[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 27 (Monday, February 10, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Page 7642]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-02807]


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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 RUS intends 
to request approval from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB).

DATES: Comments on this notice must be received by April 11, 2014.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Michele L. Brooks, Director, Program 
Development and Regulatory Analysis, USDA Rural Development, 1400 
Independence Ave. SW., STOP 1522, Room 5162 South Building, Washington, 
DC 20250-1522. Telephone: (202) 690-1078. FAX: (202) 720-8435. Email: 
[email protected].

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 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. Telephone: (202) 690-1078, FAX: (202) 720-8435. Email: 
[email protected].
    Title: 7 CFR Part 1744, Subpart B, ``Lien Accommodations and 
Subordination Policy''
    OMB Control Number: 0572-0126
    Type of Request: Extension of a currently approved information 
collection.
    Abstract: Recent changes in the telecommunications industry, 
including deregulation and technological developments, have caused RUS 
borrowers and other organizations providing telecommunications services 
in rural areas to consider undertaking projects that provide new 
telecommunications services and other telecommunications services not 
ordinarily financed by RUS. Although some of these services may not be 
eligible for financing under the Rural Electrification Act of 1936 (RE 
Act), these services may nevertheless advance RE Act objectives where 
the borrower obtains financing from private lenders. To facilitate the 
financing of those projects and services, this program helps to 
facilitate funding from non-RUS sources in order to meet the growing 
capital needs of rural Local Exchange Carriers (LECs).
    The information collected for lien accommodation requests is used 
by RUS to ascertain a borrower's level of financial strength and, upon 
agency approval of the lien accommodation, ensures that the 
government's loan security interest is protected.
    Estimate of Burden: Public reporting burden for this collection of 
information is estimated to average .50 hour per response.
    Respondents: Business or other for-profit and non-profit 
institutions.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 3.
    Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: 1.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 2.
    Copies of this information collection can be obtained from MaryPat 
Daskal, Program Development and Regulatory Analysis, at (202) 720-7853, 
FAX: (202) 720-8435. 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: January 13, 2014.
John Charles Padalino,
Administrator, Rural Utilities Service.
[FR Doc. 2014-02807 Filed 2-7-14; 8:45 am]
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