Notice2023-24374
Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for Review and Approval; Comment Request; Application for State Digital Equity Capacity Grant Program and Tribal Digital Equity Planning and Capacity Programs
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
November 3, 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 help 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 submission of the collection to OMB.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 88 Issue 212 (Friday, November 3, 2023)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 212 (Friday, November 3, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Pages 75562-75563]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2023-24374]
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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; Application for State Digital Equity Capacity Grant Program
and Tribal Digital Equity Planning and Capacity Programs
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 help 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 submission of the collection to OMB.
DATES: To ensure consideration, comments regarding this proposed
information collection must be received on or before January 2, 2024.
ADDRESSES: Interested persons are invited to submit written comments by
mail to Arica Cox, Telecommunications Policy Analyst, Grants Management
and Compliance, Office of Internet Connectivity and Growth, National
Telecommunication and Information Administration, U.S. Department of
Commerce, 1401 Constitution Avenue NW, Room 4826, Washington, DC 20230,
or by email to <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#5436263b353036353a30212735143a203d357a333b22"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="b3d1c1dcd2d7d1d2ddd7c6c0d2f3ddc7dad29dd4dcc5">[email protected]</span></a>. Please reference ``Digital Equity
Application Forms Comment'' 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, Telecommunications Policy Analyst, Grants Management and
Compliance, via email at <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#3d5c5e52457d5349545c135a524b"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="b7d6d4d8cff7d9c3ded699d0d8c1">[email protected]</span></a>; <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#761404191712141718120305173618021f1758111900"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="6a0818050b0e080b040e1f190b2a041e030b440d051c">[email protected]</span></a>; or via
telephone at (202) 482-2048.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. Abstract
The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, 2021 (Infrastructure
Act or Act), Public Law 117-58, 135 Stat. 429 (November 15, 2021)
(Infrastructure Act or Act), also known as the Bipartisan
Infrastructure Law, provided $65 billion of funding for programs to
close the digital divide and ensure that all Americans have access to
affordable, reliable, high-speed internet. NTIA administers six
broadband connectivity grant programs funded by the Act, including the
State Digital Equity Planning Grant (SDEPG) and the State Digital
Equity Capacity Grant Program (SDECG). The SDEPG provides federal
funding for grants to eligible applicants for the purpose of developing
Digital Equity Plans. Through these Plans, entities will, among other
things, identify barriers to digital equity in the State and strategies
for overcoming those barriers. The purpose of SDECG is to promote the
achievement of digital equity, support digital inclusion activities,
and build capacity for efforts by States, U.S. territories and
possessions, Indian Tribes, Alaska Native entities, and Native Hawaiian
organizations relating to the adoption of broadband. The SDECG provides
new federal funding for grants to eligible applicants for the purpose
of implementing the State Digital Equity Plan and pursuing digital
inclusion activities consistent with the State Digital Equity Plan.
Further, the Tribal Digital Equity Planning and Capacity Program will
provide funding for grants to Indian Tribes, Alaska Native entities,
and Native Hawaiian organizations to develop their own digital equity
plans and pursue digital inclusion activities, consistent with the
SDEPG and the SDECG.
NTIA will use the information collected from each applicant to
effectively review the proposed applications and budgets from States
and U.S. Territories and Possessions for the State Digital Equity
Capacity Program, and from Indian Tribes, Alaska Native entities, and
Native Hawaiian organizations for the Tribal Digital Equity Planning
and Capacity Program.
II. Method of Collection
NTIA will collect data through both electronic and mail submission.
III. Data
OMB Control Number: 0660-XXXX.
Form Number(s): TBD.
Type of Review: Regular submission for a new information
collection.
Affected Public: States, territories or possessions of the United
States, Indian Tribes, Alaska Native entities, and Native Hawaiian
organizations applying for Infrastructure Act Broadband Grant Program
funding.
[[Page 75563]]
Estimated Number of Respondents: 56 for State Digital Equity
Capacity Grant application, 494 for Tribal Digital Equity Planning &
Capacity Grant application.
Estimated Time per Response: 8 hours for State Digital Equity
Capacity Grant application, 18 hours for Tribal Digital Equity Planning
& Capacity Grant application.
Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 7,424.
Estimated Total Annual Cost to Public: $354,347.52.
Respondent's Obligation: Mandatory.
Legal Authority: Sections 60304(c) and 60304(d) of 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/Bureau
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 for
Economic Affairs, Commerce Department.
[FR Doc. 2023-24374 Filed 11-2-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-60-P
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