[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 94 (Friday, May 15, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 27996-27997]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-11806]


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DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT

[Docket No. FR-5830-N-02]


Notice of Emergency Information Collection and Request for 
Comment: Assessment of Technology Needs in HUD-Subsidized Housing

AGENCY: Office of the General Counsel, HUD.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: Through this notice, and in accordance with the Paperwork 
Reduction Act of 1995, HUD invites comment on a proposed information 
collection for the purpose of helping HUD assess technology needs, such 
as access to high-speed Internet, in HUD-subsidized housing. HUD is 
requesting emergency processing of this request because philanthropic 
foundations, nonprofit organizations, private sector entities, and 
others have expressed interest in helping residents housed with HUD 
assistance to narrow their technology infrastructure and digital 
literacy gaps. The questions included in the information collection 
will enable HUD to assess the technology needs of residents housed with 
HUD assistance, the commitment of communities and Public Housing 
Agencies (PHAs) to narrowing these technology gaps, and the capacity of 
such jurisdictions to successfully utilize the type of assistance that 
is being offered. The earlier that HUD can obtain this information, the 
earlier that HUD may be able to benefit from the generosity of the 
various organizations that have offered assistance.

DATES: Comment Due Date: May 22, 2015.

ADDRESSES: Interested persons are invited to submit comments regarding 
this proposal. Comments should refer to the proposal by name and/or OMB 
Control Number and should be sent to: Colette Pollard, Reports 
Management Officer, QDAM, Department of Housing and Urban Development, 
451 7th Street SW., Room 4176, Washington, DC 20410-5000; telephone 
202-402-3400 (this is not a toll-free number) or email at 
[email protected] for a copy of the proposed forms or other 
available information. Persons with hearing or speech impairments may 
access this number through TTY by calling the toll-free Federal Relay 
Service at (800) 877-8339.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Colette Pollard, Reports Management 
Officer, QDAM, Department of Housing and Urban Development, 451 7th 
Street SW., Washington, DC 20410; email Colette Pollard at 
[email protected] or telephone 202-402-3400. This is not a toll-
free number. Persons with hearing or speech impairments may access this 
number through TTY by calling the toll-free Federal Relay Service at 
(800) 877-8339. Copies of available documents submitted to OMB may be 
obtained from Ms. Pollard.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This notice informs the public that HUD is 
seeking approval from OMB for the information collection described in 
Section A.

A. Overview of Information Collection

    Title of Information Collection: Assessment of Technology Needs in 
HUD-Subsidized Housing.
    OMB Approval Number: Pending.
    Type of Request: New.
    Form Number: Pending.
    Description of the need for the information and proposed use: This 
assessment will provide the data necessary to inform subsequent 
conversations with communities and Public Housing Agencies (PHAs) on 
the technology needs of residents housed with HUD assistance. The data 
will also inform the design and implementation of assistance efforts to 
narrow the technology infrastructure and digital literacy gaps in such 
housing, such as the absence of access to high-speed Internet. The 
standardized questions cover broad areas of relevance to assessing the 
technology needs of communities and PHAs, including: (1) Demographics 
of the populations served (including such factors as age, income, and 
education); (2) physical and technological infrastructure in the 
subsidized housing or that could be made available by the jurisdiction; 
and (3) potential use of federal and local resources to address the 
technology needs if these resources were made available. In addition, 
the assessment provides for communities and PHAs to provide any 
information pertaining to these topic areas that they may wish to note 
and that is not covered by the standardized questions, which would help 
better identify their technology needs.
    Respondents (i.e. affected public): Communities (i.e., city, tribal 
nation, or other target area) and PHAs.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 3400.
    Estimated Number of Responses: 50.
    Frequency of Response: Once.
    Average Hours per Response: Three hours.
    Total Estimated Burdens: 450 hours.

 
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                                            Number of                                 Responses    Burden hour     Annual      Hourly cost
         Information collection            respondents     Frequency of response      per annum   per response  burden hours  per response   Annual cost
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Demographics............................         3,400  once......................            50             1             1             0             0

[[Page 27997]]

 
Physical and Technology Infrastructure..         3,400  once......................            50             1             1             0             0
Potential uses of federal and local              3,400  once......................            50             1             1  ............  ............
 resources.
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    Totals..............................         3,400  once......................           150             3             3             0             0
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B. Solicitation of Public Comment

    This notice is soliciting comments from members of the public and 
affected parties concerning the collection of information described in 
Section A on the following:
    (1) 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;
    (2) The accuracy of the agency's estimate of the burden of the 
proposed collection of information;
    (3) Ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the 
information to be collected; and
    (4) Ways to minimize the burden of the collection of information on 
those who are to respond; including through the use of appropriate 
automated collection techniques or other forms of information 
technology, e.g., permitting electronic submission of responses.
    HUD encourages interested parties to submit comment in response to 
these questions.

     Authority:  Section 3507 of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 
1995, 44 U.S.C. Chapter 35.

    Dated: May 12, 2015.
Camille E. Acevedo,
Associate General Counsel for Legislation and Regulations.
[FR Doc. 2015-11806 Filed 5-14-15; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4210-67-P