[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 71 (Monday, April 14, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Pages 20863-20864]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-08309]


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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, an agency 
delivering the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development 
Utilities Programs, 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 June 13, 2014.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Michele Brooks, Director, Program 
Development and Regulatory Analysis, USDA Rural Utilities Service, 1400 
Independence Ave. SW., STOP 1522, Room 5162 South Building, Washington, 
DC 20250-1522. Telephone: (202) 690-1078. Email: 
[email protected]. FAX: (202) 720-4120.

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

[[Page 20864]]

opportunity to comment on information collection and recordkeeping 
activities (see 5 CFR 1320.8(d)). This notice identifies an information 
collection that will be submitted to OMB for approval.
    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 
Brooks, Director, Program Development and Regulatory Analysis, USDA 
Rural Utilities Service, STOP 1522, 1400 Independence Ave. SW., 
Washington, DC 20250-1522. Email: [email protected]. FAX: 
(202) 720-4120.
    Title: 7 CFR part 1738, Rural Broadband Loans and Loan Guarantee 
Program.
    OMB Control Number: 0572-0130.
    Type of Request: Extension of a currently approved information 
collection.
    Abstract: The Rural Utilities Service (RUS) is authorized by Title 
VI, Rural Broadband Access, of the Rural Electrification Act of 1936, 
as amended (RE Act), to provide loans and loan guarantees to fund the 
cost of construction, improvement, or acquisition of facilities and 
equipment for the provision of broadband service in eligible rural 
communities in States and Territories of the United States. The term of 
the loans is based on the expected composite economic life based on the 
depreciation of the facilities financed. The term of the loan can be as 
high as 25 years or even longer. In the interest of protecting loan 
security and accomplishing the statutory objective of a sound program 
of rural broadband service access, Title VI of the RE Act requires that 
RUS make or guarantee a loan only if there is reasonable assurance that 
the loan, together with all outstanding loans and obligations of the 
borrower will be repaid in full within the time agreed. The items 
covered by this collection include forms and related documentation to 
support a loan application, including Form 532 and supporting 
documentation.
    Estimate of Burden: Public reporting for this collection of 
information is estimated to average 225 hours per response.
    Respondents: Businesses and Not-for-profit institutions.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 25.
    Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: 2.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 10,544.50 hours.
    Copies of this information collection can be obtained from MaryPat 
Daskal, Program Development and Regulatory Analysis, at (202) 720-7853. 
FAX: (202) 720-4120. 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: April 2, 2014.
John Charles Padalino,
Administrator, Rural Utilities Service.
[FR Doc. 2014-08309 Filed 4-11-14; 8:45 am]
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