[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 247 (Thursday, December 24, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Page 80316]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-32443]


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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 United States Department of 
Agriculture's (USDA) Rural Utilities Service (RUS) invites comments on 
this information collection for which the Agency intends to request 
approval from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB).

DATES: Comments on this notice must be received by February 22, 2016.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Thomas P. Dickson, Acting Director, 
Program Development and Regulatory Analysis, USDA Rural Development, 
1400 Independence Ave. SW., STOP 1522, Room 5164, South Building, 
Washington, DC 20250-1522. Telephone: (202) 690-4492. Fax: (202) 720-
8435.

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 as a revision to an existing collection. 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: Thomas P. Dickson, Acting 
Director, Program Development and Regulatory Analysis, Rural Utilities 
Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, STOP 1522, Room 5164, 1400 
Independence Avenue SW., Washington, DC 20250-1522. Fax: (202) 720-
8435.
    Title: Operating Reports for Telecommunications and Broadband 
Borrowers.
    OMB Control Number: 0572-0031.
    Type of Request: Extension of a currently approved collection.
    Abstract: Rural Utilities Service (RUS), an agency delivering the 
U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) utilities programs, is a credit 
agency. RUS makes mortgage loans and loan guarantees to finance 
electric, broadband, telecommunications, and water and waste facilities 
in rural areas. In addition to providing loans and loan guarantees, one 
of the Agency's main objectives is to safeguard loan security until the 
loan is repaid.
    This collection of information covers the Telecommunications 
Operating Report, the Broadband Operating Report, and RUS Form 674, 
``Certificate of Authority to Submit or Grant Access to Data.'' The 
data collected via the Telecommunications Operating Report is collected 
through the USDA Data Collection System. The data collected via the 
Broadband Operating Report is collected through the USDA Broadband 
Collection and Analysis System. The data collected via the 
Telecommunication and Broadband Operating reports is required by the 
loan contract and provides Rural Development with vital financial 
information necessary to ensure the maintenance of the security for the 
Government's loans, and statistical data to enable the Agency to ensure 
the provision of quality telecommunications and broadband services as 
mandated by the Rural Electrification Act (RE Act) of 1936. The data 
collected through the operating reports provides financial information 
to ensure loan security consistent with due diligence and is essential 
to protect loan security.
    The data collected via RUS Form 674 provides information to the 
Agency to allow Rural Development Electric, Telecommunications and 
Broadband program Borrowers to file electronic Operating Reports with 
the Agency using the USDA Data Collection System. RUS Form 674, 
accompanied by a Board Resolution, identifies the name and USDA 
eAuthentication ID for a certifier and security administrator who will 
have access to the USDA Data Collection System for purposes of filing 
electronic Operating Reports. The information collected on the RUS Form 
674 is submitted in hard copy by Borrowers only when revisions are 
required or, in the case of a first time Borrower, when initially 
submitting the data.
    Estimate of Burden: Public reporting for this collection of 
information is estimated to average 3.67 hours per response.
    Respondents: Business or other for-profits and not-for-profit 
Institutions.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 730.
    Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: 1.86.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 4,990 hours.
    Copies of this information collection can be obtained from Rebecca 
Hunt, Program Development and Regulatory Analysis, at (202) 205-3660, 
Fax: (202) 720-8435. 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: December 18, 2015.
Brandon McBride,
Administrator, Rural Utilities Service.
[FR Doc. 2015-32443 Filed 12-23-15; 8:45 am]
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