Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request
Federal Register, Volume 79 Issue 107 (Wednesday, June 4, 2014)
Federal Register Volume 79, Number 107 (Wednesday, June 4, 2014)
Notices
Pages 32214-32215
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office www.gpo.gov
FR Doc No: 2014-12897
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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request
May 29, 2014.
The Department of Agriculture has submitted the following information collection requirement(s) to Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and clearance under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, Public Law 104-13. Comments regarding (a) whether the 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 burden including the validity of the methodology and assumptions used; (c) ways to enhance the quality, utility and clarity of the information to be collected; (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 should be addressed to: Desk Officer for Agriculture, Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, Office of Management and Budget, New Executive Office Building, 725 17th Street NW., Washington, DC 20502. Commenters are encouraged to submit their comments to OMB via email to: OIRA_Submission@omb.eop.gov or fax (202) 395-5806 and to Departmental Clearance Office, USDA, OCIO, Mail Stop 7602, Washington, DC 20250-
7602. Comments regarding these information collections are best assured of having their full effect if received within 30 days of this notification. Copies of the submission(s) may be obtained by calling (202) 720-8681.
An agency may not conduct or sponsor a collection of information unless the collection of information displays a currently valid OMB control number and the agency informs potential persons who are to respond to the collection of information that such persons are not required to respond to the collection of information unless it displays a currently valid OMB control number.
Rural Utilities Service
Title: 7 CFR Part 1744, Subpart B, Lien Accommodations and Subordination Policy.
OMB Control Number: 0572-0126.
Summary of Collection: Recent changes in the telecommunications industry, including deregulation and technological developments, have caused Rural Utilities Service (RUS) borrowers and other organizations providing telecommunications services to consider undertaking projects that provide new telecommunications services and other telecommunications services not ordinarily financed by RUS. To facilitate the financing of those projects and services, RUS is willing to consider accommodating the Government's lien on telecommunications borrowers' systems in an expedited manner based on the financial strength of the borrowers' operations. The RUS telecommunication program provides loans to borrowers at interest rates and on terms that are more favorable than those generally available from the private sector.
Need and Use of the Information: Depending on the purposes for which a lien accommodation is sought, RUS will use the information to provide ``automatic'' approval for borrowers that meet the financial tests. These tests are designed to ensure that the financial strength of the borrower is more than sufficient to protect the government's loan security interests; hence, the lien accommodations will not adversely affect the government's financial interests.
Description of Respondents: Business or other for-profit; Not for-
profit institutions.
Number of Respondents: 3.
Frequency of Responses: Reporting: On occasion.
Total Burden Hours: 2.
Rural Utilities Service
Title: Public Television Digital Transition Grant Program.
OMB Control Number: 0572-0134.
Summary of Collection: Beginning in 2003 the Omnibus Appropriations Act (Pub. L. 108-7) provided grant funds in the Distance Learning and Telemedicine Grant Program budget, the Consolidated Appropriations Act (Pub. L. 108-199) and the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2005 (Pub. L. 108-447) provided additional funds for public broadcasting systems to meet the digital transition. As part of the nation's transition to digital television, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) required all television broadcasters to initiate the broadcast of a digital television signal and to cease analog television broadcasts on February 18, 2009. While stations must broadcast its main transmitter signal in digital, many rural stations often have translators serving small or isolated areas and some of these have not completed the transition to digital or fully converted its production and studio equipment to digital. Because the FCC deadline did not apply to translators, they are allowed to continue broadcasting in analog. The digital transition also created some service gaps where households receiving an analog signal cannot receive a digital signal. For these reasons the grant program has continued past the FCC digital transition deadline of June 2009. The Rural Utilities Service (RUS) will develop and issue requirements for the grant program to finance the conversion of television services from analog to digital broadcasting for public television stations serving rural areas.
Need and Use of the Information: Applicants will submit grant applications to RUS for review. The information will consist of the following: Standard Form (SF) 424, ``Application for Federal Assistance'', executive summary, evidence of eligibility and compliance with other Federal statutes and any other supporting documentation. RUS will use the information to score and rank applications for funding. Scoring will consist of three categories: Rurality; economic need as measured by eligibility for National School Lunch Program participation; and critial need, which measures special disadvantaging factors facing the station's transition plans. If this information is not collected, there would be no basis for awarding grant funding.
Description of Respondents: Not-for-profit institutions.
Number of Respondents: 30.
Frequency of Responses: Reporting: On occasion.
Total Burden Hours: 714.
Rural Utilities Service
Title: 7 CFR 1783, Revolving Fund Program.
OMB Control Number: 0572-0138.
Summary of Collection: Section 6002 of the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 amended the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act by adding a grant program that established the Revolving Fund Program (RFP) to assist communities with water or wastewater systems. Qualified private non-profit organizations will receive RFP grant funds to establish a revolving loan fund. Loans will be made to eligible entities
Page 32215
to finance predevelopment costs of water or wastewater projects, or short-term small capital projects not part of the regular operation and maintenance of current water and wastewater systems.
Need and Use of the Information: Non-profit organizations applying for the RFP grant(s) must submit an application package that includes an application form, narrative proposal (work plan), various other forms, certifications, and supplemental information. The Rural Development State Offices and the Rural Utilities Service National Office staff will use the information collected to determine applicant eligibility, project feasibility, and the applicant's ability to meet the grant and regulatory requirements. Grant recipients will set up a revolving loan fund to provide loans to finance predevelopment costs of water or wastewater projects, or short-term small capital projects not part of the regular operation and maintenance of current water and wastewater systems.
Description of Respondents: Not-for-profit institutions.
Number of Respondents: 5.
Frequency of Responses: Reporting: On occasion.
Total Burden Hours: 374.
Charlene Parker,
Departmental Information Collection Clearance Officer.
FR Doc. 2014-12897 Filed 6-3-14; 8:45 am
BILLING CODE 3410-15-P
