Notice2022-23014
Notice of New Information Collection
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
October 24, 2022
Issuing agencies
Agriculture DepartmentRural Utilities Service
Abstract
In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this notice announces the Rural Utilities Service's (RUS or Agency), an agency within the United States Department of Agriculture, Rural Development, intention to request a new information collection package for the Broadband Technical Assistance Program (BTA Program). The BTA Program provides financial assistance to technical assistance providers and rural communities to promote the expansion of broadband service into unserved rural areas.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 87 Issue 204 (Monday, October 24, 2022)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 204 (Monday, October 24, 2022)]
[Notices]
[Pages 64200-64201]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2022-23014]
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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Rural Utilities Service
[Docket No. RUS-22-TELECOM-0054]
Notice of New Information Collection
AGENCY: Rural Utilities Service, USDA.
ACTION: Notice and request for comment.
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SUMMARY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this
notice announces the Rural Utilities Service's (RUS or Agency), an
agency within the United States Department of Agriculture, Rural
Development, intention to request a new information collection package
for the Broadband Technical Assistance Program (BTA Program). The BTA
Program provides financial assistance to technical assistance providers
and rural communities to promote the expansion of broadband service
into unserved rural areas.
DATES: Comments on this notice must be received by December 23, 2022 to
be assured of consideration.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Pamela Bennett, Regulations
[[Page 64201]]
Management Division, Innovation Center, U.S. Department of Agriculture.
Email: <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#087869656d6469266a6d66666d7c7c487d7b6c69266f677e"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="f5859498909994db97909b9b908181b580869194db929a83">[email protected]</span></a>. Telephone: (202) 720-9639.
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 RUS
will submit to OMB for regular approval.
Comments are invited on: (a) Whether the proposed collection of
information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of
the Rural Business-Cooperative Service, including whether the
information will have practical utility; (b) the accuracy of the Rural
Business-Cooperative Service's estimate of the burden of the proposed
collection of information including 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 by the Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to
<a href="https://www.regulations.gov">https://www.regulations.gov</a> and, in the ``Search'' box, type in the
Docket No. RUS-22-TELECOM-0054. A link to the Notice will appear. You
may submit a comment here by selecting the ``Comment'' button or you
can access the ``Docket'' tab, select the ``Notice,'' and go to the
``Browse & Comment on Documents'' Tab. Here you may view comments that
have been submitted as well as submit a comment. To submit a comment,
select the ``Comment'' button, complete the required information, and
select the ``Submit Comment'' button at the bottom. Information on
using <a href="http://Regulations.gov">Regulations.gov</a>, including instructions for accessing documents,
submitting comments, and viewing the docket after the close of the
comment period, is available through the site's ``FAQ'' link at the
bottom.
A federal agency may not conduct or sponsor, and a person is not
required to respond to, nor shall a person be subject to a penalty for
failure to comply with a collection of information subject to the
requirements of the Paperwork Reduction Act unless that collection of
information displays a currently valid OMB Control Number. Data
furnished by the applicants will be used to determine eligibility for
program benefits. Furnishing the data is voluntary; however, failure to
provide data could result in program benefits being withheld or denied.
Title: Broadband Technical Assistance Program.
OMB Control Number: 0572-NEW.
Type of Request: New information collection.
Abstract: The Rural Utilities Service administers the Broadband
Technical Assistance Program (BTA Program) as authorized pursuant to
the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (Pub. L. 117-58). The
purpose of the program is to provide financial assistance to technical
assistance providers and rural communities to promote the expansion of
broadband service into unserved rural areas. Program funds must be used
to support broadband technical assistance activities which include, but
are not limited to, project planning and community engagement,
operations support, financial sustainability, environmental compliance,
construction and engineering, accessing federal resources, and data
collection and reporting.
The reporting burden covered by this collection of information
consists of forms, documents and written burden to support a request
for funding for BTA Program assistance. This information collection
will be used to obtain information necessary to evaluate applications
to determine the eligibility of the applicant and the project for the
program and to qualitatively assess the project's technical and
financial merit to determine which projects should be funded.
Estimate of Burden: Public reporting burden for this collection of
information is estimated to average 1.109 hours per response.
Respondents: Respondents for this data my include Tribes and Tribal
Entities, state or local governments, a territory or possession of the
United States, an institution of higher learning, non-profit entities
with 501(c)(3) IRS status, cooperatives or mutual organizations,
corporations and limited liability companies or limited liability
partnerships.
Estimated Number of Respondents: 25.
Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: 18.04.
Estimated Number of Responses: 451.
Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 500 hours.
Copies of this information collection can be obtained from Pamela
Bennett, Rural Development Innovation Center, Regulations Management
Division, at (202) 720-9639. 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.
Andrew Berke,
Administrator, Rural Utilities Service.
[FR Doc. 2022-23014 Filed 10-21-22; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-15-P
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