[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 37 (Tuesday, February 25, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Page 8421]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-4641]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Rural Utilities Service


Information Collection Activity; Comment Request

AGENCY: Rural Utilities Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice and request for comments.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Action of 1995 (44 
U.S.C. Chapter 35, as amended), the Rural Utilities Service (RUS) 
invites comments on this information collection for which RUS intends 
to request approval from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB).

DATES: Comments on this notice must be received by April 28, 1997.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jonathan Claffey, Acting Deputy 
Director, Advanced Telecommunications Services Staff, Rural Utilities 
Service, 1400 Independence Ave., SW., STOP 1701, Room 2919 South 
Building, Washington, DC 20250-1701. Telephone: (202) 720-0530. FAX: 
(202) 720-2734.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

    Title: Preloan Procedures and Requirements for Telecommunications 
Program.
    OMB Control Number: 0572-0079.
    Type of Request: Reinstatement of a previously approved information 
collection, without change.
    Abstract: This program is necessary in order for the Rural 
Utilities Service (RUS) to determine an applicant's eligibility to 
borrower from RUS under the terms of the RE Act. This information is 
also used by RUS to determine that the Government's security for loans 
made by RUS is reasonably adequate and that the loans will be repaid 
within the time agreed.
    Estimate of Burden: Public reporting burden for this collection of 
information is estimated to average 9 hours per response.
    Respondents: Small business or organizations.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 95.
    Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: 8.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 7,177.
    Copies of this information collection, and related form and 
instructions, can be obtained from Dawn Wolfgang, Program Support and 
Regulatory Analysis Group, at (202) 720-0812.
    Comments are invited on: (a) Whether this proposed collection of 
information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of 
the agency, including whether the information will have practical 
utility; (b) the accuracy of the agency's estimate of burden of the 
proposed collection of information; (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 respondents, 
including through the use of automated collection techniques or other 
forms of information technology. Comments may be sent to: F. Lamont 
Heppe, Jr., Director, Program Support and Regulatory Analysis, Rural 
Utilities Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, STOP 1522, 1400 
Independence Ave., SW., Washington, DC 20250-1522. FAX: (202) 720-4120.
    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: February 18, 1997.
Wally Beyer,
Administrator, Rural Utilities Service.
[FR Doc. 97-4641 Filed 2-24-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-15-P