Information Collection Activity; Comment Request
| Citation | 84 FR 22806 |
| Record Number | 2019-10408 |
| Published date | 20 May 2019 |
| Section | Notices |
| Court | Rural Utilities Service |
Federal Register, Volume 84 Issue 97 (Monday, May 20, 2019)
[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 97 (Monday, May 20, 2019)]
[Notices]
[Pages 22806-22807]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-10408]
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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Rural Utilities Service
Information Collection Activity; Comment Request
AGENCY: Rural Utilities Service, USDA.
[[Page 22807]]
ACTION: Notice and request for comments.
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SUMMARY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 the
Rural Utilities Service (RUS) invites comments on this information
collection for which approval from the Office of Management and Budget
(OMB) will be requested.
DATES: Comments on this notice must be received by July 19, 2019.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Thomas Dickson, Rural Development
Innovation Center--Regulatory Team, U.S. Department of Agriculture,
1400 Independence Avenue SW, STOP 1522, Washington, DC 20250,
Telephone: 202-690-4492, email: [email protected].
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Office of Management and Budget's (OMB)
regulation (5 CFR part 1320) implementing provisions of the Paperwork
Reduction Act of 1995 (Pub. L. 104-13) requires that interested members
of the public and affected agencies have an opportunity to comment on
information collection and recordkeeping activities (see 5 CFR
1320.8(d)). This notice identifies an information collection that the
Agency is submitting to OMB for extension.
Comments are invited on: (a) Whether the proposed collection of
information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of
the Agency, including whether the information will have practical
utility; (b) the accuracy of the Agency's estimate of the burden of the
proposed collection of information including the validity of the
methodology and assumptions used; (c) ways to enhance the quality,
utility and clarity of the information to be collected; and (d) ways to
minimize the burden of the collection of information on those who are
to respond, including through the use of appropriate automated,
electronic, mechanical, or other technological collection techniques or
other forms of information technology. Comments may be sent to: Thomas
Dickson, Rural Development Innovation Center--Regulatory Team, U.S.
Department of Agriculture, 1400 Independence Avenue SW, STOP 1522,
Washington, DC 20250, Telephone: 202-690-4492, email:
[email protected].
Title: Broadband Grant Program.
OMB Control Number: 0572-0127.
Type of Request: Extension of a currently approved information
collection.
Abstract: The provision of broadband transmission service is vital
to the economic development, education, health, and safety of rural
Americans. To further this objective, RUS provides financial assistance
in the form of grant to eligible entities that propose, on a
``community-oriented connectivity'' basis, to provide broadband
transmission service that fosters economic growth and delivers enhanced
educational, health care, and public safety services to extremely
rural, lower income communities. The Agency gives priority to rural
areas that it believes have the greatest need for broadband
transmission services. Grant authority is utilized to deploy broadband
infrastructure to extremely rural, lower income communities on a
``community-oriented connectivity'' basis. The ``community-oriented
connectivity'' concept integrates the deployment of broadband
infrastructure with the practical, everyday uses and applications of
the facilities. This broadband access is intended to promote economic
development and provide enhanced educational and health care
opportunities. The Agency provides financial assistance to eligible
entities that are proposing to deploy broadband transmission service in
rural communities where such service does not currently exist and who
will connect the critical community facilities including the local
schools, libraries, hospitals, police, fire and rescue services and who
will operate a community center that provides free and open access to
residents.
Estimate of Burden: Public reporting burden for this collection of
information is estimated to average 140.84 hours per response.
Respondents: Public bodies, commercial companies, cooperatives,
nonprofits, Indian tribes, and limited dividend or mutual associations
and must be incorporated or a limited liability company.
Estimated Number of Respondents: 82.
Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: 1.16.
Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 13,380.
Copies of this information collection can be obtained from Diane M.
Berger, Rural Development Innovation Center--Regulatory Team, (715)
619-3124.
All responses to this notice will be summarized and included in the
request for OMB approval. All comments will also become a matter of
public record.
Chad Rupe,
Acting Administrator, Rural Utilities Service.
[FR Doc. 2019-10408 Filed 5-17-19; 8:45 am]
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