Notice2023-18178
Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for Review and Approval; Comment Request; Middle Mile Grant Program
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
August 23, 2023
Issuing agencies
Commerce DepartmentNational Telecommunications and Information Administration
Abstract
The Department of Commerce, in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA), invites the general public and other Federal agencies to comment on proposed and continuing information collections, which helps us assess the impact of our information collection requirements and minimize the public's reporting burden. The purpose of this notice is to allow for 60 days of public comment preceding the submission of the collection to OMB.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 88 Issue 162 (Wednesday, August 23, 2023)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 162 (Wednesday, August 23, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Pages 57441-57442]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2023-18178]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Telecommunications and Information Administration
Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission to the
Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for Review and Approval; Comment
Request; Middle Mile Grant Program
AGENCY: National Telecommunications and Information Administration
(NTIA), Commerce.
ACTION: Notice of information collection, request for comment.
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SUMMARY: The Department of Commerce, in accordance with the Paperwork
Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA), invites the general public and other
Federal agencies to comment on proposed and continuing information
collections, which helps us assess the impact of our information
collection requirements and minimize the public's reporting burden. The
purpose of this notice is to allow for 60 days of public comment
preceding the submission of the collection to OMB.
DATES: To ensure consideration, comments regarding this proposed
information collection must be received on or before October 23, 2023.
ADDRESSES: Interested persons are invited to submit written comments by
mail to Arica Cox, Deputy Director, Grants Management, Administration,
and Compliance, Office of internet Connectivity and Growth, National
Telecommunication and Information Administration, U.S. Department of
Commerce, 1401 Constitution Avenue NW, Room 4626, Washington, DC 20230,
or by email to <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#5d3f2f323c393f3c3339282e3c1d3329343c733a322b"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="0361716c626761626d67767062436d776a622d646c75">[email protected]</span></a>. Please reference OMB Control
0660-0052 in the subject line of your comments. Do not submit
Confidential Business Information or otherwise sensitive or protected
information.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Requests for additional information or
specific questions related to collection activities should be directed
to Arica Cox, Deputy Director, Grants Management Administration, and
Compliance, Office of internet Connectivity and Growth, National
Telecommunication and Information Administration, U.S. Department of
Commerce, 1401 Constitution Avenue NW, Room 4626, Washington, DC 20230,
via telephone at (202) 209-3011, or email at <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#6e0f0d01162e001a070f40090118"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="d9b8bab6a199b7adb0b8f7beb6af">[email protected]</span></a>;
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#a3c1d1ccc2c7c1c2cdc7d6d0c2e3cdd7cac28dc4ccd5"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="0163736e606563606f65747260416f7568602f666e77">[email protected]</span></a>.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. Abstract
NTIA seeks approval under the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) to add
11 questions regarding equipment purchases to the Enabling Middle Mile
Broadband Infrastructure Program (Middle Mile) Bi-Annual Performance
Reports (OMB No. 0660-0052). This collection of questions will be added
to the Middle Mile Bi-Annual Performance Reports as a supplement
referred to as the Middle Mile Reports Addendum.
The Middle Mile Grant Program, authorized by Section 60401 of the
Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act of 2021, Public Law 117-58, 135
Stat. 429 (November 15, 2021) (Infrastructure Act or Act), provides
funding for the construction, improvement, or acquisition of middle
mile infrastructure. The Middle Mile Grant Program will make up to
$980,000,000 available for federal assistance to the following eligible
entities: a State, political subdivision of a State, Tribal government,
technology company, electric utility, utility cooperative, public
utility district, telecommunications company, telecommunications
cooperative, nonprofit foundation, nonprofit corporation, nonprofit
institution, nonprofit association, regional planning council, Native
entity, economic development authority, or any partnership of two (2)
or more of these entities. The purpose of the grant program is to
expand and extend middle mile infrastructure to reduce the cost of
connecting areas that are unserved or underserved to the internet
backbone.
On May 13, 2022, NTIA published the program's Notice of Funding
Opportunity (NOFO) on <a href="http://internetforAll.gov">internetforAll.gov</a> to describe the requirements
under which it will award grants for the Middle Mile Grant Program. See
Enabling Middle Mile Broadband Infrastructure Program Notice of Funding
Opportunity (NOFO) (May 13, 2022), <a href="https://www.internetforall.gov/program/enabling-middle-mile-broadband-infrastructure-program">https://www.internetforall.gov/program/enabling-middle-mile-broadband-infrastructure-program</a>. The NOFO
requires award recipients to submit bi-annual performance reports,
financial reports, and a final report as a part of the grant close-out
process. Award recipients must follow the reporting requirements
described in Sections A.01, Reporting Requirement, of the Department of
Commerce Financial Assistance Standard Terms and Conditions (dated
November 12, 2020). Additionally, in accordance with 2 CFR part 170,
all recipients of a federal award made on or after October 1, 2010,
must comply with reporting requirements under the Federal Funding
Accountability and Transparency Act of 2006 (Pub. L. 109-282).
Modifying the Middle Mile Bi-Annual Performance Reports and Final
Report to include NTIA's requested questions regarding equipment
purchases on the Middle Mile Report Addendum will enable the Commerce
Department and NTIA to ensure recipient compliance with the Build
America, Buy America Act (``BABA'') and facilitate NTIA's ability to
collect data to comply with BABA reporting requirements. NTIA will also
use the information collected to effectively administer and monitor the
grant program to ensure the achievement of the Middle Mile Grant
Program purposes and account for the expenditure of federal funds to
deter waste, fraud, and abuse.
II. Method of Collection
Award recipients will submit the Middle Mile Reports Addendum as
part of the Bi-Annual Performance Reports for the periods ending March
31st and September 30th of each year. NTIA will
[[Page 57442]]
collect data through electronic submission.
The report addendum shall discuss the six-month period immediately
preceding the report date, in a manner that:
(1) Lists the Buyer.
(2) Describes the Category of the Purchase.
(3) Describes where the Purchase will be located and how it will be
used.
(4) Quantifies the number being purchased.
(5) Asks the country from which the Purchase is sourced.
(6) If a foreign source, describes the efforts made to source
domestically.
(7) Lists the Manufacturer.
(8) Lists the Purchase Price.
(9) Lists the Purchase Date.
(10) Lists the Estimated Delivery Date.
(11) Lists the Actual Delivery Date.
Recipients must maintain sufficient records to substantiate all
information above upon request.
III. Data
OMB Control Number: 0660-0052.
Form Number(s): TBD.
Type of Review: Revision of a current information collection.
Affected Public: Recipients of funding under the Middle Mile Grant
Program. Recipients might include States, political subdivisions of a
State, Tribal governments, technology companies, electric utilities,
utility cooperatives, public utility districts, telecommunications
companies, telecommunication cooperatives, nonprofit foundations,
nonprofit corporations, nonprofit institutions, nonprofit associations,
regional planning councils, Native entities, economic development
authorities, or any partnership of two (2) or more of these entities.
Estimated Number of Respondents: 40.
Estimated Time per Response: 43.72 hours.
Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 7,621.17.
Estimated Total Annual Cost to Public: $363,758.29.
Respondent's Obligation: Mandatory.
Legal Authority: Section 60401of the Infrastructure Investment and
Jobs Act of 2021, Public Law 117-58, 135 Stat. 429 (November 15, 2021).
IV. Request for Comments
We are soliciting public comments to permit the Department to:
(a) Evaluate whether the proposed information collection is
necessary for the proper functions of the Department, including whether
the information will have practical utility. (b) Evaluate the accuracy
of our estimate of the time and cost burden for this proposed
collection, including the validity of the methodology and assumptions
used. (c) Evaluate ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of
the information to be collected. d) Minimize the reporting burden on
those who are to respond, including the use of automated collection
techniques or other forms of information technology.
Comments that you submit in response to this notice are a matter of
public record. We will include or summarize each comment in our request
to OMB to approve this ICR. Before including your address, phone
number, email address, or other personal identifying information in
your comment, you should be aware that your entire comment--including
your personal identifying information--may be made publicly available
at any time. While you may ask us in your comment to withhold your
personal identifying information from public review, we cannot
guarantee that we will be able to do so.
Sheleen Dumas,
Department PRA Clearance Officer, Office of the Under Secretary of
Economic Affairs, Commerce Department.
[FR Doc. 2023-18178 Filed 8-22-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-60-P
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