[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 33 (Thursday, February 17, 2022)]
[Notices]
[Pages 9041-9042]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2022-03364]


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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; Tribal Broadband Connectivity Program

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

ACTION: Notice of information collection, request for comment.

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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 Tribal Broadband Connectivity 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 TBCP 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 Tribal Broadband Connectivity Program (TBCP), authorized by the 
Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021, Division N, Title IX, Section 
905(c), Public Law 116-260, 134 stat. 1182 (Dec. 27, 2020) (Act), 
provides new federal funding for grants to eligible entities to expand 
access to and adoption of: (i) Broadband service on Tribal Land; or 
(ii) for programs that promote the use of broadband to access remote 
learning, telework, or telehealth resources. The TBCP will make up to 
$980,000,000 available for federal assistance to the following eligible 
entities: (i) A Tribal Government; (ii) a Tribal College or University; 
(iii) the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands on behalf of the Native 
Hawaiian Community, including Native Hawaiian Education Programs; (iv) 
a Tribal organization; or (v) an Alaska Native Corporation. The purpose 
of the TBCP is to improve the quality of life, spur economic 
development and commercial activity, create opportunities for remote 
employment and online entrepreneurship, remote learning, and telehealth 
by expanding broadband access and providing digital training and 
inclusion programs to Native American communities.
    On June 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 TBCP.\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 award 
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).
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    \1\ See Tribal Broadband Connectivity Program (TBCP) Notice of 
Funding Opportunity (NOFO) (June 3, 2021), https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/view-opportunity.html?oppId=333974 (available under the 
``Related Documents'' tab).
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    NTIA will use the information collected from each award recipient 
to effectively administer and monitor the grant program to ensure the 
achievement of TBCP program purposes and account for the expenditure of 
federal funds to deter waste, fraud, and abuse.

II. Method of Collection

    Tribal Broadband Connectivity 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 Tribal 
Governments, Tribal Colleges or Universities, the Department of 
Hawaiian Home Lands, Tribal organizations, or Alaska Native 
Corporations.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 600.
    Estimated Time per Response: 33.22.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 30,636.
    Estimated Total Annual Cost to Public: $816,449.40.
    Respondent's Obligation: Mandatory.
    Legal Authority: Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021, Division N, 
Title IX, Section 905(c), 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.
    (d) Minimize the reporting burden on those who are to respond, 
including the use of automated collection techniques or other forms of 
information technology.

[[Page 9042]]

    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, Department of Commerce.
[FR Doc. 2022-03364 Filed 2-16-22; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-60-P