[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 163 (Wednesday, August 22, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Pages 42460-42461]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-17986]


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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, the 
Rural Utilities Service, an agency of the U.S. Department of 
Agriculture (USDA), 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 October 22, 2018.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Michele Brooks, Team Lead, Rural 
Development Innovation Center--Regulatory Team, USDA, 1400 Independence 
Ave., SW, STOP 1522, Room 5162 South Building, Washington, DC 20250-
1522. Telephone: (202) 690-1078. 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 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

[[Page 42461]]

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, Team Lead, Rural 
Development Innovation Center--Regulatory Team, USDA, STOP 1522, 1400 
Independence Ave. SW, Washington, DC 20250-1522. Email: 
[email protected].
    Title: 7 CFR part 1738, Rural Broadband Loans and Loan Guarantee 
Program.
    OMB Control Number: 0572-0130.
    Type of Request: Revision 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 
areas in the States and Territories of the United States. 7 CFR part 
1738 prescribes the types of loans available, facilities financed, and 
eligible applicants, as well as minimum equity requirements to be 
considered for a loan. In addition, 7 CFR part 1738 outlines the 
process through which RUS will consider applicants under the priority 
consideration required in Title VI.
    The term of the loan is based on the expected composite economic 
life based on the depreciation rates of the facilities financed. The 
term of the loan can be as high as 35years. These loans are secured by 
a first lien on the borrower's broadband system. 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 
further 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.
    Estimate of Burden: Public reporting burden for this collection of 
information is estimated as 100 hours per response.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 18.
    Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: 4.5.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 7,305 hours.
    Copies of this information collection can be obtained from MaryPat 
Daskal, Rural Development Innovation Center-Regulatory Team, at (202) 
720-7853. 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: August 14, 2018.
Kenneth L. Johnson,
Administrator, Rural Utilities Service.
[FR Doc. 2018-17986 Filed 8-21-18; 8:45 am]
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