you-go'' basis; that is, 
costs were recognized when paid, not when the employee provided service 
to the entity in exchange for the benefits. (Statement 106 is available 
from the Financial Accounting Standards Board, 401 Merritt 7, P.O. Box 
5116, Norwalk, CT. 06856-5116.)
    B. As defined in Statement No. 106, a postretirement benefit plan is 
a deferred compensation arrangement in which an employer promises to 
exchange future benefits for an employee's current services. 
Postretirement benefit plans may be funded or unfunded. Postretirement 
benefits include, but are not limited to, health care, life insurance, 
tuition assistance, day care, legal services, and housing subsidies 
provided outside of a pension plan.
    C. Statement No. 106 applies to both written plans and to plans 
whose existence is implied from a practice of paying postretirement 
benefits. An employer's practice of providing postretirement benefits to 
selected employees under individual contracts with specific terms 
determined on a employee-by-employee basis does not, however, constitute 
a postretirement benefit plan under the provisions of this statement.
    D. Postretirement benefit plans generally fall into three 
categories: single-employer defined benefit plans, multiemployer plans, 
and multiple-employer plans.
    E. A single-employer plan is a postretirement benefit plan that is 
maintained by one employer. The term may also be applied to a plan that 
is maintained by related parties such as a parent and its subsidiaries. 
A multiemployer plan is a postretirement benefit plan in which two or 
more unrelated employers contribute, usually pursuant to one or more 
collective-bargaining agreements. One characteristic of a multiemployer 
plan is that the assets contributed by one participating employer may be 
used to provide benefits to employees of other participating employers 
since assets contributed by an employer are not segregated in a separate 
account or restricted to provide benefits only to employees of that 
employer.
    F. A multiple-employer plan is a postretirement benefit plan that is 
maintained by more than one employer but is not a multiemployer plan. A 
multiple-employer plan is generally not collectively bargained and is 
intended to allow participating employers to pool their plan assets for 
investment purposes and reduce the cost of plan administration. A 
multiple-employer plan maintains separate accounts for each employer so 
that contributions provide benefits only for employees of the 
contributing employer.
    G. The accounting requirements set forth in this interpretation 
focus on single- and multiple-employer plans. The accounting 
requirements set forth in Statement No. 106 for multiemployer plans or 
defined contribution plans shall be adopted for borrowers electing those 
types of plans.
    H. Under the provisions of Statement No. 106, there are two 
components of the postretirement benefit cost: the current period cost 
and the transition obligation. The transition obligation is a one-time 
accrual of the costs resulting from services already provided. Statement 
No. 106 allows the transition obligation to be deferred and amortized on 
a straight-line basis over the average remaining service period of the 
active employees. If the average remaining service period of the active 
employees is less than 20 years, a 20-year amortization period may be 
used.

                       I. Accounting Requirements

    A. All borrowers shall adopt the accrual accounting provisions and 
reporting requirements as set forth in Statement No. 106. The transition 
obligation and accrual of the current period cost must be based upon an 
actuarial study. This study must be updated to allow the borrower to 
comply with the measurement date requirements of Statement No. 106; 
however, the study must, at a minimum, be updated every five years. 
Borrowers may not account for postretirement benefits on a ``pay-as-you-
go'' basis.
    B. Under the provisions of Statement No. 106, an entity may 
recognize the transition obligation, in its entirety, when Statement No. 
106 is first adopted or the entity may elect to delay the recognition of 
the transition obligation. On December 26, 1991, however, the FCC issued 
6 FCC Rcd 7560, which requires telecommunications carriers to recognize 
the transition obligation on a delayed basis. RUS reviewed this issuance 
and has determined that borrowers must comply with this ruling and 
recognize the transition obligation on a delayed basis.
    C. The deferral and amortization of the transition obligation on a 
delayed basis is considered to be an off balance sheet item. As a 
result, an accounting entry is not required at the time of adoption of 
Statement No. 106. Instead, the transition obligation is recognized as a 
component of postretirement benefit cost as it is amortized. The amount 
of the unamortized transition obligation must be disclosed in the notes 
to the financial statements.
    D. In accordance with the provisions of Responsible Accounting 
Officer (RAO) Letter 20, released by the FCC on April 24, 1992, Account 
4310, Other Long-Term Liabilities, shall be used to record the liability 
accrued for postretirement benefits. (RAO Letter 20

[[Page 897]]

is available from the Federal Communications Commission, 1919 M Street, 
NW., Washington, DC 20554.) Borrowers shall credit this account for the 
net periodic cost of postretirement benefits for the current year and 
shall debit this account for any fund payments made during the current 
year.
    E. Net periodic postretirement benefit cost includes current period 
service cost, interest cost, return on plan assets, amortization of 
prior service cost, gains and losses, and amortization of the transition 
obligation. If fund payments create a debit balance in the 
postretirement benefits portion of Account 4310, the debit balance 
applicable to postretirement benefits shall be reported in Account 1410, 
Other Noncurrent Assets. Account 1410 shall also be used to record any 
prepaid postretirement benefit cost.
    F. The benefits portion of the expense matrix for the appropriate 
Part 32 expense accounts shall be used to record the current period 
service cost component of the current year's net periodic postretirement 
benefit cost. The interest cost component, return on plan assets, 
amortization of prior service cost, gains and losses, and amortization 
of the transition obligation shall be charged to the benefits portion of 
the expense matrix of Account 6728, Other General and Administrative.

                  II. Effective Date and Implementation

    A. For plans outside the United States and for defined benefit plans 
of employers that (a) are nonpublic enterprises and (b) sponsor defined 
benefit postretirement plans with no more than 500 plan participants in 
the aggregate, Statement No. 106 is effective for fiscal years beginning 
after December 15, 1994. For all other plans, Statement No. 106 is 
effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 1992.

                     102  Rural Telephone Bank Stock

    A. Capital stock issued by the Rural Telephone Bank consists of 
Class A, Class B, and Class C stock. Class A stock is issued only to the 
Administrator of RUS on behalf of the United States in exchange for 
capital furnished to RTB.
    B. Class B stock is issued only to recipients of loans under Section 
408 of the Rural Electrification Act (RE Act). Borrowers receiving loan 
funds pursuant to Section 408(a) (1) or (2) of the RE Act are required 
to invest 5 percent of the amount of loan funds approved in Class B 
stock. No dividends are payable on Class B stock. All holders of Class B 
stock are entitled to patronage refunds in the form of Class B stock 
under the terms and conditions specified in the bylaws of the RTB.
    C. Class C stock is available for purchase by borrowers, 
corporations, and public bodies eligible to borrow under Section 408 of 
the RE Act, or by organizations controlled by such borrowers, 
corporations and public bodies. The payment of dividends is in 
accordance with the bylaws of the RTB.

                         Accounting Requirements

    A. The purchase of RTB stock required by the RE Act shall be debited 
to Account 1402.1, Investments in Nonaffiliated Companies--Class B RTB 
Stock. Patronage refunds in the form of additional shares of RTB Class B 
Stock shall be debited to Account 1402.1 and credited to Account 
1402.11, Investments in Nonaffiliated Companies--Class B RTB Stock--Cr.
    B. Purchases of Class C RTB stock shall be debited to Account 
1402.2, Investments in Nonaffiliated Companies--Class C RTB Stock. Cash 
dividends received on Class C RTB stock shall be credited to Account 
7310, Dividend Income.
    C. Once a borrower has repaid all of its RTB loans, it may request 
that its Class B stock be converted to Class C stock. When the 
conversion is made, Account 1402.2 shall be debited and Account 1402.1 
shall be credited for the face value of the stock converted. Account 
1402.21, Investments in Nonaffiliated Companies--Class C RTB Stock--Cr., 
shall be credited and Account 1402.11 shall be debited for the face 
value of the Class B stock that has been received as patronage refunds.

                   103  Cushion of Credit Investments

    A. The RUS Cushion of Credit account is an investment account 
bearing an interest rate of 5 percent. All voluntary payments or 
overpayments on Rural Electric and Telephone Revolving Fund (RETRF) 
loans made after October 1, 1987, are deposited into this account in the 
appropriate borrower's name.

                         Accounting Requirements

    A. The following journal entries shall be used by RUS borrowers to 
record the transactions associated with cushion of credit payment:

1. Dr. 4210.18, RUS Notes--Advance Payments, Dr. Cr. 1130.1/1120.11, 
          Cash--General Fund. To record the cushion of credit payment.
2. Dr. 4210.18, RUS Notes--Advance Payments, Dr. Cr. 7320/7300.2, 
          Interest Income. To record interest earned on cushion of 
          credit deposits.
3. Dr. 4210.12, RUS Notes, Cr. 4210.18, RUS Notes--Advance Payments, Dr. 
          To apply cushion of credit payments (and interest) to the RUS 
          note.

         104  Rural Economic Development Loan and Grant Program

    A. On December 21, 1987, Section 313, Cushion of Credit Payments 
Program (7 U.S.C. 901

[[Page 898]]

et seq.), was added to the RE Act. Section 313 establishes a Rural 
Economic Development Subaccount and authorizes the Administrator of the 
RUS to provide zero interest loans or grants to RE Act borrowers for the 
purpose of promoting rural economic development and job creation 
projects. Effective December 5, 1994, this authority was assigned to the 
Administrator, Rural Business and Cooperative Development Service.
    B. 7 CFR part 1703, Subpart B, Rural Economic Development Loan and 
Grant Program, sets forth the policies and procedures relating to the 
zero interest loan program and for approving and administering grants.

                         Accounting Requirements

    A. The accounting journal entries required to record the 
transactions associated with a Rural Economic Development grant are as 
follows:

1. Dr. 1130.4/1120.14, Cash--General Fund--Economic Development Grant 
          Funds. Cr. 4210.25, RUS Notes--Economic Development Grant; Cr. 
          4540.41, Other Capital--Miscellaneous; or Cr. 7360/7300.6, 
          Other Nonoperating Income. To record grant funds disbursed by 
          RUS. If the grant agreement requires repayment of the funds 
          upon termination of the revolving loan program, Account 
          4210.25 shall be credited. If the grant agreement states that 
          there is absolutely no obligation for repayment upon 
          termination of the revolving loan program, the funds shall be 
          accounted for as a permanent infusion of capital by crediting 
          Account 4540.41. If, however, the grant agreement is silent as 
          to the final disposition of the grant funds, Account 7360/
          7300.6 shall be credited.
2. Dr. 1401.1, Other Investments in Affiliated Companies--Federal 
          Economic Development Grant Loans or Dr. 1402.4, Other 
          Investments in Nonaffiliated Companies--Federal Economic 
          Development Grant Loans Cr. 1130.4/1120.14, Cash--General 
          Fund--Economic Development Grant Funds. To record a Federal 
          revolving loan to an economic development project.
3. Dr. 1130.1/1120.11, Cash--General Fund. Cr. 7360/7300.6, Other 
          Nonoperating Income. To record payment of loan servicing fees 
          charged to the economic development project.
4. Dr. 1130.5/1120.15, Cash--General Fund--Economic Development Non-
          Federal Revolving Funds. Cr. 1401.1, Other Investments in 
          Affiliated Companies --Federal Economic Development Grant 
          Loans or Cr. 1402.4, Other Investments in Nonaffiliated 
          Companies--Federal Economic Development Grant Loans. To record 
          the repayment, by the project, of the Federal revolving loan.
5. Dr. 1401.2, Other Investments in Affiliated Companies--Non-Federal 
          Economic Development Grant Loans or Dr. 1402.5, Other 
          Investments in Nonaffiliated Companies--Non-Federal Economic 
          Development Grant Loans. Cr. 1130.5/1120.15, Cash--General 
          Fund--Economic Development Non-Federal Revolving Funds. To 
          record a Non-Federal revolving loan to an economic development 
          project.
6. Dr. 1210, Interest and Dividends Receivable Cr. 7320/7300.2, Interest 
          Income. To record the interest earned on a Non-Federal 
          revolving loan to an economic development project.
7. Dr. 1130.5/1120.15, Cash--General Fund--Economic Development Non-
          Federal Revolving Funds. CR. 1401.2, Other Investments in 
          Affiliated Companies--Non-Federal Economic Development Grant 
          Loans or Cr. 1402.5, Other Investments in Nonaffiliated 
          Companies--Non-Federal Economic Development Grant Loans. To 
          record the repayment, by the project, of the Non-Federal 
          revolving loan.
    B. The accounting journal entries required to record the 
transactions associated with a Rural Economic Development loan are as 
follows:

1. Dr. 4210.26, Economic Development Notes--Unadvanced, Fr. Cr. 4210.25, 
          Economic Development Notes. To record the contractual 
          obligation to RUS for the Economic Development Notes.
2. Dr. 1130.6/1120.16, Cash--General Fund--Economic Development Loan 
          Funds Cr. 4210.26, Economic Development Notes--Unadvanced, Dr. 
          To record the receipt of the economic development loan funds.
3. Dr. 1401.3, Other Investments in Affiliated Companies--Federal 
          Econmic Development Loans or Dr. 1402.6, Other Investments in 
          Nonaffilitated Companies--Federal Economic Development Loans. 
          Cr. 1130.6/1120.16, Cash--General Fund--Ecoomice Development 
          Loan Funds. To record the discursement of economci development 
          loand funds to the project.
4. Dr. 1130.1/1120.11, Cash--General Fund. Cr. 7360/7300.6, Other 
          Nonoperating Income. To record payment of loan servicing fees 
          charged to the economic development project.
5. Dr. 1210, Interest and Dividends Receivable Cr. 7320/7300.2, Interest 
          Income. To record the interest earned on the investment of 
          rural economic development loan funds.
6. Dr. 7370, Special Charges. Cr. 1130.1, Cash--General Funds. To record 
          the payment of interest earned in excess of $500 on the 
          investment of rural economic development loan funds. Note: 
          Interest earned in excess of $500 must be used for the rural 
          economic development project for which the loan funds were 
          received or returned to RUS.

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7. Dr. 1130.6/1120.16, Cash--General Fund--Economic Development Loan 
          Funds. Cr. 1401.3, Other Investments in Affiliated Companies--
          Federal Economic Development Loans or Cr. 1402.6, Other 
          Investments in Nonaffiliated Companies--Federal Economic 
          Development Loans. To record repayment, by the project, of the 
          economic development loan.
8. Dr. 4210.25, Economic Development Notes. Cr. 1130.6/1120.16, Cash--
          General Fund--Economic Development Loan Funds. To record the 
          repayment, to RUS, of the economic development loan funds.

              105  Satellite and Cable Television Services

    A. Many RUS borrowers have become involved in providing either 
satellite or cable television services to their members and others 
through subsidiaries, joint ventures, or as segments of their current 
operations.

                         Accounting Requirements

    A. This section outlines the accounting to be followed when 
recording transactions involving satellite or cable television services.
    1. Separate Subsidiary. If a borrower provides satellite or cable 
television services through a separate subsidiary, the investment in the 
subsidiary shall be debited to Account 1401, Investments in Affiliated 
Companies. The net income or loss of the subsidiary shall be debited or 
credited to Account 1401, as appropriate, with an offsetting entry to 
Account 7360, Other Nonoperating Income.
    2. Joint Venture. i. If a borrower provides satellite or cable 
television services through a joint venture, the borrower's ownership 
interest dictates the accounting methodology. If the borrower has less 
than a 20 percent ownership interest in the joint venture, the 
investment is accounted for under the cost method of accounting in 
Account 1402, Investments in Nonaffiliated Companies. Under the cost 
method, the joint venture's net income or loss is not recorded in the 
borrower's records. Income is recognized only to the extent of any 
dividends declared by the joint venture. When a dividend is declared, 
the borrower shall debit Account 1210, Interest and Dividends 
Receivable, and credit Account 7310, Dividend Income. When the dividend 
is received in cash, the borrower shall debit Account 1130.1, Cash--
General Fund, and credit Account 1210.
    ii. If a borrower has a 20-percent or more ownership interest in the 
joint venture, the investment is accounted for under the equity method 
in Account 1401, Investments in Affiliated Companies. The borrower's 
proportionate share of the joint venture's net income or loss shall be 
debited or credited to Account 1401, as appropriate, with an offsetting 
entry to Account 7360, Other Nonoperating Income.
    3. Segment of Current Operations. i. If a borrower provides 
satellite or cable television service as a segment of its current 
operations and there are no shared assets between this activity and the 
regulated telecommunications activities of the borrower, the investment 
shall be debited to Account 1406.1, Nonregulated Investments--Permanent 
Investment. The net income or loss from providing such service shall be 
debited or credited, as appropriate, to Account 1406.3, Nonregulated 
Investments--Current Net Income, with an offsetting entry to Account 
7990, Nonregulated Net Income.
    ii. If a borrower provides satellite or cable television service as 
a segment of current operations and shares assets between this activity 
and the regulated telecommunications activities of the borrower, the 
franchise and application fees shall be debited to a subaccount of 
Account 2690, Intangibles. The cost of the satellite or cable television 
equipment shall be debited to a subaccount of Account 2231, Radio 
Systems. Revenues earned from providing satellite or cable service shall 
be credited to Account 5280, Nonregulated Operating Revenue, while the 
associated expenses shall be recorded in a subaccount of the applicable 
regulated expense accounts.
    4. Sale and Installation of Satellite or Cable Television Equipment. 
i. If a borrower sells or installs satellite or cable television 
equipment as a segment of its current operations and there are no shared 
assets between this activity and the regulated telecommunications 
activities of the borrower, the purchase of the equipment shall be 
debited to Account 1406.1, Nonregulated Investments--Permanent 
Investment. The net income or loss from providing such services shall be 
debited or credited, as appropriate, to Account 1406.3, Nonregulated 
Investments--Current Net Income, with an offsetting entry to Account 
7990, Nonregulated Net Income.
    ii. If a borrower sells or installs satellite or cable television 
equipment as a segment of its current operations and shares assets 
between this activity and the regulated telecommunications activities of 
the borrower, the purchase of the equipment shall be debited to Account 
1220.2, Property Held for Sale or Lease. Revenues received for the sale 
or installation of the equipment shall be credited to Account 5280, 
Nonregulated Operating Revenue, while the associated expenses shall be 
debited to a subaccount of the applicable regulated expense accounts.

                 106  Consolidated Financial Statements

    A. In October 1987, FASB issued Statement of Financial Accounting 
Standards No. 94, Consolidation of All Majority-Owned Subsidiaries 
(Statement No. 94). (Statement 94 is available from the Financial 
Accounting Standards Board, 401 Merritt 7, P.O. Box 5116,

[[Page 900]]

Norwalk, CT 06856-5116.) For purposes of reporting to RUS, Statement No. 
94 shall be applied as follows:
    1. A borrower that is a subsidiary of another entity shall prepare 
and submit to RUS separate financial statements even though this 
financial information is presented in the parent's consolidated 
statements.
    2. In those cases in which a borrower has a majority-ownership in a 
subsidiary, the borrower shall prepare consolidated financial statements 
in accordance with the requirements of Statement No. 94. These 
consolidated statements must also include supplementary schedules 
presenting a Balance Sheet and Income Statement for each majority-owned 
subsidiary included in the consolidated statements.
    B. Although Statement No. 94 requires the consolidation of majority-
owned subsidiaries, the RUS Form 479, Financial and Statistical Report 
for Telecommunications Borrowers, shall be prepared on an unconsolidated 
basis by all borrowers.