[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 32 (Friday, February 15, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Page 11136]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-03536]



[[Page 11136]]

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE


Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request

February 11, 2013.
    The Department of Agriculture has submitted the following 
information collection requirement(s) to OMB for review and clearance 
under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, Public Law 104-13. Comments 
regarding (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 assumptions used; (c) ways to enhance the quality, 
utility and clarity of the information to be collected; (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 or 
other forms of information technology should be addressed to: Desk 
Officer for Agriculture, Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, 
Office of Management and Budget (OMB), [email protected] or 
fax (202) 395-5806 and to Departmental Clearance Office, USDA, OCIO, 
Mail Stop 7602, Washington, DC 20250-7602. Comments regarding these 
information collections are best assured of having their full effect if 
received within 30 days of this notification. Copies of the 
submission(s) may be obtained by calling (202) 720-8681.
    An agency may not conduct or sponsor a collection of information 
unless the collection of information displays a currently valid OMB 
control number and the agency informs potential persons who are to 
respond to the collection of information that such persons are not 
required to respond to the collection of information unless it displays 
a currently valid OMB control number.

Rural Utilities Service

    Title: Broadband Initiatives Program.
    OMB Control Number: 0572-0142.
    Summary of Collection: The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act 
of 2009 (Recovery Act) appropriated $2.5 billion of budget authority 
for establishing the Broadband Initiatives Program (BIP). The Rural 
Utilities Service (RUS) established the BIP which may extend loans, 
grants, and loan/grant combinations to facilitate broadband deployment 
in rural areas.
    Need and Use of the Information: Successful application award 
recipients will execute loan/grant documents prepared by the Agency. 
Each recipient and each contractor engaged by the recipient must 
provide the total amount of Recovery Act funds received and that were 
expended or obligated to projects or activities. Recipients and 
contractor must also provide the name, description, evaluation of the 
completion status and an estimate of the number of jobs created and the 
number of jobs retained by the project or activity. Recipients of 
funding will be required to submit an annual CPA Audit report; adopt a 
Generally Accepted Accounting Principles System of Accounts and develop 
and maintain an index of records. Without the requested information, 
RUS could not determine whether applicants meet the requirements that 
the Recovery Act establishes for BIP financing.
    Description of Respondents: Business or other for-profit.
    Number of Respondents: 225.
    Frequency of Responses: Recordkeeping; Reporting: Quarterly; 
Annually.
    Total Burden Hours: 12,000.

Charlene Parker,
Departmental Information Collection Clearance Officer.
[FR Doc. 2013-03536 Filed 2-14-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-15-P