[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 204 (Monday, October 23, 1995)]
[Notices]
[Pages 54332-54333]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-26102]



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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Rural Utilities Service


Notice of Request for Reinstatement and Revision of an 
Information Collection

AGENCY: Rural Utilities Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice and request for comments.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this 
notice announces the Rural Utilities Service's (RUS) intention to 
request a reinstatement and revision of an information collection.

DATES: Comments on this notice must be received by December 22, 1995.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Walter L. Petty, Jr., Assistant Chief, 
Distance Learning Telemedicine Branch, Rural Utilities Service, U.S. 
Department of Agriculture, 14th and Independence Avenue SW., AG Box 
1701, Washington, DC 20250. Telephone: (202) 690-0419. Fax: (202) 720-
2734.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    Title: Distance Learning and Medical Link Grant Program.
    OMB Number: 0572-0096.
    Type of Request: Reinstatement and revision of an information 
collection.
    Abstract: The Rural Utilities Service (RUS) implements a program 
that provides grants to rural community facilities, such as schools, 
hospitals, and medical centers, to encourage, improve, and make 
affordable the use of advanced telecommunications and computer networks 
to provide educational and medical benefits to people living in rural 
areas and to improve rural access to reliable facsimile, document and 
data transmission, multi-frequency tone signaling services, 911 
emergency service with automatic number identification, interactive 
audio and visual transmissions, voice mail services designed to record, 
store, and retrieve voice messages, and other advanced 
telecommunication services. RUS awards grants to projects that will 
improve the quality of life of people residing in rural areas by 
improving their access to improved educational, training, and medical 
services; and, their access to opportunities that rely on these 
advanced communication and information technologies to provide such 
services. RUS funds up to 80 percent of any project selected, and 
requires at least a 20 percent matching contribution from the 
applicant.
    In order for the public to receive the benefits of this program, 
they need to submit an application and the supporting information for 
RUS to determine if they meet the eligibility requirements. The 
Distance Learning and Medical Link Grant Program regulation (7 CFR 1703 
D, 58 FR 11507) establishes the method of selecting projects to receive 
grants, the method of allocating the available funds, the method of 
determining the beneficiaries of the program, the requirements for the 
application to be submitted to RUS, the method of notifying potential 
applicants of maximum and minimum amounts of grant funds that will be 
considered for a single application, and the requirements for 
qualifying for expedited telephone loan consideration and 
determination.
    Estimate of Burden: Public reporting burden for this collection of 
information is estimated to average 27.25 hours per response.
    Respondents: Business or other for-profit and non-profit 
institutions.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 150.
    Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: 1.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 1842.50.
    Copies of this information collection, and related forms and 
instructions, can be obtained from Walter L. Petty, Jr., Distance 
Learning Telemedicine Branch, at (202) 690-0419. 

[[Page 54333]]

    Comments: Send comments regarding this burden estimate, including 
suggestions for reducing this burden through the use of automated 
collection techniques or other information technology, to:
    Walter L. Petty, Jr., Assistant Chief, Distance Learning 
Telemedicine Branch, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Rural Utilities 
Service, 14th and Independence Avenue SW., AG Box 1701, Washington, DC 
20250. Fax: (202) 720-2734.
    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.

    Dated: October 13, 1995.
Wally Beyer,
Administrator, Rural Utilities Service.
[FR Doc. 95-26102 Filed 10-20-95; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-15-P