Notice2021-15118
Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request
Primary source
Metadata and text below are from the Federal Register, a public-domain U.S. government work. Always verify the official published version before relying on it for any legal matter.
Published
July 16, 2021
Issuing agencies
Agriculture Department
Full Text
<html>
<head>
<title>Federal Register, Volume 86 Issue 134 (Friday, July 16, 2021)</title>
</head>
<body><pre>
[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 134 (Friday, July 16, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Page 37728]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2021-15118]
========================================================================
Notices
Federal Register
________________________________________________________________________
This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains documents other than rules
or proposed rules that are applicable to the public. Notices of hearings
and investigations, committee meetings, agency decisions and rulings,
delegations of authority, filing of petitions and applications and agency
statements of organization and functions are examples of documents
appearing in this section.
========================================================================
Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 134 / Friday, July 16, 2021 /
Notices
[[Page 37728]]
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request
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 are requested regarding: 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; the accuracy of the agency's estimate of burden
including the validity of the methodology and assumptions used; ways to
enhance the quality, utility and clarity of the information to be
collected; 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 regarding this information collection received by August
16, 2021 will be considered. Written comments and recommendations for
the proposed information collection should be submitted within 30 days
of the publication of this notice on the following website
<a href="http://www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAMain">www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAMain</a>. Find this particular information
collection by selecting ``Currently under 30-day Review--Open for
Public Comments'' or by using the search function.
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: Special Authority to Enable Funding of Broadband and Smart
Utility Facilities Across Select Rural Development Programs.
OMB Control Number: 0572-0156.
Summary of Collection: The Rural Utilities Service, Rural Business-
Cooperative Service, and Rural Housing Service, agencies that comprise
the Rural Development Mission Area within the United States Department
of Agriculture, are issuing this final rule to establish the authority
authorized by Section 6210 of the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018.
This rule describes the procedures by which these agencies will
consider projects eligible for special broadband authority and Smart
Utility facilities.
On December 20, 2018, Congress passed The Agricultural Improvement
Act of 2018 (2018 Farm Bill) (Pub. L. 115-334). In addition to sweeping
changes in broadband program authorities, Congress provided for special
use of funding from other RD programs for broadband deployment in
Section 6210, ``Smart Utility Authority for Broadband.'' The provision
granted the Secretary of Agriculture the discretion to allow recipients
of grants, loans, or loan guarantees under RD programs to use not more
than 10 percent of such funding to finance broadband infrastructure in
areas not served by the minimum acceptable level of broadband service,
as defined in this Part, and which will not result in competitive harm
to a current RD loan, grant, or loan guarantee. While Section 6210 only
imposes the competitive harm restriction with respect to RUS loan,
grant, and loan guarantee recipients, RD has determined to apply the
restriction RD-wide, consistent with the statutory guidance on
conflicts and duplications of awards provided in 7 U.S.C. 2204b(d)(2).
Rural community leaders, businesses and utilities must consider
broadband availability and uses as they plan for, and implement, new
and improved facilities and services to support community and economic
development. While integration of communications technology into a
planned investment can be used for internal purposes, it can also serve
as a catalyst to rural broadband deployment efforts. For example,
investment in health care, public safety and businesses can be enhanced
or leveraged to expand the availability and utilization of advanced
broadband in rural areas. Smart highways can facilitate vehicle to
infrastructure communications to enhance driver safety; smart water
systems can remotely detect contaminants before they pose a health
risk; smart pipelines can report leaks and structural weaknesses before
they become dangerous; and smart grid systems deliver enhanced security
and energy efficiency, as well as speed recovery after an electric
outage. Through this regulation, RD enables limited integration of
broadband deployment with other rural investments funded through its
broad suite of programs. It does so without adding the burden of
seeking funding through separate program areas.
Need and Use of the Information: The collection of information is
necessary for RD to determine an applicant's ability to borrow under
the terms of the 2018 Farm Bill and included programs and that the
applicant complies with statutory, regulatory, and administrative
eligibility requirements for loan assistance. As part of that
submission, applicants are required to provide a service area map,
where applicable, of their entire service territory.
Description of Respondents: Businesses or other for-profits.
Number of Respondents: 159.
Frequency of Responses: Annually.
Total Burden Hours: 239.
Dated: July 13, 2021.
Levi S. Harrell,
Departmental Information Collection Clearance Officer.
[FR Doc. 2021-15118 Filed 7-15-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-15-P
</pre></body>
</html>Indexed from Federal Register on July 16, 2021.
This is legal information, not legal advice. Laws vary by jurisdiction and change frequently. Always verify current law with official sources and consult a licensed attorney in your jurisdiction for advice on your specific situation.