Notice2025-22401
Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for Review and Approval; Comment Request; Tribal Broadband Connectivity Program (TBCP) and Native Entities Grant Program (NEGP)
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
December 10, 2025
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 90 Issue 235 (Wednesday, December 10, 2025)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 90, Number 235 (Wednesday, December 10, 2025)]
[Notices]
[Pages 57183-57184]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2025-22401]
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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; Tribal Broadband Connectivity Program (TBCP) and Native
Entities Grant Program (NEGP)
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 February 9, 2026.
ADDRESSES: Interested persons are invited to submit written comments by
mail to Jennifer Duane, Director, Grants Management, Administration,
and Compliance, Office of Internet Connectivity and Growth, National
Telecommunications and Information Administration, U.S. Department of
Commerce, 1401 Constitution Avenue NW, Room 4874, Washington, DC 20230,
or by email to <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#3f5d4d505e5b5d5e515b4a4c5e7f514b565e11585049"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="4b2939242a2f292a252f3e382a0b253f222a652c243d">[email protected]</span></a>. Please reference ``TBCP and NEGP
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 Jennifer Duane, Director, Grants Management, Administration, and
Compliance, via telephone at (202) 482-1763, or via email at
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#452f2130242b20052b312c246b222a33"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="49232d3c28272c09273d2028672e263f">[email protected]</span></a>.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. Abstract
The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, 2021 (Infrastructure
Act), which was adopted on November 15, 2021, 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 multiple broadband connectivity grant programs funded
by the Infrastructure Act. Under the Native Entities Grant Program
(NEGP), which brings together the set-asides authorized under 47 U.S.C.
1723(i) (Digital Equity Capacity Grant Program) and 1724(j) (Digital
Equity Competitive Grant Program), NTIA is required to reserve not less
than five percent (5%) of total program funds for Indian Tribes, Alaska
Native entities, and Native Hawaiian organizations (collectively
referred to as ``Native Entities''). These set-asides ensure that
Native communities have direct access to funding to advance broadband
adoption, digital skills development, and access to devices and public
connectivity resources.
Likewise, the Tribal Broadband Connectivity Program (TBCP),
authorized by the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021, adopted on
December 27, 2020, (CAA) as amended by the Infrastructure Act, Division
F, Title II, Section 60201, Public Law 117-58, 135 Stat. 429 (Nov. 15,
2021), provides new federal funding for grants to eligible entities to
expand access to and adoption of: (i) Broadband service on Tribal Land;
or (ii) for programs that promote the use of broadband to access remote
learning, telework, or telehealth resources.
NTIA intends to release Notice of Funding Opportunities (NOFOs) in
spring 2026 for both NEGP and TBCP to support Tribal broadband access.
NTIA is working on reforms across these programs to reduce red tape for
Tribal governments, promote flexibility, and align NTIA's grant
opportunities to better serve Tribal connectivity. These reforms will
be reflected in the forthcoming NOFOs.
NTIA will use the information collected from each applicant to
effectively review the proposed applications and budgets from Indian
Tribes, Alaska Native Entities, and Native Hawaiian organizations for
NEGP, and from Tribal Governments, Tribal Colleges or Universities,
Tribal organizations, or Alaska Native Corporations for TBCP.
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 (NEGP): Indian Tribes, Alaska Native Entities, and
Native Hawaiian organizations.
Affected Public (TBCP): Tribal Governments, Tribal Colleges or
Universities, Tribal organizations, or Alaska Native Corporations.
Estimated Number of Respondents: 700.
Estimated Time per Response: 10 hours for applicants.
Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 7,000 hours.
Estimated Total Annual Cost to Public: $321,426.00.
Respondent's Obligation: Mandatory.
Legal Authority: Section 60305 of the Infrastructure Investment and
Jobs Act of 2021 (IIJA), Public Law 117-58, 135 Stat. 429 (November 15,
2021); Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021, Division N, Title IX,
Section 905(c), Public Law 116-260, 134 Stat. 1182 (Dec. 27, 2020)
(Act), as amended by the IIJA.
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,
[[Page 57184]]
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 Information Collection Request. 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,
Departmental PRA Compliance Officer, Office of the Under Secretary for
Economic Affairs, Commerce Department.
[FR Doc. 2025-22401 Filed 12-9-25; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-60-P
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