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 Department of Agriculture Rural Utilities Service [Docket No. RUS-23-Telecom-0023]
 AGENCY: Rural Utilities Service, USDA.
 ACTION: Notice.
 SUMMARY: The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Utilities Service (RUS) administers rural utilities programs, including the Telecommunications Program. Through this notice, RUS is announcing the 
                        ( print page 78720)
                        depreciation rates for telecommunication/broadband facilities and a new process for providing these rates going forward.
 DATES: These rates are effective immediately and will remain in effect until superseded by subsequent rates as identified in the 
                        **SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION**
                         section below. These rates are to be used in applying for financial assistance from RUS.
 FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Laurel Leverrier, Assistant Administrator, Telecommunications Program, Rural Utilities Service, STOP 1590—Room 4121, 1400 Independence Avenue SW, Washington, DC 20250-1590. Telephone: (202) 720-9556.


SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: RUS is publishing its median depreciation rates for telecommunication/broadband facilities. If an applicant for RUS financial assistance does not have depreciation rates approved by their respective Public Utilities Commission (PUC) or equivalent, these depreciation rates are to be used in the financial studies supporting the application and for determining the amortization period for any loan component. RUS will no longer publish these rates in the 
                    **Federal Register**
                    . There will be an option in the RUS on-line application system that allows applicants to use PUC approved depreciation rates or default to the RUS median depreciation rates reflected in the system. The following chart comprises the median depreciation rates: Median Depreciation Rates
Code
Group
Letter
Type
Rate
                             (%)1000
1. Network & Access Equipment
a
Switching Equipment
9.301001
1. Network & Access Equipment
b
Routing Equipment
10.001002
1. Network & Access Equipment
c
Transport Equipment
10.001003
1. Network & Access Equipment
d
Access Equipment
10.001004
1. Network & Access Equipment
e
Video Equipment
9.611005
1. Network & Access Equipment
f
Power Equipment
10.001006
1. Network & Access Equipment
g
Satellite Equipment
9.261007
1. Network & Access Equipment
h
Other (specify)
10.002000
2. Outside Plant
a
Copper Cable—Aerial
6.002001
2. Outside Plant
b
Copper Cable—Buried
5.152002
2. Outside Plant
c
Copper Cable—Underground
5.002003
2. Outside Plant
d
Coaxial Cable—Aerial
6.002004
2. Outside Plant
e
Coaxial Cable—Buried
5.152005
2. Outside Plant
f
Coaxial Cable—Underground
5.002006
2. Outside Plant
g
Fiber Cable—Aerial
5.402007
2. Outside Plant
h
Fiber—Buried
5.002008
2. Outside Plant
i
Fiber—Underground Cable
5.002009
2. Outside Plant
j
Fiber—Submarine Cable
5.002010
2. Outside Plant
k
Conduit Systems
4.002011
2. Outside Plant
l
Ducts (Vacant)
5.002012
2. Outside Plant
m
Drops
5.002013
2. Outside Plant
n
Cabinets/underground vaults
5.002014
2. Outside Plant
o
Poles
6.352015
2. Outside Plant
p
Make-ready
5.002016
2. Outside Plant
q
Other (specify)
5.003000
3. Buildings
a
New Construction
3.303001
3. Buildings
b
Pre-Fab Huts
3.303002
3. Buildings
c
Improvements
3.303003
3. Buildings
d
Other (specify)
3.304001
4. Towers
a
Guyed Towers
5.004002
4. Towers
b
Lattice Towers
5.004003
4. Towers
c
Monopole/Self-Supporting Tower
5.004004
4. Towers
d
Wood poles
5.004005
4. Towers
e
Improvements
5.004006
4. Towers
f
Other (specify)
5.005000
5. Customer Premises Equipment
a
Video Set Top Boxes
12.005001
5. Customer Premises Equipment
b
Modems and Routers
12.005002
5. Customer Premises Equipment
c
Inside Wiring
10.405003
5. Customer Premises Equipment
d
Multi-Terminal Adapter (VoIP)
11.335004
5. Customer Premises Equipment
e
Smart Meters
11.005005
5. Customer Premises Equipment
f
Other (specify)
12.006000
6. Support Assets
a
Construction Vehicles
10.006001
6. Support Assets
b
Construction Equipment
10.006002
6. Support Assets
c
Motor Vehicles
17.006003
6. Support Assets
d
Special Purpose Vehicles
11.406004
6. Support Assets
e
Office Equipment
10.006005
6. Support Assets
f
Office Furniture
10.006006
6. Support Assets
g
Billing System
20.006007
6. Support Assets
h
Test Equipment
10.006008
6. Support Assets
i
Portable Generators
10.006009
6. Support Assets
j
Tools
10.006010
6. Support Assets
k
Other (specify)
10.00
 Andrew Berke, Administrator, Rural Utilities Service.


[FR Doc. 2023-25288 Filed 11-15-23; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3410-15-P