[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 64 (Friday, April 2, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Pages 17439-17440]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-7506]


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DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT

[Docket No. FR-4907-N-10]


Notice of Proposed Information Collection: Comment Request; 
Survey of Neighborhood Networks Centers

AGENCY: Office of the Assistant Secretary for Housing-Federal Housing 
Commissioner, HUD

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The proposed information collection requirement described 
below will be submitted to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) 
for review, as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act. The Department 
is soliciting public comments on the subject proposal.

DATES: Comments Due Date: June 1, 2004.

ADDRESSES: Interested persons are invited to submit comments regarding 
this proposal. Comments should refer to the proposal by name and/or OMB 
Control Number and should be sent to: Wayne Eddins, Reports Management 
Officer, Department of Housing and Urban Development, 451 7th Street, 
SW., L'Enfant Plaza Building, Room 8003, Washington, DC 20410 or 
[email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Delores A. Pruden, Director, 
Neighborhood Networks, Office of Housing Assistance and Contract 
Administration Oversight, Multifamily Housing Programs, Department of 
Housing and Urban Development, 451 7th Street, SW., Washington, DC 
20410, telephone (202) 708-4135 x2496 (this is not a toll-free number) 
for copies of the proposed forms and other available information.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Department is submitting the proposed 
information collection to OMB for review, as required by the Paperwork 
Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. Chapter 35, as amended).
    This Notice is soliciting comments from members of the public and 
affected agencies concerning the proposed collection of information to: 
(1) Evaluate whether the proposed collection is necessary for the 
proper performance of the functions of the agency, including whether 
the information will have practical utility; (2) Evaluate the accuracy 
of the agency's estimate of the burden of the proposed collection of 
information; (3) Enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the 
information to be collected; and (4) Minimize the burden of the 
collection of information on those who are to respond, including the 
use of appropriate automated collection techniques or other forms of 
information technology, e.g., permitting electronic submission of 
responses.
    This Notice also lists the following information:
    Title of Proposal: Survey of Neighborhood Networks Centers--Amended 
Title: Neighborhood Networks Data Collection Management and Tracking 
Data Collection Instruments.
    OMB Control Number, if applicable: 2502-0553.
    Description of the need for the information and proposed use: 
Launched by HUD's Office of Multifamily Housing Programs in September 
1995, Neighborhood Networks is a community-based initiative that 
encourages the development of resource and community technology centers 
in HUD insured and assisted housing. In 2003, HUD conducted a national 
survey of Neighborhood Networks center directors to document center 
characteristics and identify commonalities and trends to guide the 
direction of the Neighborhood Networks initiative.
    The Office of Multifamily Housing Programs is requesting clearance 
for a more comprehensive data collection instrument in 2004. The data 
collection is designed with the objective of merging information 
currently captured in a paper business plan with data currently 
collected through the survey of center directors. This approach will be 
a multi-step iterative process as the business plan is evolving from a 
paper submission to an enhanced and more comprehensive online tool 
known as START--the Strategic Tracking and Reporting Tool. Once the 
transition is complete, START will be the mechanism by which all center 
data are collected.
    Agency form numbers, if applicable: None.
    Estimation of the total numbers of hours needed to prepare the 
information collection including number of respondents, frequency of 
response, and hours of response: There are approximately 1200 
Neighborhood Networks Centers located in HUD insured and assisted 
housing properties. The hourly burden per respondent for the one-time 
telephone survey is estimated at 40 minutes. The hourly burden for 
referencing and completing the Data Collection Worksheet (if necessary) 
is estimated at 30 minutes. The survey response rate is estimated at 70 
percent, resulting in an overall response burden of 560 hours for the 
telephone survey.

[[Page 17440]]

    A response rate of 70 percent and 30 minutes to gather data will 
result in an overall response burden of 420 hours for completing the 
Data Collection Worksheet. The total annualized burden is estimated at 
980 hours.
    The hourly burden per respondent for the online business plan and 
reporting tool (START) is estimated at 3.5 hours. This includes time 
for reviewing and completing the workbook and users guide. 
Approximately 80 of the 1200 Neighborhood Networks centers currently in 
operation are using START--a participation rate of approximately 7 
percent. It is anticipated that online business plan development and 
reporting will increase to roughly 10 percent over the next few months. 
A participation rate of 10 percent and an average of 3.5 hours to 
complete the tool will result in an overall annual response burden of 
420 hours.
    Approximately 800 (or 67 percent) of the 1,200 Neighborhood 
Networks centers currently have a formal paper business plan. Based on 
an average of 2 hours to complete/update a business plan, the estimated 
overall annual response burden is 1,600 hours.
    Status of the proposed information collection: Revision of a 
currently approved collection.

    Authority: The Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, 44 U.S.C., 
Chapter 35, as amended.

    Dated: March 29, 2004.
Sean G. Cassidy,
General Deputy Assistant Secretary for Housing-Deputy Federal Housing 
Commissioner.
[FR Doc. 04-7506 Filed 4-1-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4210-27-M