[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 130 (Friday, July 6, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Pages 35597-35598]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-16978]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Telecommunications and Information Administration


Performance Reporting System (PRS) for the Technology 
Opportunities Program (TOP)

ACTION: Proposed collection; comment request.

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SUMMARY: The Department of Commerce, as part of its continuing effort 
to reduce paperwork and respondent burden, invites the general public 
and other Federal agencies to take this opportunity to comment on 
proposed and/or continuing information collections, as required by the 
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, Public Law 104-13 (44 U.S.C. 
3506(c)(2)(A)).

DATES: Written comments must be submitted on or before September 4, 
2001.

ADDRESSES: Direct all written comments to Madeleine Clayton, 
Departmental Paperwork Clearance Officer, Department of Commerce, Room 
6086, 1401 Constitution Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20230 (or via the 
Internet [email protected]).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Requests for additional information or 
copies of the information collection instrument and instructions should 
be directed to Clifton Beck, NTIA, Room H-4888, U.S. Department of 
Commerce, 1401 Constitution Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20230 (or via the 
Internet [email protected]).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Abstract

    The purpose of the Technology Opportunities Program (TOP), formerly 
the Telecommunications and Information Infrastructure Assistance 
Program (TIIAP), is to promote the widespread and efficient use of 
advanced telecommunications services in the public and non-profit 
sectors to serve America's communities.
    The program has the following objectives:
     To promote the widespread availability and use of digital 
network technologies;
     To increase the awareness in public and non-profit sectors 
of digital networking technologies and their benefits;
     To stimulate public and non-profit sector organizations to 
examine potential benefits of, and plan for, investments in digital 
network technologies;
     To provide a wide variety of model digital network 
technology projects for public and non-profit sector organizations to 
follow;
     To educate the public and non-profit sectors about best 
practices in implementing a wide variety of digital network projects; 
and,
     To help reduce disparities in access to, and use of, 
digital network technologies.
    The National Telecommunications and Information Administration 
(NTIA), in administering TOP, has awarded 456 grants, in all 50 states, 
the District of Columbia, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. In order to 
ensure that grant recipients are effectively promoting the efficient 
and widespread use of advanced telecommunications services to serve 
American communities and to comply with the Government Performance and 
Results Act, NTIA will collect and analyze quantitative and qualitative 
data relating to start-up documentation, quarterly and annual progress 
reports, and close-out documentation on TOP-funded projects.
    NTIA seeks a mechanism whereby it can evaluate the impacts of its 
projects on an ongoing basis, monitor grants more efficiently and 
effectively, and provide timely technical assistance to grant 
recipients. To enable the Program to monitor and to analyze the impacts 
of the funded projects, TOP seeks to incorporate standardized 
quantitative and qualitative data elements into an online structured 
reporting system. The reporting system will include a set of core data 
elements that apply to all projects.

II. Method of Collection

    Data will be collected through the use of automated collection 
techniques. The information collection instrument to be used for this 
study will include a web-based structured reporting system for both 
quantitative and qualitative project information.

III. Data

    OMB Number: 0660-0015.
    Form Number: None.
    Type of Review: Regular Submission.
    Affected Public: State, Local, and Tribal Government and Non-Profit 
Institutions.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 50.
    Estimated Time Per Response: Start-Up Documentation, 20 hours; 
Progress Reports, 4 hours; Annual Report, 0.5 hours; Final Closeout 
Report, 20 hours.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 2,807.
    Estimated Total Annual Cost to the Public: 0.

IV. Request for Comments

    Comments are invited on: (a) Whether the proposed collection of 
information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of 
the agency, including whether the information shall have practical 
utility; (b) the accuracy of the agency's estimate of the burden 
(including hours and cost) 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.
    Comments submitted in response to this notice will be summarized 
and/or included in the request of OMB approval of the information 
collection; they also become a matter of public record.


[[Page 35598]]


    Dated: July 2, 2001.
Madeleine Clayton,
Departmental Paperwork Clearance Officer, Office of the Chief 
Information Officer.
[FR Doc. 01-16978 Filed 7-5-01; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-60-P