[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 134 (Friday, July 16, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Page 37728]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-15118]


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 Notices
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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 
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  Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 134 / Friday, July 16, 2021 / 
Notices  

[[Page 37728]]



DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE


Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request

    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 August 
16, 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: Special Authority to Enable Funding of Broadband and Smart 
Utility Facilities Across Select Rural Development Programs.
    OMB Control Number: 0572-0156.
    Summary of Collection: The Rural Utilities Service, Rural Business-
Cooperative Service, and Rural Housing Service, agencies that comprise 
the Rural Development Mission Area within the United States Department 
of Agriculture, are issuing this final rule to establish the authority 
authorized by Section 6210 of the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018. 
This rule describes the procedures by which these agencies will 
consider projects eligible for special broadband authority and Smart 
Utility facilities.
    On December 20, 2018, Congress passed The Agricultural Improvement 
Act of 2018 (2018 Farm Bill) (Pub. L. 115-334). In addition to sweeping 
changes in broadband program authorities, Congress provided for special 
use of funding from other RD programs for broadband deployment in 
Section 6210, ``Smart Utility Authority for Broadband.'' The provision 
granted the Secretary of Agriculture the discretion to allow recipients 
of grants, loans, or loan guarantees under RD programs to use not more 
than 10 percent of such funding to finance broadband infrastructure in 
areas not served by the minimum acceptable level of broadband service, 
as defined in this Part, and which will not result in competitive harm 
to a current RD loan, grant, or loan guarantee. While Section 6210 only 
imposes the competitive harm restriction with respect to RUS loan, 
grant, and loan guarantee recipients, RD has determined to apply the 
restriction RD-wide, consistent with the statutory guidance on 
conflicts and duplications of awards provided in 7 U.S.C. 2204b(d)(2).
    Rural community leaders, businesses and utilities must consider 
broadband availability and uses as they plan for, and implement, new 
and improved facilities and services to support community and economic 
development. While integration of communications technology into a 
planned investment can be used for internal purposes, it can also serve 
as a catalyst to rural broadband deployment efforts. For example, 
investment in health care, public safety and businesses can be enhanced 
or leveraged to expand the availability and utilization of advanced 
broadband in rural areas. Smart highways can facilitate vehicle to 
infrastructure communications to enhance driver safety; smart water 
systems can remotely detect contaminants before they pose a health 
risk; smart pipelines can report leaks and structural weaknesses before 
they become dangerous; and smart grid systems deliver enhanced security 
and energy efficiency, as well as speed recovery after an electric 
outage. Through this regulation, RD enables limited integration of 
broadband deployment with other rural investments funded through its 
broad suite of programs. It does so without adding the burden of 
seeking funding through separate program areas.
    Need and Use of the Information: The collection of information is 
necessary for RD to determine an applicant's ability to borrow under 
the terms of the 2018 Farm Bill and included programs and that the 
applicant complies with statutory, regulatory, and administrative 
eligibility requirements for loan assistance. As part of that 
submission, applicants are required to provide a service area map, 
where applicable, of their entire service territory.
    Description of Respondents: Businesses or other for-profits.
    Number of Respondents: 159.
    Frequency of Responses: Annually.
    Total Burden Hours: 239.

    Dated: July 13, 2021.
Levi S. Harrell,
Departmental Information Collection Clearance Officer.
[FR Doc. 2021-15118 Filed 7-15-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-15-P