### Question
How is the "rating agency" defined?


### Answer
The term **rating agency** is defined in *23 U.S.C. § 601* as follows -

> a credit rating agency registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission as a nationally recognized statistical rating organization, as that term is defined in section 3(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

#### Citation:
  - *23 U.S.C. § 601*
  - Heading: **CHAPTER 6-INFRASTRUCTURE FINANCE**

