[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 250 (Monday, December 30, 2002)]
[Notices]
[Page 79563]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-32825]


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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 Act 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 February 28, 2003.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: F. Lamont Heppe, Jr., Program 
Development & Regulatory Analysis, Rural Utilities Service, USDA, 1400 
Independence Ave., SW., STOP 1522, Room 4034 South Building, 
Washington, DC 20250-1522. Telephone: (202) 720-0736. FAX: (202) 720-
4120.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    Title: 7 CFR Part 1755, Telecommunications Standards and 
Specifications.
    OMB Control Number: 0572-New.
    Type of Request: New collection.
    Abstract: Manufactures wishing to sell their products to RUS 
borrowers, request RUS consideration for acceptance of their products 
and submit data demonstrating their products' compliance with RUS 
specifications. Compliance with RUS specifications and standards is 
demonstrated to a large extent via presentation of laboratory tests 
results and other informational data upon which the determination of 
acceptability can be made. RUS evaluates this data to determine that 
the quality of the products is acceptable and that their use will not 
jeopardize loan security. In the telecommunications program, because of 
the complex and highly technical nature of equipment, services and 
system architectures, RUS also requires a manufacturer to demonstrate 
successful product use in a working telecommunications system.
    RUS Bulletin 345-2, establishes Agency policy that materials and 
equipment purchased by RUS telecommunications borrowers or accepted as 
contractor-furnished material, must conform to RUS standards and 
specifications where they have been established and, if included in RUS 
IP 344-2, ``List of Materials Acceptable for Use on Telecommunications 
Systems of RUS Borrowers'' (List of Materials), must be selected from 
that list or must have received technical acceptance from RUS.
    Estimate of Burden: Public reporting burden for this collection of 
information is estimated to average 20 hour per response.
    Respondents: Business or other for-profit and non-profit 
institutions.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 49.
    Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: 2.
    Estimate Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 2,580 hours.
    Copies of this information collection can be obtained from Dawn 
Wolfgang, Program Development and Regulatory Analysis, Rural Utilities 
Service at (202) 720-0812. Comments are invited on (a) whether the 
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 including the validity of the methodology and assumption used; 
(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 those who are to respond, including through the use 
of appropriate automated, electronic, mechanical, or other 
technological collection techniques on other forms of information 
technology.
    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: December 23, 2002.
Curtis M. Anderson,
Deputy Administrator as Acting Administrator, Rural Utilities Service.
[FR Doc. 02-32825 Filed 12-27-02; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-15-P