PUBLIC LAW 101-624—NOV. 28, 1990 104 STAT. 4019 lightwave and that are incorporated into an assembly of materials that provide tensile strength and external protection. (8) INTERACTIVE VIDEO EQUIPMENT.—The term "interactive video equipment" refers to equipment used to produce and prepare for transmission audio and visual signals from at least two distant locations such that individuals at such locations can verbally and visually communicate with each other, and such equipment includes monitors, other display devices, cameras or other recording devices, audio pickup devices, and other related equipment. (9) SECRETARY. — The term "Secretary" means the Secretary of Agriculture. (10) TELECOMMUNICATIONS TRANSMISSION FACILITIES. — The term "telecommunications transmission facilities" refers to those facilities that transmit, receive, or carry data between the telecommunications terminal equipment at each end of a telecommunications circuit or path. Such facilities include microwave antennae, relay stations and towers, other telecommunications antennae, fiber-optic cables and repeaters, coaxial cables, communication satellite ground station complexes, copper cable electronic equipment associated with telecommunications transmissions, and similar items as defined by the Administrator. (11) TELECOMMUNICATIONS TERMINAL EQUIPMENT. —The term "telecommunications terminal equipment" refers to the assembly of telecommunications equipment at the end of a circuit, normally located on the premises of the end user, that interfaces with telecommunications transmission facilities, and that is used to modify, convert, encode, or otherwise prepare signals to be transmitted via such telecommunications facilities, or that is used to modify, reconvert or carry signals received from such facilities, the purpose of which is to accomplish the goal for which the circuit was established. SEC. 2334. PROVISIONS RELEVANT TO TELECOMMUNICATIONS PRO- 7 USC 950aaa-3. GRAMS. (a) ADMINISTRATION.— The Administrator shall be responsible for the administration of this chapter. (b) RULEMAKING. —Not later than 160 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall promulgate final regulations, under the notice and comment rulemaking requirements described in section 553 of title 5, United States Code, that establish the telecommunications programs authorized in this chapter. (c) PRIORITY. —The Administrator shall establish procedures to target the benefits of this chapter to the rural areas and grant applicants that demonstrate the need for such assistance, taking into consideration the relative needs of all applicants, the needs of the affected rural communities, and the financial ability of the applicants to otherwise secure or create telecommunications systems. (d) WAIVERS.—I f the Administrator determines that a compelling need is present, the Administrator may modify any of the definitions in section 2333. (e) EXPEDITING COORDINATED TELEPHONE LOANS.— The Administrator shall establish and implement procedures to ensure that expedited consideration and determination is given to applications
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