[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 128 (Wednesday, July 3, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Pages 40095-40096]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-15987]


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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 approval from 
the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) will be requested.

DATES: Comments on this notice must be received by September 3, 2013.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Michele L. Brooks, Director, Program 
Development and Regulatory Analysis, Rural Utilities Service, 1400 
Independence Ave. SW., STOP 1522, Room 5162-South Building, Washington, 
DC 20250-1522. Telephone: (202) 690-1078, FAX: (202)

[[Page 40096]]

720-8435 or email: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Office of Management and Budget's (OMB) 
regulation (5 CFR part 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 an information collection that RUS 
is submitting to OMB for extension.
    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 will have practical 
utility; (b) the accuracy of the Agency's estimate of the burden of the 
proposed 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 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. Comments may be sent to: Michele 
L. Brooks, Director, Program Development and Regulatory Analysis, Rural 
Utilities Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, 1400 Independence 
Ave. SW., Stop 1522, Room 5162-South Building, Washington, DC 20250-
1522, FAX: (202) 720-8435 or email: [email protected].
    Title: Broadband Initiatives Program--Rural Libraries, Technical 
Assistance, and Satellite Grants.
    OMB Control Number: 0572-0145.
    Type of Request: Extension of a currently approved information 
collection.
    Abstract: Pursuant to the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 
2009 (Recovery Act) the Rural Utilities Service's Broadband Initiatives 
Program (BIP) announced funding for specific grants for Satellite, 
Rural Library Broadband and Technical Assistance. Grant awardees under 
the program are required to comply with OMB reporting requirements 
implementing the Recovery Act.\1\ RUS is no longer awarding Recovery 
Act funds under this program, however this Information Collection 
remains active because awardees are required to comply with Recovery 
Act recordkeeping and reporting requirements under this collection and 
may be submitting reports.
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    \1\ See, e.g., 2 CFR pt. 176, Interim Final Guidance for Federal 
Financial Assistance, 74 FR 18449 (Apr. 23, 2009); Implementing 
Guidance for Reports on Use of Funds Pursuant to the American 
Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (OMB M-09-21 June 22, 2009); 
and updated Guidance on the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act 
of 2009 (OMB M-10-08 Dec. 18, 2009).
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    Estimate of Burden: Public reporting burden for this collection of 
information is estimated to average 22 hours per response.
    Respondents: Business or other for-profit organizations.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 134.
    Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: 2.8.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 8,427.
    Copies of this information collection can be obtained from Rebecca 
Hunt, Program Development and Regulatory Analysis, at (202) 205-3660, 
FAX: (202) 720-8435 or email: [email protected].
    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: June 27, 2013.
John Charles Padalino,
Acting Administrator, Rural Utilities Service.
[FR Doc. 2013-15987 Filed 7-2-13; 8:45 am]
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