[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 179 (Monday, September 16, 2019)]
[Notices]
[Page 48579]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-19915]
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Notices
Federal Register
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This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains documents other than rules
or proposed rules that are applicable to the public. Notices of hearings
and investigations, committee meetings, agency decisions and rulings,
delegations of authority, filing of petitions and applications and agency
statements of organization and functions are examples of documents
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Federal Register / Vol. 84, No. 179 / Monday, September 16, 2019 /
Notices
[[Page 48579]]
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request
September 11, 2019.
The Department of Agriculture has submitted the following
information collection requirement(s) to Office of Management and
Budget (OMB) for review and clearance under the Paperwork Reduction Act
of 1995. Comments are requested regarding: Whether the collection of
information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of
the agency, including whether the information will have practical
utility; the accuracy of the agency's estimate of burden including the
validity of the methodology and assumptions used; ways to enhance the
quality, utility and clarity of the information to be collected; 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 regarding this information collection received by October
16, 2019 will be considered. Written comments should be addressed to:
Desk Officer for Agriculture, Office of Information and Regulatory
Affairs, Office of Management and Budget (OMB), New Executive Office
Building, 725--17th Street NW, Washington, DC 20502. Commenters are
encouraged to submit their comments to OMB via email to:
[email protected] or fax (202) 395-5806 and to Departmental
Clearance Office, USDA, OCIO, Mail Stop 7602, Washington, DC 20250-
7602. Copies of the submission(s) may be obtained by calling (202) 720-
8958.
An agency may not conduct or sponsor a collection of information
unless the collection of information displays a currently valid OMB
control number and the agency informs potential persons who are to
respond to the collection of information that such persons are not
required to respond to the collection of information unless it displays
a currently valid OMB control number.
Rural Utilities Service
Title: The Rural eConnectivity Pilot Program (ReConnect Program).
OMB Control Number: 0572-0152.
Summary of Collection: Pursuant to the Pilot Program authorization
in the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2018, Public Law 115-141, 779
(2018), RUS is to conduct a pilot broadband program under the RE Act.
Under Section 601(d)(1) of the RE Act applicants are required to submit
an application for loans and loan guarantees containing the information
that the Secretary shall require, and that the project meet the minimum
level of broadband in the service area. Section 601(d)(8) sets out the
all of the reporting requirements, and the Pilot Program specifically
requires that the Section 601(d)(8) reporting requirements be followed.
Additionally, Section 601(h) requires that the Secretary ensure the
security of any loan or guarantee.
Need And Use of the Information: On March 23, 2018, Congress passed
the Consolidated Appropriations Act 2018 (the FY2018 Appropriations)
(Pub. L. 115-141) which established a broadband loan and grant pilot
program, the Rural eConnectivity Pilot Program (hereinafter the
ReConnect Program). One of the essential goals of the ReConnect Program
is to expand broadband service to rural areas without sufficient access
to broadband, defined as 10 megabits per second (Mbps) downstream and 1
Mbps upstream. For this purpose, Congress provided RUS with $600
million and expanded its existing authority to make loans and grants.
Loans and grants are limited to the costs of the construction,
improvement, and acquisition of facilities and equipment for broadband
service in eligible communities. The FY2018 Appropriations also
authorized technical assistance to assist the agency in expanding
needed service to the most rural communities.
Description of Respondents: Not-for-profit institutions; Business
or other for-profit; State, local, and Tribal governments.
Number of Respondents: 500.
Frequency Of Responses: Reporting: On occasion.
Total Burden Hours: 156,090.
Kimble Brown,
Departmental Information Collection Clearance Officer.
[FR Doc. 2019-19915 Filed 9-13-19; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-15-P