[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 236 (Tuesday, December 8, 2020)]
[Notices]
[Pages 78989-78990]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-26923]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE


Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request

December 3, 2020.
    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, Public Law 104-13. 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 January 
7, 2021 will be considered. Written comments and recommendations for 
the proposed information collection should be submitted within 30 days 
of the publication of this notice on the following website 
www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAMain. Find this particular information 
collection by selecting ``Currently under 30-day Review--Open for 
Public Comments'' or by using the search function.
    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: 7 CFR part 1738 Rural Broadband Loans, Loan/Grant 
Combinations, and Loan Guarantees.
    OMB Control Number: 0572-0154.
    Summary of Collection: 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, 
loan/grant combinations 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 or loan/grant combination is based on the 
expected composite economic life based on the depreciation rates of the 
facilities financed. The term of the loan or loan/grant combination can 
be as high as 35 years. 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; the information gathered in this collection will help RUS 
determine that reasonable assurance.
    This package will replace 0572-0130 and incorporates all the new 
requirements from the 2018 Farm Bill. This package also covers the 
Public Notice requirements for the telecommunication infrastructure and 
the Community Connect program. All other burden associated with those 
two programs will remain under their current packages.
    Need and Use of the Information: The information in the program 
application guide--RUS Bulletin 1738-1 provides applicants with needed 
information, definitions and details for completing and submitting an 
application. The information in the application will be used to 
determine: Applicant eligibility, availability of broadband service for 
priority consideration, technical and economic feasibility of the 
proposed project (that the funds requested are adequate to complete the 
project taking into consideration any additional funding provided by 
the applicant and that the loan can be repaid within the

[[Page 78990]]

allowable time frame), loan/grant combination eligibility, and 
applicant compliance with certain Federal regulations and requirements.
    Description of Respondents: Business or other for-profit; Not-for-
profit institutions.
    Number of Respondents: 50.
    Frequency of Responses: Reporting: On occasion.
    Total Burden Hours: 20,942.

Levi S. Harrell,
Departmental Information Collection Clearance Officer.
[FR Doc. 2020-26923 Filed 12-7-20; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-15-P