[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 75 (Thursday, April 18, 2019)]
[Notices]
[Pages 16241-16242]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-07806]


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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 
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).

[[Page 16242]]


DATES: Comments on this notice must be received by June 17, 2019.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Thomas Dickson, Rural Development 
Innovation Center--Regulatory Team, U.S. Department of Agriculture, 
1400 Independence Avenue SW, STOP 1522, Washington, DC 20250, 
Telephone: 202-690-4492, email: [email protected].

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 Dickson, Rural Development 
Innovation Center--Regulatory Team, U.S. Department of Agriculture, 
1400 Independence Avenue SW, STOP 1522, Washington, DC 20250, 
Telephone: 202-690-4492, email: [email protected].
    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 4.7 hours per response.
    Respondents: Business or other for-profits and not-for-profit 
Institutions.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 580.
    Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: 2.26.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 6296 hours.
    Copies of this information collection can be obtained from MaryPat 
Daskal, Rural Development Innovation Center--Regulations Team, 
Telephone: (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.

Chad Rupe,
Acting Administrator, Rural Utilities Service.
[FR Doc. 2019-07806 Filed 4-17-19; 8:45 am]
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