Payment
(7) Payment means any gift, subscription, loan, advance, or deposit of money or anything of value. (8) Plan or program of a government entity means any participant-directed investment program or plan sponsored or established by a State or political subdivision or any agency, authority or instrumentality thereof, including, but not limited to, a qualified tuition plan authorized by section 529 of the Internal Revenue Code (26 U.S.C. 529), a retirement plan authorized by section 403(b) or 457 of the Internal Revenue Code (26 U.S.C. 403(b) or 457), or any similar program or plan. (9) Regulated person means: (i) An investment adviser registered with the Commission that has not, and whose covered associates have not, within two years of soliciting a government entity: (A) Made a contribution to an official of that government entity, other than as described in paragraph (b)(1) of this section; and (B) Coordinated or solicited any person or political action committee to make any contribution or payment described in paragraphs (a)(2)(ii)(A) and (B) of this section; (ii) A broker, as defined in section 3(a)(4) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (15 U.S.C. 78c(a)(4)) or a dealer, as defined in section 3(a)(5) of that Act (15 U.S.C. 78c(a)(5)), that is registered with the Commission, and is a member of a national securities association registered under 15A of that Act (15 U.S.C. 78o-3), provided that: (A) The rules of the association prohibit members from engaging in distribution or solicitation activities if certain political contributions have been made; and (B) The Commission, by order, finds that such rules impose substantially equivalent or more stringent restrictions on broker-dealers than this section imposes on investment advisers and that such rules are consistent with the objectives of this section; and (iii) A municipal advisor registered with the Commission under section 15B of the Exchange Act and subject to rules of the Municipal Securities Rulemaking Board, provided that: (A) Such rules prohibit municipal advisors from engaging in distribution or solicitation activities if certain political contributions have been made; and (B) The Commission, by order, finds that such rules impose substantially equivalent or more stringent restrictions on municipal advisors than this section imposes on investment advisers and that such rules are consistent with the objectives of this section. (10) Solicit means: (i) With respect to investment advisory services, to communicate, directly or indirectly, for the purpose of obtaining or retaining a client for, or referring a client to, an investment adviser; and (ii) With respect to a contribution or payment, to communicate, directly or indirectly, for the purpose of obtaining or arranging a contribution or payment.