[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 32 (Wednesday, February 16, 2022)]
[Notices]
[Pages 8802-8803]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2022-03367]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Telecommunications and Information Administration


Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission to the 
Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for Review and Approval; Comment 
Request; Connecting Minorities Communities Pilot Program

AGENCY: National Telecommunications and Information Administration 
(NTIA), Commerce.

ACTION: Notice of information collection, request for comment.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The Department of Commerce, following the Paperwork Reduction 
Act of 1995 (PRA), invites the public and other Federal agencies to 
comment on proposed and continuing information collections, which helps 
us assess the impact of our information collection requirements and 
minimize the public's reporting burden. This Notice of Information 
Collection is for the Connecting Minorities Communities Pilot Program 
Baseline Report, Performance Report and Annual Report. The purpose of 
this notice is to allow for 60 days of public comment preceding the 
submission of the collection to OMB.

DATES: To ensure consideration, comments regarding this proposed 
information collection must be received on or before April 18, 2022.

ADDRESSES: Interested persons are invited to submit written comments by 
mail to Jennifer Duane, Director, Grants Management, Administration, 
and Compliance, Office of internet Connectivity and Growth, National 
Telecommunication and Information Administration, U.S. Department of 
Commerce, 1401 Constitution Avenue NW, Room 4887, Washington, DC 20230, 
or by email to [email protected]. Please reference CMC Data 
Collection in the subject line of your comments. Do not submit 
Confidential Business Information or otherwise sensitive or protected 
information.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Requests for additional information or 
specific questions related to collection activities should be directed 
Jennifer Duane, Director, Grants Management, Administration, and 
Compliance, via email at [email protected]; [email protected]; or via 
telephone at (202) 482-2048.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Abstract

    The Connecting Minority Communities Pilot Program (CMC), authorized 
by the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021, Division N, Title IX, 
Section 902 (c), Public Law 116-260, 134 stat. 1182 Dec. 27, 2020) 
(Act), aims to address the lack of broadband access, connectivity, 
adoption, and equity to Historically Black Colleges and Universities 
(HBCUs), Tribal Colleges and Universities (TCUs), and Minority Serving 
Institutions (MSIs), and their surrounding anchor communities. NTIA 
will make up to 268,000,000 available for federal assistance to 
eligible entities and programs to facilitate educational instruction 
and learning, purchase or lease eligible equipment and devices for 
student or patron use and hire and train information technology 
personnel who are a part of the eligible anchor institution, MBE, or 
tax-exempt 501(c)(3) organization.
    On August 3, 2021, NTIA published the program's Notice of Funding 
Opportunity (NOFO) on Grants.gov to describe the requirements under 
which it will award grants for the CMC.\1\ The NOFO required award 
recipients to submit financial reports, performance (technical) 
reports, and annual reports to the NTIA Federal Program Officer and the 
NOAA Grants Officer and Grants Specialist. Award recipients must follow 
the reporting requirements described in Sections A.01, Reporting 
Requirement, of the Department of Commerce Financial Assistance 
Standard Terms and Conditions (dated November 12, 2020). Additionally, 
in accordance with 2 CFR part 170, all recipients of a federal wared 
were made on or after October 1, 2010, must comply with reporting 
requirements under the Federal Funding Accountability and Transparency 
Act of 2006 (Pub. L. 109-282).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \1\ See Connecting Minority Communities (CMC) Notice of Funding 
Opportunity (NOFO) (August 3, 2021), https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/search-grants.html (available under the ``Related Documents'' 
tab).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    NTIA will use the information collected from each award recipient 
to effectively administer and monitor the grant program to ensure the 
achievement of CMC program purposes and account for the expenditure of 
federal funds to deter waste, fraud, and abuse.

II. Method of Collection

Connecting Minority Communities Pilot Program

    Award recipients will submit financial and performance reports on a 
semi-annual basis for the periods ending March 31st and September 30th 
of each year, and an annual report no later than one year after 
receiving grant funds and until they have expended all funds. The 
Baseline Report is a one-time collection of information from award 
recipients covering project plans and details about key outputs and 
outcomes that is due within 45 days of the issuance of the award. NTIA 
will collect data through electronic submission.

III. Data

    OMB Control Number: 06XX-XXXX.
    Form Number(s): TBD.
    Type of Review: New information collection.
    Affected Public: Grant award recipients consisting of Historically 
Black Colleges or Universities (HBCUs); Tribal Colleges or Universities 
(TCUs); Minority-serving institutions (MSIs); or consortiums that are 
led by a historically Black college or university, Tribal College or 
University, or Minority-serving institution and that also include: (a) 
An MBE; or (b) an organization described in section 501(c)(3) of the 
Internal Revenue Code of 1986 and exempt from tax under section 501(a) 
of such Code).
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 183.
    Estimated Time Per Response: 33.22.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 17,055.7.
    Estimated Total Annual Cost to Public: $447,712.13.
    Respondent's Obligation: Mandatory.
    Legal Authority: Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021, Division N, 
Title IX, Section 905, Public Law 116-260, 134 Stat. 1182 (Dec. 27, 
2020).

IV. Request for Comments

    We are soliciting public comments to permit the Department/Bureau 
to:
    (a) Evaluate whether the proposed information collection is 
necessary for the proper functions of the Department, including whether 
the information will have practical utility.
    (b) Evaluate the accuracy of our estimate of the time and cost 
burden for this proposed collection, including the validity of the 
methodology and assumptions used.
    (c) Evaluate ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of 
the information to be collected.

[[Page 8803]]

    (d) Minimize the reporting burden on those who are to respond, 
including the use of automated collection techniques or other forms of 
information technology.
    Comments that you submit in response to this notice are a matter of 
public record. We will include or summarize each comment in our request 
to OMB to approve this ICR. Before including your address, phone 
number, email address, or other personal identifying information in 
your comment, you should be aware that your entire comment--including 
your personal identifying information--may be made publicly available 
at any time. While you may ask us in your comment to withhold your 
personal identifying information from public review, we cannot 
guarantee that we will be able to do so.

Sheleen Dumas,
Department PRA Clearance Officer, Office of the Chief Information 
Officer, Commerce Department.
[FR Doc. 2022-03367 Filed 2-15-22; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-60-P