[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 120 (Wednesday, June 23, 2010)]
[Notices]
[Pages 35765-35766]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-15107]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Telecommunications and Information Administration


Proposed Information Collection; Comment Request; BroadbandMatch 
Web Site Tool

AGENCY: National Telecommunications and Information Administration, 
Commerce.

ACTION: Notice.

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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.

DATES: Written comments must be submitted on or before August 23, 2010.

ADDRESSES: Direct all written comments to Diana Hynek, Departmental 
Paperwork Clearance Officer, Department of Commerce, Room 6625, 14th 
and Constitution Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20230 (or via the Internet 
at [email protected]).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Requests for additional information or 
copies of the information collection instrument and instructions should 
be directed to Ian Martinez, Broadband Technology Opportunities 
Program, NTIA, at (202) 482-3027, [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Abstract

    Congress, through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, 
appropriated $7.2 billion and directed the Department of Agriculture's 
Rural Utilities Service (RUS) and the Department of Commerce's National 
Telecommunications Information Administration (NTIA) to expand 
broadband access to unserved and underserved communities across the 
U.S., increase jobs, spur investments in technology and infrastructure, 
and provide long-term economic benefits. The result is the RUS 
Broadband Initiatives Program (BIP) and the NTIA Broadband Technology 
Opportunities Program (BTOP). BIP makes loans and grants for broadband 
infrastructure projects in rural areas. BTOP provides grants to fund 
broadband infrastructure, public computer centers and sustainable 
broadband adoption projects.
    NTIA Administrator Larry E. Strickling, in his testimony before the 
Senate Commerce Committee, suggested the use of a ``comprehensive 
communities'' strategy in BTOP's second round of funding, aimed at 
supporting middle mile projects to anchor institutions in the 
community, such as libraries, colleges and potentially hospitals or 
public safety organizations, ideally with commitments from last mile 
providers who would build off of the middle mile projects to 
residential end users. This type of partnership might have been 
burdensome to potential applicant partners and non-anchors that still 
wish to participate in the BTOP program; as such, in coordination with 
the White House's Open Government Initiative that seeks to promote 
transparency, openness and collaboration, NTIA decided to create a tool 
that would allow larger anchor institutions, smaller satellite 
organizations, Internet service providers and technical experts to find 
one another and create mutually beneficial partnerships.
    The tool, BroadbandMatch (available at http://match.broadbandusa.gov), allows potential applicants to find partners 
for broadband projects, helping them to combine expertise and create 
stronger proposals. Now, in support of the Recovery Act's goals to 
create jobs, promote economic growth, and encourage participation of 
socially and economically disadvantaged small business concerns, 
BroadbandMatch includes small disadvantaged businesses desiring to 
provide goods and services for broadband projects around the country. 
It is a helpful resource for firms seeking contracting opportunities 
with BTOP grantees, among other participants, and for purchasers 
intending to diversify their suppliers.
    Current participants will be solicited to continue their 
participation in the program by opting in; potentially, new 
participants will be encouraged through publicizing of BroadbandMatch 
using the press, conferences, and conversations between applicants/
grantees and Federal program officers.

II. Method of Collection

    Participants in BroadbandMatch fill out an organizational profile 
form, containing information such as category or type of organization, 
preferred partnerships, geographic location, and basic contact 
information.

III. Data

    OMB Control Number: 0660-0033.
    Form Number(s): None.
    Type of Review: Regular submission (Extension of a currently 
approved information collection).

[[Page 35766]]

    Affected Public: Individuals or households; business or other for-
profit organizations.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 4,500.
    Estimated Time per Response: 15 minutes.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 1,125.
    Estimated Total Annual Cost to Public: $0.

IV. Requests 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, including through the use of 
automated collection techniques or other forms of information 
technology.
    Comments submitted in response to this notice will be summarized 
and/or included in the request for OMB approval of this information 
collection; they also will become a matter of public record.

    Dated: June 17, 2010.
Gwellnar Banks,
Management Analyst, Office of the Chief Information Officer.
[FR Doc. 2010-15107 Filed 6-22-10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-06-P