[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 19 (Friday, January 30, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Pages 5635-5636]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-1957]


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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 United States Department of 
Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development administers rural utilities 
programs through the Rural Utilities Service. The USDA Rural 
Development invites comments on the following information collections 
for which the Agency intends to request approval from the Office of 
Management and Budget (OMB).

DATES: Comments on this notice must be received by March 31, 2009.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Michele Brooks, Director, Program 
Development and Regulatory Analysis, USDA Rural Development, U.S. 
Department of Agriculture, 1400 Independence Ave., SW., STOP 1522, Room 
5162, South Building, Washington, DC 20250-1522. Telephone: (202) 690-
1078. Fax: (202) 720-8435.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Office of Management and Budget's (OMB) 
regulation (5 CFR 1320) implementing provisions of the Paperwork 
Reduction Act of 1995 (Pub. L. 104-13) requires that interested members 
of the public and affected agencies have an opportunity to comment on 
information collection and recordkeeping activities [see 5 CFR 
1320.8(d)]. This notice identifies information collections that RUS is 
submitting to OMB for extension.
    Comments are invited on: (a) Whether this 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 the burden of the collection of 
information including the validity of the methodology and assumptions 
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 respondents, including through the use of 
appropriate automated, electronic, mechanical or other technological 
collection techniques or other forms of information technology. 
Comments may be sent to Michele Brooks, Director, Program Development 
and Regulatory Analysis, USDA Rural Development, U.S. Department of 
Agriculture, STOP 1522, 1400 Independence Ave., SW., Washington, DC 
20250-1522. Fax: (202) 720-8435.
    Title: Telecommunications Standards and Specifications, 7 CFR Part 
1755.
    OMB Control Number: 0572-0132.
    Type of Request: Extension of a currently approved collection.
    Abstract: To protect the security of loans it makes and to ensure 
that the telecommunications services provided to rural Americans are 
comparable to those offered in urban and suburban areas, USDA Rural 
Development establishes the minimum acceptable performance criteria for 
materials and equipment to be employed on telecommunications systems 
financed by USDA Rural Development. These specifications cover a 
variety of materials and equipment, ranging from multipair cables for 
direct burial to highly sophisticated computerized central office 
switches. Manufacturers, wishing to sell their products to USDA Rural 
Development borrowers, request RUS consideration for acceptance of 
their products and submit data demonstrating their products' compliance 
with USDA Rural Development specification.
    Estimate of Burden: Public reporting burden for this collection of 
information is estimated to average 20 hours per response.
    Respondents: Not-for-profit institutions.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 50.
    Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: 1.68.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 1400 hours.
    Title: Telecommunications Field Trials.
    OMB Control Number: 0572-0133.
    Type of Request: Extension of a currently approved collection.
    Abstract: To protect the equity of loans it makes, the USDA Rural 
Development Telecommunications Program establishes the minimum 
acceptable performance criteria for materials and equipment to be 
employed on telecommunication systems financed by USDA Rural 
Development. These specifications cover a variety of materials and 
equipment, ranging from multipair cables for direct burial in the 
earth, to highly sophisticated, computerized central office digital 
switches. Manufacturers wishing to sell their products to USDA Rural 
Development borrowers, request USDA Rural Development consideration for 
acceptance of their products and submit data demonstrating their 
products' compliance with USDA Rural Development specifications and 
that the products are otherwise acceptable for use on rural 
telecommunications systems. The review and determination of product 
acceptability is made to help assure that the products will perform 
properly and provide service lives that assure reliable revenue incomes 
and repayment of USDA Rural Development loans funds in a manner 
consistent with the terms and conditions of the USDA Rural Development 
loan. Unacceptable products may fail prematurely and interrupt service, 
require costly replacements, and reduce revenues. Without this 
collection, USDA Rural Development has no means of determining the 
acceptability of

[[Page 5636]]

advanced technology in a manner that is timely enough for USDA Rural 
Development borrowers to take advantage of the improved benefits and 
promise that such products may provide for rural America.
    Estimate of Burden: Public reporting burden for this collection of 
information is estimated to average 3 hours per response.
    Respondents: Not-for-profit institutions.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 3.
    Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: 6.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 54 hours.

    Title: Request for Approval to Sell Capital Assets.
    OMB Control Number: 0572-0020.
    Type of Request: Extension of a currently approved collection
    Abstract: A borrower's assets provide the security for a government 
loan. The selling of assets reduces the security and increases the risk 
to the government. RUS Form 369 allows the borrower to seek agency 
permission to sell some of its assets. The form collects detailed 
information regarding the proposed sales of a portion of the borrower's 
systems. USDA Rural Development electric utility borrowers complete 
this form to request USDA Rural Development approval in order to sell 
capital assets when the fair market value exceeds 10 percent of the 
borrower's net utility plant.
    Estimate of Burden: Public Reporting burden for this collection of 
information is estimated to average 3 hours per response.
    Respondents: Not-for-profit institutions; Business or other for 
profit.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 5.
    Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: 1.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 15 hours.

    Title: Mergers and Consolidations of Electric Borrowers, 7 CFR 
1717, subpart D.
    OMB Control Number: 0572-0114.
    Type of Request: Extension of a currently approved collection.
    Abstract: The RE Act of 1936, as amended (7 U.S.C. 901 et seq.), 
authorizes the Agency to make and guarantee loans for rural 
electrification. Due to deregulation and restructuring activities in 
the electric industry, USDA Rural Development borrowers find it 
advantageous to merge or consolidate to meet the challenges of industry 
change. This information collection addresses the requirements of USDA 
Rural Development policies and procedures for mergers and 
consolidations of electric program borrowers.
    Estimate of Burden: Public reporting burden for this collection is 
estimated to average 1.32 hours per response.
    Respondents: Not-for-profit institution; business or other for-
profit.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 12.
    Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: 10.8.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 170 hours.

    Dated: January 26, 2009.
James R. Newby,
Acting Administrator, Rural Utilities Service.
[FR Doc. E9-1957 Filed 1-29-09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-15-P